Originally Posted by
whackedspinach
I've been trying to apply GGUs to a number of flights recently but had a few things I wanted to verify, if anyone can help:
1. I have a flight booked via British Airways Avios that says it is in T class. There's no way to apply a GGU to this, correct?
2. I have a roundtrip flight that was booked via American Airlines (cash) but is on Alaska metal and has my Alaska FF number attached. Is it possible to use a GGU on this or must the ticket have been purchased via Alaska?
3. I have GGU certificates that expire 12/31/23 but my flight is in January. The website won't let me apply them (says the code is invalid) and a phone agent says I must travel prior to the end of the year, not just apply them prior to the end of the year. Is that true?
1. Gold Guest upgrade certificates cannot be applied to award tickets. The segment on your BA Avios award would have an AS flight number but plated on BA ticket stock. T class on AS is a Saver Main Cabin award. Since it is an award, it isn't eligible for GGU application.
2. Firstly, who marketed the AS segments on your AA itinerary? Do the AS metal segments have AA flight numbers (an AA marketed codeshare, operated by AS) or AS flight numbers (AA plated, AS Marketed & Operated)?
If the flight numbers are AS, in theory, you should be able to apply GGUs providing the fare class of the AS segment AA sold you is N or higher.
3. As explained upthread, the expiry date is an apply by date. If the code is coming from your account, you can select if from the drop-down box before applying. If you are entering it manually, play close attention to make sure you are entering the code correctly. The invalid code message can also mean you are trying to use a code that has already been used before.
Other Notes:
A. Gold Guest upgrade certificates can upgrade more than one segment in a multi-segment itinerary, provided that the connection between each segment is 4 hours or less. If one segment has U space and the other doesn't, you can still upgrade the available segment and continue to monitor the other segment(s) for availability. You can call in to upgrade the subsequent segment(s) on the strength of the GGUs already applied. I have upgraded 6 segments with a single GGU.
B. You cannot apply a GGU to a segment you are on the waitlist for. You need to call AS to remove you from the waitlist before the GGU can be applied.
C. GGUs cannot be applied until the itinerary is purchased.
D. While you can't purchase First Class flights when using a BOA Companion Certificate, you can use GGUs to upgrade into F on such itineraries. All the same conditions apply. You would need 2 GGUs, one for each passenger in the Companion Certificate booking.
James