Getting to LAS
 

I am trying to get to LAS from the NY area in Jan from around the 5th of Jan to the 9th of Jan for CES and I can't find any decent airfare w/any upgrades. Any suggestions?

A quick search on Orbitz for your dates shows CO at $318. Seems pretty reasonable.

Or try NW via MSP/DTW/MEM, fares are usually pretty cheap. Have seen FC fares for ~$700 too.

Sorry... missed the part about upgrades.

I also see business class fares on AirTan for $690 roundtrip, although you have to change planes in Newark both ways.

I have never flown business class on AirTran, but coach service seems decent enough so presumably business is also okay.

Seems as an appropriate place to ask this as any....

I'm actually booked on non-stops on both days he mentions.... ewr-las on Jan 5th and back on the 9th. The phone CSR claims there are power outlets throughout coach. It's a 757 and that doesn't sound right to me. Do any rows in coach have power? If so it it normal power or empower? And is there any IFE on these planes?

Finally, I'm flying O class with a companion in Q. Am I correct in assuming these are completely non-upgradeable? (Q class for a Chase companion cert).

For what its worth, I booked several tickets out of EWR to LAS during this time period, three of them on the 5th. We bought FC tickets to ensure upgrades and are we happy we did. Not only was availability in F low, but CO seems to have removed one flight on the 5th (two on the 2nd, the day I'm flying). Also, with EQ changes, I receall seeing a six row FC being replaced by a 3 row FC. Things got so bad that on our return (10th) with 5 of us upfront, when they did an EQ change, we lost the FC seats we had confirmed. Luckily, I caught this early enough to snag five FC seats on an earlier flight. I don't know what gives here, but this must be one of the most busy weeks Vegas sees and CO is cutting back inventory. I wouldn't count on an upgrade based on what I experienced. Good luck.

First, no power on any of CO's narrowbody equipment, F or Y. Big negative (vs. AA at least). You will have IFE to LAS, I think the only a/c without it is the 735 and most 733s, which don't fly this route.

Second, I don't know much about the Chase certs, but ALL fares are upgradeable (miles or EUA) for elites. For non-elites, only YHKNB fares are upgradeable with miles.

If you are elite, and if your companion is on the same PNR as you and is not elite, you will NOT receive a free upgrade. If you can split the PNR, then you will be eligible for an elite upgrade (assuming you are elite) or you can upgrade your flight with miles. You MAY also be able to upgrade your companion with YOUR miles out of YOUR elite account, but I don't know the terms of the Chase companion ticket.

Am I reading its that time of yr again, The Electronics Show

Thanks for the reply. That's a big shame about the lack of power. My laptop batteries are down to about an hour per charge... perhaps I need to buy yet another.

Shall I assume the IFE is just a movie that I have to hope I'm well placed to see rather than a nice in seat screen such as the ones on B6 or DL Song?

IFE on CO EWR-LAS
 

You are correct. I fly on CO from EWR to LAS often. Most flights are on 757s (sometimes the 757-200, sometimes the 757-300). Even in F, these planes do not have in-seat personal video screens. It is just the movie (followed by a sitcom) on the cabin screen that might be hard to see depending on your location. Still, I generally find flying on a 757 to be much more comfortable than a 737, despite the width being the same.

ClipperCFX

That's an interesting comment. Likewise, I find the 757 preferable to the 737 but I attribute it to the relative "exclusivity" of the premium cabin (which would be either the 16J or 24F on a 757/752/753) compared to a 737. Yet, all-in-all when I'm making reservations this particular factor does not weigh heavily in my decisions as I'm much more concerned about getting into a premium cabin ;) OTOH, if I bought premium tickets left and right then I could see myself becoming more persnickety over the subtle nuisances of the different aircraft types. Just the two cents.