US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - GoFirst Program...Fact or Fiction?

Is GoFirst fact or fiction? Automatic upgrade from coach to first with a full fare ticket.

I ask for and was denied an upgrade from DFW to PIT, both major USAirways markets. What gives?

Not totally sure, but I think this is primarily aimed at connecting passengers, who have many choices in carriers (it also matches a similar promotion NW has). It appears you may be flying directly into the hub (PIT). Hub flyers get nothing when the company has an 80% traffic share.

[This message has been edited by deelmakur (edited 04-23-2001).]

The GoFirst program is nothing new. It's been around for years under the basis of A4COACH fares (or something like that). In select target markets (normally ones with lots of competition) you buy a full coach fare and get a First Class seat. Someone at US Marketing decided to wake up, came up with a stupid name, and buy a ton of ad space in SkyGuide.

The following has been 'known' to happen....

buy your full fare coach...call at another time and request an upgrade....tell them you'll pay the difference when you check in....It's usually $40 per 800 miles(or has this gone up a little)......when you check in AT THE GATE, be prepared to pay it, but don't be surprised if they don't collect. That's happened to me numerous times on full fare tickets.

From the website:

Fly First Class for the Price of Coach with GoFirst
Now with GoFirst when you buy a full fare US Airways Coach ticket to select cities, you'll automatically be given a First Class seat, based upon availability. US Airways offers GoFirst on many routes throughout the United States and Canada. Call 1-800-428-4322 for more information or reservations.

Some cities served by a combination of US Airways and US Airways Express. Call for fares and service from your area. Reservations are required. Seats are limited and A4Coach fares are subject to A Class availability.

I used to use those fares a lot 3 years ago. I would call reservations everyday and ask for the "A" fare. I would take a few calls to get all 4 segments but I usually got them. Try 8 days in advance (before CP upgrades) and 2 days in advance (releasing more inventory) and the morning of the flight. I'd also call between flights and any time I wanted to waste 10 minutes.

0nce the city ticket office (Buffalo) kept trying for me and called me at the hotel when I was upgraded. I was impressed and wrote a good comment card for her.

Good luck.

The DFW-PIT route has no A fares listed. Sometimes they list an A fare but the fare has zero capacity (not-sold out, but zero), call to check. Rez agents have said that A capacity is not related to SWU capacity or 800-mile cert capacity for first, and we all know what happens at the gate is not always "by the book", so press on, gently. Advance calling is warranted as any A reshedules could open up a slot. The sad part is in most cases getting stuck with a Y fare is more money than A4COACH, go for the B fare (NOT BA!). Then again, I portend that Y fares have a much better chance of op/ups than B's.

[This message has been edited by unixguy (edited 04-24-2001).]