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  • Robert5988 wrote:
    "Seats with extra leg room such as bulkheads and emergency exit seats are only allocated on day of departure."

    That is not strictly correct. Those frequent flyer members with 'elite' status can pre-book those seats at the time of booking.

    Also those who have a connecting flight can get those seats allocated when they turn up for the first flight - often hours before the desk opens for the main flight. e.g if flight is from London, a passenger flying down from, say, Glasgow can get a emergency exit seat for the flight from London allocated at Glasgow.


    It's what I have been told by several airlines but they do have to see you if you sit on the emergency exit row.
    **BERTIE**

    Did you Know: It costs more than £325,000 a day to run the lifeboat service? (with no government funding) Please donate to the RNLI
  • pin
    pin Posts: 4,265
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    This is from personal experience with BA flying long haul to both Kenya and India. Both times used online check in and got good seats (as according to seatguru). Have had bulkhead seats, emergency exit seats and the seats right at the back (where they are only two per row). Am Exec club member, but only Blue.
    "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind" - Mahatma Gandhi
  • Thanks for that rupenshah - i am only a blue member and wish to have those "better" seats this year (BA) so will use on-line check-in before we set off to airport.
    **BERTIE**

    Did you Know: It costs more than £325,000 a day to run the lifeboat service? (with no government funding) Please donate to the RNLI
  • joa
    joa Posts: 59
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    At last, something I can help with (been reading this board for ages but never really been able to help before).

    Partner and I off to Oz in 30 days time ... booked with Maylasian Airlines (34" seat pitch blah blah). Booked online as Dr instead of Miss. Apparently this is one of the best ways to get upgraded as they check the passenger list if economy starts to look full up. Also, top tip is to dress like you should be in 1st class .. I don't mean tuxedo or ball gown but nice casual clothes not including jeans.

    For those of you thinking you may be called upon to give 1st aid on the plane if you book as a Doctor, think again .. there is more than 1 type of Dr .... I'm going to be doctor of psychology !

    For places to stay .. we are staying at the Pacific International Hotel in Sydney, it's right near Central Station so easy travelling. We are paying $85 per room per night. There is cheaper available but we liked this one for his proximity to the traines/metros. (email them at hotel.sydney@pacificinthotels.com). I just asked them for a good deal and they gave me corporate rate. In Port Douglas we are staying at the Coral Apartments (stay 7 nights, pay for 6). Check them out at https://www.portdouglascoralapartments.com.au

    The apartments are great as each of them have a washing machine as well as a dryer .. all good stuff. They're near to all of the restaurants and activities and all of the Reef tours pick up from Port Douglas too.

    Have a great time, only 30 days to go for me before I get 4 weeks of fun in the sun !!
    Ken Livingstone is my mum
  • pin
    pin Posts: 4,265
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    Few things about the UK-OZ (Kangaroo) route.

    It is one of the busiest routes for many airlines (BA, Quantus, Thai, Singapore, Malasyian, etc) as a result the flights are often packed. This could be good or bad news for free upgrades, as in there will not be any seats left at all.

    Remember many airlines operate a four class strucuture meaning if by chance you get a free upgrade it will be only from one class to another (i.e. from economy to premium economy).

    Free upgrades are very, very, very rare now (not saying its not possible though, but just it is an exception rather than a rule). Free upgrades will go to frequent fliers with staus (in frequent I mean top end people who fly alot, and not on cheap econ tickets but on full fare tickets).

    Dress to look like you should be upgraded. Fair enough, that would normally mean wearing a suit or looking very smart. Considering you have a very long (about 22 hour) trip ahead of you it could get quite uncomfortable wearing a suit on the flight if you don't get upgraded. Also the suit is going to get seriously creased, you will have to pay for dry cleaning / pressing costs.

    Free upgrades come about (if they do at all) if you are travelling alone, it is virtually impossible to get one if you are in a group (i.e. travelling with family).

    Best way to get an upgrade, pay for it.
    "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind" - Mahatma Gandhi
  • margaret_3
    margaret_3 Posts: 1,123 Forumite
    joa wrote:
    At last, something I can help with (been reading this board for ages but never really been able to help before).

    Partner and I off to Oz in 30 days time ... booked with Maylasian Airlines (34" seat pitch blah blah). Booked online as Dr instead of Miss. Apparently this is one of the best ways to get upgraded as they check the passenger list if economy starts to look full up.





    A colleague tried this trick also. He booked as Dr. However, they looked at his passport and called him 'Mr'. He was very embarrassed as he knew that they had realised his con.
    It seems it is a popular thing to try and they look out for it! Another one is Rev.
    I have been upgraded a few times, but my passport SAYS Dr. I worked hard for my Ph.D. We were delighted that he was caught out! :p
  • joa
    joa Posts: 59
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    My passport doesn't say Miss, Mrs, Dr or anything else ... how come?!!!!
    Very strange, just has my first and last name and an F for female.

    It probably won't work anyway as the person above quite rightly said that upgrades are rare nowadays ... mind you, my colleague did it and it worked for him and his partner so I'm up for trying it.
    Ken Livingstone is my mum
  • There used to be a thread on this site called "the free upgrade hunt" or something! Unfortunately it appears to have gone missing - which is a shame as it had some interesting posts on it.

    I'm a frequent flyer, averaging a flight a week (economy) so have seen most of the ways people have tried to get a free upgrade. Here a a few of the do's and dont's....mainly dont's!

    Ask at check in - Waste of time as the average asking rate is about one in ten passengers.

    Dress smartly - Only gives you an outside chance, and then you probably won't get the upgrade until you're at the gate.

    Say you're to tall, or suffer from a medical condition - If you're fit to fly then tough - If you needed more legroom you should have paid for it!

    Say you're a Doctor or a Security guard - No hope!

    Know someone who works for the Airline - Good chance if there's availability and the friend has got someone to note your relationship on the booking.

    Frequent flyer membership - Gives you a better chance.

    Remember if you've got only paid for an economy ticket you have NO right to be upgraded, whatever your circumstances, if you do it's a bonus!

    Now the good news? In the past year I've only been upgraded once on long haul. I arrived for a flight over 3 hours before departure to be told there were no aisle or window seats available as they had all been pre booked. I pointed out (very politely) that I'd done all that was reasonable in the circumstances and wasn't very happy. I then asked if there were any seats available anywhere else on the aircraft (yes I know it amounts to asking for an upgrade - but notice the way I politely put it!) I then got an imediate upgrade to Business which I was well happy! I know it also helped that I was traveling alone, this gives you the best chance of being upgraded - Familes, you can forget even thinking about it!

    So 50 flights and only one upgrade - What about the rest? Well on about half the flights I travel on I'm able to get the better seats in economy - how? It's a skill you develop over time and using a bit of psychology. When checking in be polite and friendly. Let's face it a job at a check in counter aint the best in the World. Putting on a friendly manner and a smile really does help, but don't go over the top!
  • joa
    joa Posts: 59
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    Fabulous !! I love the 'have you got seats elsewhere on the airplane' .. that's great !

    One question .. why would someone say they are a security guard?! I know I've put myself down as Dr but really, security guard?! ha

    BTW, one way to get seats together without paying extra on short haul or Florida (so far) is to be a veggie or at least book a veggie meal for both journeys. I always do this as I'm a veggie and we always get our seats prebooked for some reason .. I presume so they know where we are to hand us our thrown together meals !

    Have fun everyone. I will, even if we are in economy !!
    Ken Livingstone is my mum
  • Joa - The Security guard bit (as I've read it) is to do with problems of "Air rage" and having a "heavy" could be usefull in an emergency, as I suppose having a Doctor in the case of a medical emergecy would be? Hope that makes sense!
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