How 'bout this as the best reason to connect through the US, courtesy of Empress?
We've been talking about the fact that the dollar difference between an upgradeable fare and a non-upgradeable is only a couple of hundred dollars, perhaps less, assuming that if we pay the extra money, the upgrade is guaranteed. But as I think we've all come to realize, upgrades are going to get harder to get, not easier.
So what this means is you pay $200 or so, for a lottery ticket, with reduced odds, where the prize is an upgrade, and you use one of your much more limited (and not purchaseable) upgrade stickers/coupons. But if you don't win the lottery, not only are you out the $200, you only get ½ points, making tier status and the elusive upgrades even harder to get.
So would you pay an extra $200 for a lottery ticket?
Or would you rather pay an extra $80-$120 in taxes, fees and surcharges, for a guaranteed chance to upgrade, with better odds, not to mention a guaranteed 100% miles and extra segments, regardless of whether you get an upgrade?
Ya' know, it sounds simple on the surface -- you can't upgrade from the lowest 2 or 3 fare classes. But the fact is, the consequences are long and deep, and not yet fully exposed.
[This message has been edited by KenHamer (edited 02-29-2000).]