Business award in Economy cabin
Apr 29, 2019, 3:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
Business award in Economy cabin
I am looking to get 2 seats back from Europe to the US in Early August on miles (I have a lot of transferable Marriott points) , and one option that looked good has a 57.5k business award according to AwardNexus. However, the longest leg BUD-YYZ has 2 x AC Business award in Economy cabin seats. I was wondering what the situation is with these. Will I have any chance of being 'upgraded' to the seats I am 'paying' for? If so what are my chances?
Apr 29, 2019, 4:15 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 2,994
Aeroplan often presents "mixed cabin" award flights where they put you in J for a short connecting leg, then stuff you into Y for the long overseas segment - all while still billing you full points for doing the whole trip in J. It's deceptive as hell.
You can request an upgrade at the gate but don't hold your breath, since available seats are almost always gone by that point - especially if you don't have status with AC or have lower tier status. Strongly suggest you select another booking option that will put you in J all the way through right from the start.
You can request an upgrade at the gate but don't hold your breath, since available seats are almost always gone by that point - especially if you don't have status with AC or have lower tier status. Strongly suggest you select another booking option that will put you in J all the way through right from the start.
Apr 29, 2019, 4:23 pm
#4
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,316
Aeroplan often presents "mixed cabin" award flights where they put you in J for a short connecting leg, then stuff you into Y for the long overseas segment - all while still billing you full points for doing the whole trip in J. It's deceptive as hell.
You can request an upgrade at the gate but don't hold your breath, since available seats are almost always gone by that point - especially if you don't have status with AC or have lower tier status. Strongly suggest you select another booking option that will put you in J all the way through right from the start.
You can request an upgrade at the gate but don't hold your breath, since available seats are almost always gone by that point - especially if you don't have status with AC or have lower tier status. Strongly suggest you select another booking option that will put you in J all the way through right from the start.
Apr 29, 2019, 4:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
You can also subscribe to EF and setup an alert for award space to open up between now and the time of your flight. If any opens up, you can call in to claim it for free.
Although, now that I think of it I believe that BUD-YYZ is operated by rouge, so there isn't any business class on this flight, only Economy and Premium Economy. I suggest you look for a Premium Economy reward and see what is available.
Although, now that I think of it I believe that BUD-YYZ is operated by rouge, so there isn't any business class on this flight, only Economy and Premium Economy. I suggest you look for a Premium Economy reward and see what is available.
Apr 29, 2019, 5:49 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
Find a different routing on a better carrier (and possibly with less fees!)
The routings presented online are not the end-all of availability, and the website prefers AC flights (even if as you learned the longhaul is in Y)
Piece together a route yourself that is all business and call in to book
The routings presented online are not the end-all of availability, and the website prefers AC flights (even if as you learned the longhaul is in Y)
Piece together a route yourself that is all business and call in to book
Apr 30, 2019, 1:03 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
Find a different routing on a better carrier (and possibly with less fees!)
The routings presented online are not the end-all of availability, and the website prefers AC flights (even if as you learned the longhaul is in Y)
Piece together a route yourself that is all business and call in to book
The routings presented online are not the end-all of availability, and the website prefers AC flights (even if as you learned the longhaul is in Y)
Piece together a route yourself that is all business and call in to book
Apr 30, 2019, 1:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: YXU, ON Canada
Programs: AC LT E50K; AC*MM; SPG LT Gold
Posts: 4,665
You probably don't want to do this because it adds more complexity, but another option if you're going to be transferring miles from Marriott is to look into other airline programs that fly the route you're interested in (TK for example). You can then look for availability in their programs. The only problem is that the points transfer isn't immediate.
And you can also ask folks here about your AC options.
And you can also ask folks here about your AC options.
Apr 30, 2019, 4:56 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
You probably don't want to do this because it adds more complexity, but another option if you're going to be transferring miles from Marriott is to look into other airline programs that fly the route you're interested in (TK for example). You can then look for availability in their programs. The only problem is that the points transfer isn't immediate.
And you can also ask folks here about your AC options.
And you can also ask folks here about your AC options.
I did look at TK before, found some availability on ExpertFlyer but the website was not working- the rep on the phone quoted me 110,000 miles each in business plus $250 or something. It's an option I have but I'm not ready to pull the trigger just yet.
Apr 30, 2019, 10:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: YVR/YEG/YYZ depending on day
Programs: E35K, FPC Platinum
Posts: 392
Is it worth having a Master Thread dedicated to something like this?
How likely is J award space likely to open up on the longhaul portion of a mixed cabin reward? Are these kind of bookings commonly done with decent chances of upgrade? I wonder what a master thread would show.
How likely is J award space likely to open up on the longhaul portion of a mixed cabin reward? Are these kind of bookings commonly done with decent chances of upgrade? I wonder what a master thread would show.
May 1, 2019, 8:25 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: YXU, ON Canada
Programs: AC LT E50K; AC*MM; SPG LT Gold
Posts: 4,665
Thanks. I'm already at maximum complexity and that is my problem- I'm willing to get on any flight from anywhere that gets me back to DFW. If I ever find availability it has crazy YQ fees, I'm about ready to just pay cash.
I did look at TK before, found some availability on ExpertFlyer but the website was not working- the rep on the phone quoted me 110,000 miles each in business plus $250 or something. It's an option I have but I'm not ready to pull the trigger just yet.
I did look at TK before, found some availability on ExpertFlyer but the website was not working- the rep on the phone quoted me 110,000 miles each in business plus $250 or something. It's an option I have but I'm not ready to pull the trigger just yet.
May 1, 2019, 9:04 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Of course it's worth having a master thread dedicated to something like this!
In fact already exists, and was pointed to upthread by its very own OP:
As for a useful thread regarding the likelihood/chances of J/F space opening up on a particular route for a particular carrier on AP... I doubt it will be worthwhile given 1. There are new threads asking this same question every few days, and 2. From my own experiences for the same routes and carriers over the past 15 years, I still haven't noticed a pattern. But, hey, it doesn't hurt to try by starting a new thread regarding the opening of J/F reward space chances. 
In fact already exists, and was pointed to upthread by its very own OP:
I agree with all this, but if you book mixed cabin: Getting upgraded on mixed cabin Aeroplan redemptions
Last edited by yyznomad; May 1, 2019 at 9:49 am
May 1, 2019, 9:40 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 495
As noted elsewhere, while I had an alert set on EF, it didn't trigger in this case as, I think, it was a seat only available to AE. I had been checking manually every day on Aeroplan....
May 1, 2019, 9:46 am
#14
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
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Quite recently, and to my complete surprise, an I seat opened up on YYZ-LHR in June on AC. Was sitting on a I reward with that sector in PY. Given the ticket was for my OH while I was already confirmed in J on a revenue ticket, this was very welcome news.
As noted elsewhere, while I had an alert set on EF, it didn't trigger in this case as, I think, it was a seat only available to AE. I had been checking manually every day on Aeroplan....
As noted elsewhere, while I had an alert set on EF, it didn't trigger in this case as, I think, it was a seat only available to AE. I had been checking manually every day on Aeroplan....
Of course J/F has opened up in the past as there are hundreds of threads asking this type of thing.
Will reword my post now.
May 1, 2019, 9:54 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
Aeroplan often presents "mixed cabin" award flights where they put you in J for a short connecting leg, then stuff you into Y for the long overseas segment - all while still billing you full points for doing the whole trip in J. It's deceptive as hell.
You can request an upgrade at the gate but don't hold your breath, since available seats are almost always gone by that point - especially if you don't have status with AC or have lower tier status. Strongly suggest you select another booking option that will put you in J all the way through right from the start.
You can request an upgrade at the gate but don't hold your breath, since available seats are almost always gone by that point - especially if you don't have status with AC or have lower tier status. Strongly suggest you select another booking option that will put you in J all the way through right from the start.