US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Silvers and the 757

OK silvers . . . or any other preferreds for that matter, what are the realistic chances of snagging an upgrade for me and a companion on the 757? I'm silver, of course.

I've avoided the 757 at all costs but due to pricing and time issues, I'm forced to take a segment on the dreaded F8 757. Flight is DCA-CLT-MCO 8:00 pm on Thursday 6/24, with the CLT-MCO leg on the 757. I know chances are terrible, but I want to know just how terrible they are. The return is through PIT on the 321, so I'm not too worried about that one.

Thoughts?

Chances are no. I just did the opposite -- Sun eve from MCO to CLT on 757. I as GP did not get upg'd and there was a CP sitting next to me. We were in exit row 8D and F so leg room wasn't a problem. :)

You have a slim chance! how do you have a slim chance you say? There is always the possibility of an equipment change, which i believe is a better possibility than a silver snagging an upgrade on an F8 757.

Heading towards the mouse during midweek, slim (Thursday might be "none").

Heading towards the islands is a crapshoot, but I cleared as both CP and GP.

Heading towards Vegas? Fugheddaboutit.

Book those exit rows now, and take comfort (insofar as one can in the back of a 757) that it's a short flight.

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Book those exit rows now, and take comfort (insofar as one can in the back of a 757) that it's a short flight.


Thanks. I just got off the phone with the Silver Pref line and snagged exit rows on all 4 segments, and am in the upgrade que for all flights. Suprisingly, when I asked him how it looked on both legs, the rep said "real good," even on the F8 757. Good news was that he told me the 757's WILL be going back to F16.

Thanks. I just got off the phone with the Silver Pref line and snagged exit rows on all 4 segments, and am in the upgrade que for all flights. Suprisingly, when I asked him how it looked on both legs, the rep said "real good," even on the F8 757. Good news was that he told me the 757's WILL be going back to F16.

Someone telling me it looks "real good" means nothing to me. You need to go out on ITN or some other engine and see the exact number of seats left. That is the only way to actually know where you stand.

Also, you are not even at the 7 day window so only people who paid an F or A fare or upgraded w/ miles or are flying interantional FC or Bus are already in FC. Did the agent check how many are already in the upgrade queue and their status? Is the flight almost full with only Y/B seats left for sale so anyone who now buys a ticket can get an instant upgrade?

My point is there are a lot a variables involved. That is why I take matters into my own hands and don't ask for their opinion.

On my last four or so flights to FLL on a 757 I have not been upgraded as a CP. Not necessarily a big deal, but when the trip also involves passing through PHL on my way from BOS the scale tips towards wanting to find an alternative.

Someone telling me it looks "real good" means nothing to me. You need to go out on ITN or some other engine and see the exact number of seats left. That is the only way to actually know where you stand.

Also, you are not even at the 7 day window so only people who paid an F or A fare or upgraded w/ miles or are flying interantional FC or Bus are already in FC. Did the agent check how many are already in the upgrade queue and their status? Is the flight almost full with only Y/B seats left for sale so anyone who now buys a ticket can get an instant upgrade?

My point is there are a lot a variables involved. That is why I take matters into my own hands and don't ask for their opinion.


Of course I asked him to take into account other Preferreds, etc, and he still said it looked "real good." But I do agree, him telling me a 757 looks "real good" doesn't really mean anything as I don't expect an upgrade, especially since we're not even at the 7 day window.

Could you explain how to use an ITN or "other engine" to determine the number or seats left. Normally I just look at the seat map on the website, like most normal people ;)

Have you signed up for a free account with ITN? If not, do so. Then go to the advanced search option for flights. Enter you flight times and then look at the results of available inventory on the right hand side. A, F, E are the first bucket fares. Check E as it is upgrade based on status inventory.

Have you signed up for a free account with ITN? If not, do so. Then go to the advanced search option for flights. Enter you flight times and then look at the results of available inventory on the right hand side. A, F, E are the first bucket fares. Check E as it is upgrade based on status inventory.

Same results with less hassle:

www.flyaow.com/classamex.htm

I have snagged quite a few upgrades as a Silver on the 757 from CLT to MCO. Much better luck since I moved to MCO than when I lived in PIT.

I got an upgrade to LAS the other day, after the availability had been F3 for at least two weeks. It was me and a couple, so I don't know if I was first or third on the list. They did tell me at checkin that my early (online) check-in time put me first out of 4 waiting, and there were a good number of people that asked about upgrade possibility at the hub. At the time of check-in I was officially a US2, though the CP desk had marked something about my flight which might have prioritized it as a US1.

The poor people who had been waiting anxiously without boarding assignments got a great exit row seat when I got upgraded. Same thing happened on my return flight...sometimes that works out to be a good sign for people. :)

You lucked out with your upgrade to Vegas, StSebastian. On my last flight from CLT to LAS a few weeks ago, I sat in the chilly exit row window seat 9F next to two CP's with three blankets covering my legs.

After freezing to death on the 757 and realizing that it's next to impossible to be upgraded, next time I'll be spending an extra couple of hours by taking an A321 to LAX and connecting to a cheap short hop America West flight to LAS. In my own experience and those of many others on this forum, upgrades for US1s and US2s from any of the hubs to LAX are pretty much a sure thing as long as you're not flying westbound on Sunday/Monday or eastbound Thursday/Friday.

I'd far prefer going through LAX and walking across T1 to an HP flight to spending 4+ hours on a US 757 in coach!

From a pure revenue standpoint, sure F8 to a supposed "leisure destination" like LAS makes sense. But for all of us Preferred members who are used to being upgraded on most flights, it's just an incentive to bail to another carrier when heading to Vegas---whether for business or pleasure.

If I flew to Sin City more often, I'd probably just call HP and have my US status comped...their lower fares, nonstop routings to LAS from more East Coast cities, and larger first class cabin provide an attractive alternative to our beloved US Airways!

You can book a UA codeshare from LAX and have the whole ticket count toward your US/UA miles. I've been routing through LAX for most of my LAS trips to get the A321 and E+ on the UA flights. Oddly enough, sometimes the LAX connection is cheaper than the LAS direct depending on which fare classes are available and sold out.

If you connect at LAX to a TED flight to LAS, you will have to switch terminals -- at least until US moves to one of the UA terminals (if that ever happens). If you connect at LAX to HP (or WN) and you have no checked baggage, you can avoid going through security again.

As an update:

The 757 F cabin filled two days ago, so it looks like I'll be getting hypothermia in the exit row, but that's ok. Return still looks good, 6/27 on the A321.

... next time I'll be spending an extra couple of hours by taking an A321 to LAX and connecting to a cheap short hop America West flight to LAS.

I did that last week. It was a breeze.