US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Upgrades on premium awards

Is this still doable?

Looking at a trip to CA using the 40,000 premium awards. Can I use the 20,000 upgrade award on top of it since the coach award is booked in U Class?

Is this still doable?

Looking at a trip to CA using the 40,000 premium awards. Can I use the 20,000 upgrade award on top of it since the coach award is booked in U Class?

If you book a premium coach award for 40k, it should be instantly upgradeable into P class (if available) using your free, unlimited preferred upgrades. HTH!

If you book a premium coach award for 40k, it should be instantly upgradeable into P class (if available) using your free, unlimited preferred upgrades. HTH!

Yes, that's one of the best things about premium awards...it's especially useful on commuter routes such as PHL-PIT and DCA-CLT where upgrades on paid fares from the "E" bucket are hard to come by.

Your CP/GP/SP upgrades can upgrade these, and I think you can add a 20k upgrade as well (if you need to upgrade more than one companion).

As has been mentioned, this is one of the best awards around.

If you book a premium coach award for 40k, it should be instantly upgradeable into P class (if available) using your free, unlimited preferred upgrades. HTH!

I think I know the answer, but does this apply to caribbean premium awards as well do you know?

Thanks...

I think I know the answer, but does this apply to caribbean premium awards as well do you know?

Thanks...



Yes, the upgrades apply to all flights, except for transatlantic.

Premium Transatlantic awards can only be upgraded using transatlantic upgrade certificates.

Hold on, I'm confused. Why not just book at First class standard award for 40k miles and avoid having to upgrade at all? :confused: Or am I missing something

Hold on, I'm confused. Why not just book at First class standard award for 40k miles and avoid having to upgrade at all? :confused: Or am I missing something

The 40k premium award can grab any coach seat, and upgrade immediately if P (or whatever P is called these days) is available, which is oftentimes is.

There are other ancillary benefits as well.

First Class standard may not be available when full-fare upgrades are still open. If you're a status member, then the rule-buster coach is usually the better option since complimentary upgrades apply. You don't get stuck with a saturday night stay rule, and if there's not an upgrade seat available, you can go ahead and get the flights anyway if you're sensitive to time.

Does a "P" ticket indicate that you can earn miles for travel on that ticket? or is it strictly an award ticket?

Does a "P" ticket indicate that you can earn miles for travel on that ticket? or is it strictly an award ticket?

No miles earned on a premium coach award that is then upgraded to fare code P.

i was rebooked from another ticket i had into fare code P, not sure why, it was a last minute at the gate change. just wanted to see if that would earn miles still...that's why i was confused

i was rebooked from another ticket i had into fare code P, not sure why, it was a last minute at the gate change. just wanted to see if that would earn miles still...that's why i was confused


"P" is the upgrade bucket for premium tickets (Y or B) and also Premium awards. There are usually more seats in the "P" bucket than in "E" (the bucket for normal upgrades on "roach" fares).

So a boarding pass with P on it will receive no miles, not even the coach miles?

So a boarding pass with P on it will receive no miles, not even the coach miles?

No - the majority of people with P boarding passes are upgraded passengers on full fare (Y, B, N, U) tickets. SP/GP/CP can upgrade those tickets at time of purchase into the P bucket. 85-99% of F seats can be P seats. Also, non-status members on full-fare can upgrade for $50 per 500 miles at time of purchase - they will also be booked into P. These seats will earn full-fare coach miles (100% actual, 150% preferred qualifying).

Lastly, SP/GP/CP on premium coach awards (40K / 50K depending on month) can upgrade at time of purchase into P class. Same rules as if they were on a full fare ticket. It's an excellent benefit. But the original ticket is still free - no miles.

Non-elite members can book premium coach awards but can't upgrade them into P class. Whether or not they can add a 20K more miles upgrade I don't know.

Can I as a CP book a premium award ticket for a relative I'm not flying with and instantly upgrade it if there's P inventory available? Or does the upgrade work like a regular upgrade on a paid ticket (in which I can use E-upgrades upgrade a companion I'm traveling with only)?

Thanks.

Can I as a CP book a premium award ticket for a relative I'm not flying with and instantly upgrade it if there's P inventory available? Or does the upgrade work like a regular upgrade on a paid ticket (in which I can use E-upgrades upgrade a companion I'm traveling with only)?
It would theoretically work like a paid ticket where you would need to be travelling as well.

However, the one time I booked an award (just a standard 20k coach award) for my sister, when she printed her boarding pass, it had MY dividend miles number and status on it. So, if that is always the case, you may be in luck.

I had the same thing happen to me, and booking a 40K award the recipients were upgraded to F, though I never asked about it because it isn't the official policy. I was not flying with them.

I do not know if it was a computer glitch or they were just being nice to my award recipients.