Hi just found this site yesterday and am a relative newb to the road warriors here. Hopefully someone could give me some sound advice.

I'm flying from EWR-HKG. I got the "K" ticket and used my miles for a BF upgrade for the outgoing flight. Unfortunately, I don't have enough miles to upgrade the return leg in December -- 5 months away. Even if I did have the miles, they were going to put me on the waitlist. I'm non-Elite.

I can't transfer or use Delta/AA miles, so I figure I've got 2 options.
(1) grin and bear it & ride coach for 15 hrs!
(2) Below 80,000 HHonors pts to give me the 25k needed. (10 to 1.5 ratio!!!!)

Although it pains me to blow all those pts, the coach option seems worse. But I'm afraid that after trading those pts, I won't get the seat anyway.

So the conclude:
(1) My upgrade chances are good => exhange pts
or
(2) Upgrade chances slim => save pts

Any info and feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks.

Buy a Prestige Pack and they would give you 7,500 miles.

How about AMEX or Diners points?

- HobokenFlyer

Thanks, I just called and got a prestige pack.
Unfortunately I don't have an AMEX or diners, though I should.
However 30K HHonors pts is a lot easier to stomach than 80k.
Thanks, hopefully this will pay off!

Welcome to FT!

You can also open a chase continental credit card which will give you 6,000 miles. It will probably take 2 months to get the miles.

http://creditcardsatchase.com/portal...le=pg_contplat

You are probably aware of the CO partners & Idine but check out:

http://www.continental.com/onepass/earn/defaul t.asp?SID=B63E27D0E53E409DBCE54A7A8712A993&hdnNav= 1/onepass/earn/default.asp&SS=CR

Keba

edited to add that if you do open a chase account make sure that you print out every web page that makes mention of the bonus miles.



[This message has been edited by KebaNYC (edited 07-21-2003).]

Here are some other options:

1. Continental will let you purchase up to 20% of the miles needed for an award.

2. Sign up for a Chase Continental MasterCard/Visa and get 6000 miles.

You can also Shop OnePass...

http://www.continental.com/onepass/e...6986349EE6DF11

If you are near a ShopRite, buy all your groceries there or buy a new plasma TV at Best Buy!

- HobokenFlyer

Go for the Continental World Mastercard instead. You'll get 4,000 more miles for $20 more than the Platinum card. You also get access to a semi-useful conceirge service and some other perks above the Plat card.

10,000 FF miles for $85

http://creditcardsatchase.com/portal...e=pg_contworld

How about SPG Amex? I think they were providing 10K SPG points at one point which can convert to CO miles.

Yeah I should get an AMEX -- I'll look into it. CO Visa offer looks attractive, but I need another V/MC like I need a whole in my head.
I never knew their were CO shopping partners. I'll definitely keep that in mind.

Thanks for the help everyone!

After the upgrade, what class they booked you into D, Z or R?

They gave me a "R"
Why do you ask?

Just curious!

I know this has been asked before, but I can't find it.

Is there a way to check for seat classes that indicate the upgradable seats (ie. using ITN)?

For International mileage upgrades, the bucket for upgradeable seats is R. R is a hidden subset of Z and it is <= to it. If you are planning far enough in advance, look for buckets where Z=9. When that is the case, I have always been able to find R availability. Of course, to upgrade to BF without a surcharge, you must purchase a K, H, or Y fare.

For Domestic mileage upgrades, the bucket you are looking for with availability is F. For non-elite members, you must be traveling on a fare that is higher than V, Q, S, T, or L fare classes to be eligible.



[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 07-24-2003).]