Moderators please feel free to move this elsewhere . I am sure there is a very relevant thread on this but have not been able to find it in the last 2 hours.

I am just talking aloud here but my thoughts may help someone else.

I am flying Australia to LHR via the USA in mid January 2014.

I need to attend a meeting in London and I have 2 GPUs expiring 31 january 14.( in case you ask why I do not go via Asia). I intend to go without stopovers in the USA so I really need to be in BF.

I really hate that feeling you get when your upgrade does not come thru until checkin or not at all! SYD to LAX is a long run in economy- albeit E+ as I am 1K.

I understand that you have a sure bet if there is R inventory when booking. I have tried to use “diditclear” but found it too cumbersome for my abilities.

So, herewith my thoughts and I am happy to be contradicted.

My research, checking on the excellent EF, and recollections from previous posting re

Sydney to the US west coast and vv –


• Monday thru Thursdays are days for best upgrade chances. Forget Friday and Sunday in particular.

• The Sydney-SFO-SYD routing is a better bet for availability for GPU use vs LAX although I have read posters who suggest that this may only apply in one direction only . ( funny though as the latter route is not covered by QF or DL – you would think it would be a harder upgrade)

USA West Coast to London-

• LAX to LHR direct and vv seems a much better bet than SFO to LHR direct.

• Fridays and Sundays are bad for upgrades.