Questions about upgrading using miles
 

Greetings - though I am not a big fan of Continental (you may have seen my gripes in other forums) - they just have the best routes. So, I'm looking to book a multiple point ticket and would like to use miles to upgrade. The trip will go like this: EWR-MSY-FCO-EWR.. I have about 100k one pass miles and about 200k delta skymiles. My questions regarding this are:

1. I noticed the checkbox on continental.com to only search upgradable classes. Checking this I've found a good itinerary. Now, what is the current process of using miles to upgrade. Is it processed right away? Do I need to call on the phone and talk to the CSR about availability of upgrade seats?

2. Can I use my delta skymiles in the same way to do the upgrades?

1. the rules are posted at continental.com. If you're not elite, then yes, you must have an upgradable class. I would advise holding the itinerary for 24 hours and then calling OP to upgrade. If there is an upgrade available, then can hold it while you complete your purchase. Alternatively, they can tell you if there is a flight with availability.

2. Yes, but you have to go through Delta. I'd do the same as above - don't purchase until you've worked out the details with Delta. It is possible that you would have to book the CO flight as a Delta codeshare - but I don't think so. Also, the rules (fare class, etc.) might be different - check with Delta.

Entirely incorrect. You cannot upgrade a CO flight with DL miles. Period.

I have a question?
 

Could you answer this for me?

1. Is it possible to use Onepass Miles to upgrade a Northwest ticket, purchased thru Northwest and on Northwest metal?

Thanks in advance.

Of course it is.

Thank you. One more question if I may?
 

Follow up, if one has no status with Continental, is the upgrade governed by Continental fare restrictions or Northwest Fare restrictions? Or more to the point, I have a Northwest L fare ticket but no Worldperks miles for the upgrade. I do have more than enough Onepass miles but no elite status.

Again, thanks.

Non-elites don't get to use mileage upgrades on the cheap tickets on either carrier. If you were CO or NW elite you could use the miles to upgrade any fare for domestic. If I remember correctly a L fare requires elite status in order to upgrade.

So upgrade policy is not reciprocal? I know it's possible to upgrade DL flights with OP miles - at least it was last year. I assumed that this worked both ways. If not, I stand corrected.

OP and WP members have never been able to upgrade on DL flights. You can book reward first tickets, but cant't buy a DL ticket and use CO/NW mileage to ugprade. Same is true in reverse.

Never has been.

Unless it was a dream, I held a ticket at delta.com, held an upgrade for that ticket, held 3 additional F rewards. Never pulled the trigger - The Mrs. said there were too many connections & she would prefer Y in CO to F in DL.

OPSC just needed the DL record locator. Said they had "upgrade" inventory.

It was.

Followup question...
 

So, after carefullly reviewing the ins and outs of this - it appears that I have to pay a service fee to upgrade on that non-stop from EWR - FCO. This is because the upgrade is to business/first. However, the chart indicates there is no fee to upgrade to business. So, two questions:

1. Does status remove the requirement to pay the fee?

2. If I fly KLM through Amsterdam can I then use miles to upgrade and not pay a fee? Will the upgrade be the entire way?

1. At this point in time, upgrade fee applies across the board. H fare on CO has no fee attached to it (except to HI, then H has a $200 fee) for anyone.

2. KL/NW allow CO mileage upgrades to all Europe on S/B/Y fares only with no fees attached - only miles. All other economy fare codes on NW/KL are not upgradeable with CO miles.

The crazy thing is I'm getting quoted $2000 round trip on the web site for a business first seat - at this price it is almost the same as paying the fees on top of an economy ticket!!

Things sure are screwy right now in the airline industry.

Yes, sometimes discounted BF seats are the way to go without using miles
from certain fares. The good news is these discounted BF seats yield good EQMs and also are confirmed at time of booking and no waiting around till last minute.

You may want to hold a seat on CO.com, then call the support desk and see if they can help you lower the fare using a combination of ecomony fare/miles or leave it at the discounted BF fare.

Success
 

Just an update for anyone who might care...

Called Onepass this morning and talked to a helpful rep by the name of Jack and we got it done. Two seperate NW Reservations on NW metal for $212 L class fares for IND to SLC upgraded to to F. I'm happy. Sure there might be a lot "better" uses for 60K miles but I basically fly IND to EWR on an ERJ and I don't have much need or reason to fly international and I've never had much luck finding standard F rewards for my travel dates. Besides, my mom and 6'4" little sister will really enjoy the miles more than I would.