Upgrade Question
Aug 2, 2019, 8:13 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Routing and aircraft will also come into play: 737-900s having 16F will be your best bet. The seat maps may only show 12F this far out (even though it says 737-900). Not only SEA, but PDX and LAX are possible stops. You might have a better time with upgrades on the NYC to LAX routes (although those may be Airbii...), but there are only 2 flights a day to ANC from LAX (and none to JNU). But, those might have a good upgrade chance. SEA-ANC runs almost every hour in the summer, so U space is somewhat available on volume alone. But, NYC-SEA might be tougher to find U. We are way out from the date of travel, so U space might trickle in with time. Good luck!
ETA: Prices this far out are also likely to be higher than they might be 60-180 days out. But if there is U space available, I'd grab it for the single MVP first using a GGU.
ETA: Prices this far out are also likely to be higher than they might be 60-180 days out. But if there is U space available, I'd grab it for the single MVP first using a GGU.
Last edited by DrAlex; Aug 2, 2019 at 8:39 pm
Aug 2, 2019, 9:31 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
Routing and aircraft will also come into play: 737-900s having 16F will be your best bet. The seat maps may only show 12F this far out (even though it says 737-900). Not only SEA, but PDX and LAX are possible stops. You might have a better time with upgrades on the NYC to LAX routes (although those may be Airbii...), but there are only 2 flights a day to ANC from LAX (and none to JNU). But, those might have a good upgrade chance. SEA-ANC runs almost every hour in the summer, so U space is somewhat available on volume alone. But, NYC-SEA might be tougher to find U. We are way out from the date of travel, so U space might trickle in with time. Good luck!
ETA: Prices this far out are also likely to be higher than they might be 60-180 days out. But if there is U space available, I'd grab it for the single MVP first using a GGU.
ETA: Prices this far out are also likely to be higher than they might be 60-180 days out. But if there is U space available, I'd grab it for the single MVP first using a GGU.
Thank you! and thank you all for your responses - this is why FT is great! Thanks.
Aug 12, 2019, 5:06 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
Can confirm that reservation with two MVPs on same PNR (and nobody else) successfully cleared into F. SJC-OGG on a Sunday morning. Upgrades didn’t happen simultaneously though — initially there was just one F seat left (though oddly EF still reported F2), so only one got upgraded. But later there were a couple no-shows or something, and the second pax got upgraded. Went out with one F seat unoccupied, and children outnumbered adults in the F cabin.
Sep 29, 2021, 5:07 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,715
I have a similar situation: family of 4 with two 75k adults and two no-status children. Normally I prefer to put everyone on a single PNR but I gather that would zero out our upgrade chances (there are currently no instant upgrades available though the F cabin seating chart is wide open).
So I gather from below the optimal solution is 2 PNRs with adult+child on each rez.
Is it likely inventory will open to use a GGU cert? Or is that just not happening anymore and we have to wait until the 75k window opens (or worse until T-24 checkin). This is a holiday season trip about 3 months out.
Most useful answer with practical advice - thanks!
So I gather from below the optimal solution is 2 PNRs with adult+child on each rez.
Is it likely inventory will open to use a GGU cert? Or is that just not happening anymore and we have to wait until the 75k window opens (or worse until T-24 checkin). This is a holiday season trip about 3 months out.
He has two companion certificates. It will require 3 PNRs. I would do 75K + MVP on one, 75K + non status on the other and use a GGU for the other MVP Elite if you can find at least one U. All checked baggage is covered. If you can find 2U then use two GGUs to upgrade the 75K + non Elite. Better chance for additional upgrades even if you split the 75K + MVP. The single PNR MVP still has upgrade potential albeit unlikely to happen and the MVP can upgrade to Premium where a non Elite can't.
Sep 29, 2021, 5:11 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,138
I have a similar situation: family of 4 with two 75k adults and two no-status children. Normally I prefer to put everyone on a single PNR but I gather that would zero out our upgrade chances (there are currently no instant upgrades available though the F cabin seating chart is wide open).
So I gather from below the optimal solution is 2 PNRs with adult+child on each rez.
Is it likely inventory will open to use a GGU cert? Or is that just not happening anymore and we have to wait until the 75k window opens (or worse until T-24 checkin). This is a holiday season trip about 3 months out.
Most useful answer with practical advice - thanks!
So I gather from below the optimal solution is 2 PNRs with adult+child on each rez.
Is it likely inventory will open to use a GGU cert? Or is that just not happening anymore and we have to wait until the 75k window opens (or worse until T-24 checkin). This is a holiday season trip about 3 months out.
Most useful answer with practical advice - thanks!
Sep 29, 2021, 5:20 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,715
I appreciate the offer but I don't think it's possible to locate GGU space when there is only one specific flight on a specific day that meets my requirements!
Sep 29, 2021, 5:22 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,138
I can setup an alert on EF if you want to DM me the flight details.
