You could buy the ticket and upgrade using your 5,000 miles each way (subject to -U- class availability), but bear in mind that the changes you make later will require you to rebook at whatever fare you qualify for at that time.

So let's say you get a smokin' deal, paying $200.00 for your ticket. When you're ready to make your changes to entirely new dates, the agent will see what the new airfare is for whatever dates you're changing to, and apply the value of your ticket toward the purchase of the new one for the $50.00 change fee. So let's say tickets are now going for $450.00 for your new dates. Ultimately, you'll pay not only the change fee, but the $250.00 fare difference as well.

Once your ticket has been reissued to reflect your new travel dates, you can upgrade this new ticket to first class by redeeming 5,000 additional miles each way (assuming you're doing this after the new rules take effect in January), subject to -U- class availability.

So it's not as simple as just paying a flat fee. I stress this because most customers think that's all it costs to change both their outbound and return, and are shocked to learn they're subject to the fare difference as well as the change fee.


[This message has been edited by Snowdevil (edited Dec 30, 2003).]