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So you've all read the article and have an idea of how to increase your chances of an upgrade? Well, don't waste your time trying any of this with the Check-In Desk. Turn that charm on with the staff who you see as you board the plane. It takes them 10 seconds to issue you with the new boarding passes, that allow you to turn left!
My tips:-
Dress Smart
Ask just before you board
Be nice
Say it's a special occassion.
So you've all read the article and have an idea of how to increase your chances of an upgrade? Well, don't waste your time trying any of this with the Check-In Desk. Turn that charm on with the staff who you see as you board the plane. It takes them 10 seconds to issue you with the new boarding passes, that allow you to turn left!
My tips:-
Dress Smart
Ask just before you board
Be nice
Say it's a special occassion.
My Grandparents were upgraded as a result of missing their flight
My grandparents had a flight back to the UK but mistakingly turned up to the airport 2 hours late (thought the flight was later then it was). It turned out that the check in staff were at a birthday party and one of staff lived nearby to where my grandparents stayed in the US (my uncle) and so happily gave them a lift back and told them that they had squeezed them on a flight the next day.
They turned up the next day and were pleasently surprised to find that they had been upgraded. After returning to the UK they contacted the staff members and the airline to thanks them for all their help. They stayed in contact with the staff members at the airport in US and now everytime they fly from that airport in the US they are upgraded for free.
When my family of 6 went to my cousins in the US with my grandparents, when we flew back they upgraded my whole family without any problem.
I've also personally been upgraded through a back-door upgrade (BA) and I turned up to the aiport late after checking in online and was told I was upgraded.
I went to Cairo with Swiss from LHR changing at Zurich 2 years ago.
When i used to fly abroad i used to have a bit of trouble and seemed to be on some sort of hit list - i.e i could never check in online etc.
Anyway, we were advised to be at check in at 3am so to ensure everything got sorted before the rush. We got there and waited. And waited. About 5am someone turned up (an hour pre flight) my other half was non too impressed and went and had a quiet word. She mentioned it was her birthday and it was our first and only trip with Swiss.
Anyway checked in and boarded our first flight and was sat in economy (which we had booked) Then at Zurich went to board the flight and was told 'good morning sir you may board through Business at your leisure' And there you have it, somehow we had been upgraded to business on the Cairo flight and it had never been communicated to us. To this day i still remember reclining right back and peeking out of the window over the coast of Greece whilst drinking nice fine wine
I travelled the world during my career and although I occasionally travelled business class (paid for), I was never upgraded. I was once downgraded on PIA when they ran out of seats on business class. I had an ideal opportunity for an upgrade on an Air India flight from Mumbai to London when there was a leak above my seat and water was dripping on me. I was moved to another seat (still economy) but was made to move back to the damp seat when we reached Delhi. Business and first class were both full so their solution was to provide some blankets to sit on (the leak having been fixed at Delhi). Never again, although my globe-trotting days are over.
Last month I got upgraded. I was a little anxious about the first time traveling alone - especially going on a long distance flight to the states.
I was wearing a shirt and looked relatively smart - they approached me and asked if I had shoes in my case which fortunately I did. This was my ticket to business class! Made the journey much nice -
Moral of the story - if you can dress smart and if you aren't wearing shoes - make sure you have some in your case!
Last month I got upgraded. I was a little anxious about the first time traveling alone - especially going on a long distance flight to the states.
I was wearing a shirt and looked relatively smart - they approached me and asked if I had shoes in my case which fortunately I did. This was my ticket to business class! Made the journey much nice -
Moral of the story - if you can dress smart and if you aren't wearing shoes - make sure you have some in your case!
Not so sure, i have travelled upper class in trainers!
So you've all read the article and have an idea of how to increase your chances of an upgrade? Well, don't waste your time trying any of this with the Check-In Desk. Turn that charm on with the staff who you see as you board the plane. It takes them 10 seconds to issue you with the new boarding passes, that allow you to turn left!
My tips:-
Dress Smart
Ask just before you board
Be nice
Say it's a special occassion.
I got upgraded to business class when i was in trainers, baggy jeans and a t-shirt... did not ask they just did it. My of my friends again same thing but got business class with a bed
Why have we started this thread again? Why would they give someone with a £500 ticket a £2000 ticket - just by asking? Yes you can ask but i don't think they will.
...
The thread title and hook reads.... Report Flight Upgrade Successes
The body text blurb reads.... This is the place to post Flight Upgrade Success/Failure
I look forward to the fully researched article that concludes that on a thread where MSE'rs were asked to report flight upgrade success and failure, more MSE'rs reported success.
The MSE Dictionary Loophole - A word used to entice people to read clearly written Terms and Conditions. Rip Off - Clearly written Terms and Conditions. Terms and Conditions - Otherwise known as a loophole or a rip off.
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I have flown hundreds of times, and just recently came back from a trip around the world (GLA--LHR-IAD-SFO-LAX-NAN-AKL-SYD-MEL-SYD-SIN-BKK-NRT-LHR-GLA) and was flying Star Alliance airlines. I'm a Gold Member of Star Alliance through BMI.
I was not upgraded once, on any of my flights with Air New Zealand or Singapore Airlines.
However, on my outbound flight from LHR-IAD, with Virgin, I was upgraded to Premium Economy, because of a problem with my ticket and because I had to wait 40 minutes at a desk to check in (they obviously took pity on me, but I didn't mind either way). I was also upgraded to First Class with Virgin America from IAD-SFO - and to this day, have never been told why.
Moral of this story - my Gold Star Alliance status means nothing for upgrades, because I always travel on the lowest fare possible (NSFU).
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So lets summarise so far the reasons for successful upgrades.
MancBrel does not gives an example and gives very bad advice
"Ask as you board the plane"
Op upgrades:- Being in the right place at the right time given to sturll:- I doubt very much the "it's my birthday" actually made any difference ollyno1Uk Travelling by his\herself, this can help cundall Not even dressed smart, so blows that "myth"
gulife Twice out of 14 flights despite being a top tier *A member
Knowing an airline employee robot100 's grandparents Just lucky.
My examples: I am bmi GOLD Op upgrades :- Did not ask Did not dress smart, did not turn up early\late
1) Upgraded (Econ to BUS)whilst sat in the lounge (as a SILVER member)
Short haul domestic flight, only two cabins, no real bonus.
2) Upgraded at the gate as I presented my BP before walking down the tunnel TO the aircraft.
Short haul domestic flight, only two cabins, aircraft change,bonus was 50" pitch on the seats.
Voucher upgrades:- Presented a voucher at check in.
1) Man-Barbados Econ Saver to Premium Econ FAILED, no availability
Barbados-MAN Econ to Premium econ Two vouchers, me and the missus. 45" pitch seats, better food.
2) Midhaul Econ to Business both outbound and return successes
50" pitch seat, Unlimited booze, Champagne and caviare on the flight back....
Knowing an airline employee
1) Work colleague son upgraded us on BA to WT from LHR to SIN
Only found out at checkin. More space
I was on a flight back from the US, they had overbooked & were looking for people to come off the flight, I was going to do that but then they had enough volunteers. Anyway as I got on the flight I was asked if I would mind changing my seats so that a father & daughter could sit together. I said no problem as I headed towards the back of the plane to my new Economy seat, and then jokingly said to the Flight Attendant - "First class would have been nicer". Anyway, just before the plane takes off, the Flight Attendant came to tell me that "my upgrade had been confirmed" So from Chicago to London on American Airlines I got to fly first class!! Sooooooo cool.
Hi All,
We (hubby and I) must be one of the very few people that got an upgrade just by asking and having a laugh with the check in chap! We didn’t know until we got to the departure lounge and our boarding passes were taken off us, and a new seat number scribbled on in BA Club World (not first class) but still with a flat bed! It was actually the best flight we ever had with BA and we were really grateful for the upgrade!
The only other time we’ve gotten an upgrade was on a JFK to LHR where we had missed the flight due to a delyed cruise ship docking in New York and then Virgin told us we couldn't have the same seats on the next flight. We promptly found a telephone and called the Virgin flying club telephone number and I think my exact words were “I will take this up with Richard upon our return to the UK”! I don’t know whether it was the English accent or sounding as though we knew Richard Branson, but when we boarded the plane a lovely lady rushed on behind us and asked if we would move into the next cabin ie into Upper Class! Again, we thoroughly enjoyed it!
However, I would say that both times we were upgraded from Premium Economy/World Traveller Plus to Business Class/Upper Class which says to me that if you’ve paid a little extra to upgrade from cattle class, you stand a better chance of upgrading… but as has already been pointed out, it is a bit of luck rather than a dead cert!
I've been very lucky having been upgraded 4 times though all for slightly different reasons. I've also travelled with others as part of a big party and twice some of the party have been upgraded. Details are :
1. Me and my partner were flying to New York for the first time (on Feb 14) on Virgin. We just chanced it and asked if there was any chance of an upgrade as it was our first trip to the US and it was Valentines Day. The desk staff were lovely and upgraded us to what was then the new Premium Economy.
2. Myself and a collegue (as well as some other people from our industry) were flown to New York for work. My colleague's sister worked for BA and got us upgraded to Club World. They warned us that we would have to have whatever food was left over but we could have the seats. Once in they got us a lot of food and a pack of the things given out in First Class! So I flew Business Class for free as I hadn't even paid for the economy seat!
3. For our honeymoon my wife and I booked Premium Economy flights to San Francisco so we could have more room and book our seats online in advance (something you couldn't do then on economy tickets) as it was over 10 hours and my wife was pregnant. 24 hours before the lfight we settled down to check ourselves in, except Premium Economy was full and they had allocated us seats about 4 rows apart! We turned up at Glasgow Airport where I pointed out it was our honeymoon (we even took our wedding certificate) and my wife being pregnant and they were lovely and upgraded us to business class - with the flat beds. It was fantastic - got to use the lounge at Heathrow too which is great!
4. Business trip coming back from Las Vegas via Los Angeles there was a problem with the plane (Delta) so we were going to be tight for our connection to a Virgin flight. Delta said they'd ring ahead and sort it either see if we would make it or get us booked o nthe next flight. When we arrived at LAX for some reason nothing had been done. Delta blamed Virgin, Virgin blamed Delta. We had to be put up overnight in a hotel and were given food vouchers etc and told we would be on the 2pm or something flight. We spent the day site seeing and turned up for the flight....to find we weren't on it. Same Delta/Virgin battle ensued and frankly we were treated really badly by the Virgin staff who didn't seem willing or able to do anything as it was 'Delta's fault'. Finally a pregnant member of our group had had enopugh and just started screaming and burst into tears. Cue upgrade, wheelchair and great service. Still think though that our inconvenience and the bad service far outweighed the upgrade we got, made me think twice about Virgin.
As for other instances, on the outward trip to Las Vegas above one of our party was late for the flight and got offered an upgrade as he was 'alone' and dressed smart (and some may say is handsome) which he took and then gave to the person in our party who was pregnant.
On the return leg of my second upgrade above we flew back on Virgin and the flight was overbooked, I had checked in but the 6 people behind me from our party got offered an upgrade on the next flight (only 2 hours later) AND a pair of free return flights anywhere on the Virgin Network! Iwent back and offered to give up my seat but it was too late.
One thing I will say, based on UK to US flights, is asking for an upgrade here was ok and it worked, being ppolite, having an excuse etc all helped. Staff on both BA and Virgin were very friendly and helpful. However asking for an upgrade in the US - the home of smiley customer service - or even just help, was like asking to kill their first born, they were so rude and derrogatory, I'd never even bother now.
My best is wife & I getting upgraded to Business on KLM Amsterdam to Lima, while flying on Flying Blue award tickets! Were told 'we haven't upgraded you for a while'. Definitely more likely to get an upgrade if you're in higher tier frequent flyer; I had indefinite KLM 'Royal' status as a PR gesture after they really messed me around, until the Air France takeover.
Is there a forum for 'hints & tips' on how to get the best out of FF programmes? Met one of the architects of BA Miles one time, and he suggested booking four American Airlines US domestic first class tickets was the quickest/cheapest way to get to BA Gold status; apparently you could get the full first class tier points even on a discount ticket.
Hardly the height of luxury, but I managed to get an upgrade from cattle class to 'premium economy' (or whatever they call it) with BA coming back from Seattle.
I don't know if it's repeatable and it could be a bit risky on a full flight, but I was late getting to the gate and they only had a few people left to board. I asked how much it would cost to upgrade (I think it was about $150) and because this was better than they'd offered at check-in, and I *desperately* wanted a chance of getting a little sleep, I got my credit card out. Anyway, at that moment the woman on the boarding desk got told to get a move on, so she didn't have time to take my card payment, so she just printed my new boarding pass and let me go for free. I don't know if they'd run out of economy seats anyway, but it's the one and only time I've got an upgrade so I thought it was worth mentioning.
Why do these threads always get loads of 'first-and-only' posters?
Because they have already made things up to tell their friends when they got home from their trips, to make them jealous, it is easy to repeat them for us all to hear.
One of my favourite stories is an upgrade to First Class on a BA 747 from SFO to NYC, apparently it is a regular flight.
So dates of upgrade, airline and flight numbers would be appreciated.
Last edited by richardw; 20-08-2008 at 6:16 PM..
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I have never asked for an upgrade but many years ago flying economy on business from LAX to LHR on Virgin was upgraded to Premium economy at the desk. She looked at me and said "are you wearing shoes?" . I thought how odd- I would hardly be barefoot! The plane must have been full I guess.
Anyway I was well chuffed with this but when I got on the plane, there was someone in my seat also with a BC with the same seat no. I thought I was out of luck and would have to go to the back of the plane but when I complained (politely) to the attendant she immediately led me into Upper Class where I was spoilt rotten for the duration.
I could not believe my luck - I have still not come across anyone else who has had a "double bump" in this way and I can't see it happening again.
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps. Take care over copyright. Use excerpts and links rather than copying long text. This site asserts copyright on all comments posted on the board.
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.
Report Flight Upgrade Successes
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