Upgrading tips
May 28, 2010, 10:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4
Upgrading tips
Hi everyone,
Just joined the forum! I recently reached Silver status and was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting the upgrade as a Silver, especially for flights out of Boston. I'll be flying to and from LAX and it seems that most of the routes are:
BOS->CLT->LAX
BOS->PHX->LAX
BOS->PHL->LAX
My flight times are generally flexible too, so can anyone give me some tips on how to have the best chances of getting an upgrade on these routes as a silver? Any general upgrade tips are welcome too, thanks!
Just joined the forum! I recently reached Silver status and was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting the upgrade as a Silver, especially for flights out of Boston. I'll be flying to and from LAX and it seems that most of the routes are:
BOS->CLT->LAX
BOS->PHX->LAX
BOS->PHL->LAX
My flight times are generally flexible too, so can anyone give me some tips on how to have the best chances of getting an upgrade on these routes as a silver? Any general upgrade tips are welcome too, thanks!
May 28, 2010, 11:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Homebase: CAE - Formerly, YUL
Programs: US CP, UA, HH Gold, Marriott Plat, DL, AA, CO, ++
Posts: 2,187
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)
Routes won't make a huge difference... But travel days will. I'd go for monday night to wednesday night range.
Routes won't make a huge difference... But travel days will. I'd go for monday night to wednesday night range.
May 28, 2010, 11:56 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4
thanks, im able to fly at nights so I'll try and schedule my flights for then
May 29, 2010, 2:48 am
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Victorville, CA
Programs: US Airways Divident Miles Silver Preferred, Choice Hotels, Hilton Honors, Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 15
My guess is that PHL-LAX might be a tough upgrade route for a silver, depending on the day of the week. PHX-LAX will probably be a bit easier.
May 29, 2010, 3:36 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Programs: AA EXP Hilton Diamond
Posts: 543
Hi everyone,
Just joined the forum! I recently reached Silver status and was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting the upgrade as a Silver, especially for flights out of Boston. I'll be flying to and from LAX and it seems that most of the routes are:
BOS->CLT->LAX
BOS->PHX->LAX
BOS->PHL->LAX
My flight times are generally flexible too, so can anyone give me some tips on how to have the best chances of getting an upgrade on these routes as a silver? Any general upgrade tips are welcome too, thanks!
Just joined the forum! I recently reached Silver status and was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting the upgrade as a Silver, especially for flights out of Boston. I'll be flying to and from LAX and it seems that most of the routes are:
BOS->CLT->LAX
BOS->PHX->LAX
BOS->PHL->LAX
My flight times are generally flexible too, so can anyone give me some tips on how to have the best chances of getting an upgrade on these routes as a silver? Any general upgrade tips are welcome too, thanks!
- Best day Saturday
- Best weekdays Tuesday and Wednesday
- Best times mid-day (less business travelers)
- Best routing is through CLT
- BOS to PHL very easy, PHL to LAX hard even for a CP
- Best equipment A321, more F seats
I always check the seat maps before booking to ensure that I'm picking the best flight for upgrade chances.
One big thing to watch for is flights that feed international flights. These flights have a high percentage for paid F.
Also time of year matters. Holidays and vaction times have a lower chance of upgrade.
May 29, 2010, 12:00 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4
thanks for all your help everyone, looks like ill be routing to LAX through CLT or PHX. HereAndThereSC says that the best times are at night but pbuntrock says mid-day is better. My work is flexible so I can book any time of day, which time of day, in your guys' experience, has a better chance of upgrades on these routes? Also, how would I check which flights feed to international flights? Thanks again!
May 29, 2010, 1:20 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
Walk casually around the gate area, look at boarding passes, find out who is Chairman's, Plat, and Gold. Then, take out the cholorform (kept in small containers under 3 oz, of course), soak the rag, and carefully, knock them out, one by one, rendering them unable to board. Works like a charm.
But, yeah. Seriously, A321 has 4 extra seats in F, so look for those flights first. My experiences as Silver out of PHL are...tough. I would opt for the BOS-PHX first.
But, yeah. Seriously, A321 has 4 extra seats in F, so look for those flights first. My experiences as Silver out of PHL are...tough. I would opt for the BOS-PHX first.
May 29, 2010, 8:01 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CLT, BOS
Programs: US Plat, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 186
I fly a lot out of CLT and BOS and I agree with pbuntrock. Very early morning flights can be pretty good. Very early.
May 30, 2010, 8:51 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Walk casually around the gate area, look at boarding passes, find out who is Chairman's, Plat, and Gold. Then, take out the cholorform (kept in small containers under 3 oz, of course), soak the rag, and carefully, knock them out, one by one, rendering them unable to board. Works like a charm.
But, yeah. Seriously, A321 has 4 extra seats in F, so look for those flights first. My experiences as Silver out of PHL are...tough. I would opt for the BOS-PHX first.
But, yeah. Seriously, A321 has 4 extra seats in F, so look for those flights first. My experiences as Silver out of PHL are...tough. I would opt for the BOS-PHX first.
Jun 1, 2010, 7:42 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, United Gold, Marriott Platinum Premier, Hyatt Globalist, National EE
Posts: 155
Walk casually around the gate area, look at boarding passes, find out who is Chairman's, Plat, and Gold. Then, take out the cholorform (kept in small containers under 3 oz, of course), soak the rag, and carefully, knock them out, one by one, rendering them unable to board. Works like a charm.
LMAO, I literally laughed so hard reading this. I don't know if it's because pictured this going down in my head or if it just gave me a great idea. Haha thanks for the laugh!
Jun 3, 2010, 2:05 am
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 25
I have always been able to get a GoUpgrade on the 321s PHX-LAX (meaning that in theory, all Preferreds have already cleared), but never on LAX-PHX. My dad flew BOS-PHX two weeks ago on a Wed and he did not clear the auto upgrade as a Silver but I was able to OLCI for him at exactly the 24 hr mark and use the "Complimentary Upgrade" button to get the last F seat on the 319. So it's possible for a Silver, just be diligent.