Since when can you not upgrade classes by using airline points?

[connorlevismom]

We have always saved up our airline miles for our adults only trip every year. Every year we have used them to upgrade to first class and have never had a problem. Now this year, I call to do it (granted we are now Delta and not NW) and the guys says, that ticket cannot be upgraded using miles. But I will be happy to upgrade you for $1080.00. Ummm no thanks.

But apparently I paid to little for my ticket so I cannot upgrade. When did this start happening? I am going to cancel my credit card that gives me miles because I cannot use them like I would like anymore.

Kristine

 

[Brian Noble]

This had been a standing rule with NWA for a while---some fare classes are upgradeable, and others aren't. It's not new with DL. NW's web site even had a search tool that allowed you to specify the minimum fare class you were willing to book with, just to support this.

 

[connorlevismom]

This had been a standing rule with NWA for a while---some fare classes are upgradeable, and others aren't. It's not new with DL. NW's web site even had a search tool that allowed you to specify the minimum fare class you were willing to book with, just to support this.

That is really strange because I have never looked anything like that up on the website and have always just booked my flight with whatever price I was given at the time. In the 9 years that I have been doing this, I have never had someone tell me that it could not be done, unless FC was full.

Kristine

 

[Disney-Kim]

we have had a really hard time using our miles to upgrade with USAirways...they have changed the tier levels...so we can get upgrades on Tue/Wed...but all other days are double....ugh...

we have been upgrading for the last few years...but that seems to be over...no more FC for us boo hoo

 

[Tara]

That is really strange because I have never looked anything like that up on the website and have always just booked my flight with whatever price I was given at the time. In the 9 years that I have been doing this, I have never had someone tell me that it could not be done, unless FC was full.

Kristine

I agree with Brian that this has been the case for a while. It sounds like you've just gotten lucky and have always booked coach classes that were upgradeable in the past, but this time you booked a different fare class. I've accidentally done the same thing, too!

 

[connorlevismom]

I agree with Brian that this has been the case for a while. It sounds like you've just gotten lucky and have always booked coach classes that were upgradeable in the past, but this time you booked a different fare class. I've accidentally done the same thing, too!

I must have had some fantastic pixie dust following me!

I did not even know you could buy a different fare class other than coach, business or first class. I just pulled up the flights I wanted, looked at the price and bought it.

Kristine

 

[prncess674]

See details here.
https://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_miles/award_upgrade_mileage/delta_upgrade_awards/index.jsp


A breakdown of all the Delta fare classes.
http://cwsi.net/delta.htm

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Not that it helps the OP, but AA has recently expanded the fare classes which could be upgraded using miles (O is now included), but it also increased the required co-pay. With upgrades booking into a specific class of inventory in FC, upgrades may not be available, even if FC is empty. As a result, I always check before I book a non-refundable ticket to make sure I can upgrade. -- Suzanne

 

[connorlevismom]

Wow-it looks like the lowest upgradable fare is M. The ticket would be $659 compared to the $229 that I paid. No thanks!

 

[Tara]

I must have had some fantastic pixie dust following me!

I did not even know you could buy a different fare class other than coach, business or first class. I just pulled up the flights I wanted, looked at the price and bought it.

Kristine

Oh yeah, lots of different categories within each of those fare levels - each designated by a letter. Some are upgradeable, some aren't.

http://airtravel.about.com/od/travelindustrynews/qt/airfareclass.htm

 

[uva185]

we have had a really hard time using our miles to upgrade with USAirways...they have changed the tier levels...so we can get upgrades on Tue/Wed...but all other days are double....ugh...

we have been upgrading for the last few years...but that seems to be over...no more FC for us boo hoo

Are you talking about upgrading a revenue ticket or making an award reservation? There are no tiers for upgrades. You can upgrade any domestic, Caribbean, or Canadian ticket if there is 'O' class availability (same as Saver Award availability). If 'O' is not available then you cannot upgrade for any amount of miles.

This is very surprising because US Airways upgrades their preferred members from this same 'O' class bucket starting 7 days before departure. So far this year I am 26 for 26 on domestic upgrades and 2 for 2 on Trans-Atlantic upgrades.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Are you talking about upgrading a revenue ticket or making an award reservation? There are no tiers for upgrades. You can upgrade any domestic, Caribbean, or Canadian ticket if there is 'O' class availability (same as Saver Award availability). If 'O' is not available then you cannot upgrade for any amount of miles.

This is very surprising because US Airways upgrades their preferred members from this same 'O' class bucket starting 7 days before departure. So far this year I am 26 for 26 on domestic upgrades and 2 for 2 on Trans-Atlantic upgrades.

I am talking upgrades from a revenue ticket. and the tiers do apply to award tix but since you are "in the know" you know that is how you check online for upgrades...there has to be a saver award open for you to upgrade....and I am noticing that the saver awards are only on the midweek flights. I started looking 10 mos out for our trip next week.

its just harder and harder. but we don't fly that often and its always usually MCO... and we had a trial Silver preferred last year and didn't get upgraded then either...too many golds/plats/chairs.