Location: DCA/IAD - US Gold; * Gold; HHonors Silver; all the rest - dirt
Posts: 2,676
Mileage upgrades - what a PITA
So, I'm trying to get the family of four upgraded on a transcon flight (SAN-CLT). Tomorrow is the seven day mark. According to my "research" not a single seat on the A321 is sold in F class.
Called on Friday to ask if they'd upgrade us using miles. Quick no. Pointed out that F was totally unsold. She offered to check with route management/revenue desk. Said that they'd open up 2, but not 3 or 4. Suggested I call back.
Just tried to call back to see if we could upgrade with miles. Was told by first agent that they can't open any seats. Told them that the agent on Friday successfully did. Got transferred. Supervisor asserted the same mantra. Told her what happened Friday. She claimed that she talked with her supervisor and said nothing can be done.
What is the runaround with mileage upgrades these days??? Especially on a F9+ flight.
I'm not surprised at the response, as I highly doubt you would ever get 4 people in first on a mileage upgrade. US Airways would rather sell those seats, than give them away as a mileage upgrade. As I understand, mileage upgrades and preferred upgrades come out of the same O bucket, so they're really limited.
Your best bet is to hope seats fill up with paying passengers, then try calling and upgrading 2 people with miles. As that will likely take away from preferred upgrades, try again at the gate or OLCI with GoFirst upgrades.
As noted above, miles upgrades have the same availability as preferred upgrades.
Upgrade availability on transcons doesn't always open to CP upgrades at T-7d. It's surprising that you expect miles upgrades for (I assume) non-status people to be open at that point.
You should be thankful that the revenue management offered to open two seats for you and you should have jumped on it, since they don't have to and very seldom do that. That never happened to me except when I was flying on Y fares, which are upgradable at the time of booking.
So they dont have seats available for mileage upgrades and are willing to open up 2 seats but not 3 or 4.. And that qualifies as the upgrade process being a PITA?? Really?? This sense of entitlement that some frequent fliers have is kinda sickening.
Programs: US CP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Silver, Avis First, National Executive
Posts: 24
I flew PHL-MCO-PHL over thanksgiving and upgraded 4 people to First using miles. I booked the trip back in April and was able to use the miles for the upgrade in July. Not sure why you waited until the T-7 mark, but keep trying and hope something opens up.
Location: DCA/IAD - US Gold; * Gold; HHonors Silver; all the rest - dirt
Posts: 2,676
Quote:
Originally Posted by whytravelsomuch
So they dont have seats available for mileage upgrades and are willing to open up 2 seats but not 3 or 4.. And that qualifies as the upgrade process being a PITA?? Really?? This sense of entitlement that some frequent fliers have is kinda sickening.
What entitlement are you talking about? US is going to be lucky if it sells 2 F seats on a flight - on a flight with 16 seats.
I'm not seeing the logic where they would simply give away upgrades at T-7 but would refuse to accept a "purchased" set of upgrades from one willing to buy them - lessening the FF mile burden on their books.
I flew PHL-MCO-PHL over thanksgiving and upgraded 4 people to First using miles. I booked the trip back in April and was able to use the miles for the upgrade in July. Not sure why you waited until the T-7 mark, but keep trying and hope something opens up.
Just out of curiosity, what planes did you fly on during your trip?
Location: DCA/IAD - US Gold; * Gold; HHonors Silver; all the rest - dirt
Posts: 2,676
Quote:
Originally Posted by thomwithanh
And you didn't jump on it why? If worst comes to worst, you and your spouse take the seats up front and let the kids sit in coach.
Too young really to be travelling alone in coach.
Plus, I do not think that I could separate out my seats. The res is booked with the DMMC credit card/companion cert and IIRC all passengers must be in the same class of service.
The lack of four upgradable seats available all at once on a transcon does not surprise me at all. And while a leisure destination like MCO may not sell many FC seats, a transcon to CLT will. US is getting very good at pricing their F cabin on transcons so the A-fares get sold quite a bit (technically a full-coach fare that immediately books into the FC cabin).
Location: DCA/IAD - US Gold; * Gold; HHonors Silver; all the rest - dirt
Posts: 2,676
Quote:
Originally Posted by geo1005
The lack of four upgradable seats available all at once on a transcon does not surprise me at all. And while a leisure destination like MCO may not sell many FC seats, a transcon to CLT will. US is getting very good at pricing their F cabin on transcons so the A-fares get sold quite a bit (technically a full-coach fare that immediately books into the FC cabin).
Currently, A is being offered for $1600 each way. F full if is $1300.
What entitlement are you talking about? US is going to be lucky if it sells 2 F seats on a flight - on a flight with 16 seats.
I'm not seeing the logic where they would simply give away upgrades at T-7 but would refuse to accept a "purchased" set of upgrades from one willing to buy them - lessening the FF mile burden on their books.
Entitlement indeed.
It sure is a sense of entitlement when a person gets upset simply because they dont get what they want. One can justify it however they want but just because they dont get what they want doesnt mean something is a PITA.
Availability in coach will also affect upgrade/award availability. If you are taking US 161 on 24Dec the flight is showing F9 but only Y6. There aren't many seats to be sold period, this could be why they are holding off on upgrades.
Several exit row seats (e.g. preferred) are also taken, you might be able to snag 2 + 2 on this flight if you are patient but 4 at once, doubtful IMO.
