US Airways First Class to SXM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 311
US Airways First Class to SXM
We are booked in Y on US Air from PHL to SXM. I think I can upgrade using UA miles. But is it worth it? Last tiime I flew US Air to the Caribbean in F, about two years ago, the product was terrible. Has it improved at all? I guess it is probably worth the miles, since I have no other compelling need for them. But what can I expect in F? Thanks.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
We are booked in Y on US Air from PHL to SXM. I think I can upgrade using UA miles. But is it worth it? Last tiime I flew US Air to the Caribbean in F, about two years ago, the product was terrible. Has it improved at all? I guess it is probably worth the miles, since I have no other compelling need for them. But what can I expect in F? Thanks.
Personally I don't think it's worth it - if it were me I'd save my miles for an international J or F award on Thai, Singapore or Lufthansa, and save the co-pay for a few drinks in Sint Maarten. YMMV though, and if this is a special occasion for you and want to fly in domestic F, then by all means go for it, there are worse things you can spend your miles on.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: PIT/LBA
Programs: I miss US Airways
Posts: 791
You get three free checked bags, priority check-in, security and boarding, a slightly bigger seat, free adult beverages and snacks and if the scheduled flight time is 3:30 or more, a full meal. (I clocked it as 3:11 in the air on Great Circle Mapper, so it's borderline.)
Personally I don't think it's worth it - if it were me I'd save my miles for an international J or F award on Thai, Singapore or Lufthansa, and save the co-pay for a few drinks in Sint Maarten. YMMV though, and if this is a special occasion for you and want to fly in domestic F, then by all means go for it, there are worse things you can spend your miles on.
Personally I don't think it's worth it - if it were me I'd save my miles for an international J or F award on Thai, Singapore or Lufthansa, and save the co-pay for a few drinks in Sint Maarten. YMMV though, and if this is a special occasion for you and want to fly in domestic F, then by all means go for it, there are worse things you can spend your miles on.
And yes, a full meal, good rule of thumb is to dummy book on usairways.com Scheduled flight time is 4:05 and the dummy booking says Lunch.
Also, depending on what day you fly, it looks like PHL-SXM is either an A319 or B757. The 757 has "envoy" seats that recline 160 degrees. 319 will be a standard domestic F seat.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
Actually if it's a B757 then I take that back - those seats are extremely nice for a daytime flight. Just keep in mind that the service won't be Envoy: your meal will be essentially a domestic F meal and there won't be any inflight entertainment.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA, AS, SQ, Hilton Diamond, PC Platinum, National Exec
Posts: 726
You can't upgrade using ua miles.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,066
US Airways participates in the Star Alliance Upgrades. But, you have to be on a full Y or B coach fare. If it's a 757, and the miles aren't a big dent to the OP's UA account then it's worth trying to redeem. I don't see anything that says the *A upgrade awards are for TA or TP travel, although I suspect that's where most people try to use them.
http://www.united.com/web/en-us/cont...rade/saua.aspx
http://www.united.com/web/en-us/cont...rade/saua.aspx
Last edited by PHL; May 12, 2012 at 7:02 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: PIT/LBA
Programs: I miss US Airways
Posts: 791
US Airways participates in the Star Alliance Upgrades. But, you have to be on a full Y or B coach fare. If it's a 757, and the miles aren't a big dent to the OP's UA account then it's worth trying to redeem. I don't see anything that says the *A upgrade awards are for TA or TP travel, although I suspect that's where most people try to use them.
http://www.united.com/web/en-us/cont...rade/saua.aspx
http://www.united.com/web/en-us/cont...rade/saua.aspx