When you know your upgrade won't clear

As an Air Canada Aeroplan Elite, the biggest fear I have is the flight that takes me from Scandinavia to Asia on my Star Alliance Round The World ticket in economy class. It's not just because I'm flying where I don't want to be. It's that as the final leg of my journey - it's never comfortable.

In many ways, this flight is akin to flying YYZ-MCO or one of the other popular North American vacation destinations. Innumerable Swedes, Danes, Norwegians and expat Thais fly to Thailand, in essence because it's their "Florida" or they are returning home.

For that reason, it's also my nightmare. I know I'm in the minority. I'm that rare someone who's flying for business in economy on this route.

When I start my RTW's , I'm lucky enough to get a bump using my blue SWU certs from AC, as the RTW is booked in "M" class. So for flights on AC metal, my percentage is pretty high to have upgrades cleared going YYZ-Europe and back from NRT (and soon HND !)

But going from Europe to Asia is another story.

With no upgrade possibilities, the Star Alliance upgrade award requirements would essentially exhaust ones account if you had the capability of doing so. So with no luck except for spending a bit more, my plan at this point is to find the middle ground where the Economy Extra or Premium Economy seat becomes a purchase option. And a vital survival tool.

This is one of the perils of flying the Star Alliance RTW ticket in coach.

Having done it 11 times (6 times in business), there appears to be only a few ways to upgrade your seat even to an upgraded economy status from Oslo on Thai.

Thai did offer a one way upgrade that I could have purchased for an additional 4000 NOK (Norwegian Kroner or $ 675.00) for business. On my end, this was a huge miss. It could be purchased within five days of departure. I'm wondering whether or not someone out there has successfully done so. This interesting offer expired on September 30, 2010 due to a change of aircraft.

One definite item you can purchase is an upgrade to S Class from M if you fly Scandinavian for an additional $ 500.00.

While the expense might be huge for some, doing so on the last leg of my own trip might be a worthwhile exercise. The other option of course, is to go back to buying a Business Class RTW with Star, and seeing if the more expensive purchase guaranteeing space and comfort on the long haul routes is worth what you pay. And not getting that business class feeling on puddle jumps through Europe.


Vincent Degiorgio is a Toronto based songwriter/publisher who lives on planes. He has been an Air Canada Aeroplan Elite for over a decade.