Strategy for Hawaii flight, MVP status & companion?
Mar 16, 2019, 7:25 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Sorry to bring up a 2 month old thread but question is similar. MVP Gold flying SJC-HNL on a full Y fare in about 3.5 weeks (House hunting trip) using companion pass for my wife. She shows as full Y also. No U space available at time of booking. Both tickets show waitlisted for First, already have PC seats. Where do we fit into the upgrade priority? First time using my companion pass for the AS credit card.
Another question. Are MVP Gold on full Y fares given any priority over 75K's on much lower fares? Flying Monday SJC-SEA-DEN on a full Y fare for work. Booked last minute (last night). Show waitlisted.
Another question. Are MVP Gold on full Y fares given any priority over 75K's on much lower fares? Flying Monday SJC-SEA-DEN on a full Y fare for work. Booked last minute (last night). Show waitlisted.
Mar 16, 2019, 8:13 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
You are eligible for instant upgrade. You were added to the queue when you bought the ticket. Everyone else (on non-instant-upgrade-eligible fares) is added when their upgrade window opens.
You are behind all the 75ks who bought eligible fares, including the ones who bought after you (they have a different queue). You are also behind all the golds or mvps who bought eligible fares before you.
Once you are 5 days before the trip, all the 75ks will get added to the 75k queue -- they will also be ahead of you (again, on the 75k queue). So it's better for you if U space opens more than 5 days out.
You are behind all the 75ks who bought eligible fares, including the ones who bought after you (they have a different queue). You are also behind all the golds or mvps who bought eligible fares before you.
Once you are 5 days before the trip, all the 75ks will get added to the 75k queue -- they will also be ahead of you (again, on the 75k queue). So it's better for you if U space opens more than 5 days out.
Last edited by VegasGambler; Mar 19, 2019 at 9:30 am
Mar 19, 2019, 9:03 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,721
Your best shot at upgrades are GGUs. IME MVP is pretty much useless on AS if you are using a BofA $99 ticket as you both have to fly in the same cabin. So the only way to upgrade is (1) GGU or (2) at the airport counter if they are offering buy-ups (or TOD upgrades as we say on UA). The MVP would get a free upgrade and the companion would pay the fee. But Hawaii is very popular for upgrades so this strategy is a long shot as I find the cabin is often full by the time I arrive at airport. We have done both 1 and 2 successfully.
In your case this isn't going to work because your kids are the companions. So you would have to upgrade one child and one adult as required by companion fare.
In your case this isn't going to work because your kids are the companions. So you would have to upgrade one child and one adult as required by companion fare.
Mar 19, 2019, 9:34 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
This represents about half my upgrades for last year. I always figured it was extremely elite-light.
Mar 19, 2019, 10:47 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,721
It is elite light but many people are happy to pay $100 to upgrade a 5-hour flight. So IME the buy-ups disappear fast. Remember the MVP upgrade only covers one person (this is where MVP-G becomes much more useful).
Mar 19, 2019, 11:43 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
$199 now, not $100. I grabbed two for my parents last week as soon as the blue F showed up. I was watching like a hawk.
Mar 19, 2019, 12:58 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Paid upgrades may be available within 24 hours of flight departure through online check-in. They may be available on the calendar day of departure at a kiosk, airport ticket counter or at the departure gate.
Pay for an upgrade table One-Way by trip miles.
Price
*0 - 450 $29
451 - 700 $49
701 - 1,400 $99
1,401 - 2,100 $149
2,101 and above $199
*Taxes apply
James
Mar 19, 2019, 1:21 pm
#23
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
It depends on the flight distance. Hawaii was $150 prior to the last fee changes.
Paid upgrades may be available within 24 hours of flight departure through online check-in. They may be available on the calendar day of departure at a kiosk, airport ticket counter or at the departure gate.
Pay for an upgrade table One-Way by trip miles.
Price
*0 - 450 $29
451 - 700 $49
701 - 1,400 $99
1,401 - 2,100 $149
2,101 and above $199
*Taxes apply
James
Paid upgrades may be available within 24 hours of flight departure through online check-in. They may be available on the calendar day of departure at a kiosk, airport ticket counter or at the departure gate.
Pay for an upgrade table One-Way by trip miles.
Price
*0 - 450 $29
451 - 700 $49
701 - 1,400 $99
1,401 - 2,100 $149
2,101 and above $199
*Taxes apply
James
Mar 19, 2019, 3:16 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Apr 21, 2019, 11:30 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2001
Location: San Francisco/Bangkok
Programs: Alaska 75K United 1K
Posts: 1,409
Yep; sadly, you won’t be able to get upgraded. When MVPs are traveling with someone else, they can request to split the reservation to allow for upgrades, but that’s not an option when using a companion certificate. Even with two in the reservation, she should at least have access to the elite seats, so hopefully you can at least grab exit row seating. You’ll also get the two free checked bags benefit for both her and the child on the same reservation
2 of us both MVP using companion certificate just found out today
no premium or first class automatic upgrades
Kinda a weird quirk
Apr 22, 2019, 12:20 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
FWIW - complimentary upgrade in any Hawaiian routes is always difficult, regardless of airlines.
As a MVP, OP should never expect any upgrades at all, unless OP is a MVP 75k or pays for the upgrade.
As a MVP, OP should never expect any upgrades at all, unless OP is a MVP 75k or pays for the upgrade.
Apr 22, 2019, 1:02 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Flying to/from SEA would be a different story, I'm sure.
Apr 22, 2019, 8:40 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,291
This really depends on where the other end of the trip is. Flying Hawaii to/from SFO and OAK I was 3/4 on upgrades as a lowly MVP last year. And the time that I missed, I was dead last on the list and the only person to not get upgraded!
Flying to/from SEA would be a different story, I'm sure.
Flying to/from SEA would be a different story, I'm sure.
Apr 22, 2019, 11:57 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Hawaii
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 22
We were upgraded on our 9/2018 SFO-HNL leg, and even scored seats next to one another. Both the AS cardholder and the pass recipient were MVP at the time.