Domestic
Last Minute Deals: Air Travel Cash Upgrades
When it's better to spend cash than frequent flyer points
Some airlines offer last-minute Business and First Class upgrades that are great values and worth the extra expenditure of real money vs. miles.
For example, Envoy is the name of US Airways' international Business Class seats, and thus the carrier calls its gate upgrade program "GoEnvoy."
Available with any coach fare, it offers a Business Class upgrade for $500 each way between the US and London, with 30-hour advance confirmation. In this situation (and unlike most in air travel), cash upgrades are the way to go when all else fails.
If an upgrade is not available 30 hours out, you can try a different routing. It could be worth the ticket-reissue fee and the fare difference, especially on the return leg, where the change fee is usually only $150.
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American and United don't publicize their cash upgrades because they're not always offered. United's gate upgrades typically cost about $550 (one-way) from economy to Business Class. American's rate is about the same for Business Class. Here's the key on both: You have to ask.
This article is adapted from the FlightBliss Special Report Seven Common Air Travel Mistakes to Avoid.
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