Non-Preferred Offered "Buy F" at +5 Days (But confirmed after Elite upgrades)
Jan 16, 2012, 5:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: PHL
Programs: US-G/*G, SPG-G, MR-G, Avis-F
Posts: 162
Non-Preferred Offered "Buy F" at +5 Days (But confirmed after Elite upgrades)
Going PHL-MCO this Saturday with my daughter, her hubby and their 2 kiddies....
My wife and I are in F (used miles for the UG at the time we booked). The rest booked in coach at a pretty low fare ($250-ish/RT). Today, my daughter called me to say that she got an email offer to buy up to F for $50/ea. Of course, she jumped on it.
I'm wondering why they were offered this at the +5 day mark, ahead of the P, G & S elites for auto-upgrade. I'd be really pissed off, as a P/G/S, if I knew that I missed out on an UG, because of this. In fact, I'm still kind of pissed, since I had to use miles for my UG. Albeit, this was my choice at booking. But, still...
Has anyone heard about this type of offer before.
...?!?!?!?
My wife and I are in F (used miles for the UG at the time we booked). The rest booked in coach at a pretty low fare ($250-ish/RT). Today, my daughter called me to say that she got an email offer to buy up to F for $50/ea. Of course, she jumped on it.
I'm wondering why they were offered this at the +5 day mark, ahead of the P, G & S elites for auto-upgrade. I'd be really pissed off, as a P/G/S, if I knew that I missed out on an UG, because of this. In fact, I'm still kind of pissed, since I had to use miles for my UG. Albeit, this was my choice at booking. But, still...
Has anyone heard about this type of offer before.
...?!?!?!?
Jan 16, 2012, 5:59 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Yes. Parents were offered it before and after Christmas. It's not clear to me that non-elites offering to pay go ahead of elite upgrades. One accepts the offer and gets wailisted - First isn't immediately confirmed.
Jan 16, 2012, 6:12 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 535
The way I understand the program is that they'll email certain people offering the upgrade, but it won't clear until after all preferreds are processed at 2 days prior to departure.
Jan 16, 2012, 6:54 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 709
To the OP, in my experience, I've always found MCO to be an extremely easy route to get a complimentary upgrade on, due to how leisure-oriented the route is...so maybe hold of on burning those miles at booking next time!
Jan 17, 2012, 7:57 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: PHL
Programs: US-G/*G, SPG-G, MR-G, Avis-F
Posts: 162
Thanks for the replies... after further review with my daughter, she did agree to buy, but will not be confirmed until 24 hours prior. Whew!! 
And, my experience with MCO is hit or miss on UG's... many touristo's use miles to take their families there. In the summer, UG's run at well below 50%.
And, my experience with MCO is hit or miss on UG's... many touristo's use miles to take their families there. In the summer, UG's run at well below 50%.
Jan 20, 2012, 3:29 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,470
This is another way to generate $$$, however I'm wondering why on a flight frm PHL-MCO it is only $50 when PHX-SAN it is $100....
Going PHL-MCO this Saturday with my daughter, her hubby and their 2 kiddies....
My wife and I are in F (used miles for the UG at the time we booked). The rest booked in coach at a pretty low fare ($250-ish/RT). Today, my daughter called me to say that she got an email offer to buy up to F for $50/ea. Of course, she jumped on it.
I'm wondering why they were offered this at the +5 day mark, ahead of the P, G & S elites for auto-upgrade. I'd be really pissed off, as a P/G/S, if I knew that I missed out on an UG, because of this. In fact, I'm still kind of pissed, since I had to use miles for my UG. Albeit, this was my choice at booking. But, still...
Has anyone heard about this type of offer before.
...?!?!?!?
My wife and I are in F (used miles for the UG at the time we booked). The rest booked in coach at a pretty low fare ($250-ish/RT). Today, my daughter called me to say that she got an email offer to buy up to F for $50/ea. Of course, she jumped on it.
I'm wondering why they were offered this at the +5 day mark, ahead of the P, G & S elites for auto-upgrade. I'd be really pissed off, as a P/G/S, if I knew that I missed out on an UG, because of this. In fact, I'm still kind of pissed, since I had to use miles for my UG. Albeit, this was my choice at booking. But, still...
Has anyone heard about this type of offer before.
...?!?!?!?
Jan 20, 2012, 7:41 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: PHL
Posts: 354
Depends on how much people are willing to pay, what kind of plane is flying, what time of year it is and probably also how many seats are left. I'm sure the GoUpgrade price is not the same for the same route every time.