BF to LIM
Mar 20, 2005 | 12:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: EWR-N.Haledon NJ
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 1,136
BF to LIM
To anybody considering using reward miles to upgrade to Lima - a piece of advice...don't do it. This flight used to be true BF service on the 752. I recently cashed in miles to get a BF first seat and was apalled when I got on the plane and saw them upgrading elites. The true BF service was gone - basically transcon flight service. The problem with this is the website shows it as a "BusinessFirst" reward. When I sent several e-mails and tele calls to CO to explain that I "paid" for BF service but received standard FC service I was rebuffed and basically ignored. Morale of story - when cashing in for BF service - confirm it actually is BF.
Mar 20, 2005 | 12:32 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 3,169
lima has never been true BF service. the only flights to south america with true BF service are brazil flights.
from time to time, CO will serve lima with 752's that have BF seats but never true BF service.
if you look at co.com for lima flights through out the year you will see that some are 752's with Bf seats and some are 752's with normal seats.
therefore, elite customers can upgrade for free just as if it were a domestic flight.
i may be incorrect but i believe the lima flight is the best free upgrade in CO's system.
from time to time, CO will serve lima with 752's that have BF seats but never true BF service.
if you look at co.com for lima flights through out the year you will see that some are 752's with Bf seats and some are 752's with normal seats.
therefore, elite customers can upgrade for free just as if it were a domestic flight.
i may be incorrect but i believe the lima flight is the best free upgrade in CO's system.
Mar 20, 2005 | 2:06 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Originally Posted by dlen111
lima has never been true BF service. the only flights to south america with true BF service are brazil flights.
from time to time, CO will serve lima with 752's that have BF seats but never true BF service.
if you look at co.com for lima flights through out the year you will see that some are 752's with Bf seats and some are 752's with normal seats.
therefore, elite customers can upgrade for free just as if it were a domestic flight.
i may be incorrect but i believe the lima flight is the best free upgrade in CO's system.
from time to time, CO will serve lima with 752's that have BF seats but never true BF service.
if you look at co.com for lima flights through out the year you will see that some are 752's with Bf seats and some are 752's with normal seats.
therefore, elite customers can upgrade for free just as if it were a domestic flight.
i may be incorrect but i believe the lima flight is the best free upgrade in CO's system.
Today, it's a Transcon service (so, BF minus the cheese plate), and usually not the BF seats.
Again, it is the best free upgrade in the system...although they do charge 20000 miles for it if using miles (as if it were BF). So I can see a bit of his point.
Mar 20, 2005 | 3:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 3,169
sorry. i did not realize it was ever a tru BF route. it seems that most times the iah-lim flight has BF seats.
great free upgrade, and to me, for the miles as well becuase since its not a real BF upgrade, you dont have to pay the upgrade fee.
great free upgrade, and to me, for the miles as well becuase since its not a real BF upgrade, you dont have to pay the upgrade fee.
Mar 20, 2005 | 4:06 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 884
CO flights to LIM were, at one time, true BF service. CO discountinued BF service on this route about 18-24 months ago.
Mar 20, 2005 | 4:44 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: EWR-N.Haledon NJ
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 1,136
Sorry if there was any confusion.
My real concern is that when this flight was booked on the reward page it listed the service as "BusinessFirst". If I had known it was an elite upgradebale flight I would have purchased my ticket and more than likely would have gotten the upgrade.
I had taken this flight many times and it used to be a BF cabin. The service was delightful. I posted to let any members considering using a reward ticket for this flight know that it is not BF cabin and they might consider just buying the ticket (as LIM typically can be had for $480-$680) and chancng the upgrade.
My real concern is that when this flight was booked on the reward page it listed the service as "BusinessFirst". If I had known it was an elite upgradebale flight I would have purchased my ticket and more than likely would have gotten the upgrade.
I had taken this flight many times and it used to be a BF cabin. The service was delightful. I posted to let any members considering using a reward ticket for this flight know that it is not BF cabin and they might consider just buying the ticket (as LIM typically can be had for $480-$680) and chancng the upgrade.
Mar 23, 2005 | 8:19 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,586
Is this the Lima BF seat or not?
I'm flying to Lima from EWR. 757-200 BF Z fare. The seat configuration looks like 55" pitch, 20" width, 14" recline. That's short of 777 BF comfort, but far ahead of domestic FC. I really don't care about the service - both my EWR-LIM and LIM-IAH flights are overnight. I just wanna sleep!
Mar 23, 2005 | 8:25 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,586
Oops - also wanted to mention fares..
I have to go to Lima for business next month. The non-refundable fare BF from IAH is about $2000 roundtrip. I checked to see what it would cost to fly from Boston after the marathon to Lima and back to Houston. $200 less to do BOS-EWR-LIM-IAH than to do IAH-LIM-IAH. Goofy - but whatever. Took it - now I don't have to fly coach (United cheapie fare w/ connection at IAD) back to Houston from the marathon 
Mar 23, 2005 | 10:16 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: EWR-N.Haledon NJ
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 1,136
Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH
I'm flying to Lima from EWR. 757-200 BF Z fare. The seat configuration looks like 55" pitch, 20" width, 14" recline. That's short of 777 BF comfort, but far ahead of domestic FC. I really don't care about the service - both my EWR-LIM and LIM-IAH flights are overnight. I just wanna sleep!
Mar 23, 2005 | 10:38 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,586
Originally Posted by Russell745
The seats are definitely BF seats (16 in FC on the 757-200). The service is not BF though. The service is basic Transcon service. The sad part is that if you're a Plat or Gold and purchased a coach ticket you probably would have gotten the UG.
Except to/from IAH BF fills more frequently w/ BF fare paying oil trash. Like myself. Upgrades to/from EWR look easier to obtain