Companion Tickets - Upgrades

[Decker]

I think I know the answer to this one but nothing ventured...[:(]

I've got a companion ticket burning a hole in my pocket and in Feb I've got to go to San Diego for a conference. So my initial plan was - book an S, grab a companion ticket for my colleague then use miles to upgrade my S to a G. However Premier Team tell me that both of us have to travel in the same class of service. I think they're probably right but it seems to hinge on the interpretation of

"4.4.4 Once tickets are issued, you may make a change to your travel date, route or class of service for an amendment fee (clause 4.21), except where the reward is a companion ticket and the person travelling on the paying ticket changes his or her flight or class of travel. In these circumstances, the companion ticket may be similarly amended, subject to availability of seats and other conditions laid down by the reward provider. Once tickets are issued, no name changes are allowed. No changes can be made within 14 days of travel. Once travel has commenced, date and name changes are not permitted."

It's the "companion ticket may be similarly amended" not MUST be similarly amended that vexes me...

All thoughts welcome

I think the "may be similarly amended" refers more to availability - i.e. if the paying ticket holder changes their flight, then there has to be availability for the companion ticket to be accomodated on the other flight - likewise if the paying ticket holder changes their class of travel.

My guess is you're SOL unless you can blow some miles trying to upgrade the companion ticket too (is that allowed???) [:(]

Cheers

Michael

[Decker]

It's allowed BUT I've already upgraded 3 colleagues S to G on the SFO/LAS run in May so I'd down to 110,000 or so - so I'm being mean

quote:Originally posted by Decker
It's allowed BUT I've already upgraded 3 colleagues S to G on the SFO/LAS run in May so I'd down to 110,000 or so - so I'm being mean

That's just being tight :D:D:D

Cheers

Michael

Interesting.

This answers a question that I was thinking about some while ago.

The family are going to MCO next April to visit in-laws. The wife is travelling on a companion ticket and I didn't think using miles to upgrade both was an option. Should have read the T&T.

Problem now is that my 2 year old is booked under Q class so can't upgrade that one and not too sure she'll take to sitting in Y by herself

Oh well - next time.

Phil (Buffy)

[RichardMannion]

Hi Decker,

Not sure I understand what you are asking here-

a) if you book a S and take a companion (booked in U) - can you use miles to upgrade the S to a G (that earns S TP and miles, but gets you a UC seat), whilst leaving the companion (U) back in PE. You can't do this, its upgrade or companion (but see my reply below for more detail) The only stipualtion for a companion was that they must be travelling with you on the same flights, you could say buy a J qualifying Upper ticket but actually take a PE companion reward (U), i.e. the companion can be in a class lower but not higher.

b) or are you asking can you use miles to upgrade the companion ticket (U) to UC (booked in G) - don't think you can.

Thanks,
Richard

[Decker]

Hi Richard

Funnily Premier Team said I couldn't do a) but could do b)!! In other words I could book one S then use by companion to get another "pseudo S" then use my miles to move us BOTH to G - but I couldn't just move one of us to G!

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by Decker
Hi Richard

Funnily Premier Team said I couldn't do a) but could do b)!! In other words I could book one S then use by companion to get another "pseudo S" then use my miles to move us BOTH to G - but I couldn't just move one of us to G!

Leave this one with me, I need to speak to the right person in Premier - to be fair they have a number of new people and they are still beddding in.

Thanks,
Richard

[RichardMannion]

Right the answer is...

No to both - When buying a qualifying revenue fare in order to utilise a companion (mileage or complimentary via FC Au renewal/VS CC spend) or to do a mileage upgrade, its one or the other. You cannot do both.

Especially in relation to point b, that is completely incorrect - the ruler from the supervisors desk is being found to go and smack the hands of the person that said that!

However, it has been known at the airport for the holder of the revenue ticket to do a space available mileage upgrade - even though technically its not allowed, we all know that 'all bets are off at the airport for some rules'

Hope this clears up the confusion.

Thanks,
Richard

[Decker]

Oh pooh! I was beginning to think that an S with a companion, then miles upgrades were a great use of an Au renewal companion which otherwise seem a bit too restrictive to use. [:(]

Thanks for clarifying...