US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - UpGrade to first class

Is there anyway in getting upgraded to first class without using a certficate for upgrade or using my existing milage on my FF?

I have a trip coming up within a week and would enjoy getting upgraded if possible. Airlines is USAIR.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by wjnwjn:
Is there anyway in getting upgraded to first class without using a certficate for upgrade or using my existing milage on my FF?

I have a trip coming up within a week and would enjoy getting upgraded if possible. Airlines is USAIR.</font>


It's quite easy. Call the reservations number (or wait until you check-in at the airport) and tell them you would like to sit in First Class and then pay the difference between the coach fare you have purchased and the First Class fare. You should get a First Class seat unless First Class is completely sold out.

Geo is right - you can opt to pay for F. I'm sure he does it all the time..... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

You will unlikely get an upgrade without certs - even if the F cabin is empty. You can use points, though. The USAirways web site Dividend Miles section shows the required amounts:

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

You didn't say if you are travelling within the US, or out of the country, but the above page shows all the various levels of mileage required.

Word to the wise, though - it's not really worth 20,000 points to upgrade a domestic roundtrip unless it's a cross-country like PHL-LAX. Even then, those 20,000 points would usually be better spent on a European flight where you can upgrade one-way to Envoy class. There's just no comparison between it and domestic First.

Welcome to FT!

[This message has been edited by PHL (edited 04-17-2002).]

Become a companion of a CP.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by biggs:
Become a companion of a CP.</font>

Good addition... fly with a CP. Otherwise, without using miles and without using upgrade certificates (as wjnwjn queried) there aren't any other ways I can think of???

Get a fake ID and pretend you ARE a exisiting Chairman's Preferred.

Hack into USAirways systems and either change your status to Chairamn's Preferred, or better yet, while you are at it, just change your reservation.

Be a smoooooth operator, especially at a smaller airport, preferablly with employees who are about to be gone anyway..

You guys are forgetting the obvious of just sitting in an F seat and hoping no one notices. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
You guys are forgetting the obvious of just sitting in an F seat and hoping no one notices. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif</font>

The Elaine Benes method..... Hmmmm....

"Mmmmmmmm, ice cream!!!" -Jerry Seinfeld

If anything, you have made me smile.

What is a CP?

Chairmans Preferred (top tier elite status for those who fly over 100,000 miles on US Airways in a calendar year).