I rarely get upgrades. Last time was on KLM on a courtesy due to weather delay at AMS a few years ago, and the upgrade was only 1 segment intra-Europe. I believe I got it because of my Worldperx membership, even though I haven’t had elite status with them in several years, I did fly nearly monthly. Also, I always have good interactions with ground and cabin crew—firm but understanding. To snag a transatlantic upgrade, you could pay the ($299 annual?) United economy extra membership to be first in line for upgrades to that cabin. It’s not as posh as business class, but is roomier and more bearable for long flights.

The “cheapest” upgrades are often paid with miles. Some intra-Europe flights can be upgraded for 15,000 miles each way, for example. Transatlantic upgrades usually cost as many miles as a regular coach-class reward ticket (40-50,000 miles) but considering the cost of business class, this is good value.

Also ask about monetary upgrades. USAir, for example, has business class upgrades for $500 per transatlantic segment.

Thanks for the information, Are you aware of any such thing on AirFrance? I am willing to pay upto 500.00 USD for a better class but anything more than that, I cannot afford.
 
I asked my company for an upgrade and you can imagine their blank stare…

Be aware that any Skyteam Alliance miles should be eligible for this upgrade if you have enough—Northwest, Continental, Delta, KLM, etc. Do you happen to have miles with any of these?

This might be helpful.

Air France has a biz class sale on currently. NYC-LON $655 each way + tax.

Hello Don, Thanks for the response.
 
I have close to 200,000 miles on my NWA saving to a trip to Hawaii, Tokya and then to Sanghai.
Checking on the AirFrance alliance site, I noticed Continental but not NWA.
 
Considering Continental and NWA on code share and possibly NWA airlines tied up with AirFrance, how could I get this upgrades on AirFrance from coach to business class or premium class by using my miles?
 
Please advice

If you’re stuck with Air France only, then I think your best bet is to phone Air France’s award redemption reservations and ask. There is probably some way to book a codeshare through Continental or KLM and use your miles for an AF-operated flight, but let AF advise you if it’s even possible. I have not done this personally. I have booked Continental and Delta award flights through NWA.

Thanks Don, Let me call them this week and find out. It is really sad that ordinary income folks like me will never ever get a chance to fly a upper class like the good olden days.

Just be persistant, flexible, and creative and I bet you’ll find a good solution that you’re happy with. 200K is quite a little stash of miles! I’m assuming you’ve got Gold or Elite status with NWA?

Nonstops between NYC (Newark and JFK; none from LaGuardia) to Paris are operated by Air India, Air France, American, Delta, and Continental currently. Delta’s 16:55 departure is actually operated by Air France; check booking via Worldperx res. (NWA.com)—it might show up as an available mileage option.

Also, if you’ll still need NY-Lon, be on lookout for MaxJet which offered roundtrips as cheap as $499 + taxes in the off-season last year. MaxJet is all-business class.

www.lavion.com is similar concept—low cost biz class—on NY-Par (JFK-ORY).

Max jet and Lavion.
 
Don, My hats off to you on this. Never even heard their names before. I have to proceed to Tunis from paris so let me get online with them and find out.  
 
 

Eos and Silverjet are also on NYC-LON offering value biz-class, but Maxjet has more and better sales.

EOS and SilverJet are both coming to over 3K+ and MaxJet to about 2 grand. Both out of my league.
I was really hoping to get somethng for about 1000.00 then look into BA to Tunis.
 
Paris and Nice can be taken on a stop over.
 
My tickets are still tentativly booked on the 19th on AF. I did call them today but the computer system was down.
 
 

Continental biz class sale from $496 each way: www.continental.com/…

Don, This is a fantastic offer. Unfortunetly outbound is Nov 18th and I have to fly out by Oct 19th.
Frankly, I have already delayed my trip for over 1 month as I am in no mood to travel for work. My boss will kill me. However just to take a chance I am going to ask him if he is going to allow me to leave next month.

MaxJet sale NYC, LAX, WAS – LON from $499 each way: http://airfare.trave…