America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Upgrading to First Class

I have achieved elite status on America West, and wondered how often I can expect an upgrade to First Class. Leaving out of Columbus, Ohio to the West Coast most of the time.

I can't comment specifically about Columbus; but primarily flying out of PHX and LAS last year I was upgrades 95% of the time as a gold member. This year I'm 12 out of 13.

I think your chances for upgrades should be pretty good, as a Continental OnePass elite, only eligible for stand-by upgrades I've been doing pretty well on America West flights.

You did not indicate which level of elite status that you are; so I would guess that you are a silver ???

If you normally fly on full-fare "Y" class tickets, then I would say that your odds are pretty good. I think that silvers can get upgrades to FC on Y class tickets two days in advance of the flight.

If you are not flying on a Y class ticket, then you are looking at about a 1 in 4 shot on any given flight out of Columbus.

Personally, the only real stickler in being upgraded was on the Phoenix to Chicago gig. Even as a platinum I did not get to FC (although this was on a Q or W class ticket).

Interestingly, on a recent Phx to Columbus flight; I was on a Y class ticket and a plat. However; FC was full of plats flying on Y class tickets and I almost got bounced back to steerage based on my last name being near the end of the alphabet.

Time to change my name to Alan Aadvark?