US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Have been given US Space Available Upgrades...Help! I have NO clue how they work!

Hi everyone!

I have been given a couple of space available upgrades for a trip I'm taking the first weekend in October. The problem is that I have NO clue how they work! Do you have to have to be a CP, Gold or Silver DM member to use them (the awesome person who gave them to me is a CP...)

If anyone can tell me what I need to do or maybe even what odds I probably have actually being about to use them, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks so much...Have a good day, everyone.

Elleays

PS - I don't fly a whole heck of a a lot but I really love USAirways and I hope they make it! :)

Hi, I just used space available upgrades a few weeks ago. These were code DS00084, the transatlantic ones, but I would assume domestic work similarly.

When you check in, give the certificates. They will put you on the waitlist. The upgrades are given out around an hour or so before the flight, at which time they will page you at the gate to come get your new tickets. It can't hurt to ask if the upgrades have cleared if you're getting antsy....that's what I did on my flight home and I discovered the new tickets had already been printed, but the gate agent just had not gotten around to paging me.

The process went very smoothly, I would expect it to work out well for you too.

As a CP and US fan, the only advice that I would add is to be nice to the gate agent and stay near the desk. Many times lately, upgrade processing has been quite inconsistent and you have to know the right questions to ask or you could lose your opportunity.

#0 - Check-in 24hrs before the flight online...and recheck in at the desk upon EARLY arrival at the airport!

#1 - Upon initial visit to the desk, ask how many seats are open in first.

#2 - You will also want to know how many people are on the upgrade list ahead of you.

#3 - Don't roam too far.

We had a situation in DC recently where an upgrade was processed for someone who wasn't in the immediate boarding area, possibly using the facilities or getting a bite to eat, and the agent upgraded others instead.

#0 - Check-in 24hrs before the flight online...and recheck in at the desk upon EARLY arrival at the airport!

#1 - Upon initial visit to the desk, ask how many seats are open in first.

#2 - You will also want to know how many people are on the upgrade list ahead of you.

#3 - Don't roam too far.




Online check-in will do no good since the poster isn't already standing by for the upgrade in the system, and all preferreds will clear before him/her anyway.

But I agree with all the others, stay by the gate and ask how many are in line ahead of you. Remeber that when using the Space Available upgrade, all CP, GP, and SPs AND their companions will be upgraded before you. If you haven't already booked the flight you plan to use them on, try looking for flights on the Airbus A321 as this aircraft has the most F seats meaning you'll have a better chance of clearing after the Preferreds have cleared.

Good luck, and welcome to flyertalk!

Everyone, thank you for replying. I appreciate all the info! It makes me very happy that my first post was actually read! :)

We have already purchased tickets and it looks like we are flying a 737-300 from JAX to CLT and then an Airbus 321 from CLT to LAX so maybe we'll have a better chance of getting the upgrade (at least to LAX).

It wouldn't be helpful to call the USAirways 800 number and mention that we have those upgrades, would it?

It wouldn't be helpful to call the USAirways 800 number and mention that we have those upgrades, would it?

Doubt it, since the upgrades will not clear until just before the flight. Although I believe the tickets do say to call 24 hours in advance to be meal listed (definitely do that), I doubt you will improve your upgrade chances by calling.