LAX to JFK Transcontinental Upgrades

Oct 31, 2014, 2:06 pm

#16

bmchris

Join Date: Oct 2008

Posts: 2,384

No sticker upgrades as well for C -> F. Last time I did a transcon route JFK-SFO, I flew paid C. No upgrade to F as a Plat.

Oct 31, 2014, 2:25 pm

#17

Eastbay1K

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 1999

Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA

Programs: Jumbo mas

Posts: 38,754

(1) Some of us are int'l connecting pax, and sometimes an int'l P fare connecting through JFK can be less than people are paying for an SFO(LAX)/JFK RT up front.

(2) Advance purchase fares in the discount F buckets have come way down, especially ex-SFO (Not sure about LAX).

(3) The discounted J fare buckets have also come way down. I just paid $800 (plus a few dollars) for an SFO/JFK OW.

I attribute this to B6, as they now have lie flats. I hope it lasts for quite some time.

Oct 31, 2014, 2:29 pm

#18

george 3

Join Date: Apr 2011

Location: New York

Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days

Posts: 2,795

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAH4546

They fill them by people who pay for them.

Or use miles or SWUs.

Oct 31, 2014, 2:34 pm

#19

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

Suspended

Join Date: Sep 2006

Programs: AAdvantage PP

Posts: 13,913

When I lived in NYC I actually had gotten the upgrade to J then a then all but rare double upgrade to F twice. It happens under very unusual situations. Mine was my reservation being whipped out by AA accidentally (which took the AC and EXP desk an hour to resolve) and another time being put into F after my flight from SFO to JFK got canceled.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George is offline

Oct 31, 2014, 3:51 pm

#20

WheelsFirst

Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: SAN

Programs: AA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold

Posts: 1,208

There is also usually sAAver inventory starting a few days out. I've booked F award tickets at less mileage than J.

Oct 31, 2014, 4:47 pm

#21

arlflyer

Join Date: Feb 2013

Location: DCA

Posts: 7,770

Quote:

Originally Posted by WheelsFirst

There is also usually sAAver inventory starting a few days out. I've booked F award tickets at less mileage than J.

Yep. I've seen lots of F space the day before or same-day. Booked a SAAver in F SFO-JFK a couple months ago about 24 hours out.

Oct 31, 2014, 10:54 pm

#22

pssteve

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: PSP

Programs: AA Executive Platinum, United

Posts: 1,081

Oct 3 we (SO and I both EXP) managed a double up.We used SWU's for LAX-JFK-LHR into J. As BP was scanned SO got beeped and agent held up line to retrieve 2 new BP's and we moved from row 7 to row 4. Flight was overbooked in Econ so cabins were rolled.

Nov 1, 2014, 8:26 am

#23

nkrijeka

Join Date: Jan 2014

Programs: AA Plat

Posts: 104

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleDavid

I think these flights are often oversold in Y, as most of my flights have included last minute op-ups from C-F for 1-2 lucky folks (presumably people who actually paid for C) as well as 1-2 Y passengers who didn't pay for upgrades, but got to ride in C (they always seem more excited than the C-F passengers - wonder why

).

So you can get into F by paying for C and hoping for an op-up, but they won't do it to fill F, they'll only do it to make room further back.

On JFK-SFO, I upgraded to C with miles and then go opped up to F ^

Nov 1, 2014, 10:11 am

#24

LINDEGR

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT

Posts: 1,708

I would hope a GA would upgrade an EXP from J to F (even if in J due to stickers or SWU) before even considering upgrading some random purchased J class traveler!!