US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - US Airways Upgrade Question

Let me preface my first posting (ever) by asking you to excuse my inexperience and lack of knowledge with respect to air travel. In fact, it is my lack of experience and knowledge that inspired me to join this bulletin board.

My new bride and I will be traveling US Airways from FLL to Philly, and from Philly to Dublin, Ireland at the end of July. Our return flight will be out of Shannon, Ireland. Neither my wife nor I are "frequent flyers" on US Air, and we are booked to fly in coach. Is there any reasonable chance of upgrading our transatlantic legs from coach to business class? If so, what are your suggestions? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Welcome to Flyertalk! :)

I'll be flying to Dublin too in August. Unfortunately, July and August are the most popular months to fly. I am a frequent flier and have been waitlisted using miles for my outgoing trip (even though inventory shows 14 Envoy seats available). If I can't get an upgrade using miles (or using my Transatlantic Upgrade Certificate), I don't think you'll have a chance of getting an upgrade as a comp (for your honeymoon, I assume). Of course, it doesn't hurt to ask/try. Check-in early on the day of departure and ask nicely. If they say no, try getting a seat in the bulk-head or emergency row so you'll have a little more space to sleep.

Also, you may want to inquire about the cost of upgrading, sometimes (ok, rarely) they can offer you a reasonable price, like $200 more, if they want to get cash rather than giving the seat away to a frequent flier (like myself). But this usually works at the airport and not ahead of time.

Before everyone jumps in with humorous retorts, let me say the chances of you both being upgraded are 'slim to none'. Unless you were using miles in your US account, or if US were offering (which they sometimes do) 'sale' Envoy fares to DUB, operational upgrades (where you just luck out and are given the upgrade due to an oversold coach class + your status with US) don't happen all that often. You may get a sympathic desk agent who'll give you an upgrade on one of the segments because it's your honeymoon, but don't count on it.
PS--
Just checked and CO is offering BF seats from FLL to DUB for $1790--connecting in Newark. Now, I know that's probably a bit more than you wanted to spend, but you can be confirmed in F/Business First all the way through.

This is slightly off topic but you may not want to use your email address as your username. It increases the amount of junk mail that you get. :(

Welcome again to Flyertalk!

First, Welcome to FlyerTalk! I'm sure you'll be hooked soon :D

Regarding having your e-mail address as your username...many mass-email companies use "robots" to go through websites and pick up anything with a ___@___.___. Then they add you to a list. I would go along with the suggestion to change your username.

Congratulations! and have a great flight!

-Chris

Cooneyt: Welcome to Flyertalk!

As for upgrading: have you ever met the Chance Brothers, Slim and Fat?? :D

Seriously though, it sounds from your post that you're not even enrolled in the DM program. The last person they're ever going to Op-UG is a non-DM pax. You should also join to start accumulating the miles from this trip alone.

Happy Honeymoon!

US Airways might have Envoy fares to Ireland, too, for $999 each way. You could also try to get a space available or other type of upgrade certificate from a travel agent or a corporate travel department; airlines give them to people in the travel industry as favors.

Then again, there's Ebay, although I would guess that most of the upgrade certificates for sale are fraudulent or stolen or worthless or the like.

[B]Seriously though, it sounds from your post that you're not even enrolled in the DM program. The last person they're ever going to Op-UG is a non-DM pax.


I would have thought this, too. but our recent return MAD-PHL they were upgrading the first people who asked (operationally). When we got there to check in with 2 people who had been on the advance waitlist for over a month, AND already had miles deducted, they didnt have enough seats left.

This flight had 24 seats available 2 days before. Unfortunately, it was oversold by 20+.

My point is it cant hurt at all to ask. It drives me insane thinking that they wouldnt have even thought to be upgrading elites first. Overheard people behind us saying "maybe we should fly this airline again sometime" after their unexpected upgrades.