No Virgin upgrade waitlists??
May 20, 2001 | 6:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: TK E+, AF Plat & QR Plat (all the hard way), AA 3MM (worthless), smattering of others
Posts: 437
No Virgin upgrade waitlists??
Just booked a Virgin code share SFO-LHR RT thru CO, and paid the extra to go in K so I could get the upgrade. I called back an hour later after the ticket was issued to get on the waitlist for a mileage upgrade and was told by the res agent that they can't waitlist for Virgin codeshares. I was dumbfounded. I've flown Virgin several times before (on CO stock) and was always able to get on the waitlist for upgrades. Has the policy changed? It would now appear that even as a CO Plat I need to call back constantly to see if an upgrade has cleared. Has anyone else experienced this? Thx.
May 20, 2001 | 9:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 314
Had an interesting conversation with the Plat Elite agent yesterday!
Basically, I asked what fares are upgradeable to MNL flying NW in Dec., I was given a fare quote (1,580++) and I asked the agent how I would go about upgrading it. She said all I have to do is purchase it thru her, and she would issue the ticket subtract needed mileage and issue the upgraded ticket same day!
I then proceeded to ask her then what is the 30 day international rule all about, she mentioned that as long as I fly CO metal, I have to wait for 30 day upgrade, but if I fly CO codeshares like Virgin Atlatic, the tickets I purchased would be upgradeable immediately or fly CO partners.
Sounded too good to be true but I accepted her explanation. After reading the link above, I'm inclined to believe I got some very misguided information.
Basically, I asked what fares are upgradeable to MNL flying NW in Dec., I was given a fare quote (1,580++) and I asked the agent how I would go about upgrading it. She said all I have to do is purchase it thru her, and she would issue the ticket subtract needed mileage and issue the upgraded ticket same day!
I then proceeded to ask her then what is the 30 day international rule all about, she mentioned that as long as I fly CO metal, I have to wait for 30 day upgrade, but if I fly CO codeshares like Virgin Atlatic, the tickets I purchased would be upgradeable immediately or fly CO partners.
Sounded too good to be true but I accepted her explanation. After reading the link above, I'm inclined to believe I got some very misguided information.
May 21, 2001 | 10:46 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,915
Bottom line:
CO agents might put you on the waiting list for a VS code share upgrade. But that list will never be processed.
Call in every day, because someone else who made the reservation after you, no matter what "status" he/ she has, could get that seat before you if the inventory opens up.
And even if a CO agent tells you otherwise, this information is from headquarters!
CO agents might put you on the waiting list for a VS code share upgrade. But that list will never be processed.
Call in every day, because someone else who made the reservation after you, no matter what "status" he/ she has, could get that seat before you if the inventory opens up.
And even if a CO agent tells you otherwise, this information is from headquarters!
May 21, 2001 | 5:44 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
The real solution is to only purchase thirty days out from your return... and upgrade at time of purchase. No other discussion of any other solution will reach a upgrade every time.
May 21, 2001 | 11:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 733
cigarman is right...I have been fortunate to upgrade on 5 out of my last 6 CO codeshares in the past two years.
HOWEVER, there seems to be new unwritten rules at CO. (I was told there was absolutely NO WAY to upgrade from June-August). I booked my tix in April, a "B" class, which I should tell you is about $300 from the "T" class. If you book a trip less than 14 days in advance, they will immediately book the upgrades if you ask to buy a tix for the least fare for upgradable tix for upgrade. But, when I booked > than 30 days, I got a denial, but keep calling. And I think that now...it might be impossible...ITN.net shows 9's. Yet, CO is not budging. They tell me that there is no such thing as a waiting list on a codeshare/VS. NEW RULES!!! (NEW RULES-no upgrades from summer to fall) Duh, I am flying -- well, return is prior to 14th of June, NOT summer! I get the upgrade on outbound a day early, sans $150 ticket change penalty, but still waiting for the return. I should have done what I did last month. Buy the tix 11 days prior to departure...got the upgrade on outbound...couldn't get it on the return, thus my fare was $150 less than it is now, assuming that I will get upgraded on both segments. That remains to be seen.
And CO has contacted me less than 24 hours prior to trip to upgrade me. They paid all extra fees!
I'm just happy to get UPPERCLASS on one segment, VS economy is not that bad!
I got the upgrade on the outbound immediately, but am still waiting on the return, which should be a piece of cake, but, CO, once again, doesn't want to give.
And, I want to mention that CO and VS are having problems. Been there...done that!
VS is snubbing CO. I felt like a second class citizen the last time I did this codeshare -in April-(and it was even at the AC lounge at LAX!) I am always getting the feeling that CO and VS do not compute.
Please, correct me if I am wrong!
thanks,
di
[This message has been edited by diana (edited 05-21-2001).]
HOWEVER, there seems to be new unwritten rules at CO. (I was told there was absolutely NO WAY to upgrade from June-August). I booked my tix in April, a "B" class, which I should tell you is about $300 from the "T" class. If you book a trip less than 14 days in advance, they will immediately book the upgrades if you ask to buy a tix for the least fare for upgradable tix for upgrade. But, when I booked > than 30 days, I got a denial, but keep calling. And I think that now...it might be impossible...ITN.net shows 9's. Yet, CO is not budging. They tell me that there is no such thing as a waiting list on a codeshare/VS. NEW RULES!!! (NEW RULES-no upgrades from summer to fall) Duh, I am flying -- well, return is prior to 14th of June, NOT summer! I get the upgrade on outbound a day early, sans $150 ticket change penalty, but still waiting for the return. I should have done what I did last month. Buy the tix 11 days prior to departure...got the upgrade on outbound...couldn't get it on the return, thus my fare was $150 less than it is now, assuming that I will get upgraded on both segments. That remains to be seen.
And CO has contacted me less than 24 hours prior to trip to upgrade me. They paid all extra fees!
I'm just happy to get UPPERCLASS on one segment, VS economy is not that bad!
I got the upgrade on the outbound immediately, but am still waiting on the return, which should be a piece of cake, but, CO, once again, doesn't want to give.
And, I want to mention that CO and VS are having problems. Been there...done that!
VS is snubbing CO. I felt like a second class citizen the last time I did this codeshare -in April-(and it was even at the AC lounge at LAX!) I am always getting the feeling that CO and VS do not compute.
Please, correct me if I am wrong!
thanks,
di
[This message has been edited by diana (edited 05-21-2001).]
May 28, 2001 | 9:18 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Hudson, OH
Programs: UA-MM; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,350
di, welcome to the board. Sometimes I wonder if all that effort is relly worth it 
Of course it is, usually - if successful, but there are much better ways one should be able to spend their time. A year ago, a customer care rep told me that they were "absolutely looking into the entire international upgrade policy." I see now that they never made any claim to do anything about it!
Of course it is, usually - if successful, but there are much better ways one should be able to spend their time. A year ago, a customer care rep told me that they were "absolutely looking into the entire international upgrade policy." I see now that they never made any claim to do anything about it!
May 28, 2001 | 12:57 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: West Country, UK
Programs: BA gold UA MM
Posts: 486
2 weeks ago I flew LHR-LAX on CO codeshare with VS; I booked 3 days before travel and UK Onepass said there were no upgrade seats, but the silver elite desk said yes there were seats available, but only for a full Y fare, not any other upgradeable fare. The lowest economy fare was GBP250, K class was GBP750, but full Y was GBP2000. I don't understand why if the seats were available (3 days from departure)I couldn't use 40K miles to upgrade, not 20K (and neither did the OnePass agent nor supervisor, but there was no budging ). So I flew economy 
To make matters worse, at LAX I was asked at check-in if I wanted to upgrade, but they would only accept a paper upgrade (of course did not have one as was on the cheapest fare and not expecting to be allowed to upgrade
BTW 747 in economy much better than A340
To make matters worse, at LAX I was asked at check-in if I wanted to upgrade, but they would only accept a paper upgrade (of course did not have one as was on the cheapest fare and not expecting to be allowed to upgrade
BTW 747 in economy much better than A340