Wouldn't it be nice....
 

I'd love it if we were able to use miles for a free ticket then pay for an upgrade (difference between full Y and F/C) with $$$$.

[This message has been edited by zrs70 (edited 10-26-2000).]

I've never done this, but I have read posts and received emails saying that you can do just this on United. Although I can't recall if they gave "credit" on the award ticket for Full Fare Coach towards the paid Business Class ticket.

TWA changed their policy back in May and will allow you to do this also.

Makes sense for any airline to do so really...if a seat is available prior to departure with all paying and elite passengers taken care of, why not make some money off of that ticket the airline just "gave" away. It's not like the extra food (I use that word lightly) or drink will come close to the amount you will pay for the upgrade.

in 1998 I was able to upgrade two eco-transatlantic award tickets for Dani and Marc (the two boyfriends of my two daughters) from eco to business with something like Sfr 800 per round-trip-upgrade ($500). We, party of six in total than gave them Gisela's and my eco-boarding passes and took their businessclass-seats (all tickets and miles were paid/provided by Gisela and me).

You can do this on American. With an economy award ticket you pay the difference between the F or C fare and Y fare.

So that means AA will consider the award coach have "Y" value if you use it to upgrade to "J" or "F" ?

But is this a good deal?

e.g. $13xx for ORD-NRT O/W Y2 fare
$30xx for J fare
$50xx for F fare

So you pay $7400 r/t for upgrade to first, with $7400, one can do 14times ORD-LHR run, yielding 140000q-miles and other bonus, it is more than a First class award itself already!

Maybe I am wrong or to silly to math like that... but...

Is the full Y ORT-NRT on $13xx?