Originally Posted by edcblue
Me and my husband have individually enough miles (in both Delta and AA) for a trip between SJU and Europe and we were planning to use them on next Sept. 2007. Recently I read that is better not to use the miles for an award coach class ticket but instead to upgrade to business class. Because I have never used miles for either case, what is the best option and how the 330 days rule applies in each case? How many miles are needed for the coach to business upgrade on an International flight?
Personally, I think it depends on what a coach class ticket will cost you and whether you mind flying coach or would you prefer business/first class. If you can get a reasonably priced ticket it may make more sense economically to use miles for an upgrade.
Don't necessarily make the decision on the current price of a coach ticket, since it is likely full fare this far out. Try to find out what a reasonable sale fare might be if you wait a few months. For example, Flights from PHL (my home airport) to Florida can be as high as $350-400 when not on sale, etc. But I know eventually there will be a sale or reduced fare and I can get the flight for $200-250. To me, it's not worth using 25,000 miles for a ticket at that price. It may make more sense using miles to upgrade, instead (I don't know how many miles it would take to upgrade your flight, so I can't help you there).
Good luck.