US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - SWU usage and Europe

Here's a little questions. Assuming that US does not continue offering systemwides, the wife and I will be left with one each - which means a trip to Europe split between coach and envoy.

Any though on which half to use it on?

1) outbound - use of the Envoy Lounge, sleeper seat for overnight fligt

2) return - ability to enjoy Envoy class service during 8 typically awake hours.

Thoughts?

seems like a simple answer to your question is a simple question....

can you fall asleep in a coach seat?

a) Yes --> upgrade return
b) No --> upgrade outbound

Some other things to consider:

Upgrade outbound:
Dinner
Shower in arrivals lounge

Upgrade return:
Lunch
Intl Departure lounge. I typically arrive at the airport on the return flight MUCH earlier than the departing flight.
The LGW lounge is nicer than the Envoy lounge (PHL).

For me, flying to Rome, Frankfurt or London I would definately chose it on the overnight flight.

Three reasons:

Basically, when you get there you don't want to be completely wiped out, since you still have travelling and possibly sight seeing to do. It'll be morning when you get there, and you need to be up all day to let your body adjust so you can sleep that night. A few hours of rest on the flight over can make a huge difference in doing so. You can (depending on where you go) frequently use one of the arrival lounges for a shower while giving time for baggage to show up on the carousel.

On the return you'll be travelling home and probably have no plans other than to get home, unpack and relax. No particular need or desire to use the Envoy Arrival lounge (if there even is one) to shower or anything.

In addition, on the evening flight over you get a full dinner meal service as opposed to a lunch service on the way back. While lunch in coach or envoy is decent, Dinner in Envoy is much better than dinner in coach (In my view, in any case).

Have a great trip.

Regards,
-Bouncer-

Business travellers know that 3 empty seats in coach make for a better bed than 1 business class seat. Service is also limited during the night flights and I prefer to upgrade on the return.

As mentioned before, departure lounge is nicer than in US and you get to enjoy more meal service and movies. Enjoy Envoy when you are awake better than staying up all night or trying to sleep (good heavy meals in Envoy have kept me up sometimes).

Lastly, I would save my upgrades for the Airbus 330- much nicer seats and video entertainment than the old 767s and most importantly- more seats in Envoy increasing chances of upgrades!

------------------
"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

I'm assuming that papers would be filed if Mrs. ITRADE sat in 28A both ways? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
I'm assuming that papers would be filed if Mrs. ITRADE sat in 28A both ways? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

chex are you really such a cad as to suggest that having his wife sit in 28A is even an option????

she should be in 28B... :-)

Another thought:

After flying coach to Europe, how much enjoyable will your stay be knowing you are in Envoy for the return?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jcrb:
chex are you really such a cad as to suggest that having his wife sit in 28A is even an option????

she should be in 28B... :-)

</font>


I'll let you or Chexie deliver the news....

2 questions from me since I am travelling with a friend. I have the other half of an SWU i used on my trip to AMS and was going to upgrade my friend. Still debating which half to do it. I am leaning towards the PHL to LGW part. Will they let me bring him into the Envoy lounge in PHL or the arrivals lounge in LGW if he is in coach?

I am waitlisted, but there are 24 seats available each way so far, so I think that is promising.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by catwood:
2 questions from me since I am travelling with a friend. I have the other half of an SWU i used on my trip to AMS and was going to upgrade my friend. Still debating which half to do it. I am leaning towards the PHL to LGW part. Will they let me bring him into the Envoy lounge in PHL or the arrivals lounge in LGW if he is in coach?

I am waitlisted, but there are 24 seats available each way so far, so I think that is promising.</font>

I don't get this.....PHL-AMS is a 767 which means that there are 24 Envoy class seats. How could you possibly be weaitlisted if not a single seat has been taken....

Hmmmmm....


BTW, I'm told that for the 767s, only 23 are available as the 24th is the IRO's rest seat.

Seat 4C on the 767 (5C on the A330) is always blocked off as the crew rest seat on Transatlantic flights, so only 23 seats should show as available.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Seat 4C on the 767 (5C on the A330) is always blocked off as the crew rest seat on Transatlantic flights, so only 23 seats should show as available.</font>

Sorry, I was waitlisted on the A330 to LGW, i meant i had used one SWU on an AMS flight in Nov. The 330's have a total of 36 seats with some being crew seats.

ALWAYS upgrade the europe to us portion!!!!!
You get much more service and fun for the daylight flight and realy have the full envoy experience.
I never used a SWU for the return because due to the winds it is a shorter flight and all I do at night is sleep anyway and if I am tired I can sleep in a coach seat pretty decent especially when I was succesfull begging for an empty seat besides me.

Only exception: You have the meeting of all meetings sheduled for the arriving morning in europe and your life and that of your beloved company is on the line and the best available sleep or last minute preparation is a necessity. But than this cheap *******s should have put you in ENVOY anyway so that is more a theoretic case.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by eurousair:
ALWAYS upgrade the europe to us portion!!!!!
You get much more service and fun for the daylight flight and realy have the full envoy experience.
I never used a SWU for the return because due to the winds it is a shorter flight and all I do at night is sleep anyway and if I am tired I can sleep in a coach seat pretty decent especially when I was succesfull begging for an empty seat besides me.

Only exception: You have the meeting of all meetings sheduled for the arriving morning in europe and your life and that of your beloved company is on the line and the best available sleep or last minute preparation is a necessity. But than this cheap *******s should have put you in ENVOY anyway so that is more a theoretic case.</font>

What if it was your friends first trip to Europe, but you only have one extra SWU? Upgrade the going out to impress, or the return for comfort?

Seems like there are good reasons on both sides for 'upgrade east or west' with SWU.

The 'which way to impress a friend' question is even more intriguing. My wife (in chex lingo, Mrs hscottm) and I did PIT-LGW last month with GregLeg and RaggedyAndi who were each on a silver challenge run.

We had 7 SWUs left before the trip, and obviously had to choose how to split them up since we didnt have 8. The mrs is pregnant, and so she was definitely getting upgraded both ways, and I stayed with her. We chose to use the 2 for us over to Europe, and 4 on the way back. So I still have one left..

I'll let Gregleg and RaggedyAndi put in their two cents, but would not do it differently again if I had the chance. I would not want them to have seen Envoy over and then dread the flight home.

Okay, here is the more important question, is there availability to confirm your upgrade on the return? I have had to wait twice until day of departure to clear waitlist. Didn´t matter if 20 seats were still available in the inventory.

Yes, better to upgrade on the return if you can however your time in Europe would be less stressful if you were still on the waiting list.

------------------
"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by worldbanker:
Okay, here is the more important question, is there availability to confirm your upgrade on the return? I have had to wait twice until day of departure to clear waitlist. Didn´t matter if 20 seats were still available in the inventory.

Yes, better to upgrade on the return if you can however your time in Europe would be less stressful if you were still on the waiting list.

</font>

Minor update, I called them. I cleared on the way back, and I waitlisted my friend. I am waitlisted going to Europe. I just wish I knew whether you can bring someone travelling with you into the Departure or Arrivals lounges.

I may change all of this to be difficult.
[This message has been edited by catwood (edited 01-07-2002).]

[This message has been edited by catwood (edited 01-07-2002).]

I'd upgrade the overnight portion. The biggest benefit of the Business Class experience for me is the ability to sleep or rest in comfort. Plus, coming back (if on the 330), the entertainment system would help me thru the longhaul.

Fortunately, I've never had to make such a choice.... knock on wood....

No guests accompanying Envoy passengers in the Departure or Arrivals lounges by rule. In practice, stranger things have happened.

My two cents?

There are good arguments either way. However, I always consider the sheer "anticipation" factor when I am going to Europe. Senses are alive, curiosities more alert, and there is always the breathless sense of "what next?" I swear, given the foregoing, airline food tastes better!

Given that mindset, I find Envoy to be much more enjoyable on the way over. I love the service, the space, the seating. "What next?! Pedicures? Massages in the Galley foyer? Perhaps that flight attendant will sooth my furrowed brow? What are they preparing now: Fans and grapes?!?!"

On the way home I can be pampered the same way, but it's just, in essense, a distration from the looming concept of Work The Next Day.

In summary? Envoy to Europe; Coach back.

Trust me.

That is so funny! Anyone else going to weigh in?

Here is my question - if you have 2 SWUs, do you use both to go to First one way and get an exit-row coach the other, or both Envoy both ways?

Lindy - You can't use two SWU's for a double upgrade (from coach thru biz to Intl. FC). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by geo1004:
Lindy - You can't use two SWU's for a double upgrade (from coach thru biz to Intl. FC). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif</font>

I wish there were some way to convince them to let you do that. Has anyone on here ever gotten from envoy to first , or coach to first at all? without the use of coupons? Mind you I have SWU's , but want to sleep on those flat beds someday.

[This message has been edited by catwood (edited 01-08-2002).]

I've made it into the lav in F http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif