Upgrade with Airmiles over easter

We are planning on taking the little one to Disney over the 2013 Easter holiday period. I have enough airmiles for the three upgrades from Econ-upper.

I am fairly flexible on the departure and return dates in this period and favoring Miami over Orlando as the destination airport as we will be spending some time in Disney and sometime in the Keys.

Does any one know:

1) Am I kidding myself in trying to get an upgrade at this time of year?

2) How soon in advance can I book - is it i 1 year before the return date?

3) Is Miami more likely to have upgrades than Orlando.

Thanks

[Neil]

You can book 11 months from the return date.

In all honesty, it will be *very* difficult to get 1 let alone 3 UC rewards to MCO/MIA at Easter time. It isn't impossible and you might end up finding that you can upgrade one way (more likely outbound) but then can't find anything suitable for a return.

It's touch and go as to whether MIA is likely to have more options, the UC cabin is large on the MIA flight but it is only 1 flight per day, compared to the possibility of 3 or 4 747's, so over a day the number of seats equal themselves out, plus more and more people have cottoned on the the MIA trick.

One option I know a few members on here have used, is to fly in to one of the New York airports and then catch a Jet Blue (or other) internal flight down to MCO. This would help find UC seats, but would obviously mean a stop over and also you need to be careful on luggage allowance as your 3 x 32kg UC allowance won't be matched on the Jet Blue legs!

You said you can be flexible, but if you are trying to go when the schools are off, your issue is so is everyone else and the demand is very high, so revenue management know they can easily sell the majority of seats to revenue paying pax and therefore release very few reward seats.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

1. I'd say expect to be dissapointed but as you are flexible that works in your favour. Consider travelling on less popular days and having a 6/8 or 12/13/15 day trip rather than the standard 7/14.

2. Tickets are generally released 11 months in advance.

3. Yes. The MIA route is from LHR and has more UC Seats (approx~50 on the 747) compared to 14 on the LGW 747 fleet so more opportunities for reward seats.

(You also need to choose the right flight as some of the LGW-MCO runs are operated by the A330 which has NO UC)

Dont forget the manchester to orlando flights if they are an option...

Thanks Guys.

I will look into the Manchester option. Manchester is nearer for me.

Will have to consider New York too although Ive always been reluctant to take UC on relativity short flights.

If everything fails I will just have to use the miles for a free UC to Vegas for myself ):