Buying Flight Upgrades discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence · 19 August 2008 at 4:39PM

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Buying Flight Upgrades

as part of the

How to get a flight upgrade guide

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Amimarsh · 20 August 2008 at 8:35AM

Some years ago, at a travel show, a representative of Continental Airlines told me that IT fares were the way to go. So, I inquired at the travel agents, when booking, and found that, simply by making our trip to the US an "inclusive tour" we got business class seats (guaranteed) at a much cheaper price. IT, in our case, meant that we had to prebook, through the agent, at least 2 nights in a hotel in the USA. It could have meant other things: car hire was one of them. We have used this since. We also got double frequent flyer points. It only seems to apply to flights to the USA, but I could be wrong. This was about 6 years ago and things may have changed.

This reduced the cost by about 40%. And the hotel rates were reduced ones, too!

richardw · 20 August 2008 at 8:38AM

Amimarsh wrote: »

It only seems to apply to flights to the USA, but I could be wrong. This was about 6 years ago and things may have changed.

It doesn't. IT fares are available on many routes and in economy class. Call travel agents for assistance in finding them.

guima · 20 August 2008 at 9:50AM

Hi,
FYI, BA offers flight upgrades for a fraction of the price. I fly regularly both on business and economy. Recently I flew to Madrid on economy, I did not need a flexible flight that particular time so no point of paying premium. My return ticket cost me about £60 directly on BA site. A few days later I bought an upgrade to business. It gives me the right to change flight details up to 24 (or 48) hours before departure and I get to fly in the business section of the plane. For this benefit I paid extra £60. Not bad!

cookie9 · 20 August 2008 at 9:56AM

I have been upgraded on UK domestic flights - I think it helped that I was a member of the frquent flyer scheme (even if I didn't have many points), I was travelling alone and was fairly smartly dressed. I was given the upgrade at the departure gate. ( Assume economy overbooked and business had spare seats). Tip - if you do not qualify for the frequent flyer programme because your tickets are not full fare economy or higher then look at the frequent flyer programmes of affliated airlines eg Star Alliance as you may find they are more relaxed about qualifying flights.

I asked for and received an upgrade flying to Nice as I had a fully flexible economy tickets which was valued higher than the restricted business class ticket. Worthwhile to check the value of your ticket against restricted business class.

Not an upgrade but when flying within UK and relaxed about my arrival time I have recieved compention for taking a later flight. ( Flights every hour so not too much of an inconvenience). Tip - if this may be of interest to you then sk if the flight is busy when you check in. You may be told at that point that it is and they are looking for volunteers to take a later flight.

Always be polite - an upgrade is privilege not a right.

richardw · 20 August 2008 at 1:21PM

The article says "Don't pay for a short-haul upgrade; business class is rarely that different to economy."

BA has some one-way off peak upgrades on flights to/from Gatwick for about £50, if you are flying at a meal time say 7pm in the evening, you would get a good meal with good wine, so could off set the cost of the upgrade by taking account of the cost of a meal that is included. Also applies to longer sector flights so you have more time to relax.

spv4u · 20 August 2008 at 2:57PM

Hi

I'm going on a Thomas Cook long haul and wondered if there are any tips on getting an upgrade without paying the £150 per person.

I cant see any vouchers on ebay and not sure if they are part of any frequent flyer programmes, any help would be great

Thanks

Mark

:money:

ali1972 · 20 August 2008 at 7:05PM

richardw wrote: »

BA has some one-way off peak upgrades on flights to/from Gatwick for about £50, if you are flying at a meal time say 7pm in the evening, you would get a good meal with good wine, so could off set the cost of the upgrade by taking account of the cost of a meal that is included.

Yes, it's £59 and I've done it several times over the last year. Well worth it for use of the lounge at Gatwick and a few glasses of bubbly to start your holiday off. And on a mid afternoon flight there was a rather nice afternoon tea provided. Not sure it's always worth doing on the way back into Gatwick - depends on the lounge facilities in the airport you're flying out of to some extent.

griff45_2 · 20 August 2008 at 9:30PM

hi have you found detail of actual savings on flights on e bay ??

Tojo_Ralph · 20 August 2008 at 9:41PM

griff45 wrote: »

hi have you found detail of actual savings on flights on e bay ??

To be honest, whilst there are perhaps a dozen restrictive upgrade coupons targeted at the US market available for sale on ebaY.com, I cannot find one single, solitary flight upgrade coupon for sale on ebaY.co.uk? ..... Which begs the question, given that the articles author would have known this, why would they then choose to include an advertisement for ebaY in the article?

jenpetten · 20 August 2008 at 9:47PM

Please can anyone offer any advice on how to get an upgrade on Qantas to Hong Kong then on a separate flight from Hong Kong to Brisbane then on other Qantas flights?

Jempetten

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