No upgrade without a confirmed seat
#1
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
No upgrade without a confirmed seat
Just got off the phone with JAL and the agent told me they have changed their rules for upgrade awards. Before I can reserve an upgrade award even when my flight is only on waiting list, then I can issue the ticket with the confirmed upgrade. Now, with the latest change, I can only reserve the award only if my flight is confirmed I am ready to buy the ticket and they just don't want it I was told to call my agent and have her call JAL sales office and tell them I am going to upgrade...how can the sales office tell whether the agent is lying or not
By the way this is the regular JMB hotline not the JGC one but I doubt that will make any difference
By the way this is the regular JMB hotline not the JGC one but I doubt that will make any difference
#2
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: UA MM1KGS, NH*G, JL Saphaire, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 12
JAL Upgrade Procedure, my experience
My recent experience was that I could request upgrade without having a confirmed seat. However I already had my ticket issued and I wanted to use some open segments.
#3
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
But the agent said they recently changed the rules so now you have to do this: waitlist -> wait for seats to confirm -> request upgrade
That means you can't put yourself on the upgrade waiting list unless your original reservation clears...sometimes they don't clear until the very last minute and you will have less chance of clearing the upgrade...
I will try calling JGC hotline tomorrow when they open and see if they could do anything to help...
It's becoming less convenient every time I try to buy a ticket from JAL...why couldn't they make this simple and painless for us
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UKB
Posts: 11,436
it still works here in Japan. We usually buy open tickets from BKK.
So when we fly the return portion KIX-BKK. We usually have JAL reserve the ticket. Then if we want to upgrade we ask them to put in the request.
Then call up our travel agent and give them our reservation code and things are set. JALPAK maybe you need to call JGC. This manual process still works. Make sure you know the booking code though. Because we usually use booking code B.
So when we fly the return portion KIX-BKK. We usually have JAL reserve the ticket. Then if we want to upgrade we ask them to put in the request.
Then call up our travel agent and give them our reservation code and things are set. JALPAK maybe you need to call JGC. This manual process still works. Make sure you know the booking code though. Because we usually use booking code B.
#5
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
it still works here in Japan. We usually buy open tickets from BKK.
So when we fly the return portion KIX-BKK. We usually have JAL reserve the ticket. Then if we want to upgrade we ask them to put in the request.
Then call up our travel agent and give them our reservation code and things are set. JALPAK maybe you need to call JGC. This manual process still works. Make sure you know the booking code though. Because we usually use booking code B.
So when we fly the return portion KIX-BKK. We usually have JAL reserve the ticket. Then if we want to upgrade we ask them to put in the request.
Then call up our travel agent and give them our reservation code and things are set. JALPAK maybe you need to call JGC. This manual process still works. Make sure you know the booking code though. Because we usually use booking code B.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UKB
Posts: 11,436
#7
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
Just got off the phone with JGC and the agent told me they change the rules on April 1 2010 Now you can only request upgrade with a confirmed seat and they were not able to clear the waitlist for me...the Tokyo inventory office said I have to wait
#8
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
My waitlist just clear. Thanks JAL Now I have to call them first thing in the morning to get my upgrade
#9
formerly ssw207
Join Date: Apr 2000
Programs: BAGld, JLJGC, TK*G, EK-G, HH Dia,IHG Amb-PE, Bonvoy Gd, Shangrila DM
Posts: 657
#10
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
I know...it's just frustrating that they have this new rule and I can't issue the ticket as soon as upgrade opens up. But now I have upgraded my flights and it's all cleared