744 UD CW window seat -> F (UuA)
Nov 1, 2018, 12:50 am
#16
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Realistically Alaska miles are something like 1-2 UK pennies per in cash value in my valuation. Since I hold no BA/OW status the T3 lounge upgrade and getting 2K seemed better than paying more actual money and slightly less miles for a 747 UD seat, as sentimental as 747 UD might be (I’ve flown it on TG such as to check it off the list), or playing Club World seat lotto and risking a loss on the lower deck.
The BA carrier surcharges are less than ideal but summertime premium cabin (EU->USA) for 70.000 Alaska miles seemed OK. For whatever reason I was charged less UK APD if my first segment was in BA Y, so a relatively inexpensive multi-day London stopover after my AMS-LHR flight is part of this one-way (a feature with Alaska awards).
The BA carrier surcharges are less than ideal but summertime premium cabin (EU->USA) for 70.000 Alaska miles seemed OK. For whatever reason I was charged less UK APD if my first segment was in BA Y, so a relatively inexpensive multi-day London stopover after my AMS-LHR flight is part of this one-way (a feature with Alaska awards).
Nov 1, 2018, 3:22 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Jersey
Programs: BA Bronze Executive Club Member
Posts: 50
With regards to finding availability for F (currently in similiar situation travelling to JFK in December in J), am i right in thinking they only update availability once a day, or should we be checking multiple times. Currently using BA app to check availability as it's quick and easy. I highly doubt I'll get anything (especially as we're 2 not 1), but always the off chance someone else may cancel their F reward flights and flights re-appear..
Nov 1, 2018, 3:24 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 39
Incidentally, and apologies if this is off topic, I paid for seat selection on this flight but seeing as I'm currently a lowly Blue I couldn't select 62AK / 64AK. Does anyone know if these open up to Blues at T-14 days?
Nov 1, 2018, 3:28 am
#19
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
No I believe these only become available for Blue at online check in, when they would be free to select (but highly unlikely to be available). If you are of medium build or less you can go for 63A or 63K where you can slip out of the seat in the gap with the cabin wall so you don't have to step over anyone.
Nov 1, 2018, 3:29 am
#20
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
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With regards to finding availability for F (currently in similiar situation travelling to JFK in December in J), am i right in thinking they only update availability once a day, or should we be checking multiple times. Currently using BA app to check availability as it's quick and easy. I highly doubt I'll get anything (especially as we're 2 not 1), but always the off chance someone else may cancel their F reward flights and flights re-appear..
For the few moments it takes I'd check 2/3 times a day if desperate !
Nov 1, 2018, 3:41 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 39
No I believe these only become available for Blue at online check in, when they would be free to select (but highly unlikely to be available). If you are of medium build or less you can go for 63A or 63K where you can slip out of the seat in the gap with the cabin wall so you don't have to step over anyone.
Nov 1, 2018, 4:20 am
#22
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
Yes, annoying, the UD is special and they keep a lot of seats back for higher tiers. Don't worry, I love 63A/K. You're in a great seat in a great mini-cabin. Enjoy!
Nov 1, 2018, 5:08 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Here today, gone tomorrow
Programs: Nothing shiny :-(
Posts: 2,493
That's a good reason to upgrade to F if you can - you can get a refund of the seat fee.
Nov 1, 2018, 9:08 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 39
...it's certainly worth a daily check in the UK morning times - make sure you've got everything handy if you need to call quickly (and who knows, it may be possible online if it's a BA.com booking and you haven't messed it about since the initial booking). Since it's a simple query I would use BA.com rather than BARF, the previous query should be recycled in My Executive Club so it won't take long to check. Or use the new-ish BAEC Avios App.
I'm also presuming there is no need to call up and this can all be managed online, unless I'm missing something?
Nov 1, 2018, 9:43 am
#26
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Nov 1, 2018, 10:24 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Jersey
Programs: BA Bronze Executive Club Member
Posts: 50
I may well be flogging a dead horse here, but presumably the 'ultimate' method of checking Avios upgrade availability is to go into MMB and click on "Upgrade this flight with Avios" (which currently gives the message "Sorry, we cannot upgrade your booking because there is no availability.").
I'm also presuming there is no need to call up and this can all be managed online, unless I'm missing something?
I'm also presuming there is no need to call up and this can all be managed online, unless I'm missing something?
. Not sure if that's because its a Flight + Hotel booking or because I have a domestic leg attached. But checking my mobile app is just as quick.
Nov 13, 2018, 6:03 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 39
I'm now 2 days away from my BA275 LHR-LAS, it's still showing:
F4 A3 J9 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H8 K6 M3 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G5
Do you think there still a chance for UUA (J->F) to open up at this stage or is it more likely to be POUG/AUP, or indeed no chance of any upgrade availability?
F4 A3 J9 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H8 K6 M3 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G5
Do you think there still a chance for UUA (J->F) to open up at this stage or is it more likely to be POUG/AUP, or indeed no chance of any upgrade availability?
Nov 14, 2018, 3:59 am
#29
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: London. Or a plane.
Programs: "Only" 50,000 TPs until BA GGLfL
Posts: 2,777
I'm now 2 days away from my BA275 LHR-LAS, it's still showing:
F4 A3 J9 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H8 K6 M3 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G5
Do you think there still a chance for UUA (J->F) to open up at this stage or is it more likely to be POUG/AUP, or indeed no chance of any upgrade availability?
F4 A3 J9 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H8 K6 M3 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G5
Do you think there still a chance for UUA (J->F) to open up at this stage or is it more likely to be POUG/AUP, or indeed no chance of any upgrade availability?