US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Purchasing Upgrade Certificates

Can a CP purchase upgrade certificates if they know ahead of time that there automatic upgrade did not go through?
I am not even sure if US has upgrade certificates to purchase. I am on a route that has tons of CPs (ever since they lowered the criteria), and I am finding that I am not getting upgraded as frequently as I had in the past (although the fares are discounted, which probably has something to do with it!)

Purchased upgrades (with money) work the same as your free upgrades, so they won't do you any good. Your other option is to use miles, which can be done at any time for 20,000 R/T within the US.

I'm not sure which routes you're flying, but considering as a Gold I've only missed one upgrade flying US in about two years, I can't believe you're not having better luck! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
but considering as a Gold I've only missed one upgrade flying US in about two years...</font>News Flash! Not only did I miss my first upgrade on US this weekend, but I missed my 2nd as well! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

I still have a theory that pitflyer was buying Full Fs to prevent me from sitting up front, but I can't prove it, yet... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I must say that UA coach is much better than US's.

What about a silver or gold who needs to purchase upgrades??

I've never been in this situation because US Airways is very generous with upgrades, but I have a friend who is.

Can he just purchase the coupons at the ticket counter on day of departure? Will he have any problem? What about the gate? (he is not a club member).

thanks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
News Flash! Not only did I miss my first upgrade on US this weekend, but I missed my 2nd as well! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif
</font>

I think they know that your true loveis UA and US is only a little something something you keep on the side ...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BizJet:
Can he just purchase the coupons at the ticket counter on day of departure? Will he have any problem? What about the gate? (he is not a club member).
</font>

I don't believe you can purchase them at the gate. You can purchase them at the aiport at the ticket counter or the US Airways Club. Your best bet is the buy 3, get 1 free deal (puchased upgrades never expire). You can also purchase them at a CTO.

I have been flying PHL to Houston on the typical business traveller's Monday morning departure, Thursday afternoon return. I know that they hold a certain number of seats for upgrades. But, now, I am also thinking that they are somehow rationed between CP and Gold. Or, if there are a certain number of CPs on the Que, what is the priority for distributing the upgrades??? I recently asked the CP line, and they told me that for the discounted tickets, it is based on the date and time that you actually hit the que.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by frielca:
But, now, I am also thinking that they are somehow rationed between CP and Gold.</font>

No, you should be getting upgraded most of the time before us Golds even have a chance to get them (on discounted tickets, Y or B tickets can be upgraded at time of purchase by any elites).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> I recently asked the CP line, and they told me that for the discounted tickets, it is based on the date and time that you actually hit the que.</font>

That is correct, but when are you calling? For a Monday departure you can call starting at 12:01 AM the previous Monday (7 full days earlier), and at the latest call first thing Monday morning when you wake up. For your Thursday return you should be calling as early as possible the previous Thursday after 12:01 AM.

BTW, allegedly the CP line will queue you up to upgrade as soon as your window opens ... not being a CP myself, I don't know too much about it ...

As an aside, it is unbelievable how much non-U employees on this board know about the ins and outs of this company. When U gets on it's feet, it may want to recruit from this board! Anyway, here's my question. If the G class inventory is totally tapped out at check-in, has anyone ever had any luck groveling at check-in to redeem 20,000 miles for the upgrade? My flights for an upcoming trip are already empty in G (3 weeks from now)and wanted to know my chances of perhaps using miles.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Uflyer:
As an aside, it is unbelievable how much non-U employees on this board know about the ins and outs of this company. When U gets on it's feet, it may want to recruit from this board! Anyway, here's my question. If the G class inventory is totally tapped out at check-in, has anyone ever had any luck groveling at check-in to redeem 20,000 miles for the upgrade? My flights for an upcoming trip are already empty in G (3 weeks from now)and wanted to know my chances of perhaps using miles.</font>

On day of departure, First Class seats go under airport control and are distributed based on First Class standby list status. There is no longer a distinction between F seats and G seats. So using 20,000 miles doesn't put you in a better position for upgrading on day of departure.

And for before the day of departure, I'm next to positive that the 20,000 mile upgrade award comes out of G inventory. So it won't do you any good if G inventory is already zeroed out. It would be effective to nab a G seat before the Preferred upgrade windows open.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

As soon as I book my ticket with my agent, I call the CP line, and ask them to put me on the que. Then, I do as you mentioned. I call the CP at 12:00am on the Sunday/Monday prior to my flight, and at 12:00 on the Wednesday/Thursday prior to my flight. This does help. Usually, I will miss the upgrade when I do not remember to call at the above times!! It is somewhat of pain, however, to have to call every week, twice a week!!!

Thanks. So basically, as a SP, I am screwed if I'm on a popular flight (esp. transcon.) on a Fri./Sat., as most of those seats will be upgraded in advance or grabbed by CP and GP. That's what I thought. I really wish they didn't change the rules of the SWUs. Here's anohter question - aisde from the better seat, in your opinion, it is worth it using 20K to upgrade going PIT-LAS and PHX-PHL? Is the meal service now better than last fall? I've heard it's good to teh west coast, but haven't heard about the southwest, aside from the poster above. Appreciate your opinions.

I know that purchased upgrades never expire, but are they transferable? Do they have a passenger name on them?

The last time I bought upgrades were in the USAir days. I up until recently had some really old, yellow USAir First Class upgrade coupons. They never expired and didn't have my name on them, so I gifted them to a Silver short of coupons. Those were transferable but that was a long time ago, so I'm wondering if purchased upgrades are still transferable.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Uflyer:
So basically, as a SP, I am screwed if I'm on a popular flight (esp. transcon.) on a Fri./Sat., as most of those seats will be upgraded in advance or grabbed by CP and GP. That's what I thought. I really wish they didn't change the rules of the SWUs. </font>

Yes, that is correct ... but that would be true on any of the major US Airlines, you fly a popular route at a peak time as lowest level elite and your chances of upgrading are slim. As for the SWU's ... the changes are a minus compared to the old SWU's, but at least we get them ... no other US airline gives SWU's (or equivalent) to it's lowest tier members. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Is the meal service now better than last fall? </font>

Maybe it's just me, but the food now seems to be as good, if not better, than before 9/11 on some shorter flights (not Transcons, which I think are still missing sundaes). Just this weekend I had late flights CLT-BOS-CLT and we got a dinner snack on both flights, and they were hot ... and you got a choice! I was also shocked when I got a breakfast snack flying CLT-TPA recently ...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BizJet:
I know that purchased upgrades never expire, but are they transferable? Do they have a passenger name on them?</font>

The ones you buy at the airport have your name on them, so I'd be reluctant to try and transfer them personally. The airport ones are also hand printed too though on "generic" stock. Can you purchase these through RES? It'd be interesting to see what the rules would be on any "printed" certs ...

For the "official" word (though it is more often inaccurate than the word from FlyerTalk I called the Dividend Miles Service Center).

DMUP01's can be purchased with money or miles.

With money, it's $40 each or $120 for four (that's buy three get one free, or four for $30). This can be done through Reservations (you'll get them in the mail) or at the airport ticket counter (not the gate; didn't inquire about the club).

With miles, it's 10,000 miles for four coupons (I believe it was 2,000 each when the program started). Same routine as before, reservations or airport ticket counter.

Purchased upgrades never expire. The agent said that passenger name and DM number were printed on the coupons, so they are not transferable (except for 1 companion).

While we're on the topic, let's talk about some other upgrade issues that are on my mind.

In practice, has anyone been able to upgrade more than one companion? I know it's against the rules, so I'm just wondering if you ask politely at the gate. (I've got an upcoming sunday morning 6am departure with 0/12 FC seats sold).

In practice and by the rule book, can you upgrade one companion who is not on your same PNR but on the same flight?

While on the topic about companions on different PNR's, what are people's experiences about getting exit row seats for companions on different PNR's but the same flight? Some agents refuse to do it claiming that the computer won't let them, while other agents do it without a problem.

I have successfully upgraded a companion not on my reservation, but on my flight. I saw a friend at the airport, who was on my flight. I was able to use my CP companion upgrade option. I do not have any experience upgrading more than one companion.

One of my questions got lost mid stream, but do you recomend buring 20K on a flight from PIT-LAS and PHX-PHL? Aside from seat size, is food and service (are glasses back?) worth it? Was wondering if anyone has done that route yet? It's an 11:45Am from PIT and an 11AM back from PHX.

Thoughts?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BizJet:
In practice and by the rule book, can you upgrade one companion who is not on your same PNR but on the same flight?</font>By practice and my experience- Yes.

Upgrade one companion not on same PNR is A-OK with us in Pref res and the next time you are trying to seat a companion with you in the exit row...( as long as they are 15 and over and capable of operating the exit door ) that's ok as well...for those reps that say no ( res reps) we have a neat little key called " Multi Party Seating" which when used on the Pref members res to input seats on non pref mbrs res. We are using the pref status to assign seats to non preferred companions. Hope this helps !

[This message has been edited by BWI2MCO97 (edited 06-12-2002).]

Thanks for fast and accurate information, chexfan and BWI2MCO!!

frielca-

If you're buying mid-week PHL-IAD tickets, they have to be Y or B fares (right?). These upgrades come out of I inventory. Its hard to believe that there is no *I* inventory available in advance for these flights. Also, these should be upgradable at time of purchase. I'm really amazed you're not having good luck upgrading - when most of us have no trouble upgrading K and V class tickets with the 7-day window.

So how soon before your flights are you buying tickets and requesting upgrades?

Separately - on the issue of upgrading multiple companions. Its quite possible when the 'extra companion' isnt on the same PNR as you, and even easier when last names are different. I have upgraded a companion in advance (I think the records were linked) and then bumped into someone at the gate and asked if they could be upgraded too.

Of course, its probably also easy in general if F is not full.

hscottm-

Thanks for the info. I am purchasing multiweek K and V tickets, and I typically get them either 2 or 3 weeks out from American Express. I then immediately call US Air to ensure that I am on the que for the upgrade, as Amex often forgets to out me on the que. I have been having more success lately when I make sure that I am on the que. Now that I think about it, perhaps, my problem really stems from Amex. When I am not on the que, I definitely do not get the upgrade!

frielca

No fair blaming US for no upgrades when they dont know you want it! Although you might think one of the CP perks would be not only unlimited upgrades, but unlimited queueing for upgrades!

I'd never trust a third party to do my upgrades. Not even my wife! She (a GP) typically says to me the day before her trip "I need to call to upgrade" and I tell her that I called 2.5 days ago for her already.

I had a situation where I was at the airport and the the availability was F2 I1 G0 as I left for the airport. I am GP. I was #1 on the waitlist but there were 2 CP in coach who had not checked in yet. I was seated by they gate and could hear the 2 agents talking to each other as the upgrade dance occurred. What happened was a person who bought a "B" fare checked in and was upgraded at the counter (ie. took the "I" seat). It was not one of the 2 CP. Then 1 CP checked in and I had my first coach seat of the year.

To me, this means that airport control does not equal gate control and the waitlist is not totally by status. In my mind I am still not sure if a "B" fare should get the seat over the CP.

I'm CP and while I know others will disagree, I would have no problem with a B-fare paying customer getting the upgrade provided he was elite of some kind, not just off the street. They're bringing in nice revenue.

I am certainly not in any top revenue producers list at US - most of my trips are on discount fares, with maybe 5 per year on B/Y.

Ironically, my impression is that most CPs are the B/Y buying crowd anyway, so those 2 CPs waiting at the gate were 'paper CPs' like me.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by frielca:
As soon as I book my ticket with my agent, I call the CP line, and ask them to put me on the que. Then, I do as you mentioned. I call the CP at 12:00am on the Sunday/Monday prior to my flight, and at 12:00 on the Wednesday/Thursday prior to my flight. This does help. Usually, I will miss the upgrade when I do not remember to call at the above times!! It is somewhat of pain, however, to have to call every week, twice a week!!!</font>


As a fairly recent CP, it is my understanding that by calling and having yourself added to the queue, there is no reason to have to call in at the 7-day window at midnight. Why do you think it helps to call in as well?


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" ...overcoming my fears of turbulence one glass of chardonnay at a time. "

I agree that once you are on the queue, in theory, the upgrade should occur automatically 7 days out. However, I have found that if you are flying a route with a bunch of CPs, someone is not going to make the cut, as there are only a certain number of seats that they hold for upgrades. When I become familiar with the route (or after my first missed upgrade.....even if on the queue), that is when I start the call process. This ensures that you are the first one off the queue into the FC seat!

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

As a fairly recent CP, it is my understanding that by calling and having yourself added to the queue, there is no reason to have to call in at the 7-day window at midnight. Why do you think it helps to call in as well?

</font>

It is my understanding that the queue is manual and CP agents process it after midnight manually ... so by calling yourself at exactly midnight you may stand a better chance since the queue may not have been processed yet.

Answering a couple questions from earlier-

#1 DMUP20 inventory is G. I just did a DMUP20 award for myself and my wife for a trip next week. The inventory shifted from G6 to G4 after calling reservations.

#2 DMUP01s can be purchased at the gate. I had a trip from CHS-CLT-DCA with a very annoying paralegal late last year. Since we were originally booked on the CHS-DCA Express flight, there was no need to look at upgrade inventory. But since we rebooked CHS-CLT-DCA, F became an option and I was more than happy to pay $40 to upgrade my seat to F whilst leaving Ms. Chattymouth in Y class.