The dark art of upgrading with miles

Just wondering whether someone can shed some light on the dark art of upgrading with miles. When I fly Premium Economy, I am usually booked in an S fare. Previously, when I called FC, I was told that the type of S fare I had meant I could only upgrade on the day, at their airport. That was fine and I had no problem doing so.

On my most recent flight, I turned up at the airport on an S fare and at check in, asked if they could check availability for an upgrade. I was then told that my ticket showed 'ISS' and I was asked if it was booked through a travel agent. I said yes, so she said they couldn't do anything with the ticket...! Check in was quite busy, so I thought that might have something to do with it. Anyway, I'm an Au so went to the LHR Clubhouse. Once I got there, I asked at the concierge desk. The woman said to leave my ticket with her and she would see what she could do. She told me to return to the desk when the first call for the flight came out.

I returned to the desk a short while later and she picked up the phone to someone. She then said she couldn't get through, but that they could process the upgrade at the gate. I then walked to the gate to be told that I could not upgrade with miles at the gate, only with cash! So I ended up not bothering.

On my return flight from IAD, I decided to give it another go since it was a night flight. I called Flying Club from the airport before check-in was open. I was then told by FC that the type of S fare was not upgradable at all, not even on the day at the airport. So that was disappointing.

Now for the interesting part....

I get to the IAD Clubhouse and ask at the desk if I can upgrade using miles. Again, it was quite busy, but the woman picked up the phone (just as a whole bunch of people arrived at the clubhouse, so there was a bit of queue forming behind me). The woman just said 'I have a gold card holder who wants to upgrade with miles, can I do that'. There was a pause and then she said "I'm getting really busy, I need a yes or no". I didn't hear her give any of my ticket details of FC number over, so I don't know who she was phoning or why. Anyway, she came back and said it wouldn't be a problem. She processed the upgrade for me and only charged me $23 in fees (very cheap?) and 10,000 miles (I thought it was 12,500 to upgrade?).

So, what on earth is going on here? Did the woman in the IAD Clubhouse make a (fortunate) mistake? Or were the other people wrong about my ticket? From experience, it seems non-UK airports seem more lax with the rules, As I've previously managed to upgrade no problem on this type of ticket when in Kenya.

[mitchja]

VS are indeed correct, as not all S fares are upgradeable with miles.

Itinerary S fares issued by travel agents are not supposed to be upgradeable with miles. This issue has come before. Often it does get over-looked but if a VS agent is working by the book, they won't upgrade you. Seems you got lucky on this occasion!!

VS are indeed correct, as not all S fares are upgradeable with miles.

Itinerary S fares issued by travel agents are not supposed to be upgradeable with miles. This issue has come before. Often it does get over-looked but if a VS agent is working by the book, they won't upgrade you. Seems you got lucky on this occasion!!

I wonder why. It seems ludicrous if you have a huge amount of miles and the front of the plane is empty. Clearly it's not a case that the system won't let them, as the lady in the clubhouse could do it!

Oh and miles upgrades are 10,000 from most east coast destinations, and 12,500 from the west coast.

I have never had any problem with upgrading when I booked the ticket with VS directly (space permitting). I am guessing that the fare was cheaper via the agent and so would come with restrictions. When is an S not an S is hard to fathom out. Not all K's are equal either. You can buy a K (upgradable using FlyingCo miles) but a K biught with M&M is not. no wonder people get confused.

I have mentioned several times here that if they tell you you can upgrade at the gate they are fobbing you off because you cannot. For a while you could not upgrade at the CH either but that seems to have changed.

I have also found that the staff in USA understand the upgrade culture far better than in the UK and generally just get on with it.

We book all of our tickets via a travel agent and having upgraded for years without a problem came across the same issue as you about two years ago (did something change?).

Our travel agent calls the fares where you can NOT upgrade from the normal classes "net fares" - if you want to upgrade they have to book into "published fares" which are normally a few 10s of £s more. I believe the agent takes a couple of % commission from the “net fares” ... in our case if we book a “published” fare they add this on which is why it costs a bit more.

It is buried in the Flying Club T&Cs – 4.5.7 and 4.5.8 (with a “net” fare you can only upgrade from Y,B or W...which isn’t normally economical).

I have never had any problem with upgrading when I booked the ticket with VS directly (space permitting). I am guessing that the fare was cheaper via the agent and so would come with restrictions. When is an S not an S is hard to fathom out. Not all K's are equal either. You can buy a K (upgradable using FlyingCo miles) but a K biught with M&M is not.

Now this is very interesting - I can upgrade a "standard" (non miles-purchased) K with miles? Didn't realise that was the case...

you can upgrade K but with FlyingCo miles not Flying Club miles.