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upgrade PE-UC

PostPosted: 16 Feb 2009, 21:35
by photoguy
i have a ticket from LAX-LHR 13 June
tried to upgrade on website on booking info site
which showed upgrade of $564 each way
when i tried it said it was no longer available
is UC sold out?
why is the offer still on the site?

PostPosted: 16 Feb 2009, 22:32
by tontybear
Hi and welcome

I'm not the expert on this but I assume the offer is still listed because its still available for other flight dates and combinations and its possibly just sold out on your particular choice of flight(s).

Maybe it was only available for booking at the time of your original purchase.

If you add your flight numbers and return dates to your post am sure one of the expeet members will be able to give you a fuller answer.

You could try phoning FC in US and asking

PostPosted: 16 Feb 2009, 23:50
by photoguy
hi
thank you for your response
called the center and was told it would be $5,000 + $200 to change ticket
flying VS 007 13 Juune VS 008 9 July
thank you

PostPosted: 17 Feb 2009, 22:21
by tontybear
You sure that's right?

I just put in LAX - LHR on 13th June and LHR - LAX on the 9th July into the VS website and it came up with a total of $ 3,840 based on PE $ 1,780 + $2,060 for the round trip upgrade to the lowest UC fare.

Selcting the lowest UC fare it came up with $ 3,632

The fully flexible UC fare came up as $ 14,810 (eek as I climb back on my chair)

When I put in PE fully flexible the base was $ 4,660 sand the upgrade to UC $ 5,200 EACH WAY

Do you have a fully flexible PE ticket and maybe the agent assumed you wanted to go from fully flex PE to Fully Flex UC

Another phone call won't go amiss especially of you re price the trip in the booking engine just before you call

And maybe some of our more expert v-flyer members can help

PostPosted: 21 Feb 2009, 02:11
by mcnaugha
quote:Originally posted by photoguy
i have a ticket from LAX-LHR 13 June
tried to upgrade on website on booking info site
which showed upgrade of $564 each way
when i tried it said it was no longer available
is UC sold out?
why is the offer still on the site?


This is essentially a fare code/bucket rules situation. Welcome to the wonderful world of hideous airline ticket sales.

I'll try and simplify... once you commit your ticket purchase to a particular fare code you can find yourself stuck with it. The rules for the fare you purchased were available for you to read right before purchase. An unpublished rule is usually that once you commit to a discounted fare code the airline will only allow a change up to the most flexible fares. Discounts are only for people who haven't bought yet basically. The upgrade offer you saw would have been to the most discounted available fare at the time. It doesn't matter if that fare is still available after you committed to another fare.

The trick is to know the system and work it. Don't book anything before you have finalised your decision about the possibility of upgrading. I imagine you refused the upgrade offer at first and changed your mind later. Unfortunately they don't let you do that 99.9% of the time.

If your PE fare code is S or W then you could try for a miles-for-upgrade. I suspect it's not because S code has much cheaper change fee. W is fully flex PE. I suspect you have a K fare. This is the least flexible. Usually non-changeable and non-refundable.

UC on LAX-LHR flights is often sold out. You can however approach the ticket desk on the day of departure and ask if there are any on-the-day upgrades for sale.

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2009, 23:24
by photoguy
hi
thank you for the responses and information...i am learning my way around the air fare tricks
just checked again upgrade still at $4,128 LAx-LHR $583 LHR-LAX
so i will just keep checking in hopes that the LA=LAX upgrade might drop....(i known it is most likely not)
thank you again

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2009, 23:36
by tontybear
If the LHR - LAX is only $583 to upgrade from PE - UC than that looks like a very very good bargain and I'd snap it up ASAP !