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[QUOTE=Jackson][blue]Stormy,
If you meant Southern Winds, the Argentine airline that flies domestically throughout the country, plus to Miami and Madrid, then the web address is:
[url]http://www.sw.com.ar/en/home.jsp[/url]
Thanks,
Jackson[/blue][/QUOTE]No wonder I couldn't find it, I was searching under the wrong name. Thanks.
I linked this on 4/15 below.....RTDT: Read The Damn Thing
[blue]OTH,
What are you talking about?
Thanks,
Jackson[/blue]
[QUOTE=Jackson][blue]OTH,
What are you talking about?
Thanks,
Jackson[/blue][/QUOTE]
I was picking with Stormy, I gave the link below on 4/15.
Actually Somerset beat me to it on the same day. :)
Continental has applied to begin non-stop service between Houston and Buenos Aires starting November 1.
Everybody that adds seats free's up seats for those of us that fly as non-revs. Buy American, Continental, Delta, Southern Winds please, pretty please.
Competition is good! With luck, they'll fly the 757 which will allow free upgrades. :)
767's: The same type Continental uses on their Brazil flights. You probably meant that as the 767 is bigger than the 757.
[QUOTE=Codeman]767's: The same type Continental uses on their Brazil flights. You probably meant that as the 767 is bigger than the 757.[/QUOTE]
No, I mean the somewhat smaller 757's that allow free upgrades. I'd even take a 737-800 or 900. The 767's and other widebodies do NOT allow free upgrades.
Ahh, thanks for the correction, Jaimito. I wasn't aware of that! Continental will use their 767's, so no luck on that end.
I think free upgrades are more so based on the routes rather than the type of planes they fly. I know United, US Airways, and NW have unlimited free upgrades on the domestic routes for their frequent flyers regardless what type of planes. On the other hand, the international free upgrades are very limited.
At my experience, free upgrades depend mainly on 2 things: seat availability and how much the check in girl likes you. I have seen it all, from getting it offered without even asking to no way, even for cash.
A good, however a bit risky, strategy seems to be not to get a seat assignment when buying your ticket, and checking in not too early at the business class counter, waving your frequent flyer card. The risk is, if business is full, or the chica does not like you, you end up on the shittiest coach seat that's left over...
El Alemán
I get most of my upgrades previous to flight check-in. I will try and fly on routes that have free international upgrades. There aren't too many out there anymore.
Most require certain high fares for a coach ticket, and then a bunch of miles in each direction.
If you fly Continental or Copa and are a Continental elite (Silver/Gold/Plat), you will get free upgrades if there are available seats, for eligible routes. So my trip last week, LAX-EWR-LIM (Los Angeles to Newark to Lima, Peru) were all on elibile aircraft. Generally, as long as it's not a widebody (767, 777) you're fine.
If you're at the highest level of elite membership, if the plane is full, or overbooked (as intimated by El Aleman), they will generally upgrade those members first.
The last method works sometimes as well, and that's trying to sweet talk the agent. This works best at a airline's club, or at the gate. It hardly ever works at check in.
[QUOTE=Tbird]Well, after a lot of clicking and cursing and refreshing and clicking again, I have been able to redeem my frequent flyer miles, and will be arriving in Buenos Aires on the wings of desire (er..make that United Airlines!) in the morning of March 25th. I know it is a long way off, but I am a nerd, and like to do things well in advance.
[/QUOTE]
Above quote is a partial posting from Tbird in the cell phone rental thread.
Most of my airline miles are with US Airways. Last week I tried to book a reward business or first class ticket to EZE for a long weekend (leaving WED or THU and returning on MON or TUE) on United, being it is part of the Star Alliance network. I searched for availability on United website and does not appear to have a single busniess nor first class ticket available for the next 11 months (the furthest ahead you can book a ticket) unless using double miles. I found only 3 dates available in coach between January and March of next year.
I thought US Airways are bad with reward ticket, but at least with them chances are good in the off season and given plenty of lead time. UNITED REALLY SUCKS WITH THEIR REWARD TICKETS!!!
Looks like the only realistic way to get reward ticket to EZE on United is paying double the mileage (80K for coach, 150K for business, and 200K for first).
Sportsman
[QUOTE=Sportsman]
Looks like the only realistic way to get reward ticket to EZE on United is paying double the mileage (80K for coach, 150K for business, and 200K for first).
Sportsman[/QUOTE]
Not quite double for coach, 50,000 miles as opposed to 80,000, but still... In fact, I looked at their site a week ago, and the original dates (1/24 to 1/31) were available on the saver level. Three days later NOTHING was available on saver except the dates I found in March. NOTHING. I just did not want to zero out my account completely, I only had 81,500....