What to do with all those GGU's?
Dec 6, 2018, 9:59 am
#106
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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I have an event near SEA next August, so I checked fares and GGU opportunities. Not only are most of the GGU fares that day $199, but there's not a single U seat to be found. (I wasn't expecting any big fare sale for flights that far out ... but 
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Dec 6, 2018, 11:05 am
#107
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
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Unfortunately, with a companion certificate, you can't purchase the cheaper (P) fare. At least with the companion certificate you only need to upfare one ticket as the other is $99 Base fare or $0 depending on your certificate, regardless of fare purchased by the primary.
I am seeing more U space availability, at least three months out in early March in random searches including EWR to/from SFO.
James
Dec 6, 2018, 11:36 am
#108
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It doesn't always make sense to use a GGU on short-haul competitive (inexpensive) markets such as the Bay Area to/from SEA/PHX. Often you will see the cheapest GGU eligible fare is more than the discount First fare (P). In those cases, I would just buy the P fare outright.
Unfortunately, with a companion certificate, you can't purchase the cheaper (P) fare. At least with the companion certificate you only need to upfare one ticket as the other is $99 Base fare or $0 depending on your certificate, regardless of fare purchased by the primary.
I am seeing more U space availability, at least three months out in early March in random searches including EWR to/from SFO.
James
Unfortunately, with a companion certificate, you can't purchase the cheaper (P) fare. At least with the companion certificate you only need to upfare one ticket as the other is $99 Base fare or $0 depending on your certificate, regardless of fare purchased by the primary.
I am seeing more U space availability, at least three months out in early March in random searches including EWR to/from SFO.
James
Dec 6, 2018, 11:40 am
#109
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Dec 6, 2018, 1:34 pm
#110
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Gold 75K
Posts: 218
I have 3 unused certificates expiring end of year due to lack of availability. There is no U space on any flight longer than 2 hours that I might consider booking. But, as a Gold, I could book something, anything, then cancel later and politely ask for my certificate back, with the hope of getting one that expires in 2019.
Dec 6, 2018, 1:44 pm
#111
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
I have 3 unused certificates expiring end of year due to lack of availability. There is no U space on any flight longer than 2 hours that I might consider booking. But, as a Gold, I could book something, anything, then cancel later and politely ask for my certificate back, with the hope of getting one that expires in 2019.
James
EDIT: How about SEA-HNL via SFO March 9th. Daytime flight, 55 min connection in SFO, U available on both segments, use 1 GGU and fly First SEA-SFO-HNL and be there at 1:10 pm.
Last edited by Flying for Fun; Dec 6, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Dec 6, 2018, 2:30 pm
#113
Join Date: Mar 2017
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I have upgraded ANC-LAX-SJO 6K miles to F with one GGU each on a companion certificate as I have similarly upgraded SJO-LAX-SEA-PVR with 1 GGU each.
James
Dec 6, 2018, 4:46 pm
#114
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eg: ANC-SEA-PDX-LAX-DCA. I've done this before and had connections under 4 hours. But not all segments had U, or had F at booking.
Dec 6, 2018, 5:01 pm
#115
Join Date: Apr 2017
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Posts: 1,291
Pleasantly surprised to see some U space for GGU if I go from PDX through the Bay to get to HNL for a work trip next month. Now I just need to get the office to ok travel before that space evaporates!
Dec 6, 2018, 5:12 pm
#116
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
I just used 3 GGUs on a March OAK-LIH leg. Very pleasantly surprised to be able to use them on that.
Dec 6, 2018, 6:10 pm
#117
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I GGU will upgrade all connections when U is available and the connection is <= 4 hours. In this case, SEA-SFO & SFO-HNL would both be upgraded with 1 GGU. If the connection is more than 4 hours you would need 2.
I have upgraded ANC-LAX-SJO 6K miles to F with one GGU each on a companion certificate as I have similarly upgraded SJO-LAX-SEA-PVR with 1 GGU each.
James
I have upgraded ANC-LAX-SJO 6K miles to F with one GGU each on a companion certificate as I have similarly upgraded SJO-LAX-SEA-PVR with 1 GGU each.
James
Dec 6, 2018, 7:05 pm
#118
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Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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I found it this summer. Ironically the only segment I couldn't find on SEA-LAX-SJO-LAX-SEA was... drum roll... SEA-LAX.
Dec 6, 2018, 8:38 pm
#119
Join Date: Mar 2017
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There wasn't any U space availability when I booked flights to do a same day return LAX-SJO last Saturday. We sat in Premium on the way down but were upgraded to F on the way back. Technically, this last weekend we were never in Costa Rica. We simply transited the airport. Off the plane, walled to connecting flights, went through security and then got back on the same aircraft.
There was definitely availability in early November to both LIR & SJO which was nearing the end of the wet season.
J
Dec 6, 2018, 8:50 pm
#120
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
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). About 3 weeks out 2 U opened on SAN-SEA flight so I called AS and applied my last two GGUs to that segment. James