First Class and ExpressJet
Nov 2, 2006 | 10:11 am
#1
Original Poster
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First Class and ExpressJet
I am flying on a multi-stop intinerary next week. DFW-CLE-CMH, CMH-IAH-PDX, PDX-EWR-DFW. It's a first class ticket, however the first two segments to and from CLE are COEx and "S" fares, while the remaining segments are "R" fares. The agent told me I could change my flights on the "R" fares to any flight as long as "R" inventory was available. If I change my DFW-CLE-CMH to mainline flights will I be put into an "R" fare class and a first class seat if it's available?
Nov 2, 2006 | 10:15 am
#2
Company Representative, United Airlines
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
Hi FrequentFlyKid, The answer is yes, provided the fare you purchased is an R class fare.
Nov 2, 2006 | 11:26 am
#3
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Well it lists my COEx flights as "S" and the rest as "R." I am assuming they would be "R" if they were mainline flights, but since they aren't there is no such fare on that flight. That's where I am a little confused.
Nov 2, 2006 | 1:26 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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It depends on the actual fare basis of the ticket you purchased, and how fares may have been combined to get your routing.
I was recently looking at EWR-IAH-PVR (Puerto Vallarta), and for connections on the RJs IAH-PVR, which booked in Y, the itinerary was pricing out cheaper than a connection on the one daily mainline IAH-PVR flight, which booked in R. So in that case, you wouldn't have been able to switch to the mainline flight in FC without an increase in fare.
Unless you printed out the full fare rules for your ticket, which may be a combination of several fares, you'll have to contact CO to get the answer to your question.
I was recently looking at EWR-IAH-PVR (Puerto Vallarta), and for connections on the RJs IAH-PVR, which booked in Y, the itinerary was pricing out cheaper than a connection on the one daily mainline IAH-PVR flight, which booked in R. So in that case, you wouldn't have been able to switch to the mainline flight in FC without an increase in fare.
Unless you printed out the full fare rules for your ticket, which may be a combination of several fares, you'll have to contact CO to get the answer to your question.
Nov 2, 2006 | 7:59 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 717
Just to expand on what other people have been saying, keep in mind that there are no mainline DFW-CLE or CLE-CMH flights offered by CO. Those are all-Express cities. Getting into First would require you switching your connection to IAH or EWR and I'm not sure if that is allowed on your ticket. Even then, there is a mix of RJ's and 737's so the flight times may not match your requirements. Best of luck!
Nov 2, 2006 | 8:54 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: Alas, the Gravy Train Hath Ended...just happy to be an OW Sapphire and a ST Ivory...whatever
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Nice itenerary....is this a MR?
Nov 2, 2006 | 9:22 pm
#7
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Nope, going for business. Columbus Monday, Portland Wednesday, then back to Dallas Saturday.
Last edited by In The 216; Nov 3, 2006 at 12:08 am
Nov 3, 2006 | 9:08 am
#8
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Now that I think about your actual itinerary (instead of just theoretically/generally 
), I'm pretty certain that you are on a combination of 3 one-way fares -- DFW-CMH (stopover), CMH-PDX (stopover), PDX-DFW. It may be on one ticket number or two or three, but in any event, I'd bet that the DFW-CMH booked in S is actually an S fare (as opposed to an R fare that books in S on RJs), and thus would not allow FC travel if the routing was switched to include mainline flights.
), I'm pretty certain that you are on a combination of 3 one-way fares -- DFW-CMH (stopover), CMH-PDX (stopover), PDX-DFW. It may be on one ticket number or two or three, but in any event, I'd bet that the DFW-CMH booked in S is actually an S fare (as opposed to an R fare that books in S on RJs), and thus would not allow FC travel if the routing was switched to include mainline flights.
Nov 3, 2006 | 9:15 am
#9
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That sounds about right. I booked it as one itinerary using a multi-city flight search on continental.com.