America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Upgrading on HP

If one is flies 75K a year split between America West and Continental, is it better to be elite on which airline? Assume all are discount fares.

a. How easy is it for a CO PLAT to upgrade on HP?

b. How easy is it for a HP PLAT to upgrade on CO?

c. Is it safe to assume that HP PLATs can upgrade roughly 100% on HP operated flights?

Also, how would HP's First Class compare to UA Shuttle on PHX-LAX?

THANKS!!!

The answer to A and B are 2 hours before departure. But it would be easier for CO plat to UG on HP than an HP plat to UG on CO. CO FC is almost always full.

As for C, I've never heard of an HP plat not get UG'd. I'm sure it happens, but probably not much.

I've never flown the Shuttle, but based on what others say, HP FC would win hands down.

So if I wanted to upgrade the most possible, it's probably better to be a CO PLT since it probably is easier to upgrde two hours out on HP than it is to upgrade to hours out on CO...assuming one's "home airline" is almost 100% upgrades.... ??

Is this rule the same when on FULL-FARE ticks?

It is pretty much a toss-up, I would think. I will say this, being gold (or plat) on Am West is awesome if you are flying Y class tickets. You get FC automatically at the time of purchase. Just about can't beat that deal.

For the 50% or so of the time that I do not fly a Y ticket (with FC from initial booking), I am running about a 70% shot of getting FC. Not that bad of a ratio, really.

Don't know about Continental. Some of my coworkers who are platinum on them seem to like them a lot. They indicated getting FC just slightly less often that I do.

Good luck.

CO also gives its elites FC at time of booking for full-fare Y tickets.

Steven, in regards to the question of HP vs. UA Sh**tle, don't forget that Brancatelli noted that Shuttle is the worst air service product in the USA, that the only reason it has survived without much negative press is that it operates primarily in the west.

I find that using my CO Silver on HP is no problem. I upgrade about 2/3 of the time flying between DEN and California locations.

I think HP has many fewer Elites as compared to other airlines. I'm only a Silver , but I never have any trouble upgrading on HP.

Ord26, you're probably right. Up until the last few years, HP really spent a lot of energy targeting vacation travelers, who are less likely to fly frequently enough and with the same airline to qualify for elite.

I think that's why they are giving that 2000 mile bonus for tickets originating in Phoenix to the West Coast. Those bonus miles are applicable towards Elite staus. I think they are trying to encourage some business travel on HP with the lure being easy to attain Elite status.

HP definitely has fewer elites than other airlines. Reasons being that 1-they are a smaller airline (I think the 9th in the US?), hence lower base rate probability. 2-No overseas routes, i.e., no chance to rack up 10,000 miles at a shot, and 3-For the most part a "value" airline which is not pushing too much for the business fliers.

In discussing the above with an HP FA, she did mention that the number of golds and platinums increased by "at least a third" since the initiation of the 4,000 qualifying miles for the West Coast promotion.

Personally, I have had exceptionally good luck on receiving comped upgrades. The only exception to this was two round-trips to Chicago; but do note that both entailed Monday AM departures and Friday PM returns. Popular flights. Other than not getting any upgrades on these four segments, the odds of getting an upgrade are really quite good.

[This message has been edited by Butcher Bird (edited 11-04-2000).]

One correction, if you buy Y you can upgrade on HP on the spot even if you are only CO Gold. I bought a ticket on HP two weeks in advance and they upgraded me right then. On lower fares you have to wait til just before the flight to get your upgrade.