Upgrade Question
Feb 20, 2001 | 12:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 9
Upgrade Question
I need some advice. I am an AWA Platinum member who will be flying on CO to Europe this summer. Work requires me to fly on a coach ticket (least expensive available) and I would like some advice on what upgrade possibilities might be available to me since I am told I can not use my AWA miles for this.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Feb 20, 2001 | 12:51 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Northeast MA, USA.
Programs: HHonors Diamond, DL Silver, TSA Harassee
Posts: 3,657
I would forget about Elite Upgrades. It is very rare that this will happen.
If you don't have CO miles, I think you may be riding in the back of the bus. Even if you did have CO miles, you may still suffer the same fate.
This is a topic that is discussed quite often here on the CO board. I would suggest you perform a search within the CO forum and use the keyword(s) "International Upgrade". This will more than likely yield more answers than you ever wanted to read.
If you don't have CO miles, I think you may be riding in the back of the bus. Even if you did have CO miles, you may still suffer the same fate.
This is a topic that is discussed quite often here on the CO board. I would suggest you perform a search within the CO forum and use the keyword(s) "International Upgrade". This will more than likely yield more answers than you ever wanted to read.
Feb 20, 2001 | 4:19 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Smoke filled room, TPA and FLL/MIA :UAL 1K and 2MM,AA EX PLAT and 2MM,Lifetime Plat Starwood
Posts: 4,318
Your chances? Have you won the lottery lately? That will happen first... then after you learn to juggle and speak a foreign language...
Seriously, Unless you are a CO elite it is impossible to upgrade to bizfirst. I don't believe they will even add you to the list. The ONLY way I can think of to get to the big seat is a super oversold situation.
Seriously, Unless you are a CO elite it is impossible to upgrade to bizfirst. I don't believe they will even add you to the list. The ONLY way I can think of to get to the big seat is a super oversold situation.
Feb 20, 2001 | 9:37 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
The 2001 Elite Guide certainly implies that non-elites can get added to the BusinessFirst upgrade waitlist, because it states that elites will be cleared from the waitlist (in Elite level order) over non-elites.
So, to answer travelingman's question, to get an upgrade to Europe this summer, you'll need to get a OnePass account, accrue 40,000 miles, purchase an upgradeable coach fare (not all discount fares are upgradeable on the Europe routes), get on the waitlist, and hope that you clear. Considering how popular the European flights are with CO Elites wanting upgrades, I think your chances are slim.
Situations like this are why hoarding miles in a Diners Club or American Express account can be so valuable. You could sign up for a OnePass account and get waitlisted, then only if you get the upgrades, transfer miles from the credit card to OnePass to cover the upgrade. In fact, I've just done this to "top off" my Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account to get an award.
Your only other option is to start accruing your AWA flights to your OnePass account, which presumably would not be desirable because you'd not get your bonus miles, not count for AWA elite requalification, and probably not get the 40,000 flight miles required in time.
So, to answer travelingman's question, to get an upgrade to Europe this summer, you'll need to get a OnePass account, accrue 40,000 miles, purchase an upgradeable coach fare (not all discount fares are upgradeable on the Europe routes), get on the waitlist, and hope that you clear. Considering how popular the European flights are with CO Elites wanting upgrades, I think your chances are slim.
Situations like this are why hoarding miles in a Diners Club or American Express account can be so valuable. You could sign up for a OnePass account and get waitlisted, then only if you get the upgrades, transfer miles from the credit card to OnePass to cover the upgrade. In fact, I've just done this to "top off" my Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account to get an award.
Your only other option is to start accruing your AWA flights to your OnePass account, which presumably would not be desirable because you'd not get your bonus miles, not count for AWA elite requalification, and probably not get the 40,000 flight miles required in time.
Feb 21, 2001 | 5:01 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Smoke filled room, TPA and FLL/MIA :UAL 1K and 2MM,AA EX PLAT and 2MM,Lifetime Plat Starwood
Posts: 4,318
Steve, nice theory. However, there is the real world and there is book knowledge. I agree with everything you say. Your advice is good. BUT, having said that. CO agents will actually check to see if you have the miles in your account before adding you to the list. I don't know if this always happens. However, it has been my experience. Second, I also have had agents ask my elite level and tell me "only elites will be added to the list". They may very well be wrong...BUT we know CO agents don't care about the rules always!