Question regarding Optiontown upgrades for domestic flights. Received a cheap offer for $100 for two people to "upgrade" from economy to business on a 320 from ATQ to BOM. However, the upgrade is not confirmed and is subject to capacity and airline control. In your experience, how soon do these upgrades clear? Do you really have to wait until 3 days out to get notified for an upgrade? Also, since the seats are paid and if you have already paid to select a seat and then get upgraded, what happens to your seat cost? Is it refunded?

Yes they do work. You're usually notified within 12-48 hours of departure depending on the airline and flight load. Your economy seat cost will not be refunded.

PVG-DEL: submitted an offer for ~$270 (INR 18715). Confirmed via e-mail 1 day in advance. When I showed up for check-in at 3 hours before the flight, I was informed that there was no available space, but they would let me know if anything opened up. Thankfully, I had not checked my email beforehand, so I was not expecting an upgrade at all. I headed to the gate from the lounge about 5 minutes after boarding commenced, and I was informed that I was upgraded after all.

Definitely money well spent, since this was my second of four consecutive int'l red-eye flights. This was also my very first experience with a real (non-recliner) J seat. It took me a little while to figure out how to get it perfectly flat (I actually didn't mind having it slightly angled after the meal). I initially thought it was an angled lie flat because it did not look like I had enough length using the upper foot rest, and it was a bit stubborn in lowering the last few degrees.

My 'getupfront' offer on Optiontown is priced at 5378 Rs for a DEL-CCU flight later this month, ie almost 11k for the return. The ticket was 7800 for the return. The outbound is on a B788, the return on a A321. I'm torn... is it worth for a 90-110 min flight?

for the same price i would go for it for a longer flight....not worth it in my opinion on this route....

*G and PP with unlimited use. So lounge visit covered anyway. The 7000 will probably buy me one hour sleep in the J seat.