IAH -- SFO
Mar 11, 2010 | 3:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: SFO and LRD
Programs: Onepass Gold
Posts: 54
IAH -- SFO
I travel IAH--SFO--IAH on CO about once a month. I just got onto CO Gold elite status. A few questions:
* Is there much difference in getting upgraded on this route as a Gold Elite versus a Silver Elite member?
* Are there any particular days of the week when this route might be more susceptible to an upgrade?
* How do you figure out whether to expend reward miles for an upgrade on this or any other route, when your're holding Gold status and might get upgraded anyway?
* Is there much difference in getting upgraded on this route as a Gold Elite versus a Silver Elite member?
* Are there any particular days of the week when this route might be more susceptible to an upgrade?
* How do you figure out whether to expend reward miles for an upgrade on this or any other route, when your're holding Gold status and might get upgraded anyway?
Mar 11, 2010 | 4:29 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,690
I travel IAH--SFO--IAH on CO about once a month. I just got onto CO Gold elite status. A few questions:
* Is there much difference in getting upgraded on this route as a Gold Elite versus a Silver Elite member?
* Are there any particular days of the week when this route might be more susceptible to an upgrade?
* How do you figure out whether to expend reward miles for an upgrade on this or any other route, when your're holding Gold status and might get upgraded anyway?
* Is there much difference in getting upgraded on this route as a Gold Elite versus a Silver Elite member?
* Are there any particular days of the week when this route might be more susceptible to an upgrade?
* How do you figure out whether to expend reward miles for an upgrade on this or any other route, when your're holding Gold status and might get upgraded anyway?
Mar 11, 2010 | 4:47 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: iah
Programs: ua-mm *G, hilton-gold
Posts: 704
this is a hard flight to get an upgrade on. if you live in katy or west houston. one thing i have noticed is that sometimes you can get really cheap fares to sfo out of austin. i think co is matching jet blue or alaska air. on a r/t, you would get an extra 2000 onepass miles and maybe save some dough. also avoids houston traffic.
Mar 11, 2010 | 5:32 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: LT GS 4MM; Hilton: LT Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 701
Mar 11, 2010 | 5:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 848
If I were you I'd start flying into SJC (San Jose) instead. I am a Gold and routinely get upgraded on that route. You can then take the Cal Train to San Francisco or rent a car.
Also, I have been upgraded on the redeye SFO - IAH flight every time I have flown that route (on a Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning), even as a Silver.
Good luck!
Also, I have been upgraded on the redeye SFO - IAH flight every time I have flown that route (on a Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning), even as a Silver.
Good luck!
Mar 24, 2010 | 3:37 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: iah
Programs: ua-mm *G, hilton-gold
Posts: 704
this is a hard flight to get an upgrade on. if you live in katy or west houston. one thing i have noticed is that sometimes you can get really cheap fares to sfo out of austin. i think co is matching jet blue or alaska air. on a r/t, you would get an extra 2000 onepass miles and maybe save some dough. also avoids houston traffic.
Mar 24, 2010 | 4:32 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,092
Mar 24, 2010 | 5:14 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum; Hyatt Diamond/GLOB
Posts: 740
Depending on what part of the Bay Area I am heading, Sacramento can be faster given the relative lack of traffic. The price may not be cheaper, but there is a better shot at getting upgraded.
Mar 24, 2010 | 9:47 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Who is getting them, then?
If you're platinum and missing upgrades often, who gets them? Are people paying cash money to sit in first?
Mar 24, 2010 | 10:51 pm
#11
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 47,221
Mar 24, 2010 | 10:52 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,092
Mar 24, 2010 | 11:02 pm
#13
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 47,221
They would have to be super-tons of miles to waste them on a 3hr hop. I cashed in 30k for FLL/IAH/SEA and back on a G/T fare, but that's because I want to secure the seats upfront on the longer IAH/SEA legs - if I see the cabins are mostly empty before EUA clicks in, I will refund the miles, take seats in the back and hope I process.
Mar 24, 2010 | 11:21 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,092
They would have to be super-tons of miles to waste them on a 3hr hop. I cashed in 30k for FLL/IAH/SEA and back on a G/T fare, but that's because I want to secure the seats upfront on the longer IAH/SEA legs - if I see the cabins are mostly empty before EUA clicks in, I will refund the miles, take seats in the back and hope I process.
SFO-IAH-EZE, IAH-SFO-NRT, etc.
While it's certainly gotten better, there are still CO agents out there that push EasyPass until you request other carrier solutions.
Mar 24, 2010 | 11:55 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,690
As others have said, it's people paying higher fares to sit up there. I often sit in CO F, but I also often end up paying B fares. If I don't, I nearly always sit in the back.