Originally Posted by
elBulli
I'm new to US Air. Recently started using DCA more and US Air flies out of there a lot.
So I was checking in for a flight tomorrow and noticed that I could upgrade to first class for $75. Given that I have to check a couple bags anyways, this makes sense for me. But I tried to select first class online during the seat selection portion of the check-in process and it kept giving me an error.
I reloaded the page and it requested that I call US Air to make any changes.
So I called and they can't do any upgrade for me as I'm already checked in. That seems strange. So I asked to go ahead and upgrade my return flight next week and the agent said that it was impossible because it is more than 24 hours out.
Just to confirm the rules, is it the case that in order to upgrade from Coach to First Class one must: 1) Be inside the 24-hour window, and 2) Not be checked in already?
If so, this seems a little odd. They have all but one first class seat available and won't take my money to upgrade.
If there are still seats available by the time you get to the airport for the flight that you have already checked in on, the ticket counter can un-check you, upgrade you, then re-check you and issue you a new boarding pass in F.
If you like to upgrade, paid or otherwise, DCA is a hit or miss as US Airways Express operated Air Wisconsin has a large operation there, and all they fly is CRJ-200s, which do not have first class.