Swiss International Airlines - How can I upgrade my booking with miles for 4 persons?

I have booked with LX business to MIA for April 2010 for 4 pax.
Now I want to upgrade the 4 pax to First but I already tried this and the whole F cabin is empty but there is no availability for 4 for the upgrade (the specifi booking code is not available).

How can I try to get this upgrade with miles?

Do you think that LX will even start with an empty F cabin rather than upgrade people if they ask for by paying with miles?

The agent of LX and Miles and More told me both that it is not possible to use the waitlist because LX doesn't have a waitlist for such upgrades.

How should I proceed?
Any suggestions?

Upgrades into F book into the same booking class (O) as do free tickets. Given that there are only 8 seats in F, it is rare that LX will release 4 for award use. And if they do, they'll likely do so one or two at a time.

It might be worthwhile upgrading 2 pax first and then hoping that another 2 O class seats become available closer to departure.

That was also my first idea BUT the agents (both) told me that this is impossible than all 4 persons are booked in one file/booking number so if I ask an upgrade it is for all 4 or for nobody.

That was also my first idea BUT the agents (both) told me that this is impossible than all 4 persons are booked in one file/booking number so if I ask an upgrade it is for all 4 or for nobody.

That sounds very unlikely to me. I think every reservation system has this functionality and I cannot imagine a good reason that would inhibit the split into two + two. (such as a fare rule that is only valid for 4 pax travelling together either.)
So I presume they just did not know HOW to split your PNR into parts.

Are the business class tickets paid with cash or miles? If they're paid with miles, you could face another issue, which is that M&M claims that they cannot upgrade an existing award ticket, but must issue a new ticket and refund the old one. (both transactions include miles as well as taxes.)

The trouble is that the refund can take ages. (I've just received miles from such a transaction back to my account yesterday. Mind you this was almost 3 months (not days!) after the new tickets were issued.

My advise would be to call LX first to split the PNR into as many parts as you want. Ask to speak to a supervisor if you get the "impossible" reply again. Tell them it was very likely part of their PARS training manual, which is probably still dealing with passengers Laurel and Hardy.
Then call M&M as soon as you see availability in O.

That was also my first idea BUT the agents (both) told me that this is impossible than all 4 persons are booked in one file/booking number so if I ask an upgrade it is for all 4 or for nobody.This is definitely untrue (unless you are already travelling on award tickets). Call again.

That was also my first idea BUT the agents (both) told me that this is impossible than all 4 persons are booked in one file/booking number so if I ask an upgrade it is for all 4 or for nobody.

The agents will need to split the PNR to upgrade fokls into whatever seats are available. You could potentially end up with all four customers on individual PNRs having started from the same one should the seats only open up one at a time.

Thanks for the answers

But splitting is not an option then I want to be sure that everybody will travel in First.


By the way these are paid tickets.

Any other suggestions?

But splitting is not an option then I want to be sure that everybody will travel in First.As mentioned before, it is nearly impossible to get 4 O class seats at the same time.

If you are unwilling to take the chance, then you'll need to look at paid upgrades (i.e. fare difference to A class).