Originally Posted by transpac
Does anyone have any recent experiences using the on-line upgrade sponsorship feature? I have initiated a sponsorship, and everything looks good (upgrades moved to the 'reserved' category, correct flights/dates, giftee waitlisted or cleared for upgrades) but travel is not until January. Has anyone completed travel using sponsored upgrades? Did everything work out ok?
My angel successfully upgraded my SEA-NRT-SFO-SEA trip for the third weekend of January using their eSWUs. All segments cleared at booking.
This same angel upgraded my SEA-IAD-LHR-LAX-SEA itinerary in mid-November using their eSWUs. SEA-IAD, IAD-LHR, and LAX-SEA cleared before I departed, with LHR-LAX waitlisted.
When I went to check in at SEA, I could not use Mr. Easy Checkin. He directed me to a counter agent "with my upgrade sponsor". Once I got to the agent, he checked me in without question or incident and handed me my BPs.
At LHR, I did not see any Mr. Easy Checkin machines, so I checked-in at the counter. My upgrade had not yet cleared, so I asked they only check me in LHR-LAX, which they did. I eventually cleared at the gate just before boarding was called, and again, no questions or issues - they just gave me the BP.
When I checked in at LAX, they asked how I would be supporting LAX-SEA. I noted I had used a SWU at LHR, and would that work. They said no, so I told the agent to pull two 500 milers from my account. She did so, but pulled them from my angel's account, so it looks like your gifter's MP number is the one tied to the upgrades (which is why I think some people are being asked about the upgrades when they check-in). My angel contacted UAMPCS and had their two 500's returned, so all was okay.
Both LHR and NRT are booked in H (only $100-200 more then Q, which was the lowest available) so if there was/is any problem with the upgrades, I could/can fall back to my own miles.