BizJet
Dec 23, 04, 3:15 pm
I am flying TPA-PHL-BDA on a premium coach award. The TPA-PHL portion cleared right away (complimentary DMUP500 Preferred upgrade because premium coach awards are treated as Y fares, meaning upgradeable anytime in advance). As it happens, one seat opened up today on the PHL-BDA portion, which is a 757 so I really never thought the upgrade would clear.
A companion is traveling on both flights. I tried to upgrade him from TPA-PHL (as PHL-BDA is unavailable). An agent put me on hold for about twenty minutes and told me that I can't upgrade a companion on only the domestic portion of a Caribbean itinerary. I called back and a different agent told me the same story, again after twenty minutes on hold as he researched it. The seats are definitely available from TPA-PHL, as the A321 has only five First Class seats reserved, 21 available, and plenty in the upgrade bucket.
I'm not sure I buy the explanation that the domestic portion of a Caribbean itinerary can't be upgraded for a companion unless the entire itinerary is upgraded. But two agents independently came to the same conclusion. I know there are some quirks with upgrading domestic portions of transatlantic itineraries because transatlantic flights have different upgrade rules, but (as far as I know) Caribbean upgrades are treated the same way as any domestic flight. So I don't think my request should be any different than, say, flying TPA-CLT-LAX and only upgrading the companion from TPA-CLT (as seats aren't available CLT-LAX), which I've done without hassle dozens of times.
As a side note, I must (somewhat guiltily) admit that I've been flying Southwest a lot recently because they have the only nonstops routes I've been taking recently. Though I miss the First Class cabin, I must admit that it is so easy not to have to deal with seat assignments and upgrades and waiting for frustrated agents to sort out upgrade and seat assignment requests like the aforementioned. On US Airways or other majors I feel somewhat entitled to get upgraded within the rules (like the above scenario) or secure a good exit row (where available), but no worries about any of these on Southwest since they are out of my hands! Just reflecting on this as I return to US Airways after months on Southwest.
A companion is traveling on both flights. I tried to upgrade him from TPA-PHL (as PHL-BDA is unavailable). An agent put me on hold for about twenty minutes and told me that I can't upgrade a companion on only the domestic portion of a Caribbean itinerary. I called back and a different agent told me the same story, again after twenty minutes on hold as he researched it. The seats are definitely available from TPA-PHL, as the A321 has only five First Class seats reserved, 21 available, and plenty in the upgrade bucket.
I'm not sure I buy the explanation that the domestic portion of a Caribbean itinerary can't be upgraded for a companion unless the entire itinerary is upgraded. But two agents independently came to the same conclusion. I know there are some quirks with upgrading domestic portions of transatlantic itineraries because transatlantic flights have different upgrade rules, but (as far as I know) Caribbean upgrades are treated the same way as any domestic flight. So I don't think my request should be any different than, say, flying TPA-CLT-LAX and only upgrading the companion from TPA-CLT (as seats aren't available CLT-LAX), which I've done without hassle dozens of times.
As a side note, I must (somewhat guiltily) admit that I've been flying Southwest a lot recently because they have the only nonstops routes I've been taking recently. Though I miss the First Class cabin, I must admit that it is so easy not to have to deal with seat assignments and upgrades and waiting for frustrated agents to sort out upgrade and seat assignment requests like the aforementioned. On US Airways or other majors I feel somewhat entitled to get upgraded within the rules (like the above scenario) or secure a good exit row (where available), but no worries about any of these on Southwest since they are out of my hands! Just reflecting on this as I return to US Airways after months on Southwest.