The best airline for upgrades!
Jun 6, 2005 | 8:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Plat FB / Gold Emirates
Posts: 62
The best airline for upgrades!
OK.........any experienced travellers out there have an opinion on which airline is the best for upgrading? any suggestions welcomed. ^
WelshWizard
WelshWizard
Jun 6, 2005 | 11:09 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Plat FB / Gold Emirates
Posts: 62
Originally Posted by choster
Also how many miles a year do you fly? What fare classes do you typically book? What routes?
I have a platinum with KLM, gold BMI.
Fare classes vary between discounted to full economy.
Hope that helps.
Jun 6, 2005 | 1:35 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Land of 10,000 Upgrades
Posts: 9,459
Jun 6, 2005 | 2:45 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, AC *S, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 9,791
I would definately have to say EK, all Y/J fares are upgradable, there are tons of way to get upgrades and not the mention the high amount of involantary upgrades they give, especially on trunk routes.
Jun 6, 2005 | 2:46 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,728
Northwest Is Best
NW is best for free unlimited US domestic uplgrades for it's Elite. I have been Gold for the past 3 years and Silver the year before that and have only sat in coach on domestic flights a very few times on NW. My success rate is about 90-95% on usually very discounted tickets. On CO, the success is much less maybe 50% if I'm lucky.
Of course for international upgrades, there are none for free for Elites officially.
Of course for international upgrades, there are none for free for Elites officially.
Jun 6, 2005 | 4:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: AA EXP, UA Gold/MM, DL Plat/2MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil
Posts: 4,679
According to Upgradesuccess.com, which is tracking upgrade percentages for elite members in the U.S., the current top three major airlines in the US are:
UA 92%
AA 89%
NW 85%
However, NW's upgrades for elites are mostly free, whereas I think there is a charge to upgrade on UA and AA.
Please visit the site and enter your data to improve the validity/accuracy of the numbers. Thanks.
UA 92%
AA 89%
NW 85%
However, NW's upgrades for elites are mostly free, whereas I think there is a charge to upgrade on UA and AA.
Please visit the site and enter your data to improve the validity/accuracy of the numbers. Thanks.
Jun 6, 2005 | 5:00 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Lodi, CA
Posts: 592
Originally Posted by sadiqhassan
I would definately have to say EK, all Y/J fares are upgradable, there are tons of way to get upgrades and not the mention the high amount of involantary upgrades they give, especially on trunk routes.
Jun 6, 2005 | 5:09 pm
#13
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Originally Posted by FlytheTail
However, NW's upgrades for elites are mostly free, whereas I think there is a charge to upgrade on UA and AA.
Jun 6, 2005 | 5:50 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Airstrip One
Programs: AA gold, UA Premier, HH Gold, *wood gold, PC gold
Posts: 950
Originally Posted by tom911
AA domestic upgrades are free for top tier (EXP) flyers. I've cleared 51 of 54 requests since the free upgrade program started.
Jun 6, 2005 | 7:23 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, AC *S, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 9,791
Originally Posted by maulah
Can you further elaborate on what do you mean by tons of ways to get upgrades on EK?
~ Paid with miles (from any class fare)
~ Buying a J class ticket (no award inventory as far as i know, if there are seats in that class, youre in)
~ Involantary Upgrades
~ Upgrades for delays / inconviences on flights
~ Upgrades because of special offers
~ Volantary upgrades w/ seat on later flight because they have overbooked
These are also present on other airlines, but IMHO are much more common / frequent on EK
Cheers