cmd320

The point is that this isn't the same as unlimited complimentary upgrades for all elites. Using stickers to upgrade (whether they were earned or purchased) does not make it complimentary as stickers have value and must be traded in exchange for an upgrade. This is very different from the unlimited complimentary upgrade systems at DL, US, and UA which allow all levels of elites space available upgrades at any time without the need for an instrument.

tegelad

Always check your fare class prior to purchase, to get shifted from one flight to other you will need to have either an F,A,C,Z. If the fare class is O or P ... not going to happen. If use miles, it needs to be I class. Listed here (http://cwsi.net/usair.htm) if you want to see the fare class definition for yourself.

+-ADT

milesandmoremiles

Give them time. Most airlines usually say they will respond in 30 to 60 days but I've found its almost always sooner.

Air Rarotonga

+1!

I am sorry but I can't agree your advice. If I book a F-cl ticket on the airline site and get offered an up-fare without any notice (what is the case with most airlines offering it), then i also expect the same service behind, if any irregularity happens... How should a customer find out that he just bought an up-fare without indication??? It's not the customers duty to make researches about the fare, it would be the airlines obligation to inform the vustomer - in an appropriate way - before he buys it...

Soly

I had an A class ticket!

Dave Noble

Looking at fares on that route, all the A fares seem to be instant upgrade fares

How much was the fare?

Often1

None of this really matters as there wasn't space in F for OP. Had he paid full F,he would have been entitled to a refund of the fare difference.

But, if wanting to sit in F, the only real alternative was to sit in CLT until a flight with space opened up. Because of the complimentary UG system, that's likely to be a few days.

Soly

Around $700 for each ticket, one way.

Dave Noble

In which case it wouldn't have been about $300 extra for a ticket in F class but more like $850 per ticket

MrAndy1369

UA also does the same thing. There's been a lot of discussion about similar fares on AA (P fares). "Instant upgrade", but that terminology has disappeared, making it even more misleading.

Doesn't US have a downgrade kit like UA does? IIRC, UA offers a downgrade kit - there's a specific code for SHARES out there that some FF'ers know (it's floating around in the UA forum), which entitles downgraded customers to compensation ($200-500, methinks). I'm not sure about DL, but from what I've heard, DL and pmAA usually is good about offering the difference between the 'upgrade' fare and Y, although oftentimes the difference isn't that substantial, or in a few cases, Y being higher.

Also, shouldn't US hold 1-2 F seats for last-minute purchasers/IRROPs? I believe AA does that - they often hold 1-2 F seats for sale/IRROPs up to 30 minutes before boarding, then they close the flight and process the remaining upgrades, if nobody has purchased the last several seats, or if nobody from IRROPS had taken the seats.

Soly

Actually, no, the refundable first was for $1100. You can check it online, it still is the same price.

Dave Noble

Being refundable does not stop it being an instant upgrade

e.g. AA00ZRH1 base fare $1049 is both refundable and instant upgrade

The F fare for DCA-LAS F6 fare which is not classified as an instant upgrade fare is base of $1872

Soly

This is what is on their website when you ask for a First class ticket, only two categories, non refundable and flexible:


I bought the 784, non refundable and the other option was $1,177 for the flexible first!

I know what I bought. It's not the first time that I travel. I bought a first class ticket with no mention of instant upgrade!

They are cheating people out of their money when they act this way with their customers! Everything should be clear not he website when you purchase your ticket It is not your duty to research what they mean with the terms they use and the code they use on their website.

Dave Noble

The flexible fare at $1177 is still classified as an instant upgrade fare - just that it is refundable; on flight details it does state "First (A)" where A is the booking class

I agree that it is very poor that the airline is not clearly stating the details - my point is that you would have had to pay over double the price to get a fare which is not classified as such; I do not support the way that the airline treats instant upgrade fares

If you know what you bought, then you know it was an instant upgrade fare

I will also agree that the US site seems to hide the information much more than AA does on its site; if you want an F fare, then the website is not the best place to book it

Soly

There is no mention of any fare but these 2 that I listed. I know what I bought, means, I bought a first class ticket. I am a traveler, not an airline specialist that is supposed know about all the different letters (A, F, Y etc..) on fares. So yes, I do know what I bought, a first class ticket, direct from the US Airways website where there is no mention of anything other than "First class" on both categories, with flexible and non refundable as the options.