Hi all

I had a very interesting discussion with a few flyertalkers (flyertalk live) today regarding the subject of upgrades.

You see, apart from one experience when I was upgraded on Ansett to a seat in Business I have always flown coach - so I have no experience whatsoever of what you guys get up in front.
The reason for the discussion was that I now have 42,000 United miles, 40,000 Global Rewards points and 21,000 AA miles and yet I have yet to actually use points/miles for a free ticket -yes I've been so busy accruing them I've never got around to actually using them!

I had planned to get some economy tickets to places that I had not travelled to before but in our discussion various flyertalkers said that it was far better and more valuable to get upgrades. They made some comments about better food and that cabin staff treat you like a human being. Having always flown coach I am not familiar with this.

Naturally this has me intrigued. I'd like to know a little more. It was suggested however that perhaps I'd better not try out first after all because if I did it I would be unhappy every time I flew coach after that.
Some comments were made about 10 course meals which I found a little hard to believe. The lap dancing comments I took as a joke

I would have thought that exchanging miles for an economy ticket would have been better value. Travel is about getting from point A to point B and isn't upgrading a waste of miles when you could instead visit another country? Or am I wrong - is it really better to exchange those miles for an upgrade?

Please take into account the miles that I have above. My aim is to visit New Caledonia next and the comments I have received tempt me to exchange my miles and points for a First Class ticket on Air New Zealand via Auckland (ex Melbourne).

Also it has been suggested to me that it is not worth my while upgrading to Business/First here in Australia. When I was upgraded it was for a short flight and I didn't get any special service. It didn't seem all that much different - just a bit of extra leg room.

So are upgrades really worth it?

Hoping you can sway me one way or the other...

cheers Peter


[This message has been edited by ffhound (edited 08-05-2000).]