Upgrades??
 

I want to know, I will be travelling a lot on Canadian starting in May up til September. I am currently a Gold member. i want to know does anyone have any tricks as to how to "gaurentee" that you are going to get an upgrade? I will be travelling domestically in Canada mainly. Therefore, I can just use the Grey SW stickers.
Also, want to know, If I am travelling from YYZ - YVR, what is the best flight possible for an upgrade based on past history. (If anyone knows this, May be Ken?)

Thanks,
Jay

Your best bet is to call for the upgrade the instant you can, i.e. 72 hours. Back in the old days, I used to call at about 72 hours and 2 minutes, and then the agent would just keep me on the line. That way, I could make sure I was first in line. I know that on occaision, all the upgrade seats have disappeared within a few minutes of the cutoff time.

Upgrades are fairly easy to get for golds. The only times you might have problems is on busy 737 flights (YYZ-YHZ, YVR-ORD, etc) and sometimes at Christmas. For YYZ-YVR, upgrades are almost a certainty, especially if you call early.

The best plane for YYZ-YVR, in my opinion, is the DC10, usually 1 or 2 flights a day using this plane. It has far more b/c seats than, heaven forbid, a 737. But the real benefit is that you get the Club Empress service -- HUGE seats, tons of room, and in seat video, just to mention a few benefits.

Second choice would be a 767, particularly an A seat (i.e. 3A) as they are single seats, with a big "glove box." The only difference is they do not have in seat videos. They do have Sony Watchmans, that they sometimes make available.

Third choice would be an A320, especially once the new seats are installed. They have about the same number of b/c seats as the DC10 and 767.

Finally, anything else, which pretty much means 737. There are no direct flights using this plane anymore, but you might find yourself on one if are on a connecting flight.

Right now, aim for the DC10.

But all this changes big time on April 5. That day, they will begin 747 service on that route. (4 days per week) This plane has almost double the b/c seats that either the DC10 or 767 have, and they DO have the in seat video.

Finally, if you want to get an idea of how many upgrade seats are available, you can use www.itn.net or www.travelocity.com to check seat maps. You need to "pretend" to hold or purchase a ticket. Just cancel the transaction once you have seen the seat map.
Bear in mind however, that sometimes seats are sold without being assigned, although on CP in business class, this is not too common. I *think* the limits are 2 seats on 737s and 3 seats on bigger planes are held as revenume seats until two hours before flight time.

Another option is too book the flight you *want* to take, and then be prepared to do a same day standby on a different flight, if there are upgrade seats available on that flight. This works especially well if you book a late in the day flight, and show up at the airport earlier. You may end up "hanging around" the airport for a few hours, but with Gold, you'll at least have access to Canadian's superb lounges. (Vancouver's lounge is worth going to very early to just enjoy it. The other's won't be far behind.)

Hmmm... I just checked the seat map for the 747-400 in the printed timetable, and they are already showing the new seat layout. This means the have reduce the number of b/c seats from 52 to 42, but increased the space for each seat. Give that it was already pretty roomy, you should be able to bring you car along as a carry on. (Econo cars only http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif)

P.S. Best seats for room and comfort are:

DC10 - 1E or 1F
747 - 4F or 4E (sometimes called 4D)

On the old seat maps of the 747, row 5 seats, D,E, or F would be the best, but this row has been/is being removed.

Ken Hamer

Ken:
I am planning on booking on CP 7 from YYZ - YVR when they have 747 service. But is this a good idea since the flight will continue onto HKG.
Another thing want to ask u is whether I should use points for B/C class to LHR or take my chance for upgrade and also SFO as well.
I understand it is very hard to get an upgrade on AA. Should I connect through YVR.

By the way, how many miles do u log per year?

Ajay:

Canadi>n will not let you book CP7 from YYZ to YVR only, as they deplane in the international terminal building. Your best bet is to fly CP992 from YVR to YYZ if what you are looking for is the 744.

Hi Ajay,
Hmm, I don't think you have to fly on a 747 if it's not neccessary. Personally, I think their 767 is not bad too. It's quite comfortable even in economy class. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Of course you can be booked on CP7. It is considered a domestic flight until it gets to Vancouver. I have confimed this with an agent. Because you do not have to go through customs, therefore you are allowed to book on that flight.

So, I guess that changes the answer to my previous question?

Hi Ajay,
Oh really? That's great then. I think this is the first year they use the 747 to fly YYZ-YVR. Anyway, have a nice trip on it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Perhaps now they let you book on CP007, but when I tried to do it last September the agent with Canadi>n would not do it. I checked with several other agents too, and they all had the same story. I'm happy to hear that they will do it now!

Take it from someone who has booked and travelled this route before....You can fly from YYZ-YVR on CP007, but NOT the other way round YVR-YYZ on CP008 as it carries passengers who need to clear Canadian customs. CP008 also carries passengers connecting in from other CP flights from Japan, China, Taiwan who are connecting onwards to Eastern Canada.

But is it harder to upgrade on CP7? I take this flight because I figure 747 service would provide more J seats. I figure it has a higher chance of upgrade than 767 since it has 42. Plus, since it picks up more passenger in YVR, I don't think it will even be 50% full in J class from YYZ - YVR.

Absolutely, CP 7 is really hard to get upgraded, as it is alsways packed full no matter what plane they are using. Most of the time, their revenue business class seats will be full even a month before, and sometimes you may have to wait until the very very last minute to confirm if you can upgrade at the gate.

My responses to a bunch of points/questions, in no particular order:

Percentages of J class seats (approx):

747-400 10% Club Empress
DC-10 11% Club Empress
767-300er 14.25% Club Empress
A320 18%
737-200 12%
F28 18%

Bear in mind however, that smaller planes are more likely to be full as they have a lower absolute number of both coach and business seats. Therefore, you're probably more likely to get an upgrade on a 10% 747 than an 18% F28.

There is some question as to whether or not you can book CP7 from YYZ and de-plane at YVR. I have in fact done this several times, last on Nov 9/98, but lately I have been told by CP resv, CP Exec Plat Desk, and to her own surprise, even our company travel agent, that this is no longer possible. (CP claims it never was, but I have points statements showing I have flown this route.) I'm not sure what the real situation is. CP8, HKG-YVR-YYZ, is also prohibited, and while I have not taken this flight, my TA assures me that she has booked people on it before. I suppose they could have changed customs/immigration formalities, but up until now, you've had to change planes in Vancouver, in both directions, so I presume you have to clear customs at Vancouver on the way back to Toronto. If you *can* get on the flight, there is no reason to avoid it because it is going to HKG.

I'm not sure about the points/upgrade question. The only way to use points to upgrade on CP is to use points to buy stickers, but you are no better off than if you use the regular upgrade stickers. (Without stickers, I don't think there is anyway you'll get upgraded.) On the other hand, if you have enough points to buy an award ticket, by all means do so. You get much better $/point value on business class seats on CP, as well as most other airlines. I don't think I would ever use points to purchase a coach seat. (Your mileage may vary.)

If you have upgrade stickers, upgrading on AA is every bit as easy as upgrading on CP. They seem to have larger planes, with larger 1st class sections as well, which may make more upgrade seats available. (Don't let 1st class fool you, US carriers domestic 1st class is nowhere near as nice on CP's (or AC's) business class. I have *never* been denied an upgrade when flying AA.

My miles -- About 100K/yr on CP and AA (CP and AA's programs are so tightly and seamlessly integrated that I don't really differentiate any more. I think it's about 70K CP and 30K AA.) About 25K/yr on BA, and another 25K per year on others, mostly AC and NW. And the occaisional bush plane/float plane/ski plane/helicopter/STOL ride. The total is a little over 150K last year, and probably closer to 200K this year.

CP's 767s are great planes, especially if you "just want to be left alone." The "A" seats, 1A to 6A, are singles -- that is they are both window and aisle seats, and on some 767s, they have a big storage bin under the right armrest. Sitting by yourself gives a profound feeling of spaciousness. But 767s DO NOT have the inseat videos, which I really like. The nature of my work does not lend itself to working on the plane, and 5 hour flight can be pretty boring, even with reading materials. The 747 and DC10s both have inseat videos, with 6 channels. For sitting, I think CP's Club Empress seats are the most comfortable I've ever sat in, moreso than even BA's first class seats. ('Course, BA's are much better for sleeping in.)

As for upgrading on CP7, from YYZ-YVR, I've taken this flight 2 or 3 times in the last couple of years, always on a DC10, and have always been able to upgrade. I'm guessing that it is because they pick up a lot of passengers in Vancouver, where there is a very large Asian community.

The one time I flew CP7 from Vancouver to Hong Kong (and then on to Bangkok) I was not able to upgrade until I got to the airport. The reason was that while there were plenty of open seats from YVR-HKG, the business class was supposedly full from HKG-BKK. (This bugged me, as I was concerned that Golds and Clubs would be able to take all the upgrades to HKG, if that was as far as they were flying.) I was "biting my nails" for a couple of days before the flight, dreading the thought of a 14 hour flight in "steerage." However, at the airport, 7 people including myself were upgraded. On the second segment, HKG-BKK, business class was half empty, so I don't know what that deal was all about.

On the return flight, I as able to upgrade at BKK but only as far as HKG. At HKG, there were enough no shows that I, just barely, got upgraded. It was so distracting, I didn't enjoy the lounge at all. But it was a nice ride home.

Any more questions, please feel free to post. I'll answer as best I can.

Best Regards,

Ken Hamer

Thanks, Ken! You've said it all very well.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Well explained Ken.

I would like to know what your opinion is, someone suggested this to me, If I was to travel on a flight say from YYZ - YVR, if I make up names and book all the seats on a flight ( since J seats can be hold up til departure )and then release it right before the 100 hours or 72 hours, then call and upgrade. Wouldn't that give yourself a almost "gaurantee" upgrade.

I don't think it should be done though because it's kind of unethical.