Upgrade Question on Direct Flight with stop
 

I am flying UA853 SFO BKK, which stops in NRT. I have put in for an upgrade, and it is currently waitlisted. In looking at myItineraries this flight shows up as one entry. What if one of the two segments becomes available, I am assuming that I will be upgraded on that segment and then still waitlisted on the other. How will I know that this has happened, as it looks like one flight in myItineraries?

Thanks.

Unfortunately if you booked it as a direct flight you're out of luck, as both segments have to have confirmable upgrade space in order to clear. If you would book those that two flights as separate segments they could clear individually, but booked as a direct flight they won't.:(

I want to add that it may work to your advantage. I've seen:

SFO-NRT: NC0
NRT-BKK: NC0
SFO-BKK: NC2

I've also seen:

SFO-NRT: NC0
NRT-BKK: NC2
SFO-BKK: NC2

And I've probably seen, but don't remember:

SFO-NRT: NC2
NRT-BKK: NC2
SFO-BKK: NC0

Thanks for the quick response, I'll check seatcounter periodically and see if I see any of those examples as outlined below...

Crummy deal, as I'd take the upgrade on either of the segments....

That's not on .bomb but on your system, right? I continue to be baffled by the bugs or at least unpredictable "features" of this system. Can I assume that these cases are rare?

I was trying to book an XF award to HNL that showed XF2 from LAX-HNL, XF0/XF2 from SFO-LAX-HNL, and XF0/XF0 from ORD-LAX-HNL, all on .bomb. After calling an agent, she couldn't see the LAX-HNL XF availability at all.

I guess in hind sight I should have had my TA book the other flight from SFO NRT and spent some time in NRT as this flight has the UG available, and then rolled the dice on the NRT BKK segment...... oh well. probably would cost fortune to try to change this ticket now.....

You can see this online sometimes, too. It's called "married segments".

It is my recollection (though I could be corrected on this) is that if you call into reservations, you can request that your upgrade be applied to only one segment of a direct flight. So if there is one that you would rather have, you can try to clear on that first. If it clears, then you can subsequently request the second leg.
I believe this is a common technique for those who have "direct" flights that include a domestic and an international segment - and don't want to risk losing a confirmed upgrade cert for the domestic leg only.

Ah, that makes sense. Cross-referencing: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=751064

That's certainly not the case in my SFO-LAX-HNL XF flight, though, since the flights aren't direct, right? Add this to all the times people have seen NC0 and cleared or NC1 and not cleared (direct flights notwithstanding) and it adds up to a system FT doesn't understand or the IMO more likely possibility of .bomb errors.

It can be done if, and only if, ticket was issued as two separate segments even both segments have the same flight number.

SWU on two segment/one flight number?
 

I fly LAX-BKK r/t a lot. Every trip in the past 2 years for me has always been LAX-NRT on one flight number and NRT-BKK on a separate flight number. My trip next month seems to be the same route but now 1 flight number all the way LAX-BKK. I always use SWU on these flights and they always drop at different dates on a per segment basis...

My question is, are you going to get screwed on a multi-segment but one flight number with the upgrade clearing? Anyone have any experience with this...

Not worried, just more curious ;)

Yes, if you booked it as a "direct" flight. If so, both segments need availability at the same time for the upgrade to clear.

Yes, you could get screwed because both segments must have availability in order for either to clear (in advance). In the future you should use the multi-city function and book each segment separately... or have your travel agent do it for you.

This is a huge complaint and it comes up frequently on this board. They also screw you on the mileage earned when there is a "direct" flight with a stop.. you will earn miles based on the nonstop distance, not your actual flown miles. Not a major difference in this example..but on other routes it can be more significant.

Ugh
 

Thats what I thought... of course it was right AFTER I booked the ticket.

Did a multi-segment fare, and its of course, even $100 cheaper than my one flight number ticket!!

Wonder if the 1K desk can do anything about this???

You always have 24 hours to cancel free of charge...

They may be able to split the direct flight (though they're not supposed to do this any more), but I don't think there's any way you can get the cheaper fare.