Anyone remember Upgrade Certificates? It was the only way to get an UPG.
You had to phone and they would mail them out to you. 4K points a pop and only valid for 1 year. You could only UPG at checkin or the lounge prior to the flight.
Being in PER and travelling east for work fairly frequently, but unpredictably, and restricted to buying whY fares on AN as the DOM corporate provider, I always worked hard to ensure I had plenty of UPG Certificates at hand - but not so many as to risk expiry. I'd rock up to the Golden Wing lounge (nice and early), pull out a certificate and request an UPG. I can't remember ever missing out. My work colleagues just could not figure it out.
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