America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Upgrades during award travel

Anyone been upgraded to First on an award ticket using America West miles? I am a Platinum.

Am I entitled to it? Or will begging the gate agent help? Any experiences?

I have been upgraded on award flights a number of times. I believe it was mostly due to the flight being oversold.

Begging the GA may be pointless, especially if they know the rules. It usually takes abnormal circumstances to have them upgrade your award ticket.

Personally, I never use miles for domestic coach tickets, but I have one friend in particular, who has done it many times. He's been upgraded almost every time. If there's a seat open in first when he checks in, they give it to him. He says that most of the time he doesn't even have to ask and that he's never been quoted a rule that doesn't allow it.

Keep in mind, though, that this is historical data and not necessarily reflective of today's reality. Given the increased number of first class seats that are now being sold at deeply discounted prices and the fact that on many flights there are many elite members who don't get close to being upgraded, it seems to me that, overall, the chances of getting to the airport and finding open seats in first are substantially slimmer than they used to be. It would depend a lot on the specific route, day of the week and the time of day.

I have been upgraded on award flights a number of times. I believe it was mostly due to the flight being oversold.

Begging the GA may be pointless, especially if they know the rules. It usually takes abnormal circumstances to have them upgrade your award ticket.


I've always been upgraded on value coach awards to F. Like ByrdluvsAWACO said, being a plat helps considerbly

I haven't booked an award seat since I made silver but I was wondering if we can still book exit row seats when we do?

Did your upgrades come through automatically as Platinum through the 72 hr window, or did the gate agent upgrade you? Did you have to ask the gate agent, or was it done when you got to the airport?

For me, it was always done by the GA. Based on that, I would suggest dressing nicely since your upgrade depends on the discretion of a human being versus a computer.

My son and I were on award tickets from SFO to Cancun on separate itins. We issued the awards last year before the mileage requirement increased from 25K miles. I am only Silver, and my son has no status.

Here is what happened for all of our upgrades:

SFO-PHX, PHX-CUN: Check in agent upgraded both of us to F, with seats together, and said that there were 2 separate F seats PHX-CUN, and she will grab them first, suggest that I check with PHX for seats together. After we boarded in PHX, informed FA on board, and she pleasantly asked another F passenger to switch and allow my son and me to sit together.

CUN-PHX: relatively green check-in agent did not give upgrade. Later at the gate, the same agent is working the flight. I asked him about buying an upgrade for my son since he has moderate sunburn, and the agent said that the computer system does not allow this at the gate, and has to be done at check-in, so I let it go. However, I did see him talking to another GA right afterwards. As we board with the first class pax, another gate agent called out 2AB to me ^ just when we were about to step onto the jetway.

PHX-SFO: assigned 12D 12F, custmer service rep at gate said that middle seat is unassigned, and wrote group 4 on our tickets. Later I asked another agent whether FF elites can board earlier, and she said that she can upgrade me, but not my son, I thank her and said that it is fine. At boarding I let my son took 2D, and informed FA that I am in 6F. After most of coach has boarded, the same FA came and told me that I have been upgraded to 2C ^

So we were upgraded 8 for 8 segments on award travel, on two separate itin, non-status traveling with lowly Silver. This is the only time I have domestic awards issued, all previous award tickets had been BA F.

We were not dressed to kill, just simple short sleeve shirt with khaki shorts. We asked nicely when appropriate, or even offering to pay for an upgrade. All in all, not a bad way award vacation to Cancun :D .