Originally Posted by
macbroadway
Hi:
I've booked a r/t flight from EWR to LHR for May in World Traveler Plus class. I have enough miles to upgrade from WTP to WC. I discovered however that they only have upgrade ability on my outbound flight, not my return. I'm guessing this is because my return flight is on a 767, not a 777 and there are less WC seats available.
Any ideas from experienced travelers on how to increase my chances of getting the upgrade? I'm guessing that the upgrade on the return will only be available (if at all) closer to the departure time, based on the number of seats they sell in WC. (ie, by a certain date if they have x amount of unsold inventory in WC, then they'll open it up to upgraders)
I'd be happy to change my flight to an earlier flight that is a 777, but I'm concerenced that BA will hit me with a double charge for change (change of flight as well as upgrade charge).
Originally Posted by
jedison
You don't have to pay a fee to upgrade with miles, but you likely will have to pay the change fee.
Welcome to FT,
macbroadway!
You have found the best possible use of your BA Miles, upgrading round trip for just 25,000 miles from WT+ to Club World. Do be aware that this also allows you to upgrade onward trips to Europe zone one (France, BeNeLux, Germany) to Club Europe. Plus you earn 125% of miles flown, so on your sectors you should get back about 9,000 miles, making the net cost a little more than 15,000 BA Miles.
There is no $500 ($600?) co-pay required on BA to upgrade from WT+.
By the way we call a mileage upgrade "MFU"; not a sexual technique, it stands for Miles for Upgrade.
If there is no outbound availability, you can use half the miles (12,500) to upgrade the inbound, but don't hang about as availability closes up fast. Outbound is always more popular as it's generally the overnight flight, so people like to use the fully flat bed to sleep.
Award/Upgrade does not necessarily open up any unsold seats nearer the time, though you may get lucky nearer the time, so worth calling up/checking online 72 hrs pre-flight. BA likes to retain the exclusivity of its premium cabins, and will fly with empty FIRST and NCW seats.
Though almost all flights from all NYC airports should have AVOD (video on demand) in all classes by the time you fly, you will not get the NNCW product if you choose a 767 flight; though perfectly good with NCW flat beds, these aircraft are not being upgraded to the new spec. Plus the 767 is much slower, and as you rightly suggest with fewer seats up front and no FIRST there is less chance of being able to upgrade with miles.
If you have a fully flex WT+ ticket, you can change for no fee. Note that once you have MFU'd one sector it may impact the flexibility of your whole ticket - others will know more as I only travel on inflexible tix.
I would strongly suggest you move your flight onto a 747 service if poss; you get the option of an Upper Deck seat in Club World (much more tranquil, feels more like a private jet with 2-2 seating), much more likely to get
www.newclubworld.com with AVOD and the Club Kitchen, it's almost 45mins faster than a 767.
Also if you can fly from JFK, and are departing in the evening, you can get a complimentary spa treatment at the Molton Brown travel spa. This is not available at EWR. Both airports do feature pre flight dining.
On Arrival, do check out the Arrivals Spa at LHR for a shower, suit pressing, full English Breakfast and another massage all free.
PS do remember BA Business Class is called
Club World, not "World Club" (WC!! - in the UK this is a "water closet" or toilet, so certainly not the right abbreviation!!
lol ) and the economy products are World Travel
ler and World Travel
ler Plus. Club World can be abbreviated to NCW or NNCW depending on whether you have the
original "new" flat bed or the new new flat bed
www.newclubworld.com being installed in the 777 and 747 fleet now.