Best way to upgrade to UC?

Hi - we have booked flights to MIA in April when the EC half-price sale was on, which I then upgraded to PE with AMEX vouchers. Having returned from DXB over New Year in UC, I don't think I can bear to travel overnight back from MIA in a PE seat!

What would be the best and cheapest way (if indeed there is one!) to upgrade the AMEX voucher seats to UC? We have 100K+ miles each if there is a way we can use them for this? I appreciate that there has to be G availability on the date in question in the first place, which there isn't at the moment!

Appreciate your advice, as always!

Sally

Sorry to be the one to say this but the amex PE reward upgrades cannot be then upgraded again into UC with additional miles....

There may be a way to do it by paying cash but it will not be an easy thing to work out - won't be cheap either n( n(

Sorry :#

I think Joey is right about upgrading an Amex voucher.

PE overnight is ok, even if you are used to UC (trust me ) - just think 'back to earth' and you'll be fine

Aaahh....but I managed to upgrade #1 Son and GF after using the Amex EC to PE award.
I waited until G's were available and the VS agent saw it was a "P" fare and didn't flinch .... Just took the miles and extra ....ahem ....."taxes"

Maybe it's a case of some reservation agents know the rules and some don't and I got lucky!.....Worth a try..

Paul

I have also managed to upgrade in the past, but only once out of three attempts. It may be worth asking if you can forego the voucher and just book it as straight reward flight.

Aaahh....but I managed to upgrade #1 Son and GF after using the Amex EC to PE award.
I waited until G's were available and the VS agent saw it was a "P" fare and didn't flinch .... Just took the miles and extra ....ahem ....."taxes"

Maybe it's a case of some reservation agents know the rules and some don't and I got lucky!.....Worth a try..

Paul

Exactly

Maybe you should downgrade back to Y and then use miles.

Maybe you should downgrade back to Y and then use miles.

If I'm right the OP is referring to the miles sale last year, and if she reverts back to a Y reward fare and looks to move back upwards ( not using the voucher), not only will she lose the upgrade voucher but she'll be charged a full Y redemption in miles ( not the sale redemption fare that she has used the upgrade voucher with).
DL

Thanks for all your advice. I spoke to VS today re upgrading - I knew there was only availability on the outbound but thought I would test the water! I was quoted c. 37,000 miles and £38 extra taxes for this. Not too bad, I thought! Much as I would like to upgrade on the outbound, I think I will wait and see if a couple of inbounds become available nearer the time.

I would have liked to upgrade both but my dear OH thinks it's a waste on a day flight (well, I am trying to educate him!!)

I would have liked to upgrade both but my dear OH thinks it's a waste on a day flight (well, I am trying to educate him!!)

But (IMO) that's when you get greatest value out of the UC experience. That said I don't sleep well in any class and buffer my (leisure) return flights with a pre booked taxi and recovery time...

pjh - I agree with you, and I can't usually sleep on an aircraft, no matter which class I am in; however, I did manage one hour's sleep returning from DXB over New Year which was a first for me.

Actually maybe I will go for the upgrade on both legs after all!

I was quoted c. 37,000 miles and £38 extra taxes for this.

Was that 37,000 miles and £38 each or per person?
DL

DL - That was the number of miles and price per person!

DL - That was the number of miles and price per person!

Ah, so it's the full reward fare difference ( just about).
I know what I'd be doing though LOL .
DL

I know what I'd be doing though LOL .
DL

I do too ) .

[quote="joeyc"]Sorry to be the one to say this but the amex PE reward upgrades cannot be then upgraded again into UC with additional miles....
[quote]

Strictly speaking, you can't. I have been able to on one occasion though.

forum/index.php?f=6&t=269094&rb_v=viewtopic

We were originally booked in PE on the VS4. We enquired at the ticket desk in JFK, and got transferred to the VS46. It cost 30 and 12,500 miles each.

Sorry to be the one to say this but the amex PE reward upgrades cannot be then upgraded again into UC with additional miles....

Strictly speaking, you can't. I have been able to on one occasion though.

forum/index.php?f=6&t=269094&rb_v=viewtopic

We were originally booked in PE on the VS4. We enquired at the ticket desk in JFK, and got transferred to the VS46. It cost 30 and 12,500 miles each.

Sounds like a good result... wow that TR is from April 2011.

I suppose that the best way of getting the upgrade then is from the airport where they only appear to look at the fare bucket.

Whilst technically not allowed, you could always give it a pop to see if you can wangle it.

Bonne Chance y)