Originally Posted by
ziqch
Thanks for all the replies and help, here are a few more questions regarding above postings:
1- Regarding SWUs or similar products, i understand you can use them only with same airline metal, like AA or UA, problem is both of them dont go direct to dxb where i will be going, so they end up connecting through europe, so this way i can upgrade to europe but no beyond, am i right in this/
2- I guess my main question is : how you gurus do it regarding international upgrades, do you buy an upgradable ticket and then try to get an upgrade, but what happens if no upgrades are avilable, then you ened up paying much more for economy class, or you dont buy a ticket till upgrade is secured using SWUs or miles?
thanks
Except (at least in theory!) *A, all internation upgrades (whether SWUs or equivalent, or mileage) are on the airline's own metal only.
However, outright awards are partner-wide.
I'm unclear from your post how often you need to fly this route.
If only a few times, and you want above-economy all the way, you might just try whatever airline you've got the most miles in, and get a partner-inclusive award into the class you want.
If you want to go to DXB all the way in above-economy via an upgrade, you can either look into the theoretical *A alliance-wide upgrades, or find an airline halway between (BA, LH, AF?) that flies both to DXB and to somewhere reasonably close to you in the US. To find such airlines, you could use Expedia, for example (it would in a few clicks show you everyone who provided the connectings flights all on the same airline). Verify that all the flight numbers are relatively low (ie, not codeshares). You didn't specify where you're starting from; the above three airlines have 1-stop flight pairs LAX-europe-DXB, but depending on where you are (and how far you are willing to drive, or whether you're willing to take a "short" non-upgradable connecting flight) your results will vary.
Next, upgrade to what? Keep in mind that BA longhaul has 4 classes of service, and you can only upgrade a class at a time. OTOH, if what you want most is more legroom (rather than fancy service), BA's premium economy (World Traveler Plus) on both legs might be just the ticket at a compromise between price and level of comfort. (BA mileage upgrades tend to be on the more difficult side compared to some other airlines, and you have to buy WTP to qualify for an upgrade to Business, but at least the worst seat you'll get if no upgrade comes through is better than economy!)