Companion upgrades?
Jan 7, 2010, 9:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 14
Companion upgrades?
We're planning to fly JFK-SAN in February. I see that all of the nonstop flights are fare code T -- does that automatically mean that my girlfriend cannot be upgraded, even if I am? (I'm Silver, she's not.) Has anyone had any luck getting an upgrade on a discounted fare flight? The funny thing is that we'd be happy to pay a little more for the chance to upgrade together...
Jan 7, 2010, 9:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Somewhere near BWI
Programs: DL DM, HH Dia, SPG Gold, MR Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,654
Typically, your companion cannot be upgraded on LUT fares. If you want to see the other fare classes, you will have to do a Full Search and then choose the lowest fare class you want to see (you want K or higher, in order to be eligible for companion upgrades). Be advised, you will only clear if both pax (Medallion and companion) will clear, unless the GA is nice to you.
Jan 7, 2010, 10:10 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: UA 2P, AA Gold, Delta Silver (The lowest tier trifecta)
Posts: 37
Something to note, I have a flight on delta booked as the northwest codeshare. Northwest sees the flight as K, Delta sees it as T (killed my companion upgrade chances). So it does make a difference which codeshare is booked.
Jan 8, 2010, 12:02 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SAN (Originally from ORD)
Programs: DL PM; US Silver;Mariott+SPG+Hyatt Gold; Hertz 5*; National Car Emerald; Avis Preferred
Posts: 380
If you want to see the other fare classes, you will have to do a Full Search and then choose the lowest fare class you want to see (you want K or higher, in order to be eligible for companion upgrades). Be advised, you will only clear if both pax (Medallion and companion) will clear, unless the GA is nice to you.
As an FYI, weekday JFK-SAN (evening flight) was always booked (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). There were many times as a GM where i ended up being in a gate lottery situation. Not that this doesn't mean there couldn't have been a companion upgrade. Then again, I flew SAN-JFK R/T 7 or 8 times on DL last year and got upgraded on all legs. Most were gate lottery, but every so often one would upgrade earlier.
This is a very long flight, so hopefully you get the UG. Unfortunately, JFK-SAN isn't on the BizElite list like JFK-SFO/JFK-LAX (You may want to consider doing a JFK-LAX-SAN to try out the new bizelite, but again... its a long flight already)...
Jan 8, 2010, 12:09 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
Still doesn't matter. If it's coded as Delta, no companion upgrades on L/U/T. If it's coded as Northwest, no companion upgrades on L/T/K. You might find a gate agent that doesn't know the rules, but the upgrade shouldn't happen without a prompt...
Jan 8, 2010, 1:51 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NY Metro
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,881
The only way you might have luck is if economy class is oversold and there are empty seats in first class after all Medallion upgrades have been processed. I've managed to pull this off twice flying with a non-elite companion.
Still irks me you need to pay in the ballpark of 50% more for the companion ticket for them to have the chance of upgrading behind Silver Medallions. I'd be willing to pay that difference once I knew the upgrade would clear; but to invest it months in advance when the chances of upgrade are close to zero is just illogical. I am sure very few spend the extra money.
Still irks me you need to pay in the ballpark of 50% more for the companion ticket for them to have the chance of upgrading behind Silver Medallions. I'd be willing to pay that difference once I knew the upgrade would clear; but to invest it months in advance when the chances of upgrade are close to zero is just illogical. I am sure very few spend the extra money.
Jan 8, 2010, 7:27 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Skymiles Plat, Thai Gold, IHG RA, SPG Gold
Posts: 27
Totally agree: the added problem is that trying to use the companion upgrade feature not only has virtually zero chances of success but it also "drags down" the lead passenger and make his upgrade chances non existent no matter what his status as both passengers are now considered as a single "item".
Jan 8, 2010, 8:21 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,227
The NW res system doesn't seem to recognize that restriction. I've not gotten a automated upgrade at OLCI for a companion on a T fare on two NW-operated flights.
Jan 8, 2010, 6:48 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: UA 2P, AA Gold, Delta Silver (The lowest tier trifecta)
Posts: 37
Jan 8, 2010, 7:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SLC/MEX
Posts: 149
Is there a chnce at an upgrade if the companion is on a HKQ fare and the FO is on a LUT fare? There is some kind of procedure to list the companion upgrade as possible even when the reservation is split, according to the DL website.
Jan 8, 2010, 7:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SMF
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt D
Posts: 416
FWIW I have had very little luck in upgrading a companion on west coast JFK flights (companions without status). If I want my wife to fly with me in FC, I typically have to book her on a separate K class ticket ahead of time and then use a PSU or miles in order to get her in the FC cabin.
Jan 12, 2010, 7:04 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 14
Thanks for all the responses. So it sounds like I need to book our tickets separately if I want to book the cheapest fares (to save money) for any chance of upgrading, because she would be ineligible for a companion upgrade on a (T) flight. Is that right? Otherwise the system considers us a single item, and since she's not allowed to move up, I won't either. (Yes, I would abandon her in coach. She sleeps the whole flight anyway. 
)
)
Jan 12, 2010, 8:19 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
So it sounds like I need to book our tickets separately if I want to book the cheapest fares (to save money) for any chance of upgrading, because she would be ineligible for a companion upgrade on a (T) flight. Is that right? Otherwise the system considers us a single item, and since she's not allowed to move up, I won't either. (Yes, I would abandon her in coach. She sleeps the whole flight anyway. )
)
Jan 15, 2010, 8:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: HH-Gold, MR-Platinum, SPG-Gold, AA-Platinum, UA-Silver, Alaska-Gold, National-EE
Posts: 56
Has anybody else experienced this? Not doubting you, but I'm concerned this might be more of a fluke rather than a trend.
Jan 15, 2010, 9:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,786
This route is a double edge sword if you are checking bags. If on the same PNR your travel companion gets the same baggage allowance (i.e. two free). Split the PNR and they are paying for baggage and if playing the gate lottery and you lose not only do you pay for baggage but sit in coach.