Upgrade Strategy for 3 PHL-MCO for Xmas
Sep 23, 2012, 11:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,038
Upgrade Strategy for 3 PHL-MCO for Xmas
I'm looking at a flight for 3 people from PHL to MCO during Christmas time. 2 of us are Silver, the third is a child with no status. For best chances at upgrades, should I...
1) Put all 3 of us on 1 reservation?
2) Put the highest ranked Silver alone and the other 2 on a separate reservation?
3) Put the lowest ranked Silver alone and the other 2 on a separate reservation?
Please note the highest ranked Silver is just below 50,000 miles and the lowest just over 25,000 miles
Thanks in advance for any advice provided!
1) Put all 3 of us on 1 reservation?
2) Put the highest ranked Silver alone and the other 2 on a separate reservation?
3) Put the lowest ranked Silver alone and the other 2 on a separate reservation?
Please note the highest ranked Silver is just below 50,000 miles and the lowest just over 25,000 miles
Thanks in advance for any advice provided!
Sep 23, 2012, 11:33 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
Man, that's a tough call. What's the equipment on the route?
Sep 23, 2012, 11:33 am
#3
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Phoenix
Programs: AA-Gold, Hilton-Gold, Hyatt - Platinum
Posts: 227
I've flown that route many times as a silver and never received an upgrade for one, much less three. Not sure if Christmas would factor in though.
Sep 23, 2012, 12:35 pm
#4
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
Specifically which day and flight(s) are you looking at? If it's one of the days right before Christmas where everything will be full, you shouldn't expect an upgrade as a silver. Other days, especially during and right after the 25th, it may be much easier. My silver colleagues often get upgraded easily on this route during non-peak times.
Sep 23, 2012, 12:40 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: TPA
Programs: US Plat, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 793
Fly on Christmas day if possible-
Sep 23, 2012, 1:58 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,038
Flying there it would be the late flight on Thu, 12/20...coming home would be on Christmas day at noon
Sep 24, 2012, 6:21 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 100
Option 3 is the best option, if you care about having the child in F. Remember that parents and kids can't be seperated.
Sep 24, 2012, 10:05 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Tough call. It's usually a A321 between MCO and PHL.
I did this trip last week with me (plat), son (silver) and my mom (nothing).
Didn't clear on the way out, but all 3 of us cleared together at the plat window coming back.
We traveled on a Thursday and came back on a Tuesday.
As a silver, I'd try to fly on a least demand day - like Christmas day. I agree with the others, option 3 would likely give the best results.
I did this trip last week with me (plat), son (silver) and my mom (nothing).
Didn't clear on the way out, but all 3 of us cleared together at the plat window coming back.
We traveled on a Thursday and came back on a Tuesday.
As a silver, I'd try to fly on a least demand day - like Christmas day. I agree with the others, option 3 would likely give the best results.