Upgrades
 

I am constantly surprised how many people post about being upgraded. I have been elite for four years now. (3 as gold and 1 as silver- 59 segments and didn't get upgraded to gold unless I wanted to pay $450). I have flown 46 segs. 03 ytd. 30 on planes with FC cabin. Of the 30 segments, I have been upgraded twice!!!! And to boot, I am paying upwards of $1200 to fly to CLE to LGA, LAS, EWR and MDW. So it is very easy for me to switch over United or AA.

Am I the only one with no luck?

As Silver this year, I've been upgraded 5/8 upgradeable flights this year via EAU, and overall I'm pleased. (Doesn't include AS, HA metal flights, Y-Fare flights, Hawaii).

It may have to do with the days/times you fly... you may be consistently flying at peak times. Also looking at the markets you fly, esp. New York and Chicago, seems you fly with lots of other business types. If you're flying Y (I'd think so with $1,200), you should be upgraded automatically, or can kick co.com to do it for you.

Do you buy your tix at the last minute? Do you then check in just before flight time? CO starts upgrading (theoretically) 5 days out. They do usually hold a number of F seats until a little while before departure. If you are doing things last-minute then it's quite likely that CO has already filled the F cabin before you purchase your ticket or check in.

Based on the changes CO is putting into Onepass for next year you should be happier in 2004.

This year as a gold, I was upgraded approximately 98% of the time and requalified as gold as well.

I think a lot of it has to do with where you are starting your journey. I noticed the original poster here is from Cleveland. When you fly out of a city which a hub of your preferred carrier, you have many more platinums to deal with than elsewhere.

I fly out of DCA. So by the time I get to Houston or Cleveland, I am not on the first flight or last flight out of the "hub" which I think helps as well.

Unless I was sure that I would hit platinum, I would try to not a carrier with a major hub operation at my airport of choice

As platinum I have only missed one upgrade in 104K miles this year. I have been on a number of flights with vacant FC seats.

I fly out of EWR and can't imagine more PLATS anywhere else . . . but, I have been upgraded +90% this year - including flights to SJU, SXM, LAX and IAH. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

You ought to be doing better for upgrades, logan1, is it possible that there's a problem like the name on your tickets not exactly matching the name on your NonePass account?

This could be the problem. A couple of years ago I realized I wasn't getting the upgrades I should have. I then realized there were two names on my account, one upper case and one lower case with exactly the same name. I tried to get it fixed through Onepass but they couldn't help me, they couldn't even delete one of the names. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif They said I should always remember to buy my tickets in the one name (in my case lower case name) and ever since, everything's been fine. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by fireworksboy (edited Nov 27, 2003).]

Upgrades? I fly internationally. You must be talking about UA or AA.

As long as your personal NonePass(tm) number is printed correctly on the boarding pass (BP) (and in addition it also will print if Silv,Gold or Plat) it dont matter how you or/or they spell your name. Check if this info is on a new or old BP.

MisterNice

Not sure about this. I missed EUA both ways this week because my first name was misspelled in the PNR, even though the BP acknowledged my Elite status.

I can confirm, that the NAME must match EXACTLY, or not automatic upgrades!

And NW and CO must match or no upgrades on the companion!

I can also confirm that the name on your reservation must EXACTLY MATCH the name on your OnePass account in order for EUA to work correctly, and for the miles to post to your account.