I don't fly across the Atlantic that much. Next week, I'll be taking my first such flight in about two years. But a colleague of mine who travels to various European cities regularly (last week, he was in Vienna) says that he rarely "wastes" his frequent flyer miles on upgrades these days, since flights to Europe aren't very full, and therefore the coach section is roomier and more comfortable than the business class section. Is this everyone else's experience? Am I going to curse myself out for wasting my awards when I fly business class next week?

Dear BB, it's a matter of opinion. I'm small and can get relatively comfy in coach (economy) even if its full. If you book coach and aren't so comfy you still have your miles.

I definitely DISAGREE with the first statement. I'd rather have one business class seat than 10 economy class seats. Then again, this is my personal preference. I travel mostly on NW/CO in Decembers to Asia -- so Y class is about full.

Try this: fly business class one way and economy class the other way.

Enjoy your trip in business class! Beware for the most part, once you try flying up front, it's hard to go back!

- Pat


[This message has been edited by Wiirachay (edited 02-09-2002).]

I regularly move back to economy from business or first on those occasions when the front cabin is full while the rear cabin is nearly empty. I like putting up the armrests and being able to stretch out-- I just go back to the front for the meal service.

Other reasons are (depending on destination, departure airport, etc...) if you have no status or aren't lounge member - Lounge Access, preferential security, preferential immigration, preferential baggage handling,and so on.

I personally only go for upgrades if the flight is full. If I can get a aisle seat in coach, especially if it's been configured with extra leg room, and I have an empty seat next to me, I'm more than happy.

If it's crowded, though, then I try to get the upgrade.

Far from a waste, I would consider this miles well spent. Transtalantic J class is very very expensive, and the use of miles gives you the one great bonus - room, and on red eyes, a chance of some peace and quiet. it will, if you fly American allow you to go through Fast Track on arrival, and it allows you again with American (maybe the others have other rules) to use the lounges which makes waiting for the flight all that more pleasant.

This is quite apart from the enhanced service and service levels abord the aircraft which are , of course, another bouns.

Enjoy your trip!

I have done 3 transatlantics from IAD since mid-Oct. Only one plane UA IAD-LHR last week was close to 50% empty in Y(mid-week early flight). My wife and I shared a 5 seat center row. Only about 2-3 other rows were shared by 2 people.

Most are 75-90% full in Y by my estimate(no more than 1 empty seat in each full row).

A lot of transatlantic flights were pulled out of IAD.

Not a bad idea, but remember that the westbound return is several hours longer than the outbound, so perhaps a one-way upgrade is better spent on this leg (the overnight redeyes heading east seem to be over before they start).

There are many reasons for upgrading like comfort and better food.
The next best reason is using the many banked miles, so they are not left behind in the very end.

------------------------------------

Eat Right, Exercise, Die Anyway!

I've bene full flights, and on nearly empty flights across the Atlantic, so I wouldn't agree they are all empty.

Personally, I have never been comfortable stretching out across coach seate, even if I was the only one in coach. If it were me, and I wanted to arrive fresh and wide awake, then I would go for the upgrade (say if I was flying overnight to a morning meeting). If however, I was flying all day to get in and grab a hotel for the next day I wouldn't normally use the upgrade.

Given a choice though, a bad seat in business is way better then any coach seat, even if coach is empty.

1. Y is very rarely empty these days. With many cancelled flights, the back of the bus is often full.

2. Sleeping across coach seats with the seat gaps, buckles, etc. is NOT very comfortable.

3. Hardly any transatlantic aircraft are 5 across anymore (i.e. very few 747's or MD11's). Most of them are three across or possibly four. If your short, great - if not, it isn't so hot.

4. Where are you flying? BOS-DUB, no big deal. LAX to anywhere, a bigger deal!!! (5 vs. 11 hrs!!)

5. What carrier(s) are we talking about? I could understand someone saying something like this about AF or LH, but not about BA, VS, DL, CO and a few others.

6. I doubt your friend flies upfront on a carrier that has a superior Biz product that often, or he would not have made his comment in the first place.

My preference is to use my miles almost exclusively for upgrades. I just do not fit very well into a seat with 31 or 32 inch seat pitch. I am only 6' 2", but do not know how anyone who is much taller can fit in Y these days at all. I know this is not an issue with some people, but the room and comfort mean everything to me. Meals and the other amenities of biz are secondary to me. Upgrades are well worth the miles for transatlantic and other similarly long flights.

Let me put it to you like this:

US Airways probably has the best TA business class, in terms of service, comfort and individual personal entertainment centers on the Airbus 330's. They are some of the newest craft in service, and it shows.

You can upgrade from a coach fare to business for 10K miles one way.

Using their triple miles promotion you will almost certainly earn well over 10K miles on the overwater leg.

Therefore you have not only upgraded for free, you've actually earned a couple thousand miles to boot.

Can you really think of a reason NOT to upgrade in this scenario?

Regards,
-Bouncer-

I try to upgrade anything over 4 hours which pretty much covers all transcons and transoceanic flights. Arriving well rested is important, especially when traveling for business.

Outbound flights to Europe usually arrive early in the a.m., which means your hotel room will probably not be ready. On transatlantic flights, business class will, depending on the carrier, grant you access to arrivals facilities which have showers and a light continental breakfast. A great way to start your day, even if it's a leisure trip.


Gambling on a flight being empty in coach, or full which may mean an operational upgrade, just doesn't cut it for me.