Systemwide Upgrades vs. North Americans?
Apr 12, 2001, 2:52 pm
#1
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Systemwide Upgrades vs. North Americans?
I'm about to purchase a coach domestic ticket on which I'd like to travel in first class. I am Silver Preferred, and would like to save my systemwides for future use.
My idea is to reserve the upgrade with systemwides, but when my 24-hour "window" before departure opens, call and try to use only the North American upgrades (at least for my outbound portion of the trip). I hope that if there is space available, there would be no problem, and if not, I could either use my upgrades or just take a seat in coach again.
Has anybody tried this?
My idea is to reserve the upgrade with systemwides, but when my 24-hour "window" before departure opens, call and try to use only the North American upgrades (at least for my outbound portion of the trip). I hope that if there is space available, there would be no problem, and if not, I could either use my upgrades or just take a seat in coach again.
Has anybody tried this?
Apr 12, 2001, 3:45 pm
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: West Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,469
US seems to be cracking down on this scheme. When you call to upgrade recently, they are hounding you for how you will upgrade (ie what type of cert, miles, etc.) even asking for the star code. I am only assuming it is to note what type of upgrade cert to collect at checkin.
This is a risk I wouldn't take. Plus you'd be stealing a G inventory seat from a Gold or CP who has a legit chance of grabbing it before a silver.
This is a risk I wouldn't take. Plus you'd be stealing a G inventory seat from a Gold or CP who has a legit chance of grabbing it before a silver.
Apr 12, 2001, 9:06 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2000
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This certainly is cheating. And it won't work. Reason why is because if you tried to call the old teleupgrade system, the system would hang up on the fact that your booking code was already listed as G class and you'd get booted to the DM Preferred reservations. And I'd doubt that they'd be very happy to switch your SWU to a segment based upgrade.
Apr 13, 2001, 9:32 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NY
Posts: 100
I don't know where your going but you should try to book your flight on a 757 or a A320 if they fly that route to increase your chances of the availability for the silver window.
(an A320 has 4 additional first class seats compared to an a A319)
(an A320 has 4 additional first class seats compared to an a A319)
Apr 13, 2001, 10:07 am
#6
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If you really want domestic FC I would recommend using 20k miles to confirm your roundtrip upgrade in advance. Or, if you wish to roll the dice, then try and use your 800 mile certificates to upgrade at the 24 hour advance window.
IMO, you would be ill-advised to try and upgrade in advance using the systemwide uprades only to get to the airport and have them demand them from you. Even if you did say you'd be willing to take your coach seat, if coach is full you have a problem. And they do seem to be doing a much more thorough job of tracking how & when upgrades are requested... don't risk it.
IMO, you would be ill-advised to try and upgrade in advance using the systemwide uprades only to get to the airport and have them demand them from you. Even if you did say you'd be willing to take your coach seat, if coach is full you have a problem. And they do seem to be doing a much more thorough job of tracking how & when upgrades are requested... don't risk it.
Apr 13, 2001, 10:29 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Best advice is to use US20 (20,000 mile confirmed upgrade). Remember that the net loss will be much less than 20K especially if it's a trans-con. For Gold or Chairman's the net can be less than 10K for trans-con trips. Not a bad deal for the peace of mind of a confirmed upgrade.
JB
JB
Apr 13, 2001, 11:41 am
#8
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Wow ... such harsh answers.
Are systemwides and 800 mile upgrades out of the same inventory (G class?).
On DL they come out of different inventory, so there really is nothing wrong with this practice ... you can only switch if the 800 mile inventory is available when your window opens up ...
Are systemwides and 800 mile upgrades out of the same inventory (G class?).
On DL they come out of different inventory, so there really is nothing wrong with this practice ... you can only switch if the 800 mile inventory is available when your window opens up ...
Apr 13, 2001, 11:56 am
#10
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Originally posted by Beckles:
On DL they come out of different inventory, so there really is nothing wrong with this practice ... you can only switch if the 800 mile inventory is available when your window opens up ...
On DL they come out of different inventory, so there really is nothing wrong with this practice ... you can only switch if the 800 mile inventory is available when your window opens up ...
Apr 13, 2001, 12:00 pm
#11
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I'll add some fuel to the fire. I checked in a week ago with my entire family for a first class transcon flight. I had confirmed FC for my wife and myself using SWUs. I already had 40,000 miles debited for upgrades for my two kids.
At the gate, the agent says "I'll need 12 coupons, please." After explaining that the kids had been upgraded using miles (rats!!), she saw the SWUs in my hand and said "Or you could just use two of those." To which I replied, "If it's all the same, I'll just use these segment upgrades." She was perfectly fine with it.
I didn't do the switch intentionally, but I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth either. I grinned all the way down the jetway.
I thought it was very interesting that even though I had confimed the upgrades with SWUs, the agent asked for the appropriate number of NA's.
[This message has been edited by harold (edited 04-13-2001).]
At the gate, the agent says "I'll need 12 coupons, please." After explaining that the kids had been upgraded using miles (rats!!), she saw the SWUs in my hand and said "Or you could just use two of those." To which I replied, "If it's all the same, I'll just use these segment upgrades." She was perfectly fine with it.
I didn't do the switch intentionally, but I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth either. I grinned all the way down the jetway.
I thought it was very interesting that even though I had confimed the upgrades with SWUs, the agent asked for the appropriate number of NA's.
[This message has been edited by harold (edited 04-13-2001).]
Apr 13, 2001, 12:15 pm
#12
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Originally posted by chexfan:
This is a risk I wouldn't take. Plus you'd be stealing a G inventory seat from a Gold or CP who has a legit chance of grabbing it before a silver.
This is a risk I wouldn't take. Plus you'd be stealing a G inventory seat from a Gold or CP who has a legit chance of grabbing it before a silver.
Apr 13, 2001, 12:50 pm
#13
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Originally posted by geo1004:
Really? Is this to say it is standard accepted practice on DL to 'hold' a first class seat using their version of a systemwide upgrade say a month in advance and then switch to a different upgrade when your elite window opens up to use 800 mile certs???
Really? Is this to say it is standard accepted practice on DL to 'hold' a first class seat using their version of a systemwide upgrade say a month in advance and then switch to a different upgrade when your elite window opens up to use 800 mile certs???
Like I said, it's different though because they come out of different inventory, which is not the same on US I guess. So, when your window opens, you're not "swapping" within the same inventory, you're actually going to a new inventory.
Note I only endorse this if you are fully ready to spend that systemwide or miles when the time comes.
On DL:
V class upgrades - 800 mile segment upgrades
G class upgrades - systemwides and mileage upgrades
The whole issue is tricky, because arguably by already having the seat, you're decreasing the chances of a seat being available in V inventory when you want to switch ... but you could argue about that 'til the cows come home ...