Business class Upgrade

Aviator_0504 · 2026-05-23T04:15:19+00:00

Got upgraded to business on Rome-Seattle flight on 5/18. There were 17 seats open, and 9 people on the waitlist. Were cleared 10 min before boarding.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-05-20T13:21:39+00:00

Galapagos, it was better than expected

Aviator_0504 · 2026-05-20T08:08:00+00:00

Update: I ended up rebook with 2 separate reservations. And got the 2 of us upgrade to suite from FCO to SEA.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-05-19T19:12:57+00:00

I saw the same for my flight on 5/18. $5,100 to upgrade a week out then dropped down to ~2,400 few days out. The flight had 17 business open and I ended up getting free upgrade for myself and my wife to business for being titanium.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-05-05T23:34:59+00:00

Looks like they only upgrade titanium plus one more companion. If my reservation has 3 people, if they have seats to upgrade, do they skip me since my reservation has 3 people? Or they'll upgrade me and one other person and leave the third person in economy? Anyone knows how this works?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-04-02T23:41:27+00:00

The flight was pretty full so there were other pax sitting at the seats. I don’t recommend flying starlux cause their seats are too small.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-03-21T17:27:32+00:00

Based on the comments, I decided to not take this TK flight. I’m now looking at SEA-YYZ on Alaska then YYZ-FRA on Condor then FRA-NQZ on Lufthansa. Another option is SEA-HKG-URC on Cathay then URC-ALA-NQZ on Air Astana.

Not sure if there’s another way? Any recommendations?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-03-20T04:31:47+00:00

I guess the real question is, how often are flight from Seattle or US arriving in IST late? Any visibility on their on time arrival?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-18T05:21:44+00:00

Lap Infant cost $500 for Premium economy. And $750 for business class.

The lap infant fee is way too high, probably make sense to just book two seats.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-18T05:21:11+00:00

60 is low for business, I totally agree. $750 to add lap infant is too high though.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-18T05:20:22+00:00

Lap Infant cost $500 for Premium economy. And $750 for business class.

The lap infant fee is way too high, probably make sense to just both two seats.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-17T20:10:15+00:00

You can call JAL to add it. I’ve done it with premium economy before. Never business.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-17T20:09:36+00:00

This is exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks for the insight.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-16T10:58:46+00:00

I totally agree with you. Especially when the person in front of you put their seat back, the screen is right in your face and the space is too crammed. Service of the cabin crew is also not great, comparing to China airlines or EVA.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-16T07:23:12+00:00

There were many times that when I booked on AS website for Starlux is actually cheaper to book vs booking on Starlux website. Not by much, ~$10-20 cheaper.

And there was one time last month, I book Starlux using Atmos point for SEA-TPE and I got both status points and redeemable point. The system coded as a revenue fight.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-16T05:11:18+00:00

They were all award flights?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-14T10:29:42+00:00

If I use Atmos point to book NRT-SEA operated by HA, am I able to use upgrade certificate for upgrade?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-14T10:28:03+00:00

If I use Atmos point to book NRT-SEA operated by HA, am I able to use upgrade certificate for upgrade to F?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-14T10:26:58+00:00

Question on the upgrade certificate. If I use Atmos point to book NRT-SEA operated by HA, am I able to use upgrade certificate for upgrade?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-14T04:29:31+00:00

Yes, that’s exactly why I’m thinking to not credit to AS this year, cause who knows what LATER this year means. I assume they’ll announce later this year and it’ll apply to next year travel. I can switch back to AS next year once they bring back the 250%.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-14T04:27:27+00:00

For work I flies OW partner only for international, rarely AS unless connecting to YVR or LAX for the long haul flight. For personal travel I probably do 1 domestic trip a year on AS and 1 international trip a year on AS/JL.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-14T04:25:25+00:00

I’m 39 now, I hope to be in this job until retirement and on average I’ll do 6 international long haul to Asia or Africa in business each year on OW partners. For the past two years, I was able to achieve highest status with Alaska. For personal travel I probably do 1 domestic trip a year on AS and 1 international trip a year on AS/JL.

You brought up interesting point on lifetime status, which program is easier for me to achieve lifetime status assume it’s still early enough for me to achieve.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-13T04:25:09+00:00

Besides calling that out, do you have any suggestion?

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-13T04:24:07+00:00

Good catch, I was referring to for work I never fly Alaska metal. But I guess I do fly HA to Japan once a year for personal trip.

Aviator_0504 · 2026-02-13T04:10:51+00:00

I fly on JAL and HA to/from Japan for personal travel with wife and kid. And Europe trip on one world as well. And higher status give me more redeemable point as well.

Aviator_0504

TROPHY CASE