I'm a onepass FF for the past four years. Only have about 50k miles in the bank (not elite this year). Just purchased a RT coach ticket b/w Seattle and Houston that costs $2000, or about $200 less than first class...it's the cheapest coach available for a two day turn around (always has been).

Don't ask why I'm not just getting the first class ticket--it's a corporate purchase thing. Anyway, on the web reservation there's a little graphic of a "U" and it says, "Complimentary OnePass Elite Full Y Fare Upgrade".

What does this mean?
- that the high fare is bumping me from a "B" to a "Y" just because (and no real benefit)?
- that I might get an upgrade to "F" on day of flight if CO is nice?
- that I can use xxxx FF miles to upgrade (which, 15K or 5K, since I'm not officially "elite" status yet?)?

Thanks! D.

Believe you get 150% EQM with complimentary "Y", not sure about OnePass miles. The EQMs would of course be crucial if you wanted to obtain Elite status.

EmailKid

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Then again, what the hell do I know?

emailkid: You are right--the confirmation does register 150% for miles, so maybe that's the only real benefit here. I didn't initially see that.

Every time I've had that on a Y fare it means you'll be put in FC ahead of all Elite upgrades.

if your fare had the yellow "U" you are on a Y fare. you will be "elite for the day" when you check in and will upgraded, should space be available, upon check in. if you were elite, you could have been up'd at time of purchase, again, depending on availability. probably should have bought an FC ticket.

Thanks for the info, folks..."elite for the day" seems to make sense. I've got decent coach seats (isle, front of plane), and there's quite a bit of availability in FC for my flight in a couple weeks, so I think I'll just see if I get the upgrade without using my FF miles. Thanks! D.

Every time I've purchased a full Y fare, I've gotten an automatic upgrade to FC. If it doesn't happen automatically (I usually ask our travel agent to confirm it with Continental), I go to co.com and lookup my confirmation number. There should be a button to process the upgrade. Make sure you do it more than 5 days before your flight so you'll be sure to get your upgrade before the automatic elite upgrade runs. I've also called the elite line and had them move me up to FC as well.

He's not elite.

With a full Y fare that doesn't matter.

Thats right, by purchasing the grossly overpriced coach ticket, Garcia2ko has should that he/she is EXACTLY the kind of customer that CO wants. The kind of person who will spend over 3x the walkup fare for direct (1-stop) flights on WN. That CO wants another $200 for confirmed FC is a joke. You oughta be getting more than the chance to walk on the blue carpet, thats for certain.....


[This message has been edited by duxfan (edited Jan 27, 2004).]

Elite status does matter --non-elites traveling on Full Y, while enjoying the perks of "Elite Access" *as do elites), have lower priority than Elites.

From the CO website:
"Travelers who are "Elite for the Day" are even eligible for space-available first class upgrades on domestic flights, with priority after OnePass Elites."

http://ir.thomsonfn.com/InvestorRela...&storyid=94094

I know it's hokey, but for some reason it's impossible to fly SEA to IAH coach on a two-day turnaround for less than $1800. Stay another day and it drops to something like $500. I've done that before but my company says I don't have to since this is the lowest fare, so heck I'll pay the 2k at their expense.

I also can't take another airline because I'm actually headed to Lake Charles, LA after IAH and CO is the only airline that goes in.

MLK: I don't see any button to process the upgrade on the website. Anyway, what's the recommendation (and remember that I'm not elite this year): call and try to get the upgrade to FC confirmed or do I have to sit it out? I'll live either way but it's nice to know options

D.

The first class upgrade button appears for Elites only. What you should do is call Continental reservations and tell them you'd like you're Elite Access Y upgrade. I'm sure they're just as confused as we/their consumers are with how upgrades work, so you may come across an agent who upgrades you on the spot without an additional fee.

I thought full Y passengers only got upgraded on the day of travel at the gate, not at the time of purchase:

But Elite pax on full Y get a free upgrade to FC immediately upon ticketing (though you have to request, either by calling CO, or apparently on CO.com) as long as a FC seat is available for sale ("A" fare class inventory)

Problem is, CO is selling many fully-refundable "H" fares, which not only don't give the free upgrade, it costs the full 30K miles to upgrade. And they're usually only $100-150 cheaper than the Y fare. Very annoying. I think I ended up paying the difference out of pocket on a recent business trip (transcon) so I could save the miles (UG probably wasn't even available for miles) and get the bonus EQMs.