Just discovered today that my husband's 50,000 miles worth of e-upgrades on USAirways are essentially unusable. For several past years he has qualified as "Silver" FF level - and earned and used e-upgrades (which replaced their certificates a few years ago) frequently. In 2003, business dictated that he travel more often to non-USAirways destinations, so no "Silver" level this year on this airline.

He was told today that he can not even use these upgrades unless he can continue at that or higher FF level on USAirways (being at that level at United - even on code share flights does not count). I know they can make any rules they want - but this seems a little weird to me. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks.

I can't talk about other airlines but it's basically the same for AA. As an elite you earn 4 upgrade stickers for every 10,000 miles flown. Each sticker is good for 500 miles. The Golds and Platinums still earn these stickers, but Executive Platinums will not as of March 18. The EXPs will have free unlimited upgrades on domestic, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central American routes, so they will not earn any free stickers.
But to get back to your question. It works the same or very close with AA. Once you loose ANY status, the stickers are only good on full fare economy fares, which basically makes them worthless as the non-status person is the last to clear the upgrade list. Who wants to pay a full fare on domestic route and end up sitting in coach? There are way too many elites in front of you waitlistd for the upgrade to make it even remotely possible.

Thanks for info - it makes it a little clearer. Good to know in advance that AA works the same way since he flew primarily on AA last year (and just got some letter that he earned some sort of upgraded FF status there) and this may continue this year - seems it can be better to use up the upgrades whenever possible than save them for longer trips.

If they actually keep these upgrades on file and USAirways keeps flying, he may be able to use them in 2005.

Actually, on USAir today if you qualify for Silver, Gold or Chairman's Preferred, you received unlimited e-upgrades and will be upgraded on a space available basis for any flight where there is room.

Northwest Airlines also offers unlimited, complimentary upgrades on a space available basis to elites flying on any paid fare in the U.S. and Canada. But like other carriers mentioned, that benefit is lost if the flyer fails to maintain elite status. (It's always a good idea to keep track of this through the year for people who may come close to reaching elite status because it can very valuable in terms of bonus miles and upgrades.)

USAIRWAYS gives unlimited upgrades to elite level travellers. Sounds great doesn't it? In fact here is what happens. If you are Silver (like me) and had a ton of eupgrades banked, you lost the upgrades and now find yourself at the back of the line behind all the Chairmans Preferred and Gold AND THEIR COMPANIONS. Not much of a deal since I virtually always have to fly via CLT because I live in NC, I have only managed to get one flight so far which I could upgrade. This is a great deal for Chairmans Preferred and maybe those are the only customers USAIRWAYS is interested in. Frankly not much of an incentive to maintain Silver status and now I am flying on the basis of fare alone.

So I guess my husband will also lose all his "banked" e-upgrades.