For frequent fliers-- how often do you get upgraded?

Question

My company has changed our list of preferred airlines so I have to switch airlines. I'm currently right around the middle of "silver" status with the airline I normally fly. That's the "lowest" rung of preferred status but I do get upgraded to first class on almost every flight, and I'm going to miss that!

The new list of preferred airlines have all agreed to make a one-time conversion of our existing status, so all I have to do is decide who I want to fly with. I'm mostly concerned with upgrade availability because I know on some airlines, unless you're a Gold member, you don't get upgraded too often.

So if you are a frequent flier, what airline do you fly, what level membership do you have, and how often do you get upgraded OR not get upgraded? Domestic or International?

Thanks!!!

Sonic, thanks for the info. Could you give me a ballpark idea, if you were taking say 10 domestic flights, how many would you get upgraded on? It sounds like at this level United might not be the best choice but it's hard to say, and of course United isn't going to say "At your status you will or won't get upgraded on 50% of flights." Numbers of what people are really experiencing would be a great help! Thanks!

Answer 1

I am a silver elite with Northwest. We also get upgrades on Continental as well. I have been silver elite for about 4 years now. In the early stages I would get upgrade just about everytime I flew, on both airlines. Then up until about a year ago, I got upgraded probably about 2 out of every 3 times. In the last year I have had bad luck. I have only upgrade once on continental out of about 7 or 8 times flown. And Northwest I get upgraded probably about half the time or so. If you really want to get upgraded you have to pick non-buisness travel times. Something like 80% of elite members are mainly corporate travel. And many of them are higher levels then us. Saturday morning flights are great for upgrades.

Answer 2

Most airlines would upgrade company executives whenever seats were available. On an individual basis it is not that easy. I have 95,000 miles with one carrier and I need another 105,000 before I get upgraded. I lost about 150,000 just after September 11th. Continental has teamed up with Air France. Your best bet is to see which carriers are linked with which international airlines.
The whole thing is messed up at the moment. Some are basing upgrades on level miles which are different from accrued miles.
Read the fine prints.
Boaz.

Answer 3

I’m a frequent flyer with United Airlines under the Mileage Plus program.

United doesn't really have Silver / Gold status. Status levels are: Premier Elite, Executive and 1K, although because United is in the Star Alliance program, miles count towards the Star Alliance North American Air pass and Star Alliance Silver Status.

Once you have earned 25,000 miles you become an Elite Premier member, which is were I am at now. It's basically the same as what your at, similar to a silver type status.

After Elite Premier comes Premier Executive which is after earning 50,000 plus miles.

After Elite Executive comes 1K Premier which becomes available at 100,000 miles plus.

Premier Executive and 1K members usually get a better chance at getting an upgrade. Basically you just call in, but these members get 4 - 5 days prior to the flight to request an upgrade. I’m at Premier Elite and I get about 48 hours in advanced to request and upgrade. I can also request it when booking the tickets, but higher status members still get priority.

If I’m flying domestic, sometimes I get lucky and get an upgrade but when I’m flying internationally, It's really hard to get upgraded since most of those flights get fully booked and Executive and 1K members get first choice. Although, if only economy is available to Premier Elite members like me, the front rows of economy are reserved only for premier members, and they generally have 6 - 11 inches more legroom than the rest of economy.

The reason I like United, is because there is a lot of flexibility in the program. The miles can be used in other Star Alliance carriers programs, which is great because I fly to Canada a lot and since United and Air Canada are code share partners I can use my miles with Air Canada, and have access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto. I also have access to United's Red Carpet Club.

But basically, in the end the higher status members get first choice of upgrades and the better service.

UPDATE:

The last 10 flights I have been on, I was upgraded in 4 of those flights to United Business. The other flights I was in "Premium Economy", which is still in economy class but it has a little more leg room than the rest of economy.

Being upgraded depends on several factors. What your status is and were you are flying to. For example, flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles, most likely that flight will be booked up, because it's a popular route meaning United Premeium Executive members and United 1K members have most likely already requested upgrades on that flight,and even if they haven't, they still get priority over other members. You also need to consider that there are other people who arn't members of a frequent flyer club that just decided to book business or first on that particular flight.

It also depends on the airline and how they operate there frequent flyer program. Anyways, good luck and hopefully you get lot's of upgrades!

Answer 4

I joined the Cathay Pacific ferequent flyers club (the Marco Polo Club) last november and will reach silver status on sunday after completing my 20th sector with them since joining.

During the past year as a standard green card holder I have been upgraded to business on approx 8 flights of the 18 flown since November (and im keeping my finger cross for my flight on friday night :)), a friend of mine who is allready Silver has been upgraded on approx 12 of the last 20 flights, and anouther friend who is a Gold card member has been upgraded approx 16 times in the last 20 flights (including London to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong to Los Angeles).

We only fly International.