PIT upgrade for the spouse
Jul 14, 2009 | 10:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Starwood Gold/Hiton Silver/ CO Plat/Hertz Gold
Posts: 122
PIT upgrade for the spouse
I finally (being Plat) was able to get my spouse upgraded this year. It took me flying from PIT back to IAH for this to happen. Does anyone have any luck with flighd out of IAH as a Plat getting the companion upgrade? I have flown to PHL, TUL (on the 737 not the ERJ) and MSY this year and still not have been able, 2 seperate tickets as well. Does the plat companion trump the new purchase an F ticket? I thought I knew the rules, but out of PIT she jumped to first on the upgrade list with a "cheapest you can get ticket" off the internet. . .
Jul 14, 2009 | 10:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,242
I finally (being Plat) was able to get my spouse upgraded this year. It took me flying from PIT back to IAH for this to happen. Does anyone have any luck with flighd out of IAH as a Plat getting the companion upgrade? I have flown to PHL, TUL (on the 737 not the ERJ) and MSY this year and still not have been able, 2 seperate tickets as well. Does the plat companion trump the new purchase an F ticket? I thought I knew the rules, but out of PIT she jumped to first on the upgrade list with a "cheapest you can get ticket" off the internet. . .
Jul 14, 2009 | 10:20 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Starwood Gold/Hiton Silver/ CO Plat/Hertz Gold
Posts: 122
The companion upgrades are only possible at airport check-in (either at ticket counter, PC, or gate). Can't speak of IAH routes since I fly out of EWR. Based on people's signatures, companion upgrades seem rare. That being said, my understanding is that in regards to battlefield (gate) upgrades, the companion gets the status of the sponsoring traveler (ie a plat companion trumps a gold or gold companion).
Jul 14, 2009 | 10:26 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,242
Your in the same boat out of ERW, any luck with the companion upgrade? I may need a ruling on this, but I find it hard to believe that there are that may plat out of TUL or MSY that would trump her if that was the case. I actually asked to pay for her to upgrade out of PIT, but the ticket agent (not the GA) told me it was full. Meanwhile, I could see on my pda that ther were 4 seats left (hence the reason I would offer to pay - 2 blocked, and 2 avail 1 hour before departure - not sure why 2 seats would stay blocked 1 hr before departure?)
Jul 14, 2009 | 10:36 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Starwood Gold/Hiton Silver/ CO Plat/Hertz Gold
Posts: 122
The TA probably thought you were asking about the day of departure upgrades. Those are hard to score because they are only offered if the number of empty F seats exceeds the number of elites on the flight that have not been upgraded yet. Did you specifically ask for the TUL and MSY flights that she be added to the UG list as your companion? You need to know what the UG list looks right before and right after you check in to really track her progress. Did the flights you're referring to go out full in F? Did you get an upgrade, and if so when?
I think I understand. You can't (even offer to pay for an upgrade) for your companion if the elite line is stacked holding (taking all seats avail in F, even before upgrade?) - even if it is on the day of departure? What is the meaning of 2 blocked seats in F an hour out? I figured (even though the CO website says they upgrade based on elite) that those were the rev seats they would hold on to until the last minute, waiting for someone to come in and purchase?
Jul 14, 2009 | 10:40 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Starwood Gold/Hiton Silver/ CO Plat/Hertz Gold
Posts: 122
I think I understand. You can't (even offer to pay for an upgrade) for your companion if the elite line is stacked holding (taking all seats avail in F, even before upgrade?) - even if it is on the day of departure? What is the meaning of 2 blocked seats in F an hour out? I figured (even though the CO website says they upgrade based on elite) that those were the rev seats they would hold on to until the last minute, waiting for someone to come in and purchase?
Jul 15, 2009 | 4:05 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,242
Which route was this? You mentioned a few in the original post. What about the day of the week and time?
Jul 15, 2009 | 5:34 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: OnePass - Platinum, MileagePlus - 1K (Linked)
Posts: 236
not clearing until one day before
I'm no expert on this stuff, but I think popular routes or Elite heavy routes don't have their R (or whatever the new class may be) released for EUA until later. I'm on 383, BOS-IAH at 4:50 pm on Friday, July 17, 2009, and online tools are still showing nine seats in the front cabin. I suspect that this is Elite heavy and some people may be willing to pay either miles or money to get the front cabin, so Continental may be holding out for those passengers. Odd thing is that all my return legs were all ready upgraded and they seemed to be equally desirable segments (IAH-BOS on a Sunday evening).
Jul 15, 2009 | 5:56 am
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 1,821
PIT-IAH, despite the 735s, is usually a good bet for upgrades, including companions.
That said, there was one time when I was the only elite on the whole plane (unless some of the paid F were elites) and I didn't get the upgrade.
That said, there was one time when I was the only elite on the whole plane (unless some of the paid F were elites) and I didn't get the upgrade.
Jul 15, 2009 | 7:59 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Starwood Gold/Hiton Silver/ CO Plat/Hertz Gold
Posts: 122
I'm not sure what you mean by this. There is an EUA run at T-24 and T-3 hours. That will be based on status and then fare class. So if you did not clear until T-24, there were a lot of seats being held back.
On the pda site it tells you how many seats were booked and how many people were checked in. Do you remember what it said?
I think it said 10 checked in out of 16 and 2 were blocked.
Which route was this? You mentioned a few in the original post. What about the day of the week and time?
On the pda site it tells you how many seats were booked and how many people were checked in. Do you remember what it said?
I think it said 10 checked in out of 16 and 2 were blocked.
Which route was this? You mentioned a few in the original post. What about the day of the week and time?
Jul 15, 2009 | 8:03 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Starwood Gold/Hiton Silver/ CO Plat/Hertz Gold
Posts: 122
I'm no expert on this stuff, but I think popular routes or Elite heavy routes don't have their R (or whatever the new class may be) released for EUA until later. I'm on 383, BOS-IAH at 4:50 pm on Friday, July 17, 2009, and online tools are still showing nine seats in the front cabin. I suspect that this is Elite heavy and some people may be willing to pay either miles or money to get the front cabin, so Continental may be holding out for those passengers. Odd thing is that all my return legs were all ready upgraded and they seemed to be equally desirable segments (IAH-BOS on a Sunday evening).
That is odd. I fly from IAH-PHL and will clear 5 days most times. Thats why I thought it was odd that from PIT - IAH I would not clear until a day before, (same ticket class) . Clearly the IAH - PHL route is heavier.