Ksose,

Sorry you didn't like the dose of reality that you got, but I think people just gave you the facts of life. Being a honeymooner is not a big deal anymore...simple fact of life.

Now, if it was your 50th wedding anniversary, that might be worth noting by the airline...but honeymoons...not such a big deal.

Just enjoy your honeymoon and well...suffer like the rest of us who fly coach.

Hi ksose--I hope you did not take my comments to be harsh or unkind, b/c all I meant is that times have changed re:airline upgrades...All the best!!

ksose,

Congratulations. "Expect nothing and then be pleasantly surprised when good things just happen" -- that's good advice for a honeymoon and life.

Texas Aggie mentioned it, but I'm curious: Have you called the airline to nail down your seat assignments yet? That might help you avoid being split up or bumped on departure day.

You can get an idea of the seat layout for your flight by practice booking it on Orbitz. There you will get a floor plan of exactly what seats are unassigned. If you're in one of those 2x4x2 seaters, try and get one of the middle-section aisle seats near the rear of the plane precisely where the middle section transitions from four-wide to three-wide. Those haven't yet been designated as "premium" seats.

"sorry to ruffle your feathers. would still appreciate any FRIENDLY tips."

Huh? I re-read every post and didn't find any rude ones. A couple are a tad sarcastic but nothing bad at all. And most are quite sympathetic.

You HAVE recieved all sorts of friendly tips . . . . . .

Ksose,

I can't help but weigh-in here. I just stumbled on this thread while searching for some advice for my own upcoming honeymoon in Italy and was hoping to get some good answers to your fair question. I think you're rant was absolutely called-for. maybe I'm just an oversensitive honeymooner-to-be also but I was shocked at some of the responses I read. "you're a cheapskate to boot"??? that's just plain rude. obviously you and I now know that we shouldn't expect any extravagant treatment on our honeymoons. I guess the best we can hope for is a warmer reception than the one you got in this thread.

congrats and have a great trip.

p.s. this thread does not seem representative of my experience on these boards. I think somehow you must have stumbled into the "Bitter Travler" section.

ksose, I think my post was one of the less friendly ones, and I probably owe you an apology -- my excuse: the protracted North Carolina summer heat and my indirect annoyance at the airlines who treat pretty much everyone like cattle. Sorry!

Congrats, hope you love Italy and Greece (best choice IMHO for a honeymoon), and just be pleasantly surprised if someone does something nice for you as a newlywed.

Congratulations on your honeymoon - I hope you have a wonderful time (you will love Italy and Greece).

That being said, you are sadly the lowest of the low. Not only did you fail to get mileage tickets by flying - you got them off of credit card miles. The airlines will (rightly, I think) upgrade those people flying business with fairly high priced tickets that fly frequently. They will never make it to the category of people that are flying on miles - no matter the event.

But don't let this ruin your time. Go on the web site now and select the best coach seats that are currently available (if you wait to get seating, you will perhaps not even sit together). Then have a great time and realize that what you lack in love from the airlines - you make up for in love for each other.

Have you considered having your bride wear her wedding dress to the airport?

Sadly I think many posters appreciate only the comments they wanted to hear, and find any that weren't the answer they were hoping for to be rude and unwanted.
I'm not just referring to this thread, but it seems to be an increasing trait.

What I understand from all the posts; Turkey would still pamper you as honeymooners. However Greece might do the same. Hoteliers usually are charming. Let them now with an e-mail and request politly if any vacancy for an upgrade as you are on honeymoon. But keep the letters small.
Congratulations and have a lovely honeymoon weather with or without an upgrade. getting merried is already an upgrade isn't it ?

Happy Travelling,

Murat from Turkey ;-))

looks like a crowd came to the scene of the commotion. thanks for the messages of support and help from many of you--i too find this board of great use and almost all posters very friendly.

i think i will be checking the seat assignments when i get home tonight.

ksose,

Don't pay no mind to the naysayers. Number One, they're envious that they are not going to Italy on a honeymoon -- YOU are.

Number two, they're probably still grousing about an urban legend they heard from a friend of a friend who supposedly watched as some newlyweds got taken out of line and bumped into First Class -- and THEY didn't.

So there...

bajafresh, I think brides look absolutely beautiful in their wedding gown and should be encouraged to wear the gown as many times as possible This is from a mother who saw her daughter married in June and thought she looked like a dream. I wish I could see her in that dress every day for a year she looked so lovely. I think a person just naturally smiles when they see a bride and groom.
ksose, enjoy every moment of your honeymoon and all the time thereafter, Deborah

ksose,
Here's another tactic that can't hurt to try. I don't know where you're leaving from in the U.S. but assuming there is a flight to London after yours, go to the gate agent early and ask him if your flight is overbooked. If so, tell him you're willing to give up your seats if they can put you up front on the later flight.

It probably won't work, for all the reasons everybody else mentioned but it never hurts to try.

Good luck.

Your best hope is for what is known as an "operational upgrade" or op-up: one made for the convenience of the airline when coach is oversold and they need to move some people forward.

I know you are traveling on AA, but study this link from the flyertalk UA board, and note particularly "The Speech" (adopt its tone and adjust the content to your own circumstances).
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328066

That said, an op-up is like funding money in the street: it's nice when it happens, but not something to plan on. It's harder to upgrade 2 people than 1, and high-level frequent fliers (EXPs and PLATs on AA) are often preferred over the regular folks.

Good luck.

Well done! This has to be one of the better trolls on this board. Only further advice is to tell them that not only are you honeymooners, but you are AMERICAN honeymooners! And tell'em loudly! It'll work every time.