Miles and $$ combo
Aug 29, 2011 | 2:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 113
Miles and $$ combo
This is my first post on this list. =)
I would like to use a combination of money and miles on CO to fly first class to Asia. Which would be better: buy coach and upgrade with miles, or get coach with miles and then spend $$ to upgrade? Or is this combo idea not smart at all? Thank you.
I would like to use a combination of money and miles on CO to fly first class to Asia. Which would be better: buy coach and upgrade with miles, or get coach with miles and then spend $$ to upgrade? Or is this combo idea not smart at all? Thank you.
Aug 29, 2011 | 3:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: United 1K, Delta Gold, Cathay Pacific Diamond, SPG plat.
Posts: 375
It depends what your budget is.
On CO today I booked flights to Hong Kong next week in Y. I could purchase an upgrade for around 4,000 each way or I could do 30K miles and $600 so I went with that option.
In Oct I'm flying to Hong Kong on United and was able to get a rare upgrade to First from Y for $999 each.
On CO today I booked flights to Hong Kong next week in Y. I could purchase an upgrade for around 4,000 each way or I could do 30K miles and $600 so I went with that option.
In Oct I'm flying to Hong Kong on United and was able to get a rare upgrade to First from Y for $999 each.
Aug 29, 2011 | 8:13 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 113
Wow, you only spent $600 to upgrade to first class? That's a good deal.
Aug 29, 2011 | 10:00 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,318
Aug 30, 2011 | 7:20 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Booking a coach award ticket and then expecting to buy up with cash is a recipe for disappointment. Odds of that working out are very slim.
Depending on the fare you pay for the coach revenue ticket the co-pay can be significant in addition to the miles required. I generally find that upgrades are a bad deal these days most of the time.
Depending on the fare you pay for the coach revenue ticket the co-pay can be significant in addition to the miles required. I generally find that upgrades are a bad deal these days most of the time.
Sep 11, 2011 | 9:19 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 113
I agree. I just called CO to inquire about this and they said it is not doable to get a coach ticket with miles and use $$ to upgrade to First. They said the reverse is possible but it would cost A LOT of points.