The "How to upgrade on *A carriers" thread
Jun 16, 2004 | 2:08 pm
#17
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: weekdays:ATL; weekends:Elsewhere
Posts: 1,094
US Airways
All members may upgrade any flight using miles.
Upgrades within North America:
Preferred (Elite) members receive unlimited upgrades on every flight except for Transatlantic flights. Based on the Preferred Level, free upgrades clear at 7 days, 3 days, and 1 day prior to flight. Preferred members traveling in full fare (Y, B, or U) may upgrade any time in advance. All Preferred members may also request an upgrade for one companion travelling on the same flight.
Transatlantic Upgrades:
Top tier (Chairman's Preferred) Elite members receive two one-way transatlantic upgrades for their own use, plus two additional one-way upgrades valid for a companion. The upgrades are only valid for tickets purchased in Y, B, M, H, K, Q, and V classes of service. Tickets purchased in Y or B class may be upgraded any time in advance. Tickets purchased in M, H, K, Q, and V may be upgraded no earlier than 7 days prior to departure.
Upgrades within North America:
Preferred (Elite) members receive unlimited upgrades on every flight except for Transatlantic flights. Based on the Preferred Level, free upgrades clear at 7 days, 3 days, and 1 day prior to flight. Preferred members traveling in full fare (Y, B, or U) may upgrade any time in advance. All Preferred members may also request an upgrade for one companion travelling on the same flight.
Transatlantic Upgrades:
Top tier (Chairman's Preferred) Elite members receive two one-way transatlantic upgrades for their own use, plus two additional one-way upgrades valid for a companion. The upgrades are only valid for tickets purchased in Y, B, M, H, K, Q, and V classes of service. Tickets purchased in Y or B class may be upgraded any time in advance. Tickets purchased in M, H, K, Q, and V may be upgraded no earlier than 7 days prior to departure.
Jun 17, 2004 | 2:48 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: DUB - Ireland
Programs: EI-GCE, BD-G, BA-G, A3*G, TK*G, FB-G, HH-G, Hyatt-Dia
Posts: 8,527
Originally Posted by stut
Freebies for status: Diamond Club Gold cardholders making redemption bookings on BD metal (in Economy) get a free, standby, one-class upgrade for the cardholder and one companion.
Asiana
OZ upgrades possible are:OZ Miles only
Miles:Also, when using miles for two or more redemptions, there's a 10% discount
Vouchers ???What???
Freebies for status ???Platinum members (lifetime*G higher-level) get automatic standby upgrade
Status lasts 3 years and requalification levels are VERY low
Also, you get a nice leather travel wallet with your Diamond (*G ordinary level) card.
Membership cards have no expiry date on them - strange but true. This could be the best perk going!
Jun 17, 2004 | 2:33 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Sweden
Posts: 5,645
Upgrading on SK
Can only be done using EuroBonus points and not points/miles from another FF program.
Spanair Plus
Upgrades can be done using Plus points.
Peninsula-Peninsula 600 points
Peninsula-Balearic Islands 600 points
Peninsula - Europe 1000 points
Peninsula - Canaries 1000 points
Canarias - Europe 2000 points
Note that JK doesnt fly any long haul flights.
Can only be done using EuroBonus points and not points/miles from another FF program.
Spanair Plus
Upgrades can be done using Plus points.
Peninsula-Peninsula 600 points
Peninsula-Balearic Islands 600 points
Peninsula - Europe 1000 points
Peninsula - Canaries 1000 points
Canarias - Europe 2000 points
Note that JK doesnt fly any long haul flights.
Jun 20, 2004 | 9:39 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,135
This is a superb thread.
Patron & Kawoh, I'd like to suggest this is "stickied", as I for one will certainly be using it every time I book when choosing between different * carriers on the same route.
Kiwi Flyer:
bmi you might like to clarify that the "miles plus cash" award option does not earn any miles on the cash element of the fare...
UA operational upgrades: I have a lot of success with these on transatlantic routes. Pick a flight that you think will be full (first flight out UK-US, last flight out US-UK, weekend fligths etc). Op-ups are normally processed in order of status. As most 1Ks have already upgraded through other means (and quite a few 1Ps too), 1Ps and *Gs are top of the pile. I'm *G (not UA) and of my last 5 xatlantic flights, 2 have been upgraded with SWUs, 1 as bump compensation (but would have got an op-up if I'd not volunteered) and 2 have been op-up (ex LHR ready for me at check-in, at EWR paged in RCC).
Patron & Kawoh, I'd like to suggest this is "stickied", as I for one will certainly be using it every time I book when choosing between different * carriers on the same route.
Kiwi Flyer:
bmi you might like to clarify that the "miles plus cash" award option does not earn any miles on the cash element of the fare...
UA operational upgrades: I have a lot of success with these on transatlantic routes. Pick a flight that you think will be full (first flight out UK-US, last flight out US-UK, weekend fligths etc). Op-ups are normally processed in order of status. As most 1Ks have already upgraded through other means (and quite a few 1Ps too), 1Ps and *Gs are top of the pile. I'm *G (not UA) and of my last 5 xatlantic flights, 2 have been upgraded with SWUs, 1 as bump compensation (but would have got an op-up if I'd not volunteered) and 2 have been op-up (ex LHR ready for me at check-in, at EWR paged in RCC).
Last edited by Wingnut; Jun 20, 2004 at 9:41 am
Jun 20, 2004 | 11:37 am
#24
Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU
Programs: TSA/INS/FBI Platinum (stopped last 12 of 13 int'l returns - the computer broke once)
Posts: 2,653
US only has two classes of service -- F/Y domestic/north america, C/Y trans-atlantic (A330 trans-atl has old F/C/Y seating, but only two classes of actual service).
As for op-ups, they're extremely rare domestically/north america because of the unlimited upgrades for status flyers. (They'd have to have an oversold flight in Y without enough status members to fill F.) They might come up a few times on trans-atlantic flights but I've never had one happen on any of my flights. I'd guess that they would be for US status members, but I have no idea.
That's all I can help with.
As for op-ups, they're extremely rare domestically/north america because of the unlimited upgrades for status flyers. (They'd have to have an oversold flight in Y without enough status members to fill F.) They might come up a few times on trans-atlantic flights but I've never had one happen on any of my flights. I'd guess that they would be for US status members, but I have no idea.
That's all I can help with.
Jun 20, 2004 | 12:17 pm
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by Wingnut
This is a superb thread.
Patron & Kawoh, I'd like to suggest this is "stickied", as I for one will certainly be using it every time I book when choosing between different * carriers on the same route.
Patron & Kawoh, I'd like to suggest this is "stickied", as I for one will certainly be using it every time I book when choosing between different * carriers on the same route.
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
BMI
BD upgrades possible are - short haul econ->biz, long haul econ->new econ. Officially, there is no way to upgrade from The New Economy to The Business other than an op-up (or, of course, hard cash).
Miles Only BD Diamond Club cash and miles may be used to upgrade on BD.
BD upgrades possible are - short haul econ->biz, long haul econ->new econ. Officially, there is no way to upgrade from The New Economy to The Business other than an op-up (or, of course, hard cash).
Miles Only BD Diamond Club cash and miles may be used to upgrade on BD.
Besides that, whats the connection that a *G card holder gets the seat next to them blocked when they check in (subject to availability) to how to upgrade on BD?
Jun 21, 2004 | 5:14 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,135
Originally Posted by Patron
I wait to make this thread sticky until Kiwi Flyer has updated his OP.
Originally Posted by Patron
Besides that, whats the connection that a *G card holder gets the seat next to them blocked when they check in (subject to availability) to how to upgrade on BD?
Jul 5, 2004 | 2:41 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
A lot of info on upgrading United flights (and what will do it) is in this thread:
Click for a detailed compilation - listing and outlining all known UA revenue/award/upgrade booking codes "A - Z" (and details and validity of many UA Upgrade Certificates) and how to (mostly!) access and view them on: www.ual.com
Click for a detailed compilation - listing and outlining all known UA revenue/award/upgrade booking codes "A - Z" (and details and validity of many UA Upgrade Certificates) and how to (mostly!) access and view them on: www.ual.com
Jul 5, 2004 | 11:20 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: port broad reach
Programs: NorthSails | Starboard | ION
Posts: 6,525
Great thread, Kiwi Flyer. ^
Just a quick comment on UA at this time:
You could change that to econ->biz, biz->first, econ->first (on 2-class a/c)
At this time there is actually no distinction between E+ and E- for upgrade purposes. Additionally, there is no mechanism for going from E- to E+ (the latter is given to all MP and *A elites and pax on Y or B fares), although there are some rumours that this may change.
In short, E+ and E- are not separate classes of service, simply different seating areas--more legroom being the differentiator.
Just a quick comment on UA at this time:
UA upgrades possible are econ->econ plus, econ->biz, econ plus->biz, biz->first, econ->first (on 2-class a/c).
At this time there is actually no distinction between E+ and E- for upgrade purposes. Additionally, there is no mechanism for going from E- to E+ (the latter is given to all MP and *A elites and pax on Y or B fares), although there are some rumours that this may change.
In short, E+ and E- are not separate classes of service, simply different seating areas--more legroom being the differentiator.
Jul 6, 2004 | 6:19 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 3,383
About NH, fare class restrictions (M class up) are perhaps for those tickets sold in the U.S. only?
NH applies different restrictions on different markets.
If this thread is catering only to U.S.-based flyers, then it should probably suffice, though, to mention such restrictions.
NH applies different restrictions on different markets.
If this thread is catering only to U.S.-based flyers, then it should probably suffice, though, to mention such restrictions.
Jul 6, 2004 | 9:04 am
#30
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: BD, BA, VS
Posts: 235
Who to use? UA or LH?
I am travelling from BHX to LAS via Germany soon, and my choice seems to be between UA and LH for the transatlantic sector.
I have some UK *A upgrade vouchers, and I am a BD Gold *A member.
Should I book UA or LH for the transatlantic sector?
Will UA only upgrade to Econ+ when using the voucher, or will they upgrade to business class as I am already entitled to Econ+ because of my BD *A Gold?
If I don't manage to get an upgrade to business (none available) I assume I will be better off on UA in econ+ than on LH in regular economy?
What would you guys do?
I have some UK *A upgrade vouchers, and I am a BD Gold *A member.
Should I book UA or LH for the transatlantic sector?
Will UA only upgrade to Econ+ when using the voucher, or will they upgrade to business class as I am already entitled to Econ+ because of my BD *A Gold?
If I don't manage to get an upgrade to business (none available) I assume I will be better off on UA in econ+ than on LH in regular economy?
What would you guys do?