I looked and didn't see a similar post to this, unless I missed it.

But here is my question.

I am a new elite member and have a trip planned with 2 other people. I made a reservation with all 3 of us on it. What will be the easiest way to get all of us upgraded? Or can I only get 1 person upgraded with myself? And when would I do this, at the gate or online or call the elite line.

Thanks!

Hi Jason, if you are Gold or Platinum you have unlimited standby at the airport for a companion upgrade. At this time Silvers do not have this opportunity. You can see all the benefits @ www.nwa.com/freqfly/elite/benefits.html

Good luck!

I am Gold Elite!

So when you say unlimited it means as many people as I want per flight? Or 1 companion on as many flights as I want? I guess there are 2 ways of thinking about it.

I ask because I called the elite phone line and the guy told me only 1 but like you say I read it as unlimited...so what exactly does this mean?

Also would you think I should put myself in an upgraded seat and try for the others at the airport, or try for us all at the airport? Reason being my fiance is one of the other travelers and we would like to sit together. Or don't I have that luxury?

I am pretty sure it is 1 companion on as many flights as you want.(almost 100% positive)

Honestly unless it�s a slow travel day and you are going to some off the wall destination late at night, companion upgrades in my experience were hard to find.

If you are flying with your fianc�e you may be in trouble any way you do it unless you are sitting in coach next to her. That�s a tough call, I only had to deal with that issue one time last year. I gave my wife the F seat on the way there and took it on the way back.

Good luck!!

My trip is msp-lax leaving late evening, maybe I will get lucky.

Thanks for the help!

LAX, you'll be lucky if you get upgraded.

truc0011,

If you made the reservation for all three of you on the same record, then the chances of you or anyone else getting upgraded on the MSP->LAX is probably zero. One way to increase your chance of upgrade, if you want to be separated from the other two, is to ask NWA to separate your reservation from the others. That way, you can get yourself upgraded when other Golds get upgraded. Then you can take a chance at getting ONE person upgraded at the gate. That still leaves one in the back. Will that be acceptable?

HJ

The only time I have been able to get a compainion upgrade was PVD - MSP - SNA during the Christmas holidays. I gently inquired at the desk about an elite upgrade for myself and Mrs. MileageSlave, expecting to be refused and told to take our coach seats. It seems that these flights were full of with non-elite flyers, taht there were still two seats available in First. I was shocked when the agent replied, "You and Mrs. MileageSlave are confirmed into first class all the way to SNA. Here are your new boarding passes, and happy holidays from Northwest."

We went 4/4 on companion upgrades and my wife does not complain so loudly about my travel schedule.

I've been 100% successful using companion upgrades at the airport. If I see someone who looks worth (little old lady, etc), I'll ask if they're flying FC or Coach. Then if they're interested, I'll go up and get them UGed. I don't do it a lot, but have never been turned down yet. The last time I did it, MSP-PHX, the flight ended up being oversold, so the lady was doubly glad to ride in the front. Her first time ever.

As stated above, the Upgrade occurs based on the LOWEST status of any member in the record. Therefore, if three of you are booked and one is not an elite member, than no one will be upgraded. LAX-MSP can be a hard flight to get upgraded. I have only done it in the morning. Generally it is a 757 so there are more seats, but there are generally more elites also.

Jamito, I do the same thing. If I see someone that I think would benefit OR that I would like to sit next to I ask if an upgrade is available and get them Upgraded. I generally know if first is full before I ask someone though. I was only denied once and that was DTW-ORD, the agent said Oh yes, I have one seat left. But as she was typing it disappeared. They had just canceled the later flight to ORD and were re-accomodating and the seat she was trying to give my companion was taken at another gate to a CXLD passenger. That most certainly is fair.

In the summer the flights are generally full, but if you ask early enough on most routes they don't fill the cabin till at the gate.

Hey that�s great, a lot better than I did.

This year with the new Plat companion upgrades myself and Mrs. TRVLRZ have gotten a much better reception however.

So the NWA elite phone line is telling me that there are no upgrades available, but I should be broken off the reservation and put on the list to be upgraded...How likely will it be that something opens up, on itn.net I am seeing a F8, does this mean 8 seats open in F? So the chance would be good?

[QUOTE=NWAMileageSlave]The only time I have been able to get a compainion upgrade was PVD - MSP - SNA during the Christmas holidays. I gently inquired at the desk about an elite upgrade for myself and Mrs. MileageSlave, expecting to be refused and told to take our coach seats. It seems that these flights were full of with non-elite flyers, taht there were still two seats available in First. I was shocked when the agent replied, "You and Mrs. MileageSlave are confirmed into first class all the way to SNA. Here are your new boarding passes, and happy holidays from Northwest."

Last Christmas flying LAS/MSP I (tongue in cheek) asked the GA for a silver elite and companion upgrade. He looked at me for a few seconds, hit some buttons, handed me our upgrades and said "Merry Christmas".
My wife was very happy.

SNOW

F8 means that there are 8 seats for sale in First Class. Currently I don't know of a way to look at Upgradeable seats, that is the R bucket. The gold window opens three days before the flight. Prior to that time of course the elite line will say there are no seats available for Upgrade.

If there are 8 seats available and your flight is in the next day or two there is a good chance if you get broken off the record you will get the upgrade. You can only ask for a Gold companion at the gate or ticket counter within two hours of the flight departure time. This gives other elites time to check in and get there upgrades before Gold companion Upgrades.

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know how it turns out...