US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - HELP! - In need of tip to upgrade friend to 1st class - USAIR

Hi,

I am currently a USAIR Gold Dividend Miles member, and I am hoping to find someone who can offer advise to help an old friend of mine (who has a round-trip from LAX to PHI and back) move up to 1st class on his flight.

I have numerous upgrades to 1st class, but they are all "non-transferable", and I've tried both emailing and calling the GOLD members #, with no success. They won't budge from their position of selling the upgrades for $ or 20,000 miles. I'm thinking that's pretty steep, especially given that I have upgrades available, though I understand they want to make $$. What's surprising is that if I was present on this flight with him (I'm not - I'm in Erie PA, preparing for my wedding, the reason for which he is flying in to PA), they have no problem upgrading both of us with my miles. But if I'm not present, they can't upgrade.

Seems there should be a way to upgrade using these upgrades that I have. I'd be willing to use more upgrades even if that would help...

Does anyone have suggestions or experiences that helped them in a similar situation?

If you list your friend's flight schedule, perhaps one of the other Flyertalkers may be on that flight and could make him their "buddy for the day" to get him upgraded.

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Regards,
Roo

catapultback, that's what miles are for. If you are US2, then 20k is a drop in the bucket for you. With bonus miles, it should only take a trip or two (in first class) to make them up.

Congratulations, it's your wedding, so splurge and don't worry about the miles.

Wow - how wonderful this is!

Well, here's his info:

I'm almost positive that his departure flight on 12/3/03 is at 10:45am (flight #12). If not, it's definitely at 12:30pm.

His return flight is booked for 12/9/03, but I'm not aware of the departure time at the moment.

Thanks for any help you can offer http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Well irabk, you're right, but actually I became US Gold Preferred Div. miles at the beginning of 2003, but I am no longer working for the company with whom I received the frequent flyer miles benefits. I'm actually going to graduate school soon after our marriage, and I have most of my current miles ear-marked for a future vacation. 20,000 is about 30% of my remaining miles w/ USAIR, though buying the upgrades is still potentially an option. I'd much rather use the free upgrades that I have remaining (about 20 500 mile segments) if anyone has suggestions.

Don't hold on to those 500 mile upgrades too long. They expire 1 year (give or take)after issue. Cash them in for miles, you got 10k right there.

Cool, didn't know they're good for miles!

Go to Ebay and buy the US Space positive upgrades. They seem to do a booming business with all the auctions you see on there.

Save yourself the effort and buy your friend a bottle of wine and a plastic cup. It will be the same as an upgrade on US except your friend will get more wine.

Well, I take it that there's no way around the *non-transferable* nature of these upgrades then... Though if anyone has more info, I'm ready!

Since his flight is tomorrow, I can't buy off of EBay, but I will consider for future reference...

I'm appreciating all of your help.