Frustrating using/buying miles for First Class Upgrade
May 27, 2010 | 3:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2
Frustrating using/buying miles for First Class Upgrade
I am new and need some insight.
I just tried to find the best first class fare (started 3 months ago) from San Diego to Orlando RT in June.
Today & the best fare was 514. regular full fare, then purchase 11000 miles at 365. + another 125 copay from American for First Class upgrade for a total price of 964.
I just searched Delta and the regular price of a first class ticket same dates was 1086. without copay, buying extra miles...
Does someone have any insight on how to find the cheapest First Class vs upgrade or ???? for cross country domestic?
This is more than some of the Europe First class tickets..
I just tried to find the best first class fare (started 3 months ago) from San Diego to Orlando RT in June.
Today & the best fare was 514. regular full fare, then purchase 11000 miles at 365. + another 125 copay from American for First Class upgrade for a total price of 964.
I just searched Delta and the regular price of a first class ticket same dates was 1086. without copay, buying extra miles...
Does someone have any insight on how to find the cheapest First Class vs upgrade or ???? for cross country domestic?
This is more than some of the Europe First class tickets..
May 27, 2010 | 4:06 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Welcome to FlyerTalk! If you are regularly finding tickets to Europe in F for around $1000 and not sharing with the rest of us then shame on you. 
A $1000 fare for F on a transcon is quite reasonable IMO. As a non-elite you have the co-pay on AA, CO and UA. And you cannot upgrade from the lower fares on DL.
If you're willing to head up to LGB and connect through AUS you can do JetBlue and pay for the EML and have 38" pitch though a normal width and still pay for booze. It will be less expensive but will come with fewer benefits.
A $1000 fare for F on a transcon is quite reasonable IMO. As a non-elite you have the co-pay on AA, CO and UA. And you cannot upgrade from the lower fares on DL.
If you're willing to head up to LGB and connect through AUS you can do JetBlue and pay for the EML and have 38" pitch though a normal width and still pay for booze. It will be less expensive but will come with fewer benefits.
May 27, 2010 | 8:24 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Mile-High Club, Marriott Plt, SPG P-75, PC Plt, Hyatt Dia, Carlson Gold, BW Dia
Posts: 1,845
May 27, 2010 | 8:54 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2
Welcome to FlyerTalk, T
Txs, I appreciate it. And I will share what I found..I feel alittle better that I was not "fleeced"
But I must learn to do this as I ahve a new work related situation that requires me to fly Xcountry at least monthly
Pls mentor me!!
What is the frugal way to obtain a first class ticket. "Buying miles from an airline should be viewed as a last-resort option, and only in extenuating circumstances.."
Txs, I appreciate it. And I will share what I found..I feel alittle better that I was not "fleeced"
But I must learn to do this as I ahve a new work related situation that requires me to fly Xcountry at least monthly
Pls mentor me!!
What is the frugal way to obtain a first class ticket. "Buying miles from an airline should be viewed as a last-resort option, and only in extenuating circumstances.."
May 28, 2010 | 10:29 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Welcomes to Flyertalk 1JAR!
With AA as the focus airline (some options vary by airline):
Many of us never buy miles, instead we earn hundreds of thousands of miles/year via a combination of:
- Amex SPG credit card spend: $20K spent = 20K SPG points = 25,000 AA miles
- Citibank AA credit card spend: 1 miles per $, so $20K spend = 20,000 AA miles
- Hotel stays - many chains offer AA miles - Hyatt has a very generous offer right now
- Car rentals - many brands offer AA miles
- Online shopping - instead of going directly to online stores to buy online, go to AA shopping first and use their link - so you earn X miles per $ spent
- Restaurants - choose AA Dining restaurants to earn lots of miles
- More AA miles partners found on the AA website, such as using a bank account that earns AA miles instead of interest, miles for ordering flowers, miles for phone service, miles for cable service, miles for signing up with Netflix, etc
---------------------------------------
- Some of us would usually redeem the miles for free domestic tickets rather than upgrading and having to pay a co-pay.
- As an AA flyer who flies a LOT (AA EXP = 100,000 miles flown/year), I get unlimited 100% FREE domestic upgrades that clear about 90% of the time.
- Once you fly 25,000 miles a year, you get AA Gold status, that allows you to upgrade domestic trips using "500 milers". Each 500 miler is good for 500 miles of travel, so a 1900 mile trip costs 4 500 milers. Each 500 milers costs $30. So $120 to upgrade a 1900 miles flown trip with no co-pay. BUT 500 milers do not clear way ahead of time, often don't clear until you arrive at the airport, and are based on seats left prioritized by elite status. The higher your status, the higher your upgrade success rate. This is one of the reasons high level elite status is so valuable. For more details, PLEASE read the AA wiki linked to in the sticky at the top of the American Airlines Flyertalk forum.
Paid First class between the USA and Europe usually costs between $6,000 USD and $12,000 USD roundtrip.
Paid Business class between the USA and Europe usually costs between $2500 USD and $7500 USD roundtrip.
I am curious what might have given you the impression that First class to Europe can be had for around $1000?
Most of us on Flyertalk would not purchase paid business or First class to Europe but would instead use the miles we earn (see above) to redeem for free business or first tickets, miles to upgrade economy purchased tickets, or if we fly enough (100,000 miles/year on American Airlines, United Airlines, or Continental Airlines) we get free international upgrade certificates we can use on low fares with no co-pay.
Many of us never buy miles, instead we earn hundreds of thousands of miles/year via a combination of:
- Amex SPG credit card spend: $20K spent = 20K SPG points = 25,000 AA miles
- Citibank AA credit card spend: 1 miles per $, so $20K spend = 20,000 AA miles
- Hotel stays - many chains offer AA miles - Hyatt has a very generous offer right now
- Car rentals - many brands offer AA miles
- Online shopping - instead of going directly to online stores to buy online, go to AA shopping first and use their link - so you earn X miles per $ spent
- Restaurants - choose AA Dining restaurants to earn lots of miles
- More AA miles partners found on the AA website, such as using a bank account that earns AA miles instead of interest, miles for ordering flowers, miles for phone service, miles for cable service, miles for signing up with Netflix, etc
---------------------------------------
- Some of us would usually redeem the miles for free domestic tickets rather than upgrading and having to pay a co-pay.
- As an AA flyer who flies a LOT (AA EXP = 100,000 miles flown/year), I get unlimited 100% FREE domestic upgrades that clear about 90% of the time.
- Once you fly 25,000 miles a year, you get AA Gold status, that allows you to upgrade domestic trips using "500 milers". Each 500 miler is good for 500 miles of travel, so a 1900 mile trip costs 4 500 milers. Each 500 milers costs $30. So $120 to upgrade a 1900 miles flown trip with no co-pay. BUT 500 milers do not clear way ahead of time, often don't clear until you arrive at the airport, and are based on seats left prioritized by elite status. The higher your status, the higher your upgrade success rate. This is one of the reasons high level elite status is so valuable. For more details, PLEASE read the AA wiki linked to in the sticky at the top of the American Airlines Flyertalk forum.
Paid First class between the USA and Europe usually costs between $6,000 USD and $12,000 USD roundtrip.
Paid Business class between the USA and Europe usually costs between $2500 USD and $7500 USD roundtrip.
I am curious what might have given you the impression that First class to Europe can be had for around $1000?
Most of us on Flyertalk would not purchase paid business or First class to Europe but would instead use the miles we earn (see above) to redeem for free business or first tickets, miles to upgrade economy purchased tickets, or if we fly enough (100,000 miles/year on American Airlines, United Airlines, or Continental Airlines) we get free international upgrade certificates we can use on low fares with no co-pay.
Last edited by wanaflyforless; May 28, 2010 at 10:58 am