Upgrade Priority Question
Jul 31, 2008 | 8:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ-NYC-DCA
Programs: OnePass Infinite CO MM, PC Charter Lifer SkyMiles GM, MileagePlus
Posts: 1,826
Upgrade Priority Question
I have searched but could not find the answer to:
My wife is confirmed on a reward trip in B/F from
DCA through EWR to HAM in September with both of
the TATL legs in F with seats however the DCA EWR
and the EWR DCA legs (in 735s) are confirmed in coach
with a waitlist for F (with many seats now open)
Where does she place in the upgrade lottery
Many thanks
My wife is confirmed on a reward trip in B/F from
DCA through EWR to HAM in September with both of
the TATL legs in F with seats however the DCA EWR
and the EWR DCA legs (in 735s) are confirmed in coach
with a waitlist for F (with many seats now open)
Where does she place in the upgrade lottery
Many thanks
Jul 31, 2008 | 8:58 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Pleb, HH Gold, PWP General Secretary
Posts: 23,199
She's not in the lottery, she is a displaced F passenger. This means that if any availability opens in the "F" bucket (where upgrades and reward tickets come from) she will be first in line.
It may be helpful to read the "Plan B" section of the FAQ for more indepth information.
It may be helpful to read the "Plan B" section of the FAQ for more indepth information.
Jul 31, 2008 | 9:08 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ-NYC-DCA
Programs: OnePass Infinite CO MM, PC Charter Lifer SkyMiles GM, MileagePlus
Posts: 1,826
Thanks Colpuck
I'll check plan B
Jul 31, 2008 | 9:17 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 853
Another question would be - when is she flying? If prior to November (when CO expects to finally fix for good their award waitlisting mechanism), then unless she clears prior to T-24, there is a chance that she may end up lower on the upgrade standby list than a regular elite waiting for an EUA. If I understand things correctly, checking in as close to T-24 mark as possible should help her avoid this problem.
Jul 31, 2008 | 11:47 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MAN
Posts: 17
I'm in a similar situation. I guess the question is - How often does availability open up?
I'm flying CO100 ewr-man on 29th Sept. Both myself and wife are waitlisted for BF upgrade. Currently, BF is very empty.
RaiderNik
I'm flying CO100 ewr-man on 29th Sept. Both myself and wife are waitlisted for BF upgrade. Currently, BF is very empty.
RaiderNik
Jul 31, 2008 | 12:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 853
Since there are no EUAs on BF routes, if there are open seats up front the day of the flights, you'll get them. But unlike domestic F, which is done automatically, waitlisted BF awards are done at the gate by the agent, if I'm not mistaken.
Jul 31, 2008 | 3:09 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta SkyMiles (DM), Hilton Honors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 445
Yeah, the BF upgrades are done at check-in or the gate, or even at the PC! I flew EWR-HKG-EWR on an H fare ticket Apr 2007 (coincidentally fast-tracking me to my silver status) and used miles to upgrade both ways. Got it immediately on the outbound, but on the inbound got the e-mail 24 hours before the flight stating that my upgrade could not clear. At check-in in HKG, the agent was having some trouble with my reservation and called the manager. The manager looked at the screen and said my upgrade cleared and I was given a BF boarding pass. 50K miles with $0 copay RT. Great deal. Too bad the copays have changed.
Jul 31, 2008 | 7:49 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,887
However, when you get to the airport and the flight is turned over to the gate agents, the reward ticket will be prioritized higher than any upgrades on the standby list.
Jul 31, 2008 | 8:32 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ-NYC-DCA
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Sorry About That
No, the reward ticket does not book into the "F" bucket, that's just upgrades. I believe the free ticket books into "E". If F opens up and no E then an upgrade will be processed, but the free ticket will not clear into First class.
However, when you get to the airport and the flight is turned over to the gate agents, the reward ticket will be prioritized higher than any upgrades on the standby list.
However, when you get to the airport and the flight is turned over to the gate agents, the reward ticket will be prioritized higher than any upgrades on the standby list.
My wife will be on her own on the outbound and although she
is CO Plat it is unlikely that she will put much effort into the
short DCA EWR hop to be up front
We will be returning together (my B/F is company paid) so
I can try to see that we are both up front (or she will be)
Thanks
Aug 2, 2008 | 9:05 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Irvine, CA USA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 515
No, the reward ticket does not book into the "F" bucket, that's just upgrades. I believe the free ticket books into "E". If F opens up and no E then an upgrade will be processed, but the free ticket will not clear into First class.
However, when you get to the airport and the flight is turned over to the gate agents, the reward ticket will be prioritized higher than any upgrades on the standby list.
However, when you get to the airport and the flight is turned over to the gate agents, the reward ticket will be prioritized higher than any upgrades on the standby list.
Thanks!
Aug 2, 2008 | 9:56 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
It will depend on the rules of the partner program. In most cases I would assume that you will not be considered a displaced F passenger and will not get the F seat.