What to do with all those GGU's?
#136
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,833
Didn’t we used to have a thread for people to gift their expiring GGU’s to other members at this time of year? I remember the mods put some rules in place such as one had to be an established member (not a brand new member look for freebies).
Last edited by dayone; Dec 23, 2018 at 5:33 pm Reason: Redact possible solicitation.
#138
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 115
For Gold/75K member who did not originally buy the "upgradable fare" and wants to do so later when U space is available, I assume it is possible that fare goes way up relative to the original "upgradeable fare" observed at booking.
As an example, if U space isn't available, and the premium over main cabin fare is $100, it seems the best practice I've read on this thread is that one should not buy that upgradable fare. However, I assume in this case we are risking the premium going higher than $100 quoted in this example. Is that right? Any experiences or best practices to share?
As an example, if U space isn't available, and the premium over main cabin fare is $100, it seems the best practice I've read on this thread is that one should not buy that upgradable fare. However, I assume in this case we are risking the premium going higher than $100 quoted in this example. Is that right? Any experiences or best practices to share?
#139
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
For Gold/75K member who did not originally buy the "upgradable fare" and wants to do so later when U space is available, I assume it is possible that fare goes way up relative to the original "upgradeable fare" observed at booking.
As an example, if U space isn't available, and the premium over main cabin fare is $100, it seems the best practice I've read on this thread is that one should not buy that upgradable fare. However, I assume in this case we are risking the premium going higher than $100 quoted in this example. Is that right? Any experiences or best practices to share?
As an example, if U space isn't available, and the premium over main cabin fare is $100, it seems the best practice I've read on this thread is that one should not buy that upgradable fare. However, I assume in this case we are risking the premium going higher than $100 quoted in this example. Is that right? Any experiences or best practices to share?
An MVPG75K can select any seat, including exit and premium, at the time of booking, down to R class, without charge, so I will just choose a premium seat and expect to sit there. My position on the waitlist is usually very high and I am upgraded most of the time anyway.
Between my partner and I, we were able to utilize all 26 of our GGUs last year on itineraries including transcons, Hawaii & Costa Rica on companion certificates. In many cases only 1 GGU each was required to upgrade 3 & 4 segments on our itineraries.
If you are flying on non-reconfigured pmVX aircraft, those flights will have little to none U space prior to OLCI and broken seats reducing inventory are not being fixed.
Since you have a change/cancel fee waiver as an MVPG+, I wouldn't purchace an eligible fare with no U availability. I would monitor for U and call in to upfare and secure the upgrade up to T-120 if you feel the fare difference, commensurate to flight duration, fits your value parameters. Purchasing an eligible fare is no guarantee of an upgrade.
For MVPG. I would never purchase an eligible fare without U as if no U opens up prior to the MVPG75K window at T-120 hrs, according to others on this thread, an MVPG75K, even on an ineligible fare, would be upgraded before an MVPG on an eligible fare.
In the case of the lowest main cabin fare already being eligible, I would monitor and if U opens, call to apply your GGU right up to gate control since sometimes there is a lag between the release of U space and the upgrade processor running, giving "opportunity" to "snag" the upgrade.
Jamrs in Kigali.
Last edited by Flying for Fun; Apr 10, 2019 at 7:55 am
#140
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
As an example, if U space isn't available, and the premium over main cabin fare is $100, it seems the best practice I've read on this thread is that one should not buy that upgradable fare. However, I assume in this case we are risking the premium going higher than $100 quoted in this example. Is that right? Any experiences or best practices to share?
Note that if the lowest available fare class is your status' instant upgrade, U is open, and it's just you or you+1 companion, it makes more sense to save the GGU and just take the instant upgrade. M or higher qualifies for a Class of Service bonus.
Last edited by rustykettel; Apr 10, 2019 at 8:25 am Reason: spaelling
#141
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Correct, it's possible that the lower GGU fare classes might sell out, or the fares may be expire or refile at a higher (or lower!) price depending on the lead time.
Note that if the lowest available fare class is your status' instant upgrade, U is open, and it's just you or you+1 companion, it makes more sense to save the GGU and just take the instant upgrade. M or higher qualifies for a Class if Service bonus.
James in Kigali.
#142
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
For Gold/75K member who did not originally buy the "upgradable fare" and wants to do so later when U space is available, I assume it is possible that fare goes way up relative to the original "upgradeable fare" observed at booking.
As an example, if U space isn't available, and the premium over main cabin fare is $100, it seems the best practice I've read on this thread is that one should not buy that upgradable fare. However, I assume in this case we are risking the premium going higher than $100 quoted in this example. Is that right? Any experiences or best practices to share?
As an example, if U space isn't available, and the premium over main cabin fare is $100, it seems the best practice I've read on this thread is that one should not buy that upgradable fare. However, I assume in this case we are risking the premium going higher than $100 quoted in this example. Is that right? Any experiences or best practices to share?
1. Get an EF subscription if you don't have one already.
2. Check the advance purchase requirements of the "cheap" K fare that you are targeting.
3. Keep an eye on the K inventory.
This way, you have some idea of when the price might go up.
This is NOT foolproof. I was doing something similar with another flight (not for GGU purposes, but to see if it was worthwhile for someone without a change fee waiver to purchase really early or see if prices go down later). At 3 months before the flight (to the day) AS zeroed out the two cheapest fare classes that still had availability, so the price unexpectedly jumped (unexpectedly to me, anyway... I don't know if more experience would have allowed me to see that coming)
Personally I probably would not buy a higher fare class, gambling that U would become available before upgrade windows opened, unless if the price difference was negligible (people have reported cases where it was $4... in that case, I'd just spend the $4. Even if U never opened up, it would put you slightly higher on the upgrade list when the windows opened). I certainly wouldn't spend $100 on it.
#143
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
Several of my recent T-30 day bookings have been for economy fare buckets that qualify for GGUs, often have 1 or 2 available upgrades, I grab the upgrade if it is a dinner flight of more than 4 hours, particularly if the instant upgrade is much more expensive.
#144
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: AS 100K, HA Gold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 88
Here's an idea I follow but it takes a cooperative GA. Last Tuesday I was at a gate at PDX, heard a conversation between a gentleman and two young servicemen. The young servicemen were heading back to their base after leave. I quietly went up to the GA and said I'd like to use my GGU's to get these guys upgraded if possible. Well it worked, both rode in first on an original config Airbus. It was only a two hour flight but watching these young men experience first was wonderful. This isn't the first time I've done this or even given my first seat to a serviceman and it won't be the last. I'd put this out there, if you have a bunch of GGUs and see a serviceman/woman in the gate area, check with the GA about using your GGU and try and get them upgraded; I've even paid the $30 or $40 to get the fare to and upgradable one. Just a thought.
Last edited by thepinenuts; Jun 7, 2019 at 2:34 pm
#145
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Here's an idea I follow but it takes a cooperative GA. Last Tuesday I was at a gate at PDX, heard a conversation between a gentleman and two young servicemen. The young servicemen were heading back to their base after leave. I quietly went up to the GA and said I'd like to use my GGU's to get these guys upgraded if possible. Well it worked, both rode in first on an original config Airbus. It was only a two hour flight but watching these young men experience first was wonderful. This isn't the first time I've done this or even given my first seat to a serviceman and it won't be the last. I'd put this out there, if you have a bunch of GGUs and see a serviceman/woman in the gate area, check with the GA about using your GGU and try and get them upgraded; I've even paid the $30 or $40 to get the fair to and upgradable one. Just a thought.
#147
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
That's a very nice gesture for them, but unless the flight is departing with two empty F seats (which seems unlikely with a pmVX Airbus, but you never know), we should be honest about who is providing the favor here. It's not the person giving up the GGU that was likely going to expire anyway, but the lower-level elites on the upgrade list who now won't clear into F. Which is fine -- I'm not saying they're more or less deserving than the young men who got the GGUs -- but they are the ones who are actually giving up their seats, albeit involuntarily.
#148
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
That's a very nice gesture for them, but unless the flight is departing with two empty F seats (which seems unlikely with a pmVX Airbus, but you never know), we should be honest about who is providing the favor here. It's not the person giving up the GGU that was likely going to expire anyway, but the lower-level elites on the upgrade list who now won't clear into F. Which is fine -- I'm not saying they're more or less deserving than the young men who got the GGUs -- but they are the ones who are actually giving up their seats, albeit involuntarily.
It appears the flight was under gate control and the pax were on eligible fares. What we don't know is the route, flight load or the waitlist. The next time I am on an eligible fare and lower on the waitlist than there are F seats available I will ask to see if I can use a GGU.
James
#149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
GGU upgrades require U space so if there were folks on the upgrade list, they should have technically been auto upgraded already....Although it's certainly a nice gesture, I wouldn't imagine it would be acceptable protocol for a GA to somehow open up U space, apply the GGUs to non-elites, and skip over everyone on the waitlist.
#150
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,292
GGU upgrades require U space so if there were folks on the upgrade list, they should have technically been auto upgraded already....Although it's certainly a nice gesture, I wouldn't imagine it would be acceptable protocol for a GA to somehow open up U space, apply the GGUs to non-elites, and skip over everyone on the waitlist.