Paid Upgrades on NW flying to/from Hawaiʻi
Nov 23, 2007, 7:16 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
I paid $470 for the BOS-HNL flight and ended up buying the upgrade both directions. So for $1170 I got a pretty good overall experience. The WBC seat definitely made the flight very tolerable and I certainly didn't mind having the space to stretch out and sleep plus the two meals served. I'm not sure if you can get an F itinerary MSP-HNL for that amount of money plus tacking on an economy segment BOS-MSP which was upgraded automatically.
Nov 24, 2007, 4:10 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
I paid $470 for the BOS-HNL flight and ended up buying the upgrade both directions. So for $1170 I got a pretty good overall experience. The WBC seat definitely made the flight very tolerable and I certainly didn't mind having the space to stretch out and sleep plus the two meals served. I'm not sure if you can get an F itinerary MSP-HNL for that amount of money plus tacking on an economy segment BOS-MSP which was upgraded automatically.
Nov 26, 2007, 12:36 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
I have flown to the East coast many times from HNL via MSP and back. As a matter of fact, I flew a RT via MSP to HNL last week. You can get upgrades at the kiosk. I have been offered them a couple of times when returning to HNL from DCA. I think the upgrade was $250, if my memory serves me correctly. I did not think it was worth it and I have flown a few times from MSP-HNL on the A330 in FC.
Dec 2, 2007, 7:52 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
Unless you were on a Y or B fare already, you will only earn 100% EQM. Up-buying to F on flights does not alter your paid fare class for the ticket, only your flown fare class. This means it will post as "F/x" in your WorldPerks account and unless x = Y or B, you will only get 100% EQM.
You may still have to fly this year to achieve Plat status on NW.
-RM
You may still have to fly this year to achieve Plat status on NW.
-RM
Nevertheless I've booked a flight to visit my mother this month, so NW should be happy, and I'm happy that I'll get to use that 2500 EQM bump next year.
Dec 2, 2007, 8:26 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,561
I'm a little confused about UG'ing to HNL.
I'm on SEA-HNL-PDX in January, I have Gold status, and there is R class availability in both directions. Doesn't this mean I can just call and UG for 17,500 miles each way per PAX, regardless of whether it is the 757 or A333? I have been weighing whether to do this.
I'm on SEA-HNL-PDX in January, I have Gold status, and there is R class availability in both directions. Doesn't this mean I can just call and UG for 17,500 miles each way per PAX, regardless of whether it is the 757 or A333? I have been weighing whether to do this.
Dec 2, 2007, 9:08 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: DL SkyClub Lifer
Posts: 10,000
I'm a little confused about UG'ing to HNL.
I'm on SEA-HNL-PDX in January, I have Gold status, and there is R class availability in both directions. Doesn't this mean I can just call and UG for 17,500 miles each way per PAX, regardless of whether it is the 757 or A333? I have been weighing whether to do this.
I'm on SEA-HNL-PDX in January, I have Gold status, and there is R class availability in both directions. Doesn't this mean I can just call and UG for 17,500 miles each way per PAX, regardless of whether it is the 757 or A333? I have been weighing whether to do this.
Dec 2, 2007, 9:09 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Diamond MM, SPG Platinum, HH Gold, Marriott Silver, National Exec Elite
Posts: 226
Indeed, I did it... burned 300,000 miles for my wife and I to fly rulebuster F MSP-HNL RT in February.
Based on the dearth of perksaver awards out there [to anywhere I want to fly], I valued those miles at about $3,000 or $4,000... say $1,700 cash value per RT ticket in F.
I didn't think it was completely terrible deal. The cabin made the flight seem very short and tolerable, esp on the red eye return leg. Meal/wine/booze isn't anything to write home about. It was fun for my wife to experience the WBC seats.
At gate upgrades might be a slightly better deal ($700 ticket + $700 RT upgrades? assumes you got a pretty good deal on your coach seat). The problem is that you risk running into a full cabin, whereas the rulebuster RT locked the seats up, and of course as plat you can always cancel out if needed.
Based on the dearth of perksaver awards out there [to anywhere I want to fly], I valued those miles at about $3,000 or $4,000... say $1,700 cash value per RT ticket in F.
I didn't think it was completely terrible deal. The cabin made the flight seem very short and tolerable, esp on the red eye return leg. Meal/wine/booze isn't anything to write home about. It was fun for my wife to experience the WBC seats.
At gate upgrades might be a slightly better deal ($700 ticket + $700 RT upgrades? assumes you got a pretty good deal on your coach seat). The problem is that you risk running into a full cabin, whereas the rulebuster RT locked the seats up, and of course as plat you can always cancel out if needed.
Dec 3, 2007, 3:13 am
#38
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: You have to ask?
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 1,102
Dec 3, 2007, 7:54 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: ECExec, SPGTitanium,, UAPlat
Posts: 430
What is the earliest time that you can request a day of departure upgrade for cash? At the time of check-in at the airport or is it ever offered via OLCI? Can you call in to request it?
The reason I ask is whether it's worth making a trip out to the airport on a return from HNL if your flight isn't until evening.
The reason I ask is whether it's worth making a trip out to the airport on a return from HNL if your flight isn't until evening.
Good Luck!
Dec 3, 2007, 8:24 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
Dec 19, 2007, 1:26 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,561
So I bit the bullet and burned 35k miles for the 2 of us to upgrade SEA-HNL on the 8:40 am A333. We've never flown up front across any large body of water, unless you count Lake Michigan. 
We're looking forward to trying out the seats. I understand the service is standard domestic (ie, the food and alcohol). What about the AVOD? Is that turned on and fully functioning? Any other comments about what to expect?
We're looking forward to trying out the seats. I understand the service is standard domestic (ie, the food and alcohol). What about the AVOD? Is that turned on and fully functioning? Any other comments about what to expect?
Dec 19, 2007, 2:09 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,826
You'll love being in WBC on a trip to/from Hawaii. There's really no other way to fly (except for maybe CO's BF service).
Dec 19, 2007, 3:03 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: DL SkyClub Lifer
Posts: 10,000
Dec 19, 2007, 9:42 am
#45
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: now ZRH, previously DTW
Programs: DL-Diamond & 1MM; HH-Diamond; Marriott-Gold
Posts: 159
sorry for my ignorance, but do you have to have an upgradable fare (B, Y) to do the $350 upgrade at the airport? Or is that $350 cash upgrade available to all classes?
Also, since no automatice elite upgrade is available for Hawai flights, does that mean an elite purchasing a Y fare upfront won't be automatically upgraded at time of purchase?
Also, since no automatice elite upgrade is available for Hawai flights, does that mean an elite purchasing a Y fare upfront won't be automatically upgraded at time of purchase?