reflection: SWU/SSWU vs e-upgrades

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Feb 24, 2014, 6:13 pm

#16

maradori

Join Date: Jun 2009

Location: YYZ, SFO

Programs: AS 100K, UA*S, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond | Formerly: AC Super Elite

Posts: 2,476

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catch

Nostalgia - My left over certificates from 1998-2010

[ image ]

o...m...g... do you have an equally impressive duty-free coupon collection?

You can start a museum or something

Feb 24, 2014, 10:22 pm

#17

worldtraveller73

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.

Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle

Posts: 4,609

Well, I'll take the bashing here.

I prefer the old certificates.

Instead of logging in and dealing with a cumbersome IT e-upgrade portal, you actually had paper certificates that were easy to use and could never be de-valued mid year.

Sure there was a wait to get them in the mail, but at least you could plan travel accordingly.

Feb 24, 2014, 10:52 pm

#18

Shareholder

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 1999

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat

Posts: 38,186

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catch

The 1999 SE SWU were even better: One-Way Upgrade from Any-Fare At Time of booking. We used to get 2 every 10,000 Miles flown plus 10 or 20 at the beginning of the year. This was the only certificate:

Those indeed were the days. Then each year after that AC ratcheted up the bottom end of eligible upgrade fares to the point that SWUs became pretty much useless unless one was on a full-fare economy ticket. The introduction of e-Upgrade credits was long overdue, but put AC in a worse position because they were more fare flexible for most elites. That's what led to the co-pay and raising of Flex base fares.

Feb 24, 2014, 10:55 pm

#19

Shareholder

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 1999

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat

Posts: 38,186

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldtraveller73

Well, I'll take the bashing here.

Only if your company paid for a Latitude level ticket. Otherwise one received many fewer SSWUs that could be used from the equivalent of current Flex (and even some Tango) fares. And do you think that having to call an agent to request that upgrade at exactly the right hour, days in advance, to ensure you got the couple of available R/I seats was easier, particularly if you were on the other side of the globe?

Feb 25, 2014, 6:05 am

#20

ridefar

Join Date: Apr 2011

Location: YYC

Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite

Posts: 3,400

If you are SE and primarily traveling domestically, there is no question the eUps are a huge win and improvement, particularly when paired with a flight pass. I forget how many SSW certs we would get (12-16 a year with threshold bonuses???) but it is nothing compared to being able to upgrade 70+ segments a years with eUps.