Using Upgrades for Travelling Companions
Jul 5, 1999 | 3:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
Using Upgrades for Travelling Companions
The thread under "Canadian" got me thinking about AC and other airlines and their policies for using upgrades for travelling companions. How many travelling companions could you use upgrades for? If you are a family travelling together on discount tickets and there are four of you and only one Elite member, can the elite use four upgrade certificates for all the family?
AC Aeroplan upgrade certificates are vague in this area -- can be used by "a travelling companion" on the same itinerary. Anyone have any experience with upgrading more than one travelling companion on any airline?
AC Aeroplan upgrade certificates are vague in this area -- can be used by "a travelling companion" on the same itinerary. Anyone have any experience with upgrading more than one travelling companion on any airline?
Jul 5, 1999 | 3:58 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,779
I have found Air Canada very good with upgrading more than one family member on the same flight.
I think they may be more willing to do this for all family members (not for all friends) on the same flight. Their Maple Leaf Lounge rules state that the Elite member and any family members flying with them may use the lounge.
I think they may be more willing to do this for all family members (not for all friends) on the same flight. Their Maple Leaf Lounge rules state that the Elite member and any family members flying with them may use the lounge.
Jul 5, 1999 | 9:35 pm
#3
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,619
The only way to upgrade a traveling companion on DL is with miles ... none of the standard upgrades are good for companions (which obviously sucks!).
Jul 6, 1999 | 1:43 am
#4
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
UA rules:
* Upgrade-Awards, using miles from your account, are good for anybody and as many people you want (and have the miles)
* one-way-confirmable North-America upgrade-vouchers are good for anybody and as many people you want (and have the vouchers)
* using 500-miles-upgrade-vouchers (confirmable 100/72/24 hours depending on your status) are good for yourself and ONE accompanying partner.
* Upgrade-Awards, using miles from your account, are good for anybody and as many people you want (and have the miles)
* one-way-confirmable North-America upgrade-vouchers are good for anybody and as many people you want (and have the vouchers)
* using 500-miles-upgrade-vouchers (confirmable 100/72/24 hours depending on your status) are good for yourself and ONE accompanying partner.
Jul 6, 1999 | 2:07 am
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,226
I'm aware of one incident on CP (not me) where the agent "looked both ways" then upgraded two travelling companions. However, the upgrade folders are quite specific about upgrading only one companion.
On a related note, I was in the new AA Flagship Lounge in Chicago on Saturday. (Very, very nice, first class only, and us priviledged CP types.
As good as the best CP/AC lounges. Hot food, cold food, free drinks, quiet, lots and lots of space, few people.) When I was leaving a group showed up. One eligible person wanted to bring in two "guests." I didn't stay to see the final outcome, but it sure looked like "not a chance in hell."
Regards,
Ken Hamer
On a related note, I was in the new AA Flagship Lounge in Chicago on Saturday. (Very, very nice, first class only, and us priviledged CP types.
As good as the best CP/AC lounges. Hot food, cold food, free drinks, quiet, lots and lots of space, few people.) When I was leaving a group showed up. One eligible person wanted to bring in two "guests." I didn't stay to see the final outcome, but it sure looked like "not a chance in hell."Regards,
Ken Hamer
Jul 10, 1999 | 9:58 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Manassas VA
Posts: 145
One more point about UA rules:
I had a ticket for myself booked by company travel agent, but refused to pay them an extra fee to book my wife. I booked her ticket directly with UA. When I tried to put us both on the upgrade list with certs, I was told that I couldn't put her on the list at my priority, because we were traveling on different reservations. I could upgrade her with certs, but I'd need to call at the appointed hour and have it done manually.
Bummer!
Tom
I had a ticket for myself booked by company travel agent, but refused to pay them an extra fee to book my wife. I booked her ticket directly with UA. When I tried to put us both on the upgrade list with certs, I was told that I couldn't put her on the list at my priority, because we were traveling on different reservations. I could upgrade her with certs, but I'd need to call at the appointed hour and have it done manually.
Bummer!
Tom
Jul 10, 1999 | 10:20 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
TGrove, it's the old "call United back and get someone else" advise. Some agents don't know it but they can manually give another person on the same flight but with different Locator Number your status (I just recently did it for QuantumLeap as we were on the same DEN-SAT flight to the FlyerTalk Texas Hoedown). I've had them do it not just for upgrades but for also releasing Coach Exit Rows in advance to my traveling companion. Keep calling back until you get someone to do it. Good Luck.
Jul 10, 1999 | 5:52 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,178
PremEx is right, I had it happen both ways. They will tell you since you are on different reservations they don't consider you as "flying together". But, if you're persistent and try another agent, they can do it. The key is to be nice (almost contrite) and don't challenge them. It can be done!