Last edit by: aztimm
Per the US Airways website:
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/preferred/upgrades.html
Upgrade notification
We send you an email the first time we try for an upgrade – no need to call. We'll continue to check for upgrades throughout the day and send follow up emails if we change your upgrade status – right up until 24 hours before your flight. If we're unable to upgrade your reservation up to 24 hours prior to departure, we'll process your upgrades when you check in online or at the airport (if they become available).
To be placed on the standby list choose the 'Add to standby list' link when you check in online. You'll only see the option to add yourself to the standby list if all passengers in your reservation are Preferred. If you're traveling with a companion, request that you and your companion be placed on the standby list at the airport.
Please check your Dividend Miles account to make sure we have your current email address.
Preferred upgrade priority – advance travel dates
When you purchase a full fare (Y or B class) economy ticket, you are eligible for an instant upgrade to First Class. After your reservation is ticketed, we will automatically attempt to upgrade you around the clock until a seat becomes available. We prioritize full fare economy tickets over all other fares.
If you book a discount fare (any fare other than Y or B class), we prioritize your upgrade by Preferred level and within each Preferred level, by the number of Preferred-qualifying miles you've flown on US Airways and US Airways Express operated flights in the last 12 months. We begin processing upgrades for all discount fares at either 7, 4, 3 or 2 days prior to departure, depending on Preferred level.
If we are unable to confirm an upgrade during our automated process, we'll try again when you check in for your flight. If seats are not available when you check in online, you can choose to be placed on the standby list.
To be placed on the standby list select the 'Add to standby list' link when checking in online. All passengers in your reservation must have Preferred status to have this option displayed at check in. If you are traveling with a companion, request that you and your companion be placed on the standby list at the airport.
Preferred upgrade priority – day of departure
•If we're unable to confirm an upgrade seat for you prior to departure, you may request an upgrade when you check in.
•Once check-in for a flight has begun, priority will be based upon Preferred level and then upon earliest check-in.
•Please advise the gate agent at the airport if you're traveling with a companion.
Companion upgrades
One non-Preferred traveling companion can upgrade when traveling on the same reservation as a Preferred member with a qualifying paid ticket. The companion will be upgraded at the same time as the Preferred member.
more info to add? PM aztimm.
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/preferred/upgrades.html
Upgrade notification
We send you an email the first time we try for an upgrade – no need to call. We'll continue to check for upgrades throughout the day and send follow up emails if we change your upgrade status – right up until 24 hours before your flight. If we're unable to upgrade your reservation up to 24 hours prior to departure, we'll process your upgrades when you check in online or at the airport (if they become available).
To be placed on the standby list choose the 'Add to standby list' link when you check in online. You'll only see the option to add yourself to the standby list if all passengers in your reservation are Preferred. If you're traveling with a companion, request that you and your companion be placed on the standby list at the airport.
Please check your Dividend Miles account to make sure we have your current email address.
Preferred upgrade priority – advance travel dates
When you purchase a full fare (Y or B class) economy ticket, you are eligible for an instant upgrade to First Class. After your reservation is ticketed, we will automatically attempt to upgrade you around the clock until a seat becomes available. We prioritize full fare economy tickets over all other fares.
If you book a discount fare (any fare other than Y or B class), we prioritize your upgrade by Preferred level and within each Preferred level, by the number of Preferred-qualifying miles you've flown on US Airways and US Airways Express operated flights in the last 12 months. We begin processing upgrades for all discount fares at either 7, 4, 3 or 2 days prior to departure, depending on Preferred level.
If we are unable to confirm an upgrade during our automated process, we'll try again when you check in for your flight. If seats are not available when you check in online, you can choose to be placed on the standby list.
To be placed on the standby list select the 'Add to standby list' link when checking in online. All passengers in your reservation must have Preferred status to have this option displayed at check in. If you are traveling with a companion, request that you and your companion be placed on the standby list at the airport.
Preferred upgrade priority – day of departure
•If we're unable to confirm an upgrade seat for you prior to departure, you may request an upgrade when you check in.
•Once check-in for a flight has begun, priority will be based upon Preferred level and then upon earliest check-in.
•Please advise the gate agent at the airport if you're traveling with a companion.
Companion upgrades
One non-Preferred traveling companion can upgrade when traveling on the same reservation as a Preferred member with a qualifying paid ticket. The companion will be upgraded at the same time as the Preferred member.
more info to add? PM aztimm.
US Automatic Upgrades (elite) [MASTER THREAD]
#1141
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
For the last 4 weeks I have flown CLT - IAH on Monday AM and IAH - CLT on Thursday PM. As a Chairman I have not had a single upgrade clear through the automated tool. In fact, usually only middle seat emergency exit row seats were available when I booked (always 8-14 days out). I did have 1 clear when I was first on the upgrade list (I checked in first) and 1 guy bailed on the flight last minute.
Overall these prime-time Charlotte to Houston flights have been brutal.
Overall these prime-time Charlotte to Houston flights have been brutal.
#1142
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Phoenix
Programs: US Chairman, HH Diamond
Posts: 18
Upgrades < 24hrs until flight time
I like to pay close to attention to my flights and upgrades, especially when they're 5+ hours long. This week I'm flying from PHL to PHX. On Day 4 prior, I received a message that no upgrades were available. I checked and sure enough, F is sold out.
Today as I checked in, I noticed that there are two seats available in F. I'm #1 on the upgrade list and was waiting patiently all day for the upgrade notice to come through. I finally decided to call in and ask if I will be upgraded. It seems that < 24 hours prior to a flight, that the help desk has the power to upgrade anybody with status as she gave me the seat.
This seems like a loophole in the system to me. There was no mention of where I was on the upgrade list. I could be a silver, and have three Chairmen ahead of me, and I would've been given the upgrade just by calling in.
Today as I checked in, I noticed that there are two seats available in F. I'm #1 on the upgrade list and was waiting patiently all day for the upgrade notice to come through. I finally decided to call in and ask if I will be upgraded. It seems that < 24 hours prior to a flight, that the help desk has the power to upgrade anybody with status as she gave me the seat.
This seems like a loophole in the system to me. There was no mention of where I was on the upgrade list. I could be a silver, and have three Chairmen ahead of me, and I would've been given the upgrade just by calling in.
#1143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,447
I finally decided to call in and ask if I will be upgraded. It seems that < 24 hours prior to a flight, that the help desk has the power to upgrade anybody with status as she gave me the seat.
This seems like a loophole in the system to me. There was no mention of where I was on the upgrade list. I could be a silver, and have three Chairmen ahead of me, and I would've been given the upgrade just by calling in.
This seems like a loophole in the system to me. There was no mention of where I was on the upgrade list. I could be a silver, and have three Chairmen ahead of me, and I would've been given the upgrade just by calling in.
#1144
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,551
At <24 hours, if a seat has opened you can process it yourself by checking in again Regardless of your position on the upgrade list.
For today's IAH - CLT I wa third on the upgrade list. A seat opened up so I checked in again and selected a first class seat. One and two got skipped. You don't even have to call the call center.
For today's IAH - CLT I wa third on the upgrade list. A seat opened up so I checked in again and selected a first class seat. One and two got skipped. You don't even have to call the call center.
#1145
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
At <24 hours, if a seat has opened you can process it yourself by checking in again Regardless of your position on the upgrade list.
For today's IAH - CLT I wa third on the upgrade list. A seat opened up so I checked in again and selected a first class seat. One and two got skipped. You don't even have to call the call center.
For today's IAH - CLT I wa third on the upgrade list. A seat opened up so I checked in again and selected a first class seat. One and two got skipped. You don't even have to call the call center.
#1146
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
does the fact that they are sellling first class seats before a flight boards mean there is no-one else of status to upgrade? Is that the point where they start handing out first class to military? just curious, thanks…..
#1147
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP ; Cunard Plat
Posts: 4,211
Generally, yes. The only exception I know is when Preferreds fail to put themselves on the airport upgrade list when not upgraded at window ... the GA works from the airport upgrade list and wouldn't know otherwise.
#1148
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,951
I like to pay close to attention to my flights and upgrades, especially when they're 5+ hours long. This week I'm flying from PHL to PHX. On Day 4 prior, I received a message that no upgrades were available. I checked and sure enough, F is sold out.
Today as I checked in, I noticed that there are two seats available in F. I'm #1 on the upgrade list and was waiting patiently all day for the upgrade notice to come through. I finally decided to call in and ask if I will be upgraded. It seems that < 24 hours prior to a flight, that the help desk has the power to upgrade anybody with status as she gave me the seat.
This seems like a loophole in the system to me. There was no mention of where I was on the upgrade list. I could be a silver, and have three Chairmen ahead of me, and I would've been given the upgrade just by calling in.
Today as I checked in, I noticed that there are two seats available in F. I'm #1 on the upgrade list and was waiting patiently all day for the upgrade notice to come through. I finally decided to call in and ask if I will be upgraded. It seems that < 24 hours prior to a flight, that the help desk has the power to upgrade anybody with status as she gave me the seat.
This seems like a loophole in the system to me. There was no mention of where I was on the upgrade list. I could be a silver, and have three Chairmen ahead of me, and I would've been given the upgrade just by calling in.
#1149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,447
Now in regards to the Military, I have never seen them upgraded over a elite, they board with Zone 1, but that does not mean they are upgraded... Where have you seen this?
#1150
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: ALB
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, Nexus
Posts: 432
In a good business model you sell your product without giving it away, and the airlines can do that on some routes. for US that would be CLT-SFO the banking industry... Also PHL-SFO and PHL-LAX, generally US's FC fare is less then the other airlines too so peeople are more willing to fork over the $$.
Now in regards to the Military, I have never seen them upgraded over a elite, they board with Zone 1, but that does not mean they are upgraded... Where have you seen this?
Now in regards to the Military, I have never seen them upgraded over a elite, they board with Zone 1, but that does not mean they are upgraded... Where have you seen this?
#1151
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
Ive been on a few flights where military in unifrom was upgraded to FC--no clue if it was ahead of a member with status. One thing I dont see anymore is crew members sittiing in FC, which I used to see a lot. I guess less flights = less opportunity...
#1152
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
One of the things I most regret about the change a few years ago to disallow companion upgrades at the gate for preferreds is that I can't go up to GA on a flight with F availability, point at a random member of the military, and upgrade them as a companion. However, I have given them my F seat numerous times, especially injured, and I have to say it's extremely satisfying to do so.
#1153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,447
In all of my flights on US, not once have I seen a Military person upgraded, over an elite, and I fly out of some military cities...
#1154
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 462
Is this time of year awful for upgrades? In April/May/June I was getting upgraded a lot as a SP who had just hit via trial preferred and the last few months two short flights only. Is this just a case of lots of FF's at the end of the year hitting different statuses? Should I hope for better percentages after next February? I'm hitting Gold next week so should be in better shape next year anyways but it sucks to see UG percentages go down.
#1155
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,662
Is this time of year awful for upgrades? In April/May/June I was getting upgraded a lot as a SP who had just hit via trial preferred and the last few months two short flights only. Is this just a case of lots of FF's at the end of the year hitting different statuses? Should I hope for better percentages after next February? I'm hitting Gold next week so should be in better shape next year anyways but it sucks to see UG percentages go down.