In theory, you can upgrade using Asiamiles.
Yes, you may check upgrade availability with BA before you have the required miles. ASIAMILES rep will do that for you. You may call and make the booking first. But you must advise the Asiamiles rep that you intend to transfer miles from STARWOOD. However you MUST have an ASIAMILES account first!
Once that reservation is confirmed, ASIAMILES will ask that you FAX them a copy of your ticket so that they may VERIFY certain criteria. ie class booked, fabre basis and they will also CHECK FARE PAID! They may question the validity of the fare and will cross-refer the ticket with BA if they are required to do so.
Then 2 weeks prior to your travel, they will courier a MCO voucher which you will then attach to your original BA ticket and just show up at check-in. Asiamiles will in the meantime, CANCEL your original economy class booking. If not, BA will see a dupe.
Now BA may question the validity of the ticket against the upgrade ... and basically once your proof of the original fare / booking is gone, well, anything can happen. Remember your fare / reservation is not really bona fide.
It's up to you. Best may be for you to sit in coach for all the hassle you're going through. However, on the bright side, you can start accruing BA miles to ASIAMILES. For future BA, and CX ticket upgrades.
[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 12-07-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 12-07-2002).]