when to upgrade your flight
Jul 29th, 2007 | 07:34 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 13
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when to upgrade your flight
is it better to purchae an upgrade at the check-in counter or to purchase in advance? Can't find anything under $3500+ for a r/t to Paris. Im thinking it may be better strategy to fill those seats during check-in.
Jul 29th, 2007 | 07:44 PM
#3
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,875
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Sandie - I do not understand your question. Are you upgrading with miles or paying for it?
I have never had any luck with purchases for any less at check in then I would have in advance.
Dh is gold with AA - so we can occasionally get upgraded with coupons (if all those Platinum people would get off the flight LOL). You cannot use coupons with international flights though (on AA).
We upgraded at the counter on the way home with miles(and paid the fee for doing it within 2 weeks) from Rome.
We were going to pay for it but it was over 4,000.00 a ticket -
I have never had any luck with purchases for any less at check in then I would have in advance.
Dh is gold with AA - so we can occasionally get upgraded with coupons (if all those Platinum people would get off the flight LOL). You cannot use coupons with international flights though (on AA).
We upgraded at the counter on the way home with miles(and paid the fee for doing it within 2 weeks) from Rome.
We were going to pay for it but it was over 4,000.00 a ticket -
Jul 29th, 2007 | 07:59 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,748
Likes: 0
When are you going, and from where are you leaving? There are some airlines flying strictly business class from NYC. I don't know about from other cities. L'Avion is one to check out. Flyertalk.com might also have others listed.
I have been upgraded twice in my entire life: once on the way to Athens from NYC, when a really angry family had been assigned the same seat that I was in. The other time was when the stairs on the prop lifted up on their own on my way down, and knocked me over. I think both of those flights may have been on TWA. And they're not around anymore.
Preferred frequent flyers usually grab all the upgrades these days. If you are a regular flying folk, your chances are slim to none.
If I could afford it, I think I would fly one of the business class airlines to Paris.
Our "strategy" is to save award points for a big splurge on business class tickets every 5 years or so. The rest of the time, it's cattle class for us.
Neither DH nor I fly at all for business. As strictly leisure flyers, we aren't eligible for much. As USAirways platinum card holders, we do get a couple of passes to the lounge every year.
On a different note:
I once had a run in with a very straight male gate agent. He let a babe in a pink mini cut through all the lines and ignore the clearly marked queue area. I asked him if I could follow her, as I had just had surgery. He said, "You'll live."
So much for impressing straight guys. And yes, I'm a female.
I have been upgraded twice in my entire life: once on the way to Athens from NYC, when a really angry family had been assigned the same seat that I was in. The other time was when the stairs on the prop lifted up on their own on my way down, and knocked me over. I think both of those flights may have been on TWA. And they're not around anymore.
Preferred frequent flyers usually grab all the upgrades these days. If you are a regular flying folk, your chances are slim to none.
If I could afford it, I think I would fly one of the business class airlines to Paris.
Our "strategy" is to save award points for a big splurge on business class tickets every 5 years or so. The rest of the time, it's cattle class for us.
Neither DH nor I fly at all for business. As strictly leisure flyers, we aren't eligible for much. As USAirways platinum card holders, we do get a couple of passes to the lounge every year.
On a different note:
I once had a run in with a very straight male gate agent. He let a babe in a pink mini cut through all the lines and ignore the clearly marked queue area. I asked him if I could follow her, as I had just had surgery. He said, "You'll live."
So much for impressing straight guys. And yes, I'm a female.
Jul 29th, 2007 | 08:57 PM
#7
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
check out L'Avion, an all-business class airline flying from Newark to Paris-Orly at very reasonable prices.
http://us.lavion.com/
http://us.lavion.com/
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Jul 29th, 2007 | 09:20 PM
#8
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,626
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It is rare (I'd say almost unheard of) for airlines to sell upgrades to business or first class on trans-Atlantic flights cheaply at check-in. Sometimes, you can buy an upgrade from the cabin services director once you board the plane - but you're still probably going to be paying at least $500 a ticket to upgrade.
If you're hoping for a free upgrade, don't hold your breath unless you've got elite status with an airline. Most airlines prefer to upgrade their elite status passengers if they need to effect an operational upgrade (e.g. because economy is oversold). Passengers paying full fare or nearly full fare economy class tickets also have a chance of getting an operational upgrade.
United lets you buy access to Economy Plus seats (when available on a flight) for a year. These get you a little more room. Alaska Airlines lets its members buy upgrades at check-in, but it doesn't fly across the Atlantic.
If you're looking for comfort at a reasonable price, you're better off booking on a discount business class carrier like l'Avion (as others have suggested) or, if its prices are still too rich for your budget (or you want to fly with an airline that gets you frequent flyer miles), book World Traveller Plus on BA or Premium Economy on Virgin (but you'll have to connect through the UK). You'll get about 38" of legroom with economy class service for about 25-33% more than an economy class ticket (where seating room is more like 29-31"
. Zoom Airlines offers a premium economy product on a discount carrier; for the price of an economy class ticket on a regular carrier, you could upgrade to a slightly more comfortable seat (e.g. 34-35" of legroom). Zoom has started flying from New York to London, but I don't know if it's flying New York to Paris yet (it does fly Toronto and Montreal to Paris).
If you're hoping for a free upgrade, don't hold your breath unless you've got elite status with an airline. Most airlines prefer to upgrade their elite status passengers if they need to effect an operational upgrade (e.g. because economy is oversold). Passengers paying full fare or nearly full fare economy class tickets also have a chance of getting an operational upgrade.
United lets you buy access to Economy Plus seats (when available on a flight) for a year. These get you a little more room. Alaska Airlines lets its members buy upgrades at check-in, but it doesn't fly across the Atlantic.
If you're looking for comfort at a reasonable price, you're better off booking on a discount business class carrier like l'Avion (as others have suggested) or, if its prices are still too rich for your budget (or you want to fly with an airline that gets you frequent flyer miles), book World Traveller Plus on BA or Premium Economy on Virgin (but you'll have to connect through the UK). You'll get about 38" of legroom with economy class service for about 25-33% more than an economy class ticket (where seating room is more like 29-31"
. Zoom Airlines offers a premium economy product on a discount carrier; for the price of an economy class ticket on a regular carrier, you could upgrade to a slightly more comfortable seat (e.g. 34-35" of legroom). Zoom has started flying from New York to London, but I don't know if it's flying New York to Paris yet (it does fly Toronto and Montreal to Paris).
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