hockeyinsider

For the same time period, you can buy a paid first-class ticket from Toronto to Hawaii on Delta (going through Detroit, Los Angeles and other airports) for under $1200.

JoelThomas

At the time of purchase, paid first was ~1500. Not interested at the current offer, but there's plenty of time between now and then to see how (or if) it changes.

z06mir

FYI it was

Same offer for the same flight next week, $89. No reason to take it for a 1 hour flight where I'll probably get C+ anyway. Seems to be pretty consistent from SLC-PHX and PHX-SLC.

btonkid12345

I recently had XXX-DTW-LAX-OGG.

At T-5, DTW-LAX had 3 open seats in F. On Q fares. Magically, me and companion cleared DTW-LAX on a Monday morning at T-5 leaving 1 open seat (nothing cleared at the gate)...

hockeyinsider

I think with some exceptions -- Christmas, New Year's, Presidents' Day weekend -- that upgrades to/from Hawaii are much like upgrades to/from the Caribbean in that they are very easy. Yes, of course there are periods when cabins are sold-out, but because Hawaii is so far away I wager that most people go for a week and probably travel on a Friday or Saturday. So, a mid-week flight to/from Hawaii is probably easier to upgrade than a weekend flight or the red-eye Sunday night from Honolulu.

I've had two separate flights departing Honolulu within the last year where first-class went out with at least 1 empty seat.

I'm going back to Hawaii in exactly 5 months from now, in August. Yes, I realize the seat map isn't the best indicator but for the sake of discussion, right now, there are 14 empty seats in first-class on the 757. Only 6 seats, including mine, are taken. I'm sure the cabin will become less empty between now and August, but I suspect because going to Hawaii is such a big deal for most people that a majority of passengers book their trip (likely a vacation or honeymoon) at least five months in advance. So I'd guess that by 1-2 months out, what you see if probably close to what the final number will be, absent upgrades or first-class monetization.

Hawkeyefan

I have a RST to FLL itnerary coming up 2 weeks. Upgrade on the ATL to FLL leg to FC has dropped in two days from $224 to $179 to $111 today. Any chance it drops further if no one bites at $111? Just seeing how this works.

EZEDoesIt

Unfortunately I had to change dates. When I made the change it would have been $200 to upgrade to a P fare on the outbound, but $299 if the agent processed it as a "seat upgrade." I was cheap and declined both. Now only full F is available for $1k.

Saribo

I never thought I would do it, but I just paid for my first upgrade. SLC to IAD for $138. I’ve got an early morning meeting and with the flight not getting in until 11pm, the meal will let me go straight to bed when I get there. Plus, it seemed like a good deal.

BusTrav8yrs

Can get a much cheaper meal at the airport before takeoff

pvn

Airport meal doesn't come with bonus MQMs!

Saribo

Yeah, it's probably a dumb thing to do, although with a 4 hour flight eating beforehand isn't ideal. I guess I was bound to fall for it once, but I doubt I'll make a habit of paying for upgrades - I'm usually cheap and have better things to waste my money on.

hockeyinsider

I hope the meal is decent, but hey, if you drink alcohol, you can get your money's worth (or close to it, at Washington, D.C. prices) during a 4-hour flight.

Zorak

Gotta love FT: WFBF, but get scoffed at when you do

Everyone's different of course, but I'd definitely take $138 for SLC-IAD just for the extra personal space and MQMs even if it didn't come with food and booze.

Grizzergirl

I’d take that offer too. I will not take the offer on one of my segments this week, DFW-SLC for $190.17. This is on a CRJ 900. I will stick with C+. This Leg has often been offered at other times for $89-111 buy up when booked in the same fare class.

Saribo

The price I'd pay for a first class upgrade would normally be about $50, so I've never bought one before. Sitting at home last night, just back from another work trip, looking at a 24 hour RT to Dulles this weekend, the price I was willing to pay was higher than it normally would be. WFBF I guess. Although I'm expecting one or both of my return segments to get upgraded on Saturday night, even with my lowly status, so I'll take what I can get for free too...