Originally Posted by
businesstraveller2
Specifically, I have two business trips coming up where I could book in Y etc and try to upgrade with SWU : one is a trip to LHR in early June and another is a trip to NRT in late June. Dates are very fixed i have essentially no flexibility on dates to fly. If I could save $$ and do it and be guaranteed a seat in C I'd likely do it.
With moderate gymnastics I can probably buy Z fare and get that covered completely so no worries about upgrades.
However,
I really don't want to be stuck in E (even E+) at all on these long runs.
If you can fly Z - you answered your own question
If I could book Z, I'd never think twice about 'wasting' my SWU's. There is a wrinkle with your fixed/communal travel budget, though, that I can't comment to (re: value of sending others on a trip versus the extra cost of paying for Z for yourself).
If you can find confirmable space (and on the NRT flights ex-SEA or ex-LAX this is not that hard these days on the old 777's) - then also an easy one (book an SWU-eligible Economy fare and confirm immediately to C). US-LHR is fairly easy to find confirmable space, also, IME (provided you're OK to check NC space on connecting via AMS, BRU, FRA, etc, etc and then hop a *A flight from there).
As for the difference in Region 1 CR1 versus SWU- there really isn't one. CR1 and SWU will both clear if NC/NF space becomes positive. However - you never know when you'll need an SWU, so I'd save them.
Cliffs Notes:
- If you really can't stand E+, Booking Z or above is the only way to guarantee a business class seat
- The two routes you mention (US-NRT and US-LHR) are pretty easy (relatively speaking) confirmable UG's these days with SWU
Best of luck!