AirTran Airways A+ Rewards - Business Class Upgrade for 4 pts ??

I've seen Business Class Upgrade mentioned on quite a number of posts where you can upgrade to biz class for 4 reward points. I'm still not certain that I know how the entire process works. There is apparently a number to call 24 hrs prior to flight departure. What # is it?

Can anyone list the the steps of the Biz upgrade process and explain how it works when you're booked on a reward flight?

Does the 4 reward points work on any flight or just those booked as reward flights? Sorry I'm confused! :confused:

Call the A+ Rewards number 24 hours prior to departure to upgrade using four credits. AirTran has had new hours of operation for that number lately. Should you get a message they are closed, just call 800-AIR-TRAN. The four credit upgrade is valid on any flight.
This link may be of some help:

http://www.aplusrewards.com/earn_and_redeem.aspx

Call the A+ Rewards number 24 hours prior to departure to upgrade using four credits. AirTran has had new hours of operation for that number lately. Should you get a message they are closed, just call 800-AIR-TRAN. The four credit upgrade is valid on any flight.
This link may be of some help:

http://www.aplusrewards.com/earn_and_redeem.aspx

It's any time the day before that you can call. So if your flight as 8pm (EST) on Monday, you can call any time beginning midnight tonight (Saturday night) to request an upgrade. I always call the regular 800-AIRTRAN number and just select the A+ rewards member option. I believe there is an option on the voice menu to request an upgrade. If the seat is available, then it's yours (for the points). If not, I recommend periodically checking the seat map (by trying to book the flight on airtran.com) during the 24 hours before the flight, as people change plans and seats can open up.

As an aside, keep in mind that your points only last 1 year from the date you earned the point. If you have 4 points in your account and have one about to expire, you can redeem a business class upgrade voucher, which lasts for another year. So it's a way to extend the life of your points, especially if the flight you are going to use them for an upgrade on is beyond the date one of your points expire.

I always call the regular 800-AIRTRAN number and just select the A+ rewards member option. I believe there is an option on the voice menu to request an upgrade.
That option will just send your call to the A+ Rewards Dept. They have shorter hours of late. The rep I spoke with told me they are handling more A+ Rewards calls since the hours have changed.

It looks like SWA is making some cutbacks in the call center special services area.

Once you redeem for upgrade you can call the airtran number and have the upgrade applied to ur flight.

Okay, so I am flying from BWI-MIA in late March but two of my A+ rewards expires in February. Are you saying I can somehow buy an upgrade voucher then use it on my flight? If so, how do I go about doing this? Can I do it online or do I have to call?

Thanks in advance!

It's any time the day before that you can call. So if your flight as 8pm (EST) on Monday, you can call any time beginning midnight tonight (Saturday night) to request an upgrade. I always call the regular 800-AIRTRAN number and just select the A+ rewards member option. I believe there is an option on the voice menu to request an upgrade. If the seat is available, then it's yours (for the points). If not, I recommend periodically checking the seat map (by trying to book the flight on airtran.com) during the 24 hours before the flight, as people change plans and seats can open up.

As an aside, keep in mind that your points only last 1 year from the date you earned the point. If you have 4 points in your account and have one about to expire, you can redeem a business class upgrade voucher, which lasts for another year. So it's a way to extend the life of your points, especially if the flight you are going to use them for an upgrade on is beyond the date one of your points expire.

Just call them. Or,

You can redeem for an upgrade "voucher" online.

http://www.aplusrewards.com/aplus/Rewards_Request.aspx

I do not like doing that, because one time I was not able to see it online even though it was there in the account. They confirmed when I called to ask (they were able to see it). Maybe they have fixed that issue by now.

Another option will be to simply pay to extend the A+ rewards expiration date. This can also be done online. But if it were me I'd go for the voucher since it will not cost you any $$.

I say get the voucher in Feb before the credits expire and then use it in March.

Yes you can get the voucher and use it anytime in the next year after purchase. I've done it with my wife's credits as she doesn't travel as much as I did so it was an easy way to extend them for another year until she flew again.

So, is my understanding correct that you can upgrade to business class either by using a voucher (which can be gotten for 4 credits) or by using 4 credits?

I ask because we are flying AirTran soon and I noticed 1,500 Amex Points=1 Credit...so for 12,000 points, I can get 8 credits. However, I don't want to convert the Amex points into credits, have to get a voucher, and then redeem that since it's quite possible that I won't be able to do the upgrade. I'd like to wait till the last minute to convert the Amex Points to Credits and then just use them directly 24 hours in advance to upgrade.

Once the A+ rewards post to your account from whatever conversion (Amex or some other way) you can simply call 24 hours before flight and get the upgrade to biz (provided that it is available). You do not need to get the voucher. Happy travels.

The days of using vouchers are long gone. All it takes is a simple phone call.

The days of using vouchers are long gone.

Unless you have credits expiring soon and want to extend their life.

You can redeem the 4 credits online for an upgrade voucher. To actually use the voucher just call AirTran. It's easy and no $ required. I've seen Business Class Upgrade mentioned on quite a number of posts where you can upgrade to biz class for 4 reward points. I'm still not certain that I know how the entire process works. There is apparently a number to call 24 hrs prior to flight departure. What # is it?

Can anyone list the the steps of the Biz upgrade process and explain how it works when you're booked on a reward flight?

Does the 4 reward points work on any flight or just those booked as reward flights? Sorry I'm confused! :confused:

Just an update on this. While you can theoretically call to upgrade at 12:01 AM a day before the flight, unfortunately Airtran closes down the A+ phone lines at midnight so there's no way to actually upgrade until they re-open the phone lines in the morning (7 AM weekdays, 9 AM weekends). I tried calling both numbers last night and it just re-directed me to the same "we're closed" message. So don't bother staying up until midnight like I did. Got to love Southwest's cost savings measures. This could easily be done online if they let you - not sure why they require you to call. So frustrating, but at least I was able to use up some of my expiring credits.

Just an update on this. While you can theoretically call to upgrade at 12:01 AM a day before the flight, unfortunately Airtran closes down the A+ phone lines at midnight so there's no way to actually upgrade until they re-open the phone lines in the morning (7 AM weekdays, 9 AM weekends). I tried calling both numbers last night and it just re-directed me to the same "we're closed" message. So don't bother staying up until midnight like I did. Got to love Southwest's cost savings measures. This could easily be done online if they let you - not sure why they require you to call. So frustrating, but at least I was able to use up some of my expiring credits.

1-800-Air-Tran always works...

If using vouchers or credits anytime the day prior is true. Actually after 12:01pm Eastern.. Elites can still beat you at T-48.

Though all other upgrades are still at T-24.

Didn't work last night. Calling the 800 number and choosing the option for A+ rewards just sent you to the same "we're currently closed" recorded message. Or are saying you can call the 800 number and select one of the other options to talk to reservations?

Just an update on this. While you can theoretically call to upgrade at 12:01 AM a day before the flight, unfortunately Airtran closes down the A+ phone lines at midnight so there's no way to actually upgrade until they re-open the phone lines in the morning (7 AM weekdays, 9 AM weekends). I tried calling both numbers last night and it just re-directed me to the same "we're closed" message. So don't bother staying up until midnight like I did. Got to love Southwest's cost savings measures. This could easily be done online if they let you - not sure why they require you to call. So frustrating, but at least I was able to use up some of my expiring credits.

Are you implying the 800-AIR-TRAN is no longer 24x7?

Yes choose reservations if the A+ is closed.

Thanks, can you clarify which option to choose? I listened to the list of available options and the only one that seemed relevant was to change an existing flight, so I chose that option and waited on hold. After 5 minutes on hold listening to them wax poetic about phone booking fees, change fees, etc. I figured it wasn't worth the aggravation. Anyway, hope this helps the next person who calls at 12 AM wondering what option to choose.

Yes choose reservations if the A+ is closed.

That always works now that the Special Services desk has been closed at Midnight. Thanks SWA.

Are there other advantages to doing this , vs. paying $49 for the 24 hr window upgrade ?

If your Airtran credits are expiring, makes sense. Wouldn't make sense to transfer AMEX points at net below $0.01/point

You can always pay, if they offer it.

Benefits of using 4 credits:
1) You can upgrade sooner than 24 hours, so you have better availability
2) Using credits upgrades you on all legs - if you pay with cash you have to pay for each leg separately
3) The cost to upgrade is often more than $49. It believe it's:

$49 for Short-Range Nonstop Flights
$69 for Medium-Range Nonstop Flights
$99 for Long-Range Nonstop Flights
$129 for Extra-Long Range Nonstop Flights

We didn't have credits last year and paid for our upgrades flying home from PUJ-SEA. I believe the PUJ-ATL leg was 2 x $69 and the ATL-SEA leg was 2 x $129. It would have been much better to use 4 credits each to save 2 x $198. That said, it was still worth every penny on that long return flight!

Edited to add: As of 3/1/12 you can no longer transfer AMEX MR to A+ so somewhat of a moot point, but transferring 6K MR for 4 A+ credits would have been worth it for long and/or connecting flights.

Benefits of using 4 credits:
1) You can upgrade sooner than 24 hours, so you have better availability
2) Using credits upgrades you on all legs - if you pay with cash you have to pay for each leg separately
3) The cost to upgrade is often more than $49. It believe it's:

$49 for Short-Range Nonstop Flights
$69 for Medium-Range Nonstop Flights
$99 for Long-Range Nonstop Flights
$129 for Extra-Long Range Nonstop Flights

We didn't have credits last year and paid for our upgrades flying home from PUJ-SEA. I believe the PUJ-ATL leg was 2 x $69 and the ATL-SEA leg was 2 x $129. It would have been much better to use 4 credits each to save 2 x $198. That said, it was still worth every penny on that long return flight!

Edited to add: As of 3/1/12 you can no longer transfer AMEX MR to A+ so somewhat of a moot point, but transferring 6K MR for 4 A+ credits would have been worth it for long and/or connecting flights.

Thanks!
I've only used Airtran for DCA-ATL, so wasn't aware of tiered last-min upgrade pricing

Am disappointed that SouthWest forced them out of the AMEX partnership. I used AMEX points to Airtran points to book a flight last year. I'm doing the same trip this year, haven't paid for the flight yet. Will have status on AA 4 weeks from now, but it's not really a AA route - Delta and Airtran dominate ... I need to look into if I can have status-matching on Delta once AA gold is activated, maybe my corporate travel center can help

Bigger issue with the Southwest merger is biz class will be going away. Enjoy the chance to upgrade while you can. Although you can no longer transfer credits from AMEX MR, you can always hit someone up on coupon connection. I'm sitting on 25 credits that won't expire for 1.5 years (since earned via the Barclays AirTran credit card which is no longer available) but otherwise I'd be worried about using up my credits before they expire. Actually looiking forward to them becoming Rapid Rewards, only because we don't fly AirTran routes much.

Is it four credits to upgrade one segment of a one-way flight with a connection, or the whole trip?

I'm flying more AirTran since the UA/CO merger -- only sorry I discovered them in their last days.

4 credits = upgrade all segments one way

Is it four credits to upgrade one segment of a one-way flight with a connection, or the whole trip?

I'm flying more AirTran since the UA/CO merger -- only sorry I discovered them in their last days.

All segments provided the seats are available. If seats aren't available on one of the legs you can choose to UG the remaining leg but it will still cost 4 credits.