Cash Buy Up Not Available but Miles Buy Up Is?
Sep 8, 2013, 3:05 pm
#2
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Sep 8, 2013, 3:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2012
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Online, you mean? Often the online upgrade doesn't work (for I'm assuming technical reasons). Cash is always available (as in, a buy-up to a higher fare class) if you call in, but it may be a disappointingly high amount.
Sep 8, 2013, 3:38 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Yes, I am referring to the on-line options. But I'm not so sure it's a "technical" glitch. The problem with calling in is I'd probably be hit with a change fee in addition to the fare difference. There is no change fee when doing the upgrade online.
Sep 8, 2013, 4:25 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2012
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I thought if you were just increasing fare class on the same flight, they usually don't charge the change fee?
Sep 8, 2013, 4:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2012
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IME, and this may sound crazy, but it seems that I'm not offered cash buy-up options when the likelihood of receiving a CPU is quite high. It's as if they are protecting me from spending unnecessary funds, but they'll let me burn miles to guarantee my place up front.
It sounds even crazier to me as I type it, but it does seem to be the case. It is always when the number of available mileage upgrade seats is high in relation to the total number of premium seats available. In those cases where the available seats decreases significantly, I've seen the buy-up option reappear.
It has also been my experience that tickets purchased far in advance will offer very low buy-up options, then they go away as the departure date approaches without the premium cabin being filled. In those cases where the buy-up returns, it's always at a higher rate than I was originally offered.
Disclaimer: This is pure speculation with no basis in any known policy.
(Now going to duck behind the sofa to avoid the verbal rocks that will certainly be thrown at me as a result of this post.)
It sounds even crazier to me as I type it, but it does seem to be the case. It is always when the number of available mileage upgrade seats is high in relation to the total number of premium seats available. In those cases where the available seats decreases significantly, I've seen the buy-up option reappear.
It has also been my experience that tickets purchased far in advance will offer very low buy-up options, then they go away as the departure date approaches without the premium cabin being filled. In those cases where the buy-up returns, it's always at a higher rate than I was originally offered.
Disclaimer: This is pure speculation with no basis in any known policy.
(Now going to duck behind the sofa to avoid the verbal rocks that will certainly be thrown at me as a result of this post.)
Sep 8, 2013, 4:45 pm
#7
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IME, and this may sound crazy, but it seems that I'm not offered cash buy-up options when the likelihood of receiving a CPU is quite high. It's as if they are protecting me from spending unnecessary funds, but they'll let me burn miles to guarantee my place up front.
It sounds even crazier to me as I type it, but it does seem to be the case. It is always when the number of available mileage upgrade seats is high in relation to the total number of premium seats available. In those cases where the available seats decreases significantly, I've seen the buy-up option reappear.
It has also been my experience that tickets purchased far in advance will offer very low buy-up options, then they go away as the departure date approaches without the premium cabin being filled. In those cases where the buy-up returns, it's always at a higher rate than I was originally offered.
Disclaimer: This is pure speculation with no basis in any known policy.
(Now going to duck behind the sofa to avoid the verbal rocks that will certainly be thrown at me as a result of this post.)
It sounds even crazier to me as I type it, but it does seem to be the case. It is always when the number of available mileage upgrade seats is high in relation to the total number of premium seats available. In those cases where the available seats decreases significantly, I've seen the buy-up option reappear.
It has also been my experience that tickets purchased far in advance will offer very low buy-up options, then they go away as the departure date approaches without the premium cabin being filled. In those cases where the buy-up returns, it's always at a higher rate than I was originally offered.
Disclaimer: This is pure speculation with no basis in any known policy.
(Now going to duck behind the sofa to avoid the verbal rocks that will certainly be thrown at me as a result of this post.)
Sep 8, 2013, 4:46 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
That I don't know, but this I do: I recently tried to upgrade to BF online (it was a cash option, not miles) but the website took me to an error page. So I called the phone number posted thereon and asked the cyborg to process my request because the website wouldn't. The cyborg gave me the upgrade, but tried to add a change fee. I protested, pointing out that there is no change fee when the website offers an upgrade; one simply pays the stated amount. And since the website was not working, I shouldn't be penalized for its fault. It took a supervisor cyborg to complete my transaction sans change fee.
Sep 8, 2013, 4:55 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
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But wait! Many of mine are intl, although from Central America or Northern South America. Still intl, but CPUs do indeed apply.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 8, 2013 at 5:49 pm Reason: merge
Sep 8, 2013, 6:14 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
