Use Auto Upgrade or Get Alerted?
Sep 28, 2023 | 1:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa, ON
Programs: AC 50K, BV Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 406
Use Auto Upgrade or Get Alerted?
What is the consensus here for updates? Use auto alert but risk an upgrade not being applied because the taxes have changed, or set an alert and apply the upgrade manually?
That leads me to my next question: how would one know if the taxes have changed?
That leads me to my next question: how would one know if the taxes have changed?
Sep 28, 2023 | 2:58 pm
#2
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,846
However, I would not rely on auto upgrade as it is known to be unreliable, by which I mean that it sometimes works and other times not. If you set an auto upgrade you should at least check manually regularly.
Sep 28, 2023 | 10:48 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa, ON
Programs: AC 50K, BV Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 406
Thanks for replying. When you also say to check manually, does this mean going into the upgrade section of the booking and keeping an eye out for No Availability to change to Available?
Sep 29, 2023 | 1:07 am
#5
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,846
Sep 29, 2023 | 8:10 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 502
And only because Mrs B is already in F and I am in J (being the sweet guy that I am), I also will regularly search for award flights.... both for the full through flight and for the individual segments.....to double check that the upgrade availability indicator in the Manage My Booking (as seen in your insert) is not missing some otherwise available inventory. It's a 'belt & suspenders" approach, but grabbing the upgrade is highly desirable for this trip. And remember to have the necessary miles already in your account, otherwise the upgrade won't be automatic even if it is available.
Sep 30, 2023 | 3:04 am
#8
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,846
Agree, at times they seem to 'find' availability which is not visible on the website. Once got a really good agent who pointed out that whilst there was no availability on the flight pair I had booked on, there was a 'through upgrade' if I took the later flights. As I was on a Flex+ fare, I took it. Those are situations where having Gold status helps as you seem to get more experienced agents.
Oct 1, 2023 | 2:50 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 1,478
I've been trying to understand a nuance about the upgrade feature without success: if I book an award ticket and there is already award space available for the next cabin at the time of booking, is it possible to immediately upgrade with miles to the next cabin? Or is still only within the 30 day-72 hour window (and hope that the space remains)?
I ask because the total miles required via the aforementioned method would be lower than booking straight into the desired cabin...
I ask because the total miles required via the aforementioned method would be lower than booking straight into the desired cabin...
Oct 1, 2023 | 8:25 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 502
I've been trying to understand a nuance about the upgrade feature without success: if I book an award ticket and there is already award space available for the next cabin at the time of booking, is it possible to immediately upgrade with miles to the next cabin? Or is still only within the 30 day-72 hour window (and hope that the space remains)? I ask because the total miles required via the aforementioned method would be lower than booking straight into the desired cabin...
Oct 2, 2023 | 3:15 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 1,478
From my experience, the process of booking a lower class award ticket and upgrading later is a much higher cost of miles than booking straight into the higher class award if that inventory is available. I am currently waiting for incremental inventory to become available, and the premium to upgrade (vs. miles if booked directly into the higher class) is about 40% more miles. I don't think my situation has altered the equation, but I do have a two segment trip, and the added miles to upgrade both segments individually (J to F) is 40% higher than if I were able to book the flights in the higher class as a single "through fare" ticket.
Oct 13, 2023 | 11:07 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa, ON
Programs: AC 50K, BV Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 406
Oct 14, 2023 | 5:27 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,303