US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - US Space Available Transatlantic Upgrade ds0084

Hello all,

Long time listener, first time caller. I appreciate the expertise of this board, and would like to hear about any experiences with these vouchers.

I will be attempting to use one for the first time next week PHL-AMS. I have spoken to US reserv agents several times, and have gotten various responses as to the protocol. I have already been meal listed, and requested a veg w/ dairy for my wife...but was told that special meals are not accomodated with upgrade certificates.

My starting point is YYZ, and have been told in one instance that I may present my certif at Toronto, and in another instance that I must wait until I arrive in Philadelphia. I would certainly be inclined to do what I can in Toronto, given that there's no downside and lounge access would be nice.

As of now (according to Expedia), there are 13 of 23 seats open in Envoy. I do not know how many are allocated to upgrades, etc.

Again, there does not seem to be an authoritative source for info on the use of these certifs on the Internet. I am hopeful that together we can make one here.

Regards,
M

I asked this same question 2 weeks ago in this thread:

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345858

The general opinion was you have to give the certificate to the gate agent at the flight you want to upgrade on. In your case this would be at PHL, since you are flying PHL to AMS. However, some said (and I would agree) that it doesn't hurt to ask every step of the way.

However, your itinerary made me think of a new question...in your case, your flight from YYZ to PHL could be on a 2-class jet. And according to the certificates, you are entitled to upgrades on all connecting flights. So it would seem as though US must have something in place to secure the upgrade at the origination point of your trip, so that you can be upgraded on every leg of the flight.

Interested in hearing what others think about this...

By the way, what day is your flight?

nicedream,

Thanks for pointing me toward that discussion!
Unfortunately, I'm on a CRJ from YYZ-PHL. Coach only.

M

Wednesday 9/1

Ah, 9/1 is the same day I am on my PHL-LGW trip! Looks like we'll be finding out the answers to this at the same time :cool:

I think PHL is the only place that can deal with it if you haven't cleared at the window. I think you will clear at the window about as often as the Atlantic freezes over and you could take a bus.

Well, if Al Gore and the people who made that crazy movie are right, it could be next week!

I think PHL is the only place that can deal with it if you haven't cleared at the window. I think you will clear at the window about as often as the Atlantic freezes over and you could take a bus.

If MikeLaw (and many others) are correct, then how would someone obtain an upgrade on all connecting flights before the transatlantic? Are the connecting upgrades only applicable when travelling from Europe to the US?

If MikeLaw (and many others) are correct, then how would someone obtain an upgrade on all connecting flights before the transatlantic? Are the connecting upgrades only applicable when travelling from Europe to the US?

the last time I used one of these from from ORD to Gatwick via PHL and back. On the way to Europe I was upgraded only on the PHL to Gatwick bit. On the way back I was upgraded all the way to ORD. So it does work on the intra US connection too.

I never used a TransAtlantic one, but I had a North American space available upgrades that I gave to some friends for a flight to BGI (Barbados), and we turned them in at DCA for our connection through PHL. They were upgraded on both flights (both on 320s). Don't know if it works the same for TransAtlantic certs though.

I would also second the advice that you should ask all along the way (including calling the night before).

how about this?
i have a 7 day stopover in PHL on the way to Europe...
shall I call them up the day before I take the domestic trip LAS-PHL and ask for them to put us on the meal lista (LAS-PHL and TA sector)? Oh, there is free food on domestic first, right?) Acc to seatmap there are 3 seats available right now, but of course I doubt I have any chance on the domestic portion, anyway. Worth trying?