Virgin America upgrades - TIP
#106
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: In the process of moving from Dubai back to Tokyo because I didn't like it there. Working in Melaka, Malaysia now.
Programs: No longer loyal to any airline.
Posts: 519
Just yesterday I upgraded to 1st LAX-DFW for $139 at the counter a couple hours before departure. Couldn't do it online because I was connecting from Singapore Airlines.
$139 seemed a good value and felt the product was worth it.
$139 seemed a good value and felt the product was worth it.
#108
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Sorry to bump this old thread but I'm flying SFO - BOS shortly and wanted to confirm whether this upgrade method can *only* be made within 24 hrs of your scheduled flight time? I'm flying on a redeye but only if I can book it in 1st and I don't want to pay 1K+ for my wife and myself. Since it's not exactly a last minute booking (yet) I'm concerned that all 1st class seats might be taken and I will not fly a redeye otherwise on this route. So my question is, when exactly can discounted paid upgrades be made; anytime after the initial booking, anytime within 24hrs of your departure time, or anytime after completing online check-in? Lastly, can you upgrade only once or twice from base fare? In other words, is it more cost efficient to purchase a Main Cabin, upgrade to MCS, then upgrade to First for the lowest fare? Would I need to start with a Main Cabin Select seat and then upgrade to First? I've read through the FAQ and it's not entirely clear to me. Thanks for your help.
#109
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 217
Sorry to bump this old thread but I'm flying SFO - BOS shortly and wanted to confirm whether this upgrade method can *only* be made within 24 hrs of your scheduled flight time? I'm flying on a redeye but only if I can book it in 1st and I don't want to pay 1K+ for my wife and myself. Since it's not exactly a last minute booking (yet) I'm concerned that all 1st class seats might be taken and I will not fly a redeye otherwise on this route. So my question is, when exactly can discounted paid upgrades be made; anytime after the initial booking, anytime within 24hrs of your departure time, or anytime after completing online check-in? Lastly, can you upgrade only once or twice from base fare? In other words, is it more cost efficient to purchase a Main Cabin, upgrade to MCS, then upgrade to First for the lowest fare? Would I need to start with a Main Cabin Select seat and then upgrade to First? I've read through the FAQ and it's not entirely clear to me. Thanks for your help.
1. If (and only if) you are Elevate Gold, then you can purchase the discounted upgrade 24 hours before departure. Golds are auto-upgraded to MCS, which is typically always available, so even if you purchased a normal MC seat, you only pay the 1-class upgrade from MCS to F. If you check in right at T-24, there's a very good chance of getting an upgrade to F, but that is a busy route, and people are more likely to pay for F if it's a redeye. Bear in mind that there are only 8 F seats.
2. If you are Elevate Silver, you can purchase the discounted upgrade 12 hours before departure. Silvers may be auto-upgraded to MCS at that point as well. Less than a 50% chance (probably less than a 30% chance) any F seats will be left on that route at T-12.
3. If you are Elevate Red (and maybe if you're not enrolled at all; I don't know), you can purchase the discounted upgrade 6 hours before departure. Basically no chance any F seats will still be left on that route at that point.
You can pay to upgrade all the way from MC to F if you need to. It just costs more (obviously) than MC-->MCS or MCS-->F. But it is cheaper than buying MCS outright and then upgrading MCS-->F.
#110
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Your only real chance of making this happen is if you have Gold status with VX.
1. If (and only if) you are Elevate Gold, then you can purchase the discounted upgrade 24 hours before departure. Golds are auto-upgraded to MCS, which is typically always available, so even if you purchased a normal MC seat, you only pay the 1-class upgrade from MCS to F. If you check in right at T-24, there's a very good chance of getting an upgrade to F, but that is a busy route, and people are more likely to pay for F if it's a redeye. Bear in mind that there are only 8 F seats.
2. If you are Elevate Silver, you can purchase the discounted upgrade 12 hours before departure. Silvers may be auto-upgraded to MCS at that point as well. Less than a 50% chance (probably less than a 30% chance) any F seats will be left on that route at T-12.
3. If you are Elevate Red (and maybe if you're not enrolled at all; I don't know), you can purchase the discounted upgrade 6 hours before departure. Basically no chance any F seats will still be left on that route at that point.
You can pay to upgrade all the way from MC to F if you need to. It just costs more (obviously) than MC-->MCS or MCS-->F. But it is cheaper than buying MCS outright and then upgrading MCS-->F.
1. If (and only if) you are Elevate Gold, then you can purchase the discounted upgrade 24 hours before departure. Golds are auto-upgraded to MCS, which is typically always available, so even if you purchased a normal MC seat, you only pay the 1-class upgrade from MCS to F. If you check in right at T-24, there's a very good chance of getting an upgrade to F, but that is a busy route, and people are more likely to pay for F if it's a redeye. Bear in mind that there are only 8 F seats.
2. If you are Elevate Silver, you can purchase the discounted upgrade 12 hours before departure. Silvers may be auto-upgraded to MCS at that point as well. Less than a 50% chance (probably less than a 30% chance) any F seats will be left on that route at T-12.
3. If you are Elevate Red (and maybe if you're not enrolled at all; I don't know), you can purchase the discounted upgrade 6 hours before departure. Basically no chance any F seats will still be left on that route at that point.
You can pay to upgrade all the way from MC to F if you need to. It just costs more (obviously) than MC-->MCS or MCS-->F. But it is cheaper than buying MCS outright and then upgrading MCS-->F.
#111
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: BOS
Programs: B6/Mosaic/AF/VX/AS Gold Hertz PC HH Dia. AMEX Plat SPG/Marr Gold Nat. EE FPC Plat
Posts: 833
On BOS<>SFO, I would never count on an upgrade to F being available. Even as a Silver, just getting MCS was a challenge. SFO<>BOS is one of their highest load factor routes.