TCON upgrades
Feb 25, 2009 | 9:54 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,887
And this will be a problem when CO leaves SkyTeam and/or ends the DL relationship -- J on UA transcons can be significantly more expensive than CO F, particularly for close-in bookings.
Feb 25, 2009 | 10:36 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO Plat
Posts: 379
I am at better than 50% upgrades on the year as a plat on ewr-sfo and sfo-ewr. obvious rules apply: avoid peak business travel times, hope you get lucky.
Feb 26, 2009 | 2:16 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,690
Feb 26, 2009 | 4:32 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Programs: DL SM Plat, B6 TrueBlue, UA MP, AAdvantage
Posts: 10,008
On certain routes, such as EWR-SFO and EWR-LAX, one would have thought either a major increase in capacity or an increase in fares would have been implemented a long time ago, as demand has been vastly outstripping inventory at current cost.
Yet, in fact, the opposite has occurred, with CAL implementing the B-urp fares, thereby in effect reducing the cost of FC.
Yet, in fact, the opposite has occurred, with CAL implementing the B-urp fares, thereby in effect reducing the cost of FC.
Mar 13, 2010 | 12:29 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 468
Need advice for SFO-NYC
I need to fly SFO-NYC leaving on Sunday night in about a month. I checked upgrade availability and found nothing on CO or UA nonstop flights to EWR/JFK (I'm willing to use miles to UG - not EUA).
I am a CO plat, and usually fly CO in such cases due to the slight chance of EUA. However, in this case, if I assume that my UG chances on CO are slim to none, does it make more sense to book the UA PS flight? I can also waitlist myself for a UA upgrade using UA miles (although I have no status with UA). My logic is that if I assume UG doesn't clear on both carriers, UA is a better choice as I will get to sit in UA Economy Plus. Does that make sense?
Thoughts?
I am a CO plat, and usually fly CO in such cases due to the slight chance of EUA. However, in this case, if I assume that my UG chances on CO are slim to none, does it make more sense to book the UA PS flight? I can also waitlist myself for a UA upgrade using UA miles (although I have no status with UA). My logic is that if I assume UG doesn't clear on both carriers, UA is a better choice as I will get to sit in UA Economy Plus. Does that make sense?
Thoughts?
Mar 13, 2010 | 2:44 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
I need to fly SFO-NYC leaving on Sunday night in about a month. I checked upgrade availability and found nothing on CO or UA nonstop flights to EWR/JFK (I'm willing to use miles to UG - not EUA).
I am a CO plat, and usually fly CO in such cases due to the slight chance of EUA. However, in this case, if I assume that my UG chances on CO are slim to none, does it make more sense to book the UA PS flight? I can also waitlist myself for a UA upgrade using UA miles (although I have no status with UA). My logic is that if I assume UG doesn't clear on both carriers, UA is a better choice as I will get to sit in UA Economy Plus. Does that make sense?
Thoughts?
I am a CO plat, and usually fly CO in such cases due to the slight chance of EUA. However, in this case, if I assume that my UG chances on CO are slim to none, does it make more sense to book the UA PS flight? I can also waitlist myself for a UA upgrade using UA miles (although I have no status with UA). My logic is that if I assume UG doesn't clear on both carriers, UA is a better choice as I will get to sit in UA Economy Plus. Does that make sense?
Thoughts?
If the flight you want has an exit row avail in advance, CO will give you more room than Economy Plus. I'd suggest using your CO miles to waitlist. You'll have airport waitlist priority ahead of most complimentary upgrades so your slim chance is somewhat less slim. And if it doesn't clear no miles are deducted.
Mar 13, 2010 | 3:10 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K; CO Plat; Hilton Dimond; Marriott 3/3
Posts: 281
IME (LAX-EWR), the only real chance of an upgrade is a Y- or B-up, and, occasionally, M-up, on some evening and red-eye flights.
Not sure they'd let it clear with miles if they're not letting Y's upgrade automatically.
Not sure they'd let it clear with miles if they're not letting Y's upgrade automatically.
Mar 13, 2010 | 4:55 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,690
I think there's a copayment for using UA miles to upgrade on UA as a non-elite -- 100 dollars or more.
If the flight you want has an exit row avail in advance, CO will give you more room than Economy Plus. I'd suggest using your CO miles to waitlist. You'll have airport waitlist priority ahead of most complimentary upgrades so your slim chance is somewhat less slim. And if it doesn't clear no miles are deducted.
If the flight you want has an exit row avail in advance, CO will give you more room than Economy Plus. I'd suggest using your CO miles to waitlist. You'll have airport waitlist priority ahead of most complimentary upgrades so your slim chance is somewhat less slim. And if it doesn't clear no miles are deducted.
Mar 13, 2010 | 5:57 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 429
Why would a M-up be any more of an occasion than a B-up? They draw upgrades to ZE from the same fare bucket.
Mar 15, 2010 | 8:10 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 468
Thanks for the feedback. I was able to get an exit row on CO. I will follow up with the outcome of the upgrade request after my flight.
Mar 15, 2010 | 9:22 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 10,117
My usual play for transcon is to waitlist for mileage upgrades on both segments at time of ticketing, then cancel the return request if the outbound clears, or take my chances if I ride in Y on the way out. With all applicable bonuses, a EWR-LAX trip will get me about 11,500 RDM, so a 3500-mile net loss is really worth it to me to secure F on at least one leg if I'm lucky.
I've had reasonably good success with this strategy in the past, and it works for me since I don't do transcons *that* often.
I've had reasonably good success with this strategy in the past, and it works for me since I don't do transcons *that* often.