Best FF program for International upgrades?
Jan 23, 2008 | 7:22 am
#31
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I don't think any airline is going to guarantee you upgrades from cheap fares, particularly at peak times, if that's what you're looking for. I have four Europe trips in Jan/Feb that have all been upgraded with AA systemwides, but this is off season and there's plenty of upgrade inventory if you can pick and choose among dates and flights. I've cleared every upgrade request since I started flying them in 2002 and I'm happy there, including SFO-FRA this week on a $321 base fare.
Jan 23, 2008 | 7:45 am
#32
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That's another area where UA and AA are slightly different. AA gives you 8 systemwides when you qualify/requalify, so you could conceivably stretch those systemwides out to as much as 26 months and beyond. For instance, if you flew 100,000 miles this month, you'd immediately get systemwides good until the end of February, 2010, so 25 months of use. In reality, if you have systemwides that are expiring, AA has been allowing upgrades past the expiration date if you can get at least one segment to clear up front, so you could be stretching some of them out over 3 years.
Jan 23, 2008 | 8:29 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: IAD, DCA
Programs: UA-Plat, Marriott-Plat, AAI, AAII
Posts: 3,758
This might be a good strategy if you're rich! Of course, if you can afford these fares you could likely afford Z or D fares (or any discount business fares whatever carrier).
Jan 23, 2008 | 2:24 pm
#34
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: MIA
Programs: UA 1K-2MM, Marriott Plat, SPG Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 141
Buying UA Z-fares when they show up? Z is sometimes cheaper than B, and saves you the miles to boot too. Of course, 50-day advance purchase and tight availability count against me, but upgrades to J are capacity controlled too. And there's no risk of losing an upgrade due to equipment change; Z is paid business class.
Sample: SEA-FRA on UA
ZSPECE: $3202.00
BEE: $3675.00
Honestly, if you want consistent (near 100%) upgrades, you buy the class you want, or have some checking of inventory before you begin booking. The SWU/miles from discount economy route is not bad. Expensive on the miles, but miles are comparatively cheap to dollars.
Sample: SEA-FRA on UA
ZSPECE: $3202.00
BEE: $3675.00
Honestly, if you want consistent (near 100%) upgrades, you buy the class you want, or have some checking of inventory before you begin booking. The SWU/miles from discount economy route is not bad. Expensive on the miles, but miles are comparatively cheap to dollars.
Sorry..isn't this the thread called "Best FF program for International upgrades?" Not "which airline has the cheapest C?"
The OP asked about regular upgrades. I work for a company that doesn't allow C. So I pay B/Y and go from there. On top of that..I don't get 3 months notice to plan my trips.
So if you have all year to plan your trips, then yep..my approach sucks. If you buy relatively last minute, and C and Y are a 2-3K difference. My approach might work.
Last I checked there was no single type of flier, so there is no single best approach.
Jan 23, 2008 | 2:32 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: MIA
Programs: UA 1K-2MM, Marriott Plat, SPG Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 141
I don't think any airline is going to guarantee you upgrades from cheap fares, particularly at peak times, if that's what you're looking for. I have four Europe trips in Jan/Feb that have all been upgraded with AA systemwides, but this is off season and there's plenty of upgrade inventory if you can pick and choose among dates and flights. I've cleared every upgrade request since I started flying them in 2002 and I'm happy there, including SFO-FRA this week on a $321 base fare.
Agreed..I paid my dues last year with enough FF miles and enough EQM's where I can buy cheap fares and still use whatever upgrade instrument works. But that required an investment to get there. There is no quick way to get to that level other than paying your way there.
Feb 7, 2011 | 8:05 pm
#39
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There's something in place where they can be used on Lufthansa, but that may be on a last minute space available basis. If you pop over to the UA forum there are a number of threads there about using systemwides. Here's one thread I noticed:
Consolidated "Lufthansa Upgrade With UA SWU Questions/Experiences" Thread [Archive]
Consolidated "Lufthansa Upgrade With UA SWU Questions/Experiences" Thread [Archive]