USAir upgrade on-line??

[AquaGirl]

We bought our tickets to St John last Sept and are considering upgrading to first class by paying the difference in ticket price. On other airline websites, you can do this on-line very easily. On USAir, there didn't seem to be any way to do it.

I called Customer Service, and the rep couldn't figure it out either. I asked him about upgrading on the phone. The price of the first class ticket he quoted was several hundred more than the price online, so the difference I would have to pay was significantly higher. He recommended I do it on-line since the ticket price is better, so he then referred me to their Internet Help Desk. That person said I can only upgrade to first class within 24 hours of the flight time. (There seemed to be an exception if you were upgrading with miles.)

It seems very odd that I want to spend money with them, but I can't do this transaction on-line. Just wondering if anyone has upgraded with money, instead of miles, on USAir?
(Yes, I know this is a "champagne problem".)

Thanks

[patr]

I have been flying USAir a lot recently. The gate agents will offer upgrades when available at the very last moment. Relatively short domestic flight upgrades are offered for $150.
Not sure what an upgrade on the trip to STT would cost.

[PA Girl]

That person said I can only upgrade to first class within 24 hours of the flight time. (There seemed to be an exception if you were upgrading with miles.)

From what I know about USAir, what that person told you is true. Apparently, USAir has a very high percentage of first class passengers that use their points to upgrade to first class, higher than most airlines. It is part of their program, the elite FF members sort of get first dibs because of the pricing policy you described.

[ColatoStJohn]

Hi,

PA Girl is right about the way USAir processes the upgrades for a fee. All flyers with elite status have an upgrade window of between one week and 24 hours before a flight (depending on their level). That means if there are first class seats when their window opens, they are assigned to them (without using points, which can be used before that window). If there are still open first class seats after that 24 hour window, then USAir will offer them for sale at a discounted rate as GoUpgrades to coach passengers (I think first come first serve). If that is the rate you want to get, you have to wait until 24 hours before the flight.

The full first class fare seems to run about 2x as much as the coach fare (based on my not-scientific random check). If this is what you want to do, I would think the airline could do it (you'd definitely need to talk to CS rep) although it might involve lots of maneuvering with cancelling your current flight, re-booking, waiving the change fee, etc. You might have to talk to several CS reps before you can find one that can do it; from what I understand, the system isn't very flexible and not every CS rep knows all the tricks.

Having said all that, I would say that paying around $700 extra per ticket(at least) for USAir domestic first class (which is what this would be) is NOT worth it. I like USAir, it's my airline of choice, but domestic first class is only a few inches more of legroom (and watch the 4th row - no reclining), an OK meal and free drinks. No movie, no lay-flat seats, not even the semi-lay flat seats.

Don't get me wrong, I love it when I get upgrades (I have the minimum status to get upgrades but get them often on CLT-STT) and the GoUpgrades would be worth considering, but full-fare domestic first-class is a poor value for what you get. As always, your mileage may vary and it may seem worth it to you.

FYI - you can maximize your opportunity to purchase the GoUpgrade by checking in online at exactly 24 hours prior to your flight leaving. If there were upgrades available, I believe they'd be offered on-line, but you could also call to check on that.

[mit43]

We always wait until the 24 hour window opens and buy our upgrade, if available. The price is set by the distance. We have paid anywhere form $50 to $150 depending on where we are going. I think STT was $100, but not sure.

The down side is that there may not be anymore 1st seats available.

US Air always shows the first row of seats as unavailable online, but those seats are held until 24 hours beforehand so they will have some available to sell. They would rather sell them than give them away for free. If you go to check in and they show no upgrades available, call them! They may have some that do not show up online.

[PA Girl]

mit - when you purchase an upgrade like that, do you get the free checked baggage allowance?

[mit43]

Yes! It doesn't matter how you got to first Class, your first and second checked bags are free.

[PA Girl]

I am going to need to keep an eye on that, factor in a drink or two and you can be close to break-even.

[surfnh]

Hi,

PA Girl is right about the way USAir processes the upgrades for a fee. All flyers with elite status have an upgrade window of between one week and 24 hours before a flight (depending on their level). That means if there are first class seats when their window opens, they are assigned to them (without using points, which can be used before that window). If there are still open first class seats after that 24 hour window, then USAir will offer them for sale at a discounted rate as GoUpgrades to coach passengers (I think first come first serve). If that is the rate you want to get, you have to wait until 24 hours before the flight.

The full first class fare seems to run about 2x as much as the coach fare (based on my not-scientific random check). If this is what you want to do, I would think the airline could do it (you'd definitely need to talk to CS rep) although it might involve lots of maneuvering with cancelling your current flight, re-booking, waiving the change fee, etc. You might have to talk to several CS reps before you can find one that can do it; from what I understand, the system isn't very flexible and not every CS rep knows all the tricks.

Having said all that, I would say that paying around $700 extra per ticket(at least) for USAir domestic first class (which is what this would be) is NOT worth it. I like USAir, it's my airline of choice, but domestic first class is only a few inches more of legroom (and watch the 4th row - no reclining), an OK meal and free drinks. No movie, no lay-flat seats, not even the semi-lay flat seats.

Don't get me wrong, I love it when I get upgrades (I have the minimum status to get upgrades but get them often on CLT-STT) and the GoUpgrades would be worth considering, but full-fare domestic first-class is a poor value for what you get. As always, your mileage may vary and it may seem worth it to you.

FYI - you can maximize your opportunity to purchase the GoUpgrade by checking in online at exactly 24 hours prior to your flight leaving. If there were upgrades available, I believe they'd be offered on-line, but you could also call to check on that.

Just to add a comment about the quality of the first class seats.....the flights to Caribbean on US Air often have the larger upgraded seats. We flew round trip in first in January to SJU and in March to STT......both times had the larger first class in both directions, electronic seat controls, tons of leg room. They aren't the normal domestic seats.....depends on the jet, I know we had at least two 757's, I think the others were the A321's??

[AquaGirl]

Thanks for all the info. We have upgraded to 1st class for USAir flights to/from Florida in the past, within the 24 hour window. Last time I flew to Washington, DC from Florida, I was able to upgrade for $75, and I had two checked bags, so the overall price was less since I would have paid for the 2 bags. (Yes, I bought too much stuff when I was in Florida and had to borrow a suitcase from my parents to drag it all home.)

The reason I want to upgrade is due to a back problem, that can be exacerbated by sitting too long. Being in first class would help to have more room to stretch and move around. Not a medical requirement, but helps to lessen pain a lot. I don't want the cost of re-ticketing, so I will take my chances with seeing if any 1st class seats are left within the 24 hour window prior to check-in.

I will just be happy to get to St John, coach or whatever!

[PA Girl]

Just to add a comment about the quality of the first class seats.....the flights to Caribbean on US Air often have the larger upgraded seats. We flew round trip in first in January to SJU and in March to STT......both times had the larger first class in both directions, electronic seat controls, tons of leg room. They aren't the normal domestic seats.....depends on the jet, I know we had at least two 757's, I think the others were the A321's??

Or maybe the 767? We were really surprised to see those huge reclining seats for our SJU flight in February and then again on our leg home from STT. For the firt time in years, I actually napped on a flight.

[surfnh]

Just to add a comment about the quality of the first class seats.....the flights to Caribbean on US Air often have the larger upgraded seats. We flew round trip in first in January to SJU and in March to STT......both times had the larger first class in both directions, electronic seat controls, tons of leg room. They aren't the normal domestic seats.....depends on the jet, I know we had at least two 757's, I think the others were the A321's??

Or maybe the 767? We were really surprised to see those huge reclining seats for our SJU flight in February and then again on our leg home from STT. For the firt time in years, I actually napped on a flight.

I think you're right, a 767...its a wider body, has the middle set of seats. The meals have gotten a lot better on US Air also, they upgraded first class food a year or so ago, we've had really good meals on both Caribbean trips this winter. We've also gotten good at making our own Rum Punch in first class, using whatever they have available....though we really hate that Bacardi rum they always have.

I fly US Air every week, have very few problems regardless of what people write, its gotten much better over past 5-7 years, even through Philly. The key is often in the planning, you have to understand what schedules to pick, what types of planes to avoid due to maintenance, and how to leave yourself room for something to go wrong at certain times of day. I realize this is hard for those who don't fly a lot and causes a lot of anxieties. The airlines have to make a buck also, their systems can really confuse people and I feel bad this is common. I think my wife gets a laugh out of these trips when I'm leading her into my comfort zone, showing all the travel tricks, just like that Clooney movie, wish I had his money!

Anyhow,....we're flying on Tuesdays next January for our next surf trip to PR, got two round trip first class seats on US Air NH to SJU for 55k miles each, can't argue with that!

[surfnh]

Hey, one thing to add....my wife likes to talk on planes, I like to read, listen to my ipod, watch something on my ipad....basically veg out...so she's always upset that I'm not listening to her 100%...yeah I know, this is unusual for women, right, they never talk!

Well after 30 years of marriage we figured out how to live together....I got a plug splitter for my ipad, so we can watch a movie or tv series on the flights and do it together with two sets of headphones, works like a charm! I'd recommend it with your significant other....