Originally Posted by
AJDelvarno
Remember also that SWUs can be used for day-of-travel domestic upgrades on K+ fares.
Assuming a DL rep has coded the SWU correctly, DMs and PMs using SWUs float to the top of the BF UG list...even ahead of those on full Y fares who aren’t using SWUs. PMs even “outrank” DMs seeking UGs, but not using SWUs. If you don't get the UG, you do not lose the SWU.
If PMs do this 4x/yr, they’ve saved at least 50,000 SMs, many more than the 20,000 they can select as a Choice Benefit. I don’t understand why PMs who regularly fly transcons or other long segments aren’t all over these. DMs, too, for that matter.
As always, however, YMMV.
This. Using SWUs to upgrade W to J on AF is great, but when things don't work out that way I use them for exactly this purpose. As a PM on an M fare I gladly burned a SWU to ensure that I get into J on the 777 LAX-ATL Saturday morning. I've also burned them on red-eyes where I didn't want to risk being stuck in Y. Even if you only use them domestically on BE-equipped TCONs they're still worth way more than 20k Skypesos.