To UuA or not to UUA... (to First)
Feb 12, 2015, 11:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 17
To UuA or not to UUA... (to First)
Hi everyone
Thanks for all your advice on here.
Today, I’m a bit indecisive. I’m travelling from London to New York next week in CW. There is currently availability to upgrade using Avios to First. Should I go for it?
Here are all the pros and cons:
Is it good value? 20,000 Avios for better seat and catering. Would you do it?
Thanks for all your advice on here.
Today, I’m a bit indecisive. I’m travelling from London to New York next week in CW. There is currently availability to upgrade using Avios to First. Should I go for it?
Here are all the pros and cons:
- I have travelled in First twice before, once in New First, once in Old First, both times on the 747. This aircraft will be New First 747. So, not a new experience.
- I am a Concorde Room cardholder so I will be able to use that lounge anyway.
- My seat is currently on the upper deck (64A).
- I can afford the Avios, if you know what I mean. The cost is 20,000 which I see as being £200.
- For the return journey, the flight is fairly full in CW. Reading the tea-leaves (or maybe mis-reading them), there is a tiny possibility of an op-up to First. I would value a ‘free’ upgrade more than a paid upgrade. Someone wrote on here recently the UuA seemed to turn off the possibility of an opup.
- As an irregular First traveller, I suppose my ego does like the feeling of being in First class.
- There is currently only one seat selected in First so the cabin might be quiet.
- Avios devaluation will make this more expensive if I want to do it some other time.
Is it good value? 20,000 Avios for better seat and catering. Would you do it?
Feb 12, 2015, 11:50 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
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To UuA or not to UUA... (to First)
The Avios changes actually make the UuA from CW to F cheaper on a Zone 5 flight. It will cost 18,000 Avios from 28 April. ^
If you are Avios rich though, why not?
If you are Avios rich though, why not?
Feb 12, 2015, 11:54 am
#3
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Welcome to Flyertalk TravelFarWide
Only you can decide on value, it's not easily abdicated. Some people think Tescos is better value than Waitrose, others will argue the opposite. Neither group is wrong or right. The key thing, I would suggest, is what else would you do with the Avios? Particularly, as you noted, that there are changes afoot which may make this transaction more troublesome. Personally I would not do it, since I'm totally happy in CW, a lot of other travellers would relish the opportunity.
Feb 12, 2015, 12:41 pm
#4
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Curious, as iWife and I were discussing this earlier today.
Under the "Neue Ordnung", our 'traditional' UuA from WT+ to CW becomes extremely expensive in Avios terms. The concept of just paying for the bloody CW seat [in a Sale, of course] and then UuA to F becomes much more appealing [for a given value of appealing]. Might as well be disappointed in greater comfort whilst burning off the devalued Avios, I say
Admissions: Never done F, marginal Gold, what's a CCR?
Under the "Neue Ordnung", our 'traditional' UuA from WT+ to CW becomes extremely expensive in Avios terms. The concept of just paying for the bloody CW seat [in a Sale, of course] and then UuA to F becomes much more appealing [for a given value of appealing]. Might as well be disappointed in greater comfort whilst burning off the devalued Avios, I say
Admissions: Never done F, marginal Gold, what's a CCR?
Feb 12, 2015, 2:29 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
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I tend to start from the Why Not? side.
OP gives some fair reasons why not, for their case.
Still, F is rare enough for me to (still) be something I always look forward too. As long as I have the avios I'm inclined to go F when I get the chance and the higher cabin looks the nicer option (so maybe not 64k to 5e on a 747
).
OP gives some fair reasons why not, for their case.
Still, F is rare enough for me to (still) be something I always look forward too. As long as I have the avios I'm inclined to go F when I get the chance and the higher cabin looks the nicer option (so maybe not 64k to 5e on a 747
).
Feb 12, 2015, 2:49 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Speaking as someone who's done the CCR, but never F, I'd definitely do it once to try it.
If you're avios rich then there's a strong element of 'why not' but effectively 'F' seems like CWP. As my 'yes, definitely' price for WTP over WT is £150 then £200 for F over CW would seem to be worth it, but I'd hardly be kicking myself if I had something else lined up for the avios.
So er... pick one and then don't worry about it?
If you're avios rich then there's a strong element of 'why not' but effectively 'F' seems like CWP. As my 'yes, definitely' price for WTP over WT is £150 then £200 for F over CW would seem to be worth it, but I'd hardly be kicking myself if I had something else lined up for the avios.
So er... pick one and then don't worry about it?
Feb 12, 2015, 4:45 pm
#7
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This falls into the "do whatever" category, I think.
Short flight and you already have the next best seat on the plane, but you're basically saying that the upgrade won't be at a significant cost to you. Given that you apparently fly a ton if you've got a CCR card and have only flown F twice I'd have thought it arguably worth it just for a change of scenery if nothing else.
Short flight and you already have the next best seat on the plane, but you're basically saying that the upgrade won't be at a significant cost to you. Given that you apparently fly a ton if you've got a CCR card and have only flown F twice I'd have thought it arguably worth it just for a change of scenery if nothing else.
Feb 12, 2015, 8:30 pm
#8
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Feb 12, 2015, 11:10 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Welcome to Flyertalk TravelFarWide.
I had a 64K in December for a flight to JFK. At check in, the OH and I paid o upgrade to F and really enjoyed the CCR (realise you get this anyway), the service, food and wine at the start of our holiday.
If you have the Avios and do not have any immediate or future pressing use of them, then I would certainly consider doing it.
64A and CW will be fine but for those of us who do not travel F all the time, it is still a treat and one that you can get relatively cheaper on this occasion.
Please let us know what you decide.
I had a 64K in December for a flight to JFK. At check in, the OH and I paid o upgrade to F and really enjoyed the CCR (realise you get this anyway), the service, food and wine at the start of our holiday.
If you have the Avios and do not have any immediate or future pressing use of them, then I would certainly consider doing it.
64A and CW will be fine but for those of us who do not travel F all the time, it is still a treat and one that you can get relatively cheaper on this occasion.
Please let us know what you decide.
Feb 12, 2015, 11:26 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2011
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I was in a very similar situation for next week, except flying home from JFK (on the day flight), had 64K and don't have a CCR card.
Dithered for about 10 mins and then took the upgrade.
As EuropeanPete says, I see enough of the CW seat that the change to F (which I've only done 3 sectors in with BA) is very welcome. And the CCR in JFK
Dithered for about 10 mins and then took the upgrade.
As EuropeanPete says, I see enough of the CW seat that the change to F (which I've only done 3 sectors in with BA) is very welcome. And the CCR in JFK
Feb 13, 2015, 12:27 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2007
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If you normally fly Club anyway and don't need the Avios for any other plans, then its a compete no brainer, even on a 747 where the UD CW->F hard product leap is not as great as CW->F on a 777