Companion upgrade strategy.
Jul 31, 1999 | 10:37 am
#1
Original Poster
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Seattle
Programs: Ephesians 4:31-32
Posts: 10,690
Companion upgrade strategy.
This is such an obvious ploy that I am sure it has been discussed, although I have never seen the discussion.
Has anybody ever booked two tickets in coach and then upgraded their non-status (Premier, Elite, etc.) companion with miles, and then attempted to upgrade themselves with certificates, whatever, using the, "Can you please help me out. I am trying to figure out how I can get a seat next to my spouse, child, flyertalk buddy, cat, whatever?"
Input or directions to a previous discussion would be greatly appreciated.
Has anybody ever booked two tickets in coach and then upgraded their non-status (Premier, Elite, etc.) companion with miles, and then attempted to upgrade themselves with certificates, whatever, using the, "Can you please help me out. I am trying to figure out how I can get a seat next to my spouse, child, flyertalk buddy, cat, whatever?"
Input or directions to a previous discussion would be greatly appreciated.
Jul 31, 1999 | 10:58 am
#3
Original Poster
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Seattle
Programs: Ephesians 4:31-32
Posts: 10,690
What I meant was, will traveling with a companion who is already confirmed in 1st (by miles), increase your chances of getting a standby or coupon upgrade?
[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 07-31-1999).]
[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 07-31-1999).]
Jul 31, 1999 | 1:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 422
Punki,
I've never had the guts to try this. My philosophy is (1)all or none & (2)If I'm not in first, nobody else is either. So, on domestic flights I just wait until the 2 day prior time to do my NWA upgrade & hope that the companion's "day of" will come thru; On long trips from midwest to Alaska, I upgrade both with miles in view of the small 1class cabin on the Alaska portion from Seattle to whereever; On a Europe trip I would buy a coach ticket & use miles to upgrade to Bus class, since there are no free upgrades on NWA to Europe. Same on an Asia trip (buy coach & use miles to upgrade to Bus class) although I'd rather pay "0" and just use megamiles for a 1class ticket & be happy!
Another factor on NWA is aircraft. If it's a DC10 I don't worry because it has a 34 passenger cabin & I always (never say always) get both myself & companion upgraded.
[This message has been edited by knowitall (edited 07-31-1999).]
I've never had the guts to try this. My philosophy is (1)all or none & (2)If I'm not in first, nobody else is either. So, on domestic flights I just wait until the 2 day prior time to do my NWA upgrade & hope that the companion's "day of" will come thru; On long trips from midwest to Alaska, I upgrade both with miles in view of the small 1class cabin on the Alaska portion from Seattle to whereever; On a Europe trip I would buy a coach ticket & use miles to upgrade to Bus class, since there are no free upgrades on NWA to Europe. Same on an Asia trip (buy coach & use miles to upgrade to Bus class) although I'd rather pay "0" and just use megamiles for a 1class ticket & be happy!
Another factor on NWA is aircraft. If it's a DC10 I don't worry because it has a 34 passenger cabin & I always (never say always) get both myself & companion upgraded.
[This message has been edited by knowitall (edited 07-31-1999).]
Jul 31, 1999 | 2:06 pm
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
how to beat the system - women's guerilla technic, tip#1:
we (or better my wife) succeeded very often (UA only) - when travelling with Gisela. Always when UA confirms or makes available only one upgraded seat - they put me (1K) automatically on it - and Gisela (not even Premier in 99) is waitlisted.
The system doesn't help - but many UA-individuals may. Gisela will start "flirting" - starting at check-in, if this didn't help then at the RCC and later with the agent at the gate, finally even when taking my upgraded seat on board - always saying them how lucky she is travelling with me this time, and asking naif if the airline would really allow her to accept my offer and take my upgraded seat.
I only remember 2 flights out of more than 10 in the last two years that this didn't end with (sometimes even a free) second upgrade.
Thinking again, she always succeeded with male, sometimes failed when talking to females ...
we (or better my wife) succeeded very often (UA only) - when travelling with Gisela. Always when UA confirms or makes available only one upgraded seat - they put me (1K) automatically on it - and Gisela (not even Premier in 99) is waitlisted.
The system doesn't help - but many UA-individuals may. Gisela will start "flirting" - starting at check-in, if this didn't help then at the RCC and later with the agent at the gate, finally even when taking my upgraded seat on board - always saying them how lucky she is travelling with me this time, and asking naif if the airline would really allow her to accept my offer and take my upgraded seat.
I only remember 2 flights out of more than 10 in the last two years that this didn't end with (sometimes even a free) second upgrade.
Thinking again, she always succeeded with male, sometimes failed when talking to females ...
Aug 1, 1999 | 9:10 am
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
We sure do have it good in Canada Ken. Both Canadian and AC seem to be great with upgrades. It's great to be able to upgrade ourselves and our companions at time of reservation, even on discount fares, even when travelling internationally. 
Aug 1, 1999 | 9:39 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Everywhere
Programs: UA MM; DL SPG HH Gold
Posts: 635
Hahahaha...
Nice post about the "flirting" Rudi. I am amused. I would just like to add that if I'm travelling with a companion and we put in for upgrades, it's all or none. Too risky to do it any other way. Because I'd rather spend a flight in economy with my loved ones than in the spacious luxury of first alone, any day. There's just too many factors that are out of your control, and out of the gate agent's control, etc... to deal with that kind of uncertainty, no matter how flirtatious.
Nice post about the "flirting" Rudi. I am amused. I would just like to add that if I'm travelling with a companion and we put in for upgrades, it's all or none. Too risky to do it any other way. Because I'd rather spend a flight in economy with my loved ones than in the spacious luxury of first alone, any day. There's just too many factors that are out of your control, and out of the gate agent's control, etc... to deal with that kind of uncertainty, no matter how flirtatious.
Aug 1, 1999 | 12:54 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tucson, Southern Arizona, North America, Western Hemisphere, The Earth, a small planet in the solar system. Previously OnePass Infinite Platinum Elite, now over entitled 1K
Posts: 2,293
I just returned from a HP TUS-SEA trip for my wife's family reunion.
My stratagy was to upgrade Cathy using mileage, and then take my chances getting a CO Platinum upgrade for myself, rather then taking chances that space would be available at the airport. When I called 2 days in advance for the outbound upgrade I was told that F/C was available on only one of the two segments. At the airport I was upgraded at check-in, and the agent gave back the 10k Onepass upgrade certificate with the boarding passes!
On the return it was the same, I was told that F/C was full on the SEA-PHX flight when I called 2 days in advance, but was upgraded when we checked in about 1-1/2 hours before the flight. Again the agent did not take the OnePass certificate, the boarding passes were marked CO Plat. and Plat Comp.
In the end all was well, we got to sit together and go F/C, and I still have the upgrade certs. for our next trip.
In the past I had a good success rate and was happy with the companion upgrade policy as a OnePass elite on both CO and HP. The new system makes it more complicated and difficult for a couple who would prefer to sit together as well have a reasonable chance to upgrade. I have been told by Continental that they would allow keeping coach seat assignments until check-in at the airport if one of a couple is able to obtain an advance upgrade, however with HP the seat assignment is lost at that time.
My stratagy was to upgrade Cathy using mileage, and then take my chances getting a CO Platinum upgrade for myself, rather then taking chances that space would be available at the airport. When I called 2 days in advance for the outbound upgrade I was told that F/C was available on only one of the two segments. At the airport I was upgraded at check-in, and the agent gave back the 10k Onepass upgrade certificate with the boarding passes!
On the return it was the same, I was told that F/C was full on the SEA-PHX flight when I called 2 days in advance, but was upgraded when we checked in about 1-1/2 hours before the flight. Again the agent did not take the OnePass certificate, the boarding passes were marked CO Plat. and Plat Comp.
In the end all was well, we got to sit together and go F/C, and I still have the upgrade certs. for our next trip.
In the past I had a good success rate and was happy with the companion upgrade policy as a OnePass elite on both CO and HP. The new system makes it more complicated and difficult for a couple who would prefer to sit together as well have a reasonable chance to upgrade. I have been told by Continental that they would allow keeping coach seat assignments until check-in at the airport if one of a couple is able to obtain an advance upgrade, however with HP the seat assignment is lost at that time.