US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-2005 America West merger) - Upgrades

Two questions regarding upgrades for the more experienced:

1.) I know that airport clearance is based on status and then check-in time but what about advanced clearance. How are the seats cleared at the 7, 3 and 1 day window? Does fare class have anything to do with it?

2.) Those of you who mention checking F inventory and noting F3, F5, etc. How do you go about getting a specific inventory number without calling?

2 - Available through itn.net. You need a user ID and must set your profile to Advanced mode. You can also get a shortcut to this info for simple flight schedules from: http://flyaow.com/classamex.htm

1 - I've heard theories on this one, but no absolute, certain answer.

Two questions regarding upgrades for the more experienced:

1.) I know that airport clearance is based on status and then check-in time but what about advanced clearance. How are the seats cleared at the 7, 3 and 1 day window? Does fare class have anything to do with it?

2.) Those of you who mention checking F inventory and noting F3, F5, etc. How do you go about getting a specific inventory number without calling?
I'll give it a stab.

1 Clearing at the 7.3.1 day window is based on status. On NON Y class of fares. CP's clear at the 7 day window, GP's clear at the 3 day window, and SP's clear at the 1 day window if there is inventory in the "E" bucket(domestic flights).

As far as who clears first in the respective windows, it is based purely on who booked their ticket first, i.e. oldest tickets (or FIFO for the bean counters among us) are allocated out of the "E" bucket first.

One little known fact here is that once the automated upgrade process runs at the respective window. there is no additional checking to to see if any "E" bucket inventory has opened up, i.e. if you have not cleared at the window, you record is not looked at or touched again unless you call and check it.

Now to the Y fare class tickets. These come out of the the "P" bucket. If this bucket has inventory, then you can upgrade at time of booking. If there is no inventory you go on the wait-list and just like above your record is not looked at again.

2. In addition to the ITN website that CPRich mentioned, you can download this program written by a member of FT that will give you both the fare buckets and a seat map. I use it all the time. the link is.............
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319244]

and last but not least, welcome to flyertalk. You will find some of the most knowledgeable people in the world here when it comes to anything about points and miles. We look forward to seeing you here often.

I'll give it a stab.

1 Clearing at the 7.3.1 day window is based on status. On NON Y class of fares. CP's clear at the 7 day window, GP's clear at the 3 day window, and SP's clear at the 1 day window if there is inventory in the "E" bucket(domestic flights).

As far as who clears first in the respective windows, it is based purely on who booked their ticket first, i.e. oldest tickets (or FIFO for the bean counters among us) are allocated out of the "E" bucket first.

One little known fact here is that once the automated upgrade process runs at the respective window. there is no additional checking to to see if any "E" bucket inventory has opened up, i.e. if you have not cleared at the window, you record is not looked at or touched again unless you call and check it.

Now to the Y fare class tickets. These come out of the the "P" bucket. If this bucket has inventory, then you can upgrade at time of booking. If there is no inventory you go on the wait-list and just like above your record is not looked at again.

2. In addition to the ITN website that CPRich mentioned, you can download this program written by a member of FT that will give you both the fare buckets and a seat map. I use it all the time. the link is.............
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319244]

and last but not least, welcome to flyertalk. You will find some of the most knowledgeable people in the world here when it comes to anything about points and miles. We look forward to seeing you here often.

Thanks for the response and the welcome. Hope you had a good holiday. One additional question was wondering if you had the answer to. I did the ITN check for a Sun. return from PHL. It gave me F3 for the flight. Then when I looked at the UA codeshare for the same flight it gave me F4. I was under the impression that inventories overlapped. However, I was surprised to see that UA had more F seats than US was showing. Any insight on what the real availiability is, F3 F4 or F7? or something entirely different?
Thanks.

B fares also clear into P inventory.

I'll give it a stab.

1 Clearing at the 7.3.1 day window is based on status. On NON Y class of fares. CP's clear at the 7 day window, GP's clear at the 3 day window, and SP's clear at the 1 day window if there is inventory in the "E" bucket(domestic flights).

As far as who clears first in the respective windows, it is based purely on who booked their ticket first, i.e. oldest tickets (or FIFO for the bean counters among us) are allocated out of the "E" bucket first.

One little known fact here is that once the automated upgrade process runs at the respective window. there is no additional checking to to see if any "E" bucket inventory has opened up, i.e. if you have not cleared at the window, you record is not looked at or touched again unless you call and check it.

Now to the Y fare class tickets. These come out of the the "P" bucket. If this bucket has inventory, then you can upgrade at time of booking. If there is no inventory you go on the wait-list and just like above your record is not looked at again.

2. In addition to the ITN website that CPRich mentioned, you can download this program written by a member of FT that will give you both the fare buckets and a seat map. I use it all the time. the link is.............
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319244]

and last but not least, welcome to flyertalk. You will find some of the most knowledgeable people in the world here when it comes to anything about points and miles. We look forward to seeing you here often.

OK,

I am looking on itn.net for flight 518 on Dec 23rd. I have no status on US but would be using a "Space Positive" upgrade. I do not see an "E" bucket. I see the "P" bucket and the "F" bucket. Which bucket do I need to watch for this type of upgrade?


Thanks!!

-Jeremy

OK,

I am looking on itn.net for flight 518 on Dec 23rd. I have no status on US but would be using a "Space Positive" upgrade. I do not see an "E" bucket. I see the "P" bucket and the "F" bucket. Which bucket do I need to watch for this type of upgrade?


Thanks!!

-Jeremy
Sometime in June, US made the decision to not show the "E" bucket inventory on any of the search engines or sabre, so ITN is not going to show it. As for the space postive, I wasn't sure so I called the CP desk. Looks like you stumped them as well. Their best guess was that it either came out of the F or P bucket. They did say it was confirmable at the time of booking.

Maybe some one else can help us out here. Or you can post the type of certificate you have, i.e. the number and I'll call and back and with that they can give us the details.

Does the 3 day window for Gold as an example start at 12:01 AM 3 days prior regardless of departure time or exactly 72 hours prior to departure time?

On a recent trip SFO-CLT, I was waitlisted for an upgrade at the 3-day window. However, I checked the next day (this wouuld be 2 days out from the flight) and I was upgraded. Both of these things I saw on Virtually There. So perhaps the rules have changed and your record is touched again if space in E opens up?

Does the 3 day window for Gold as an example start at 12:01 AM 3 days prior regardless of departure time or exactly 72 hours prior to departure time?

12:01 AM 3 days prior regardless of departure time

To be more specific, it's 12:01 AM Central Time