Upgrading a Companion Ticket

Hi all,

A search hasn't yielded an exact answer to this question, so hopefully someone can help! In short, can a companion ticket (the old "buy one, get one free" type) be upgraded with miles?

Specifically, can you pay to move into an upgradeable "bucket" and then use miles to get into UC, say? (Subject to availability on the flight, etc.)

Cheers,

Darryl

[Decker]

The lead ticket can be upgraded the companion cannot.

I have however had success doing this from W to J by upgrading the lead ticket from S to G and also having the companion exchanged for a full G reward ticket. That was IIRC 20k for the S to G upgrade, plus 50k for the full G less 15k for the companion refund, to a total of 65k miles.

Trouble with this is that it is quite a complex transaction which will tie up the check-in agent for quite some time, so there's a fair chance they'll just say it can't be done - particularly if there's a line forming. I had tried this a couple of times and had been told it couldn't be done, before trying my luck one day when it was quiet at LAX and having success with it.

YMMV of course...

Regards,
Barry

[Nottingham Nick]

I think we have learned that you 'never say never' when it comes to the rules for upgrades at the airport.

It does no harm to ask but, bplatt_uk sums is up perfectly with - YMMV.

I have posted on this before but cant find it. But in short I was on a full fare PE ticket recently to SFO with my wife on a companion, I asked the question about upgrading both with miles, obviously could not upgrade the companion (of course i didnt know that before hand;)) To cut a story short, I got upgraded and my wife a comp upgrade with me !! .... The same was repeated on the return leg.... You never can tell.... I think being gold must help... but if you dont ask you dont get !!

Cheers
Mark

The question is did they tell you/offer you about the comp upgrade at the time or did you have to wait until the gate?

Originally posted by oxmatt
The question is did they tell you/offer you about the comp upgrade at the time or did you have to wait until the gate?

It all happened at the same time in the CH at LHR and check-in at SFO, I would say that I consider myself very lucky and would never expect that to happen. But it just goes to show you never can tell !!:)

Mark