OK, so I've purchased an 'H' fare from Indy to Hong Kong in the slim hopes that I can actually redeem my glut of miles for some useful. An international upgrade. Just for the 'chance' of being able to 'possibly' use my miles I had to pony up an extra $1,600 above the lowest economy class. Total ticket price was $2,600...for coach...but a terrific 'H' coach.

Anyway, the outbound to HKG has 9 BF seats left and the return has 3. Flights are April 16th and 25th.

Is it just me or is it complete BS that (for $2,600 no less) they can't just allow me to use the 50,000 miles and CONFIRM it. I'm on a 'waitlist' for a gate decision. In other words, if they can sell the damn BF seats for full revenue they will and also feel free to keep the additional $1,600 from me and leave me in steerage.

This is the pinnacle of greed and screwing FFers. What a joke.

So, place your bets now. I'm giving 5 to 1 odds that I get ripped off.

Thanks CO ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Another question: Can a BF upgrade be confirmed at time of ticketing if R class is availabe?
One can see R class via the KVS tool for CO international flights.

I say no. 4/15 is the start of the Guangzhou Fair. One of the highest demands for tickets to HKG. BF is sold out for 4/17. And for 4/14-16, they're only selling "D" class for >$8,500 r/t, no J or Z. For 4/13-16, fewer than 10 open seats on each flight when viewing the seat map.

But yes, it is possible to get confirmed upgrade at ticketing. Very very rare, however.

IndyMan, I was in the same place you were last year. Had the choice between an X ($500 + a $450 each way UG Fee) or a H ($~1,300 + 0 UG fee each way). Of course, R was non-existent so that meant regardless of how much I'd paid, I'd be on a waitlist.

Bought the X fare and only one upgrade cleared. Cost to me: $~900 - I saved $400 by going the way of the X fare vis-�-vis the H one. CO gets a big for pushing H's for the "reward" of going to the waitlist.

They need a Plat + reward that allows one to �rulebust� their way into BF assuming a min fare class is purchased (e.g. H).

Good luck.

The Only time I ever purchased 'H' fares were when they were the lowest fare available and I knew that space was very limited. Otherwise I would simply purchase the lowest fare that was available.

Now if when Im purchasing the tkt Im told that BF is available for a Confirmed Upgrade there & then, Ill do some quick Math and see how much the lowest plus the Fees & miles would come to vis an "H". If an "H" is slightly more Id go that way to get the 150% on the EQMs.

Now if an Up cant be confirmed, Id NEVER purchase an "H" as most likely it wont ever be available.

Actually, I'm going to Hainan, China and just blowing though HKG. But, the same BS applied to Manilla, Tokyo, and Guam (staging points to go to Hainan). I also looked at connecting in Hawaii....Nothing availble. Period. HKG (on the dates I mentioned) had the only 'hope' of an upgrade. That doesn't even seem possible now.

I am really really starting to despise CO. If I can't use the miles for stuff like this then what the world do I need more of them? A flight to Buffalo?

They can't ask me for all of my patronage (I think I've paid a decent fare also) every year and then not allow me to use the very benefits that they promote.

...?

Yea, I'm going to call them and tell them I'm going to refund it and just buy the discount tix if they can't confirm on the spot. I'm sure that will really shake em up right after they tell me to kiss off.

$8,500 seems pretty reasonable for BF to me. Who pays this? Rockefellers?

The 150% EQM is great but, of course, I really want the upgrade. Basically, I would spend 50,000 miles but gain another 40,000 for a net 10,000 loss. Of course, I can't ever use the damn miles so I guess it's only in theory.

Ummm... if you recognize the odds are slim (which they are, particularly with only 3 free seats nearly 4 weeks out on the return) why did you buy an H fare? Still worse, why did you buy an H fare and complain about it here, showing that you recognize you haven't chosen your fare wisely (at least on the information given here)?

Look, I'm with you on the difficulty of using CO miles. It's not impossible, but it's certainly not easy. But if you're paying, then the H fare seems a pretty poor investment here. Much better to save $1600 this time and use the miles some other time - even for Easypass, if you can't be bothered to look for partner awards and can't find a CO saver award. Or, if you don't want award trips, and instead what you really want are easy-to-obtain international upgrades for business trips, try moving to another airline. But please stop posting these kinds of complaints. If there's no chance of an upgrade, deal with it, buy the cheapest coach fare, and move on.

Joe Sharkey, in the NY Times, he writes about travel industry issues, just wrote 2 articles about this very thing: FF�ers getting fed up with recent unavailability and increasingly not bothering with loyalty programs and just going for the lowest fares on whatever airline. However, he recently predicted that fares would start to go up and that, as a result, fewer leisure travellers would be around, opening up the possibilities again. This was not a near-term prediction, however.

I booked it 3 days ago. At that time, the rep on the phone said the odds were 'pretty favorable' and thus I bought the H fare so I wouldn't have to pony up the money at the airport. I had clearance from my company to buy the H (vs. the $8,500 BF which they weren't willing to do) so I went ahead and did it with the assumption I had a reasonable chance at the upgrade.

Now, I can go into the reservation on CO.com (since it's waitlisted) and can see what is available. Not much. And not 'pretty favorable'.

Do the International phone salespeople get commission? That sure would explain alot.

What with the 'deal with it' comments though? Deal with it? I am dealing with it.

What's the change fee on the H fare? You may be able to pay a little and get back a lot of the X-H fare difference... you'd lose 50% EQM, though...

$200.

With the H fare there is no copay. Should you go to a cheaper fare, than clear the upgrade, you'll looking at paying some more cash. You might want to check if your company will pay up to $450 more each way for the upgrade should you wish to remain on the list.

That $450 extra each way can still be a bargain.

Ive at times priced an H fare to be a few hundred more then the "I" fare and $900 for r/t Upgrades. True I needed to shell out the miles as well but I earned 1/2 of them back on the flight alone.

Im sure if the OP or anyone else tells their company that an H will cost say $1950 and an I and fees will be $1650 the company will be tickled pink and let 'em do it. Especially if he explains as why pay for an H and if I dont get Upgraded tough luck, while with the I if I dont get Upgraded you wont pay the extra $450. (can be on any fare not only I).

One will only lose out on 150% EQMs on the H. and the company will Love it , How you're looking out for their costs by buying a lower fare in case the Up doesnt come thru as it in most cases wont. this way they save not having for paying for an expensive Coach seat. Its a Win-Win. The company/client will save and the passenger has the chance to play the UP game

If it were my money, I'd call back and get my $1400 of credit and switch to the lower fare.