Below Y B M fare classes, what is the next best fare class to buy to put one higher in the upgrade pecking order.
I'm first time plat and slowly coming to understand the various machinations and crazy methodologies put out here but dont have a grasp yet on whether, for example, is S better than N, etc.
I'm first time plat and slowly coming to understand the various machinations and crazy methodologies put out here but dont have a grasp yet on whether, for example, is S better than N, etc.
The FAQ has them in order:
Quote:
Effective for travel on January 1, 2010 or later (regardless of ticketing date) the following earning structure (announced on 10 September 2009) will be in place:
Originally Posted by Continental FAQ
Now updated to include the details of the new forward cabin classes as announced on 5 Oct 2009.Effective for travel on January 1, 2010 or later (regardless of ticketing date) the following earning structure (announced on 10 September 2009) will be in place:
(125% Miles, 150% EQMs, 1.5EQPs)
- F – Full Fare First
- J – Full Fare BusinessFirst
- C – BusinessFirst
- D – Discounted First, International Business or BusinessFirst
(100% Miles, 150% EQMs, 1.5EQPs)
- Z – Discounted First or International Business
(100% Miles, 150% EQMs, 1.5 EQPs)
- Y – Full Fare Coach
- FE – Y Fare that has been upgraded at time of ticketing; for more information scroll down this page to the upgrade subsection
- B – Discounted Full Fare Coach
- ZE – B Fare that has been upgraded at time of ticketing; only if ticketed after 3 Oct.**
(100% Miles, 100% EQMs, 1 EQP)
- M – Coach
- ZE – M Fare that has been upgraded at time of ticketing (platinum elites only); only if ticketed after 3 Oct.**
- H – Coach
- K – Coach
- Q – Discounted Coach
- U – Discounted Coach
- V – Discounted Coach
- G – Discounted Coach
- W – Deep Discounted Coach
- E – Deep Discounted Coach
- S – Deep Discounted Coach
- T – Deep Discounted Coach
- N – Deep Discounted Coach
- L – Deep Discounted Coach
...sub-M fares. Below M, I'd just buy the cheapest tickets. Otherwise, you're just paying more for the chance of an upgrade that may never come anyway. IMHO, it's a bad investment. At that point, might as well use miles if you want the seat that bad.
Quote:
Ahhh, good point, that does make a lot of sense. Thx!Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH
...sub-M fares. Below M, I'd just buy the cheapest tickets. Otherwise, you're just paying more for the chance of an upgrade that may never come anyway. IMHO, it's a bad investment. At that point, might as well use miles if you want the seat that bad.
Quote:
So does Continental.com on the elite upgrade page:Originally Posted by sbm12
The FAQ has them in order:
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US.../upgrades.aspx
Quote:
Priority for First Class/Business Class Elite upgrades is determined by:
Priority for First Class/Business Class Elite upgrades is determined by:
- Full Fare Economy Y Allows all Elite members to upgrade at the time of ticketing when a seat is available on eligible flights operated by Continental and Continental Micronesia
- Discount Full Fare Economy B and Platinum Elite Members in M Allows all Elite members to upgrade at the time of ticketing, subject to capacity controls, on eligible flights operated by Continental and Continental Micronesia
- Elite level: Members are prioritized according to their Elite level — Platinum, Gold and then Silver. When traveling with other Elite members or non-Elite members, Elite members should purchase their flight on a separate itinerary.
- Restricted fare class: Upgrade priority within Elite level will be based on fare class purchased. The fare class structure in priority order is as follows: M, H, K, Q, U, V, G, W, E, S, T, N and L.
- Ticketing date/time: All else being equal, the sooner Elite members ticket their itinerary, the better their upgrade chances.
- Check in time: If your upgrade is processed from the standby upgrade list at the airport, check in time will be used in place of booking date/time.