Do you get upgraded to ANC?
 

Hi guys,

How easy is it to get EUA to ANC from IAH? I am gold, but *might* be plat by the time I travel in a few weeks.

Also, should I fly the 753 or the 737-7... does CO plan to add VOD to its 753s any time soon? Sounds like a long flight without AVOD. Is this a painful flight or OK?

Thanks for your advice.

If you are worried about the EUA, go with the 753 and bring a book.

Neither the 753 or 73G currently have AVOD nor have there been any plans announced to roll it out to them. They both have IFE on the drop-down screens.

I would go with the 753 because of the improved EUA odds with 24 seats in F compared to only 12 on the 73G. Even if you get stuck in Y, the 753 offers an extra inch of seat pitch plus has many more exit row options for extra legroom. On the 73G, you only have 2 decent exit row seats, 14A/F.

When I flew this summer - July 4 - 8th - I flew on a 20 seat 738 with mid-cabin lab. Although both flights were full, I got upgraded on both directions (IAH-ANC). IAH-ANC was EUA'ed at 5 day window. ANC-IAH was EUA'ed at 24 hours before flight time.

You are likely better off on the 753 - and you are now off season. So I think a Plat has a real good chance on the 753. A 753 will have one stop from IAH to ANC via SEA. Are you sure it is a 73G versus a 738 for the 737. I think the nonstop is discontinued at the end of Sept.

Are you sure the 73G is CO rather than AS code share? No upgrades on AS metal.

I think there are 2 nonstop flights a day from IAH to ANC, at least through the end of Sept, and you are right, it's one 738 with 20 F seats, and one 753 with 24 F seats. No real difference between the 2 flights then right?

I amend that, the 738 afternoon flight is nonstop (talk about a long 3,265 miles in a 738), and the 753 stops in SEA.

One thing to keep in mind on this route is that it is not just full of vacationers. IAH-SEA alone tends to have a lot of elites, and the full IAH-SEA-ANC run is elite heavy because of all of the oil industry employees commuting between Houston and Alaska. Do book the 753 to try and increase your upgrade chances, but keep in mind that depending on the day of the week, there may be a lot of Platinums on those flights. I have been on these flights before when there were Platinums and Golds being turned down for upgrades when they asked for them at the gate before boarding. I've missed it on that IAH-SEA flight before myself.

And, as previously posted, the nonstop 738 is seasonal and ends September 28. After that, the only option to get to ANC on CO is the IAH-SEA-ANC direct flight on a 753, or flying CO to SEA and connecting to AS to finish the trip up to ANC (which will earn you CO miles and 100% EQMs, but does not entitle you to an elite upgrade on the SEA-ANC segment).

Another thing to bear in mind:

EUA's on "direct" (i.e. onestop) flights are especially difficult. In order for them to happen, there must be open F seats on both legs. In order to get a seat assignment, IIRC the SAME seat must be open on both legs.

I was on the 753 ANC-SEA-IAH in January as part of a MR. The GA at ANC was kind enough to break some elite itineraries into two separate segments, hoping to get a few people upgraded for ANC-SEA, knowing that SEA-IAH is in the not-quite-as-hopeless-as-a-transcon category for upgrade purposes.

As a lowly Silver, I saw zero upgrades, not that I was expecting one. Since I opted not to get off the plane at SEA, I spent a LONG time in a LONG tube!

All that to say, your upgrade chances are at least somewhat better on a nonstop or connecting itinerary than on a one-stop, same flight number/same plane itinerary.

I remember this had been suggested a while ago, but this route is a good use of mileage for upgrade.

It's domestic series 0, so just 15K for 7+ hours, 3265 miles flight.

And if you're doing it as a MR without actually stopping in ANC you can actually use a single Series 0 for the whole round trip, which is an even better value :D