Upgrade Question
 

I am flying London - LAX next month, I am not sure if Continental upgrade transatlantic flights? can someone please tell me?
Also does a KLM platinum (SkyTeam) have the same priority as Continental Platinum for upgrading etc?

Regards

WelshWizard

You can upgrade a CO flight with CO or NW miles, and a substantial surcharge from most publshed fares.

But if you're flying nonstop, you're actually flying VS, so it gets even more complicated.

Actually I think I am connecting through New York, will that make a difference?

You will probably have a shot at the EWR-IAH portion. Obviously make sure your NW FF number is in your record. Since this is a hub-hub flight, it can be a bit more difficult to get an upgrade. Much of it depends on the loads, and the day you are flying.

I've found that I sometimes have to check in at the gate and politely ask about upgrades as well. On my first trip this year from SJO, I had to do this, and had empty seats in FC, but I wasn't on the upgrade list.

The WelshWiz is a KLM Platinum, what ever that is.

And the answer to your initial question is "NO".

Where does IAH fit into any of this?

Assuming you are flying all CO metal LGW-EWR-LAX, it may be possible to upgrade with miles, but CO doesn't do complimentary upgrades across the pond unless you happen to get lucky and end up on an oversold flight with empty seats up front. And then it's a crapshoot that KL plats are unlikely to win over the likely slew of CO elites on board.

As for upgrading with miles, I'm not sure what the rules are for FD members. You might do better asking this question on the KL board, since the rules of the FD program (or FlyingBlue if that's already in effect) govern whether you can use your miles this way--not CO's rules.

Oh, I figured he was going the torture route, EWR-IAH-LAX. Doesn't *everyone* do that, or just me? :)

You can upgrade using CO miles and a heavy upgrade fee, but the truth is, that international upgrades on CO are rare from low fares, and if they don't clear you by the 3-day mark before departure, it will not happen.

If you are flying Virgin Atlantic, CO and VS do not have an upgrade agreement.

OK, thanks for the replies, its answered all my questions, think no Upgrade :rolleyes:

At least I know the situation

WelshWizard

You can use KLM miles to upgrade without fee if there's space available to KLM for the upgrade. You just have to contact KLM and play by their rules. Your status with KLM won't get you domestic upgrades though and besides that CO Plats normally don't get upgraded on the EWR-LAX route because of the number of paid F customers. If you flew on NW within the US they would give you the upgrade, but unless something has changed while I've been not traveling for the last month or two (sucks breaking both arms and wrists!) CO will NOT give you an upgrade.