using VIP on award ticket.. SUCCESS! (Or, was it an OpUp?)
Nov 28, 2011, 9:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Agoura Hills, CA USA
Posts: 2,660
using VIP on award ticket.. SUCCESS! (Or, was it an OpUp?)
Had an anytime award in business class from JFK-LAX.. at gate saw business was full.. Asked to use a VIP ( have several extra ) and was told OK.. First time for everything I guess
Nov 28, 2011, 9:53 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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The title of this thread is somewhat misleading if this was an oversell situation.
Nov 28, 2011, 10:37 am
#3
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What flight/date?
Nov 28, 2011, 10:40 am
#4
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The OP may have been in the right place at the exact right minute when the GA was trying to shift people around.
It may never happen to the same person again.
It may never happen to the same person again.
Nov 28, 2011, 10:46 am
#5
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
How did you approach the GA RTW4? Did you say something like look I see that business is full, I'm on a mileage ticket but is there any chance of upgrading with an eVIP?
Last edited by 3544quebec; Nov 28, 2011 at 11:16 am
Nov 28, 2011, 11:04 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Southern California/Los Angeles
Programs: Various
Posts: 2,778
IMO this is an exception and not a standard/rule. More likely the OP was Op Up-ed to F.
If we really want to know what happened, the FT member that has access to an airline employee's Jet Net or whatever site, can look up the PALL list to see; though I don't condone doing this (I just have the feeling he will check it)
If we really want to know what happened, the FT member that has access to an airline employee's Jet Net or whatever site, can look up the PALL list to see; though I don't condone doing this (I just have the feeling he will check it)
Nov 28, 2011, 11:26 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 34
In January this year I upgraded a companion on an Anytime Award with an electronic upgrade. I knew that this was against policy but the flight was wide open in first so I figured it was worth the try. I called the EXP desk on my way to the airport and was told no, then at the check in counter I was again told I could not upgrade my companion, then decided one more shot at the admirals club and sure enough he was upgraded.
My original theory was that this was as op-up but the boarding pass showed X inventory and the stickers being deducted from my account made me wonder how the Admirals Club agent accomplished this.
My original theory was that this was as op-up but the boarding pass showed X inventory and the stickers being deducted from my account made me wonder how the Admirals Club agent accomplished this.
Nov 28, 2011, 11:29 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVPG 75K
Posts: 2,574
In January this year I upgraded a companion on an Anytime Award with an electronic upgrade. I knew that this was against policy but the flight was wide open in first so I figured it was worth the try. I called the EXP desk on my way to the airport and was told no, then at the check in counter I was again told I could not upgrade my companion, then decided one more shot at the admirals club and sure enough he was upgraded.
My original theory was that this was as op-up but the boarding pass showed X inventory and the stickers being deducted from my account made me wonder how the Admirals Club agent accomplished this.
My original theory was that this was as op-up but the boarding pass showed X inventory and the stickers being deducted from my account made me wonder how the Admirals Club agent accomplished this.
Nov 28, 2011, 11:57 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MIA
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Posts: 34
On further thought, it could have possibly been a mileage saver award (It was a last minute trip that one leg was anytime award and one leg was mileage saver but don't recall which one was which). In either case I did succesfully upgrade an award reservation electronically.
Nov 28, 2011, 2:37 pm
#10
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Have you checked your account balance to see if one was actually deducted? As the use of a systemwide involves reissuing the ticket with a new ticket number, and a call to have it pulled, I'm wondering whether one was taken at all.
Nov 28, 2011, 5:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: back to AA PLT, 1.6+MM
Posts: 771
Good thing, too. The flight was about an hour late boarding because we had to wait for the crew; then we sat for another hour due to a Ramp Hold due to thunderstorms. I told my wife and son how lucky they were to experience an upgrade on "free" tickets.
Nov 28, 2011, 6:14 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AA SPG Amex
Posts: 4,644
Most likely the GA simply looked quickly, saw that it was in J inventory and processed the upgrade as though it was paid J. Probably the same reason people have at times reported getting EQM/RDM on AAnytime award tickets.
Nov 28, 2011, 8:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 34
FYI, I believe op-ups BP's say X inventory on them. Two weeks ago I was on 2211 DFW->PDX; two family members on AAnytime tickets were with me. I didn't request an UG since I wanted to sit in the back with them. So I was surprised when the GA called all three of our names; we had all won the op-up lottery. The BP's said X inventory. Are you sure stickers were deducted?
Good thing, too. The flight was about an hour late boarding because we had to wait for the crew; then we sat for another hour due to a Ramp Hold due to thunderstorms. I told my wife and son how lucky they were to experience an upgrade on "free" tickets.
Good thing, too. The flight was about an hour late boarding because we had to wait for the crew; then we sat for another hour due to a Ramp Hold due to thunderstorms. I told my wife and son how lucky they were to experience an upgrade on "free" tickets.
Nov 28, 2011, 9:19 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AA SPG Amex
Posts: 4,644
Also, I have to ask: When the GA said that the J to F upgrade was available, why didn't you see if Z inventory was also showing and then see if reservations could convert your AAnytime J award into a sAAver F award at 32.5k vs. 50k + a SWU for the same seat? Or was this part of a larger itinerary?
Nov 28, 2011, 10:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2009
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similar happened....
I recently upgraded two friends using miles (mine) and $ (mine) - on a flight I wasn't on. I noticed tonight that one of their tickets was an award - and yet the miles and money upgraded him..... Is this new - have I simply never noticed this (as I rarely use Miles and $ for upgrades).....