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If you fly over 25k in one year on continental they offer complimentary upgrades IF they are available, and the pecking order is how many miles you have vs. the other people on the first class wait list. ...contintal is free to upgrade but it doesnt happen so often due to other people who may have flown 100k miles that year and overided me on the list .

Join a frequent flyer program and earn enough miles to get to at least the first tier elite level (not really difficult if you're traveling internationally). Northwest/Continental is the best -- free automatic upgrade from ANY fare on EITHER airline, and standby upgrade a companion. If you're at least gold level, an upgrade is virtually assured.

Elite Upgrades

Complimentary upgrades are just one of many exclusive benefits reserved for Elite members -- our most valued customers.

These OnePass Elite upgrades are valid on flights operated by the following airlines:

Continental Airlines
Continental Micronesia
Northwest Airlines
Copa Airlines

Upgrade Priority

Priority for First Class/Business Class Elite upgrades is determined by:

Unrestricted Y fare class or Northwest Airlines -26/-27 fare: Allows all Elite members to upgrade at the time of ticketing when a seat is available. If a member is already ticketed and wants to request the upgrade, they can visit Manage Reservations or call their Elite Priority Line and provide their confirmation number.

Elite level: Members are prioritized according to their Elite level -- Platinum, Gold and then Silver. When traveling with other Elite members or non-Elite members, Elite members should purchase their flight on a separate itinerary.

Restricted fare class: Upgrade priority within Elite level will be based on fare class purchased. The fare class structure in priority order is as follows: H, K, M, N, B, O, V, U, Q, I, S, W, T, X and L.

Booking date/time: All else being equal, the sooner Elite members book their flight, the better their upgrade chances.

Check in time: If your upgrade is processed from the standby upgrade list at the airport, check in time will be used in place of booking date/time.

Upgrade Processing & Confirmation
Upgrades are processed nightly and confirmed in priority order using the following schedule:

All Elite members on unrestricted Y fare class -- Beginning 5 calendar days before departure if an upgrade was not confirmed any time after ticketing

Platinum Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 5 calendar days before departure

Gold Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 3 calendar days before departure

Silver Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 1 calendar day before departure

OnePass Elite members unable to upgrade in advance on Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Copa Airlines may request an upgrade within two hours of departure at the airport.

Elite members traveling on an eTicket should verify that their OnePass account number is present in the reservation when using continental.com or an eService Center kiosk to check in. When checking in with an airport representative, Elite members should present their Elite card.

If an upgrade is not available, Elite members will be automatically placed on a standby upgrade list. This list is cleared by Elite level, fare class and time of check-in when a seat becomes available.

Elite members can sign up to receive an e-mail notification each time their upgrade is confirmed when flying on Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia or Copa Airlines.

Tips to Help Ensure an Upgrade

Here are some tips Elite members should know about our First Class/Business Class upgrade processing to ensure upgrade eligibility:

If a reservation includes multiple Elite members, the Elite members will be automatically upgraded according to the rules governing the lowest Elite level in the party.

If a reservation includes companions who do not qualify for OnePass Elite upgrades, the upgrade will not be processed automatically.

Elite members should call the Elite Priority Desk to request a separate reservation for themselves.

For an Elite member to be eligible to receive an upgrade, they must make sure that the name on the reservation exactly matches the name on their OnePass account and photo identification or passport.

Automated processing of complimentary upgrades is available for flights within or between the 48 contiguous U.S. and Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Companion Upgrades

Platinum Elite and Gold Elite members may extend their upgrade benefit to one companion traveling on the same itinerary on Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Copa Airlines flights:

Companion upgrades are valid with any paid fare.
The companion does not have to be in the same reservation as the Elite member.*
Elite member and companion must be on the same itinerary.
The companion may only be confirmed on the day of departure at the airport within two (2) hours of the flight.
The Elite member must present their Elite card at the airport.
If no upgrade seating is available at check in, the companion will be placed on the standby list.
The standby lists cleared in order of Elite status.

* Elite members may still upgrade in advance with their Elite privileges if traveling on a separate reservation.

Elite Upgrade Terms
OnePass Elite upgrades are valid for travel within or between the 48 contiguous U.S., Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Elite upgrades are also available on select flights within or between the Mid Pacific and Asia. Continental Airlines flights with a BusinessFirst cabin, including transatlantic and transpacific flights, flights to/from Central and South America, or within and between Hawaii, the Mid Pacific and Asia are not eligible for Elite upgrades. To receive a BusinessFirst upgrade, OnePass members may use miles.

Elite upgrades are subject to capacity controls, which may limit the number of seats available. Also, certain fares such as industry discount, Hotwire and priceline.com are not eligible for Elite upgrades. Elite upgrades are not valid with reward tickets.

Marry a flight attendant.

Elite Upgrades

Complimentary upgrades are just one of many exclusive benefits reserved for Elite members -- our most valued customers.

These OnePass Elite upgrades are valid on flights operated by the following airlines:

Continental Airlines
Continental Micronesia
Northwest Airlines
Copa Airlines

Upgrade Priority

Priority for First Class/Business Class Elite upgrades is determined by:

Unrestricted Y fare class or Northwest Airlines -26/-27 fare: Allows all Elite members to upgrade at the time of ticketing when a seat is available. If a member is already ticketed and wants to request the upgrade, they can visit Manage Reservations or call their Elite Priority Line and provide their confirmation number.

Elite level: Members are prioritized according to their Elite level -- Platinum, Gold and then Silver. When traveling with other Elite members or non-Elite members, Elite members should purchase their flight on a separate itinerary.

Restricted fare class: Upgrade priority within Elite level will be based on fare class purchased. The fare class structure in priority order is as follows: H, K, M, N, B, O, V, U, Q, I, S, W, T, X and L.

Booking date/time: All else being equal, the sooner Elite members book their flight, the better their upgrade chances.

Check in time: If your upgrade is processed from the standby upgrade list at the airport, check in time will be used in place of booking date/time.

Upgrade Processing & Confirmation
Upgrades are processed nightly and confirmed in priority order using the following schedule:

All Elite members on unrestricted Y fare class -- Beginning 5 calendar days before departure if an upgrade was not confirmed any time after ticketing

Platinum Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 5 calendar days before departure

Gold Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 3 calendar days before departure

Silver Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 1 calendar day before departure

OnePass Elite members unable to upgrade in advance on Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Copa Airlines may request an upgrade within two hours of departure at the airport.

Elite members traveling on an eTicket should verify that their OnePass account number is present in the reservation when using continental.com or an eService Center kiosk to check in. When checking in with an airport representative, Elite members should present their Elite card.

If an upgrade is not available, Elite members will be automatically placed on a standby upgrade list. This list is cleared by Elite level, fare class and time of check-in when a seat becomes available.

Elite members can sign up to receive an e-mail notification each time their upgrade is confirmed when flying on Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia or Copa Airlines.

Tips to Help Ensure an Upgrade

Here are some tips Elite members should know about our First Class/Business Class upgrade processing to ensure upgrade eligibility:

If a reservation includes multiple Elite members, the Elite members will be automatically upgraded according to the rules governing the lowest Elite level in the party.

If a reservation includes companions who do not qualify for OnePass Elite upgrades, the upgrade will not be processed automatically.

Elite members should call the Elite Priority Desk to request a separate reservation for themselves.

For an Elite member to be eligible to receive an upgrade, they must make sure that the name on the reservation exactly matches the name on their OnePass account and photo identification or passport.

Automated processing of complimentary upgrades is available for flights within or between the 48 contiguous U.S. and Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Companion Upgrades

Platinum Elite and Gold Elite members may extend their upgrade benefit to one companion traveling on the same itinerary on Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Copa Airlines flights:

Companion upgrades are valid with any paid fare.
The companion does not have to be in the same reservation as the Elite member.*
Elite member and companion must be on the same itinerary.
The companion may only be confirmed on the day of departure at the airport within two (2) hours of the flight.
The Elite member must present their Elite card at the airport.
If no upgrade seating is available at check in, the companion will be placed on the standby list.
The standby lists cleared in order of Elite status.

* Elite members may still upgrade in advance with their Elite privileges if traveling on a separate reservation.

Elite Upgrade Terms
OnePass Elite upgrades are valid for travel within or between the 48 contiguous U.S., Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Elite upgrades are also available on select flights within or between the Mid Pacific and Asia. Continental Airlines flights with a BusinessFirst cabin, including transatlantic and transpacific flights, flights to/from Central and South America, or within and between Hawaii, the Mid Pacific and Asia are not eligible for Elite upgrades. To receive a BusinessFirst upgrade, OnePass members may use miles.

Elite upgrades are subject to capacity controls, which may limit the number of seats available. Also, certain fares such as industry discount, Hotwire and priceline.com are not eligible for Elite upgrades. Elite upgrades are not valid with reward tickets.

Elite Upgrades

Complimentary upgrades are just one of many exclusive benefits reserved for Elite members -- our most valued customers.

These OnePass Elite upgrades are valid on flights operated by the following airlines:

Continental Airlines
Continental Micronesia
Northwest Airlines
Copa Airlines

Upgrade Priority

Priority for First Class/Business Class Elite upgrades is determined by:

Unrestricted Y fare class or Northwest Airlines -26/-27 fare: Allows all Elite members to upgrade at the time of ticketing when a seat is available. If a member is already ticketed and wants to request the upgrade, they can visit Manage Reservations or call their Elite Priority Line and provide their confirmation number.

Elite level: Members are prioritized according to their Elite level -- Platinum, Gold and then Silver. When traveling with other Elite members or non-Elite members, Elite members should purchase their flight on a separate itinerary.

Restricted fare class: Upgrade priority within Elite level will be based on fare class purchased. The fare class structure in priority order is as follows: H, K, M, N, B, O, V, U, Q, I, S, W, T, X and L.

Booking date/time: All else being equal, the sooner Elite members book their flight, the better their upgrade chances.

Check in time: If your upgrade is processed from the standby upgrade list at the airport, check in time will be used in place of booking date/time.

Upgrade Processing & Confirmation
Upgrades are processed nightly and confirmed in priority order using the following schedule:

All Elite members on unrestricted Y fare class -- Beginning 5 calendar days before departure if an upgrade was not confirmed any time after ticketing

Platinum Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 5 calendar days before departure

Gold Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 3 calendar days before departure

Silver Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- Beginning 1 calendar day before departure

OnePass Elite members unable to upgrade in advance on Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Copa Airlines may request an upgrade within two hours of departure at the airport.

Elite members traveling on an eTicket should verify that their OnePass account number is present in the reservation when using continental.com or an eService Center kiosk to check in. When checking in with an airport representative, Elite members should present their Elite card.

If an upgrade is not available, Elite members will be automatically placed on a standby upgrade list. This list is cleared by Elite level, fare class and time of check-in when a seat becomes available.

Elite members can sign up to receive an e-mail notification each time their upgrade is confirmed when flying on Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia or Copa Airlines.

Tips to Help Ensure an Upgrade

Here are some tips Elite members should know about our First Class/Business Class upgrade processing to ensure upgrade eligibility:

If a reservation includes multiple Elite members, the Elite members will be automatically upgraded according to the rules governing the lowest Elite level in the party.

If a reservation includes companions who do not qualify for OnePass Elite upgrades, the upgrade will not be processed automatically.

Elite members should call the Elite Priority Desk to request a separate reservation for themselves.

For an Elite member to be eligible to receive an upgrade, they must make sure that the name on the reservation exactly matches the name on their OnePass account and photo identification or passport.

Automated processing of complimentary upgrades is available for flights within or between the 48 contiguous U.S. and Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Companion Upgrades

Platinum Elite and Gold Elite members may extend their upgrade benefit to one companion traveling on the same itinerary on Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Copa Airlines flights:

Companion upgrades are valid with any paid fare.
The companion does not have to be in the same reservation as the Elite member.*
Elite member and companion must be on the same itinerary.
The companion may only be confirmed on the day of departure at the airport within two (2) hours of the flight.
The Elite member must present their Elite card at the airport.
If no upgrade seating is available at check in, the companion will be placed on the standby list.
The standby lists cleared in order of Elite status.

* Elite members may still upgrade in advance with their Elite privileges if traveling on a separate reservation.

Elite Upgrade Terms
OnePass Elite upgrades are valid for travel within or between the 48 contiguous U.S., Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Elite upgrades are also available on select flights within or between the Mid Pacific and Asia. Continental Airlines flights with a BusinessFirst cabin, including transatlantic and transpacific flights, flights to/from Central and South America, or within and between Hawaii, the Mid Pacific and Asia are not eligible for Elite upgrades. To receive a BusinessFirst upgrade, OnePass members may use miles.

Elite upgrades are subject to capacity controls, which may limit the number of seats available. Also, certain fares such as industry discount, Hotwire and priceline.com are not eligible for Elite upgrades. Elite upgrades are not valid with reward tickets.

Fly down with the same airline (Taca) 5 times in a calendar year. Achieve Plata status. Businesss class upgrades on every flight for the next calendar year.