US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Made silver challenge, now what?

Okay, 1 month down and I made my silver challenge. Yay me.

So what happens now? Are USAirways 800-mile segments paper only? Ewwwww, if so. I'm used to electronic upgrade certificates on Delta, and not having to actually track these things.

Assuming that they are indeed paper, does this mean that I can't upgrade any of my flights until I receive them in 2-4 weeks? I've got one more flight this month, and a few next month, and it sure would be nice to upgrade.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ebell:
Assuming that they are indeed paper, does this mean that I can't upgrade any of my flights until I receive them in 2-4 weeks?</font>Unless you buy some 800 milers, you are correct.

ebell

Of course, you can always gamble by calling in to request upgrade, and then hope they show up.. Given you can only call in 1 day in advance, though, for restricted fares, this isnt likely to help much.

Chexfan's 'buying upgrades' is good advice. (4 for $120 or so)..

Are they still selling upgrades?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hscottm:
ebell

Chexfan's 'buying upgrades' is good advice. (4 for $120 or so)..

Are they still selling upgrades?</font>

You can always buy them with miles.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by irabk:
You can always buy them with miles.</font>You can buy North American upgrade certificates with miles? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
You can buy North American upgrade certificates with miles? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif</font>

Sure, it's 10,000 miles = 4 x 800 for unrestricted fares, and 20,000 miles = 4 x 800 for restricted fares.

http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/redeemingmiles/howtoredeem/upgrades.htm

To think... they charge you 2,500 Dividend Miles for each NAU and they give you only 500 DMs if you trade one in.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ebell:
Made silver challenge, now what? </font>

Well, you could host a FT get together, so we all can all celebrate. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
To think... they charge you 2,500 Dividend Miles for each NAU and they give you only 500 DMs if you trade one in.</font>

chexfan: I had this exact conversation with a CP I work with. He was going to turn them in for 500 miles each, as he no longer needs them as a CP (for 2002). I asked him if he planned on flying 100k next year as well? If not, he would be back to GP with no upgrade certs (in 2003).

I suggested he send them in for reissue, and next year, he could have them reissue again if they were close to expiration and then have them for the next year (2003) when he moved down to GP. Better than buying them back for 2500 each.