Originally Posted by
Gongzuokuang
I've found the upgrades cumbersome, and not something you can easily do online.
I just tried one a few weeks ago. You've got to hold a reservation (either online or through the phone center), then call Marco Polo to check on upgrade. If available, you then ask them to hold the upgrade. Then go an book the ticket. Then call back to book the upgrade.
If the upgrade is NOT available, then you you cancel the HOLD on the ticket, and start over with a different flight.
Yeah, it's that bad.
Alternatively, you can check the reward seat availabilities online for your flights, and book your tickets afterwards. Then you request for an upgrade online, which should be mostly instant. I say mostly instant because it'll take them a bit of time to reissue the tickets in the new travel class (which was 20 minutes in my experience).