Will Transatlantic Space Available Upgrades Continue In 2006?
Sep 12, 2005, 2:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: London
Programs: United 1K 2 Million Miles, BA Silver, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 370
Will Transatlantic Space Available Upgrades Continue In 2006?
The title says it all, have heard thru our corporate travel agent that there will be none for next year, 2006. 
All upgrades will now have to be done thru mileage or $$$. Anyone heard anything different?
Please let this not be true!
All upgrades will now have to be done thru mileage or $$$. Anyone heard anything different?
Please let this not be true!
Sep 12, 2005, 3:29 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,036
My guess is that the upgrades will continue. From the USAirways website:
"Upon qualification, Chairman's Preferred members receive two annual one-way, transatlantic Envoy Class upgrades for themselves and a companion to use when traveling on US Airways to and from Europe."
Since they're currently advertising it as a benefit to motivate people (like me!) to reach CP they'd face a lot of wrath if they dropped it. I know things are going to change with the merger, but I think this is one they'll keep.
"Upon qualification, Chairman's Preferred members receive two annual one-way, transatlantic Envoy Class upgrades for themselves and a companion to use when traveling on US Airways to and from Europe."
Since they're currently advertising it as a benefit to motivate people (like me!) to reach CP they'd face a lot of wrath if they dropped it. I know things are going to change with the merger, but I think this is one they'll keep.
Sep 12, 2005, 4:01 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: us cp, delta gold, marriott silver, hyatt gold, starwood gold.
Posts: 454
I just received mine "upon qualification" and it is good until Sept 30th 2006.
Hopefully if it is done away with existing ones will still be good. What about the ones that are given to ta and often sold on a certain auction site?
Could that be the ones they mean?
Hopefully if it is done away with existing ones will still be good. What about the ones that are given to ta and often sold on a certain auction site?
Could that be the ones they mean?
Sep 12, 2005, 5:01 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Programs: UA 2P, AA LT Gold, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,159
Guys, the OP is talking about SA upgrade certs, not the CP upgrades which are (sometimes) confirmable in advance. These are the ones travel agents dole out to favored customers (or sell on eBay).
Sep 12, 2005, 8:18 am
#6
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Is anything going to replace them?
Actually, this may hurt US big time - I have flown US exclusively for Transatlantic because of them. Now unless I fly a Y or B fare I probably wouldn't bother using 30K to upgrade so might as well fly LH, SK, OZ, and soon Swiss for better transatlantic coach service - or even United Economy Plus.
Not to mention, US's B fares - even the non-refundable one's are brutally over-priced right now compared to UA's.
Actually, this may hurt US big time - I have flown US exclusively for Transatlantic because of them. Now unless I fly a Y or B fare I probably wouldn't bother using 30K to upgrade so might as well fly LH, SK, OZ, and soon Swiss for better transatlantic coach service - or even United Economy Plus.
Not to mention, US's B fares - even the non-refundable one's are brutally over-priced right now compared to UA's.
Last edited by sts603; Sep 12, 2005 at 8:30 am
Sep 12, 2005, 11:37 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Posts: 3,159
Originally Posted by sts603
Actually, this may hurt US big time ...
Sep 12, 2005, 5:56 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by gardener
Or not. Especially if they are discontinuing them because they are selling Envoy seats.
Also - the whole thing that is great about SA's is other than an extra meal and booze the airline can't loose, since they aren't confirmed until the airport, if all Envoy seats are sold, then no one gets an upgrade. It's a simple and great marketing tool and if they were smart they would give Silver's and Gold's 2 of these, leaving the CP's with the current 7-day advance companion certs.