November 04, 2009
On Using Miles for a Business-Class Upgrade to Europe
A reader wants to fly to London in business class and is wondering how good chances are that she'll be able to upgrade using mileage. Here's her question:
I don't know the ins and outs of USAirways' Dividend Miles program, so I asked somebody who does: Mileage maniac Gary Leff of View from the Wing and Book Your Award. Yes, that's the same Gary I called a "frequent-flyer superhero" last week. Read the answer to Patti's question, after the jump.
"We need to fly from Philadelphia, PA., to London's Heathrow Airport next September as part of a 31-day tour of Europe. We would like to travel in business class, with full reclining seats, for at least the flight to London, but on the return flight too if cost is reasonable. We have enough miles on USAirways to purchase a one-way upgrade but not roundtrip. To assure that we get the business-class seats at the best cost, should we risk the upgrade or buy the business-class tickets? Thank you, Patti"
I don't know the ins and outs of USAirways' Dividend Miles program, so I asked somebody who does: Mileage maniac Gary Leff of View from the Wing and Book Your Award. Yes, that's the same Gary I called a "frequent-flyer superhero" last week. Read the answer to Patti's question, after the jump.
Here's the answer Gary e-mailed me:
See, I told you Gary was a mileage wonk! If any other frequent-flier aficionados out there have advice for Patti, please click on "Comments" below to share it with us. Thanks
"First, the new US Airways business-class seat roll-out is supposed to be complete for the A330 aircraft by 'fall 2010'. I wouldn't place money on their US Airways business-class seats being fully flat for a specific set of flights in September 2010 at this point.
Second, if the upgrade is important, they shouldn't 'risk' it. They're using miles they should try to confirm it. That may be difficult booking today for the particular flights they want, but they should keeep monitoring availability and purchase their tickets when confirmable business-class seats open up. The inventory can't be checked online, they'll need to call.
The upgrade should set them back $300 from a discount coach ticket plus 30,000 mileseach way.
Third, they may not have enough miles but US Airways has a pretty generous offer running through the end of the yearthey will give a 100% bonus on purchased miles up to 50,000 miles per account. The bonus also applies to transferred miles, up to 50,000 miles per account. Thus mileage purchases cost 1.25 cents apiece (plus a $30 processing fee per transaction) rather than the usual 2.5 cents. And transfers wind up costing half a penny apiece (plus that same processing fee). So it may be doable to up their mileage balance.
Three (a) If they're doing that, perhaps they should consider award tickets instead? US Airways charges 80k miles roundtrip from the US to Europe in business class on their partners. Upgrading roundtrip is 60k miles plus $600 plus the cost of the ticket. And mileage purchase is quite reasonable currently...
You can go from zero to the required mileage for a business-class ticket on Star Alliance airlines for $1,030 at the moment."
See, I told you Gary was a mileage wonk! If any other frequent-flier aficionados out there have advice for Patti, please click on "Comments" below to share it with us. Thanks
RSS Feeds
Comments