Upgrade process
Jan 24, 2000 | 5:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Posts: 8
Upgrade process
Could someone tell me how to use miles to upgrade to first class. I am going to Hawaii from EWR and I purchased a coach ticket and want to use my miles to upgrade to first class. I would appreciate your help. Not sure how to do it.
Jan 24, 2000 | 7:43 pm
#2
In memoriam
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 1,697
Personally, I think you should just call Continental. There is very limited availability of First Class reward seats on that route. It's kind of meaningless what others say if the seats aren't available on your particular flights, since you've already purchased your tickets. Just my opinion.
Jan 25, 2000 | 5:40 am
#3
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
It also depends on the price you paid for that coach seat. On most of the sale/cheaper fares you can't use upgrades even if seats were available 
. In CO's view, Hawaii is not part of the "continental US", so they use the sames rules as on International fllights.
But all that being said, yes it's true it is very very difficult to get an upgrade on that particular route.
. In CO's view, Hawaii is not part of the "continental US", so they use the sames rules as on International fllights.But all that being said, yes it's true it is very very difficult to get an upgrade on that particular route.
Jan 25, 2000 | 8:35 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: northern NJ
Posts: 1,352
On the back of your statement there is a phone number. CALL IT!!!!
Jan 25, 2000 | 9:45 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Bryn Mawr PA & Wailea HI
Posts: 15,726
I called my elite line yesterday morning and had all four legs of my late Feb DCA-EWR-HNL RT upgraded to F/C. Maybe I will see you somewhere in row 1-10. Almost all non-bulk tickets should be upgradeable (some promo fares do not qualify) by using mileage only to the tune of 17500 O/W or 35000 RT from any 48 state gateway. I always order 2 O/W certs in case rather than 1 R/T. Same total mileage cost. Call your elite line or award desk ASAP to order certs and get on the upgrade list.
As stated by others, these are usually very difficult to get far in advance of flight time. Most of my 1999 upgrades came through 3-5 days prior to taking off. A couple came through at check-in time. Phew!
BusinessFirst is a great product. You made the right decision. Enjoy the islands. Aloha!
[This message has been edited by MisterNice (edited 01-25-2000).]