Upgrading on Int'l Flight
Apr 28, 2003 | 1:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 215
Upgrading on Int'l Flight
I am looking to upgrade to BF on a flight to Rome in October. I have read many threads that talk about a HoKeY. What is that????
Apr 28, 2003 | 1:16 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
It goes with the PoKeY which is what they do when they make you bend forward
Apr 28, 2003 | 2:25 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA, IAH, IAD, ORD, GRU
Programs: UA-1K 3MM+ HH Diamond, BonVoy Life GLD
Posts: 146
HoKeY means that upgradeable fares are H, K and Y. Other fares, like the cheapest ones, are not.
Try to get the upgrade well in advance. It is definitely WORTH it to sit in BF. I do it a lot on the IAH-GRU and back. SWEEET!!!
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Do not sit in the back.
Try to get the upgrade well in advance. It is definitely WORTH it to sit in BF. I do it a lot on the IAH-GRU and back. SWEEET!!!
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Do not sit in the back.
Apr 28, 2003 | 6:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 242
Actually, Q/T/B/V ARE upgradeable. They just require a "service fee" which in many cases makes the total ticket equal to the H/K fare.
[This message has been edited by platflyer (edited 04-28-2003).]
[This message has been edited by platflyer (edited 04-28-2003).]
Apr 28, 2003 | 7:26 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Globe
Posts: 128
I didn't know the Q,T,B,V fares were upgradeable. Is there something that talks about this on the website i.e. mentioning of the "service fee"? The only things I've been able to figure out is that H,K upgrade to R and Y upgrades to Z. CO agents always tell me that B,V,Q,T are not upgradeable unless I buy up to an H,K or Y fare.
Apr 28, 2003 | 9:28 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: BMG
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, HH Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 229
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by wonderbleu:
I didn't know the Q,T,B,V fares were upgradeable. Is there something that talks about this on the website i.e. mentioning of the "service fee"? The only things I've been able to figure out is that H,K upgrade to R and Y upgrades to Z. CO agents always tell me that B,V,Q,T are not upgradeable unless I buy up to an H,K or Y fare. </font>
I didn't know the Q,T,B,V fares were upgradeable. Is there something that talks about this on the website i.e. mentioning of the "service fee"? The only things I've been able to figure out is that H,K upgrade to R and Y upgrades to Z. CO agents always tell me that B,V,Q,T are not upgradeable unless I buy up to an H,K or Y fare. </font>
However, note that these fees only apply when waitlisting for an upgrade. If you are within 30 days of the flight and upgrade inventory is available when you call, they will not let you pay the fee. You will instead have to be reticketed on an H, K, or Y fare in order to upgrade. Strange but true.
Apr 28, 2003 | 9:47 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 242
It's funny how they worded the service fee in that page. (Thanks for the link, btw, I have never been able to find it easily).
They make it sound like you pay the fee for the chance to upgrade to BF. However, I recently did an upgrade (successfully) this way, and they made it very clear (and when the upgrade came through they applied the policy) that you only get charged the service fee when the upgrade clears.
On the link above, they make it sound like they charge you the fee regardless. Interesting.
They make it sound like you pay the fee for the chance to upgrade to BF. However, I recently did an upgrade (successfully) this way, and they made it very clear (and when the upgrade came through they applied the policy) that you only get charged the service fee when the upgrade clears.
On the link above, they make it sound like they charge you the fee regardless. Interesting.
Apr 29, 2003 | 5:35 am
#8
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
When looking to upgrade, and speaking to one of the CO agents, be sure to ask for the 'lowest possible' upgradeable fare. They will then usually check both HoKeY fares as well as the fee 'enhanceable' lower fares. On a recent inquiry regarding EWR-LGW I was quoted a H fare of $1278 or a T fare of $316 + $400 x 2 for the upgrade = 1116. Yes, she did book me on the latter, and advised that when my upgrade comes through (I'm Platinum, so she figured it was pretty certain plus I'm travelling in mid Nov) I'll be charged the additional $800. The miles though, (40,000 r/t) get taken out immediately from your OP account.
Apr 29, 2003 | 8:40 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 215
Are you upgraded when you buy your HKY fare or waitlisted????
Apr 29, 2003 | 9:08 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 242
Airlinemileswhore (love the name btw):
CO releases few, if ANY, seats for upgrade outside of the 30 day window. Europe is most tightly controlled in this manner. I have always gotten put on the waitlist and then always cleared at the 30 day mark like clockwork. It helps to try and pick flights that look open (or get a friendly CO agent who will help 'suggest' the most likely flights to get the u/g!)
CO releases few, if ANY, seats for upgrade outside of the 30 day window. Europe is most tightly controlled in this manner. I have always gotten put on the waitlist and then always cleared at the 30 day mark like clockwork. It helps to try and pick flights that look open (or get a friendly CO agent who will help 'suggest' the most likely flights to get the u/g!)
Apr 29, 2003 | 9:27 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 215
this is why i liked us airways....i could upgrade when i bought the ticket (assuming u/g seats available).
Apr 29, 2003 | 9:45 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 242
Yeah, it really sucks ....
Did I say that?
Did I say that?
Apr 29, 2003 | 11:49 am
#14
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
A couple of answers--
#1-I was/am on an e ticket EWR-LGW.
#2-Upgrading flights to Asia seem to clear immediately with no 30 day window, whereas as stated European flights seem to always wait until at least the 30 day prior to travel to clear. That being said, I've never had a problem getting my upgrade to clear inside that window.
#3-Regarding US Air & upgrades, as a Silver DM attempting to upgrade with certs I've always had to wait for my upgrade to clear at the gate, at time of flight!
#1-I was/am on an e ticket EWR-LGW.
#2-Upgrading flights to Asia seem to clear immediately with no 30 day window, whereas as stated European flights seem to always wait until at least the 30 day prior to travel to clear. That being said, I've never had a problem getting my upgrade to clear inside that window.
#3-Regarding US Air & upgrades, as a Silver DM attempting to upgrade with certs I've always had to wait for my upgrade to clear at the gate, at time of flight!
May 13, 2003 | 11:20 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA EXP Delta Plat Marriott Gold Priority Club Ambassador Hilton Diamond
Posts: 22
It happened to me twice, once near the end of last year, and just recently that CO waited till a few days before departure to upgrade in my LAX/HNL/GUM itin last November, CO told me each time I called that marketing was not releasing the seats when plenty of seats were available. I finally let a friend of mine know who worked at CO about it and he got it got done hours before departure. I just returned from Italy doing PHX/EWR/MXP return FCO/EWR/PHX that Marketing didn't release the seat till I started my trip. I don't know what the big deal about this is especiallly when they had 11 seats available for the return and the traveling companion I was with had the same Platinum status I did got upgraded a month before the trip commenced. He purchased his ticket 5 minutes online before I did. I don't know what gives when one buys the K fare and uses 40,000 miles to do the upgrade, why they don't release the seats. Do they make us jump through all the hoops and then want to make us sweat? I know Northwest doesn't make their elite customers wait that long. Anyone have similar experiences? Just wondering. Frustrated with international upgrade policy at CO.. Bill
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