Free flight upgrades discussion

Cardew

You are extremely lucky that US Immigration let you enter the USA.

Little_Ettchy wrote: »

Only because you and Hammy haven't the balls to try it! :rolleyes:

I have always thought that 'Hammy' was a Knight of the Realm - I believe I met him at my investiture;) - so wouldn't need to lie!

MKB

A few points I would change/correct in the article:

(1) It's setting expectations a bit too high to use the sub-heading "Business Class. Big possibly flat seat, luxury food & service". British Airways, for example, has cut back so far on the food and service in Club World, that I've had better in economy on other airlines, even in the recent past. Even the food in their First cabin is no longer "luxury" by any normal understanding of the term.

(2) If this is a serious guide to how to get an upgrade, there really should be a reference to the vast bank of useful knowledge at flyertalk.com.

(3) On some airlines, such as BA, it's possible to buy long-haul upgrades on the plane itself if there are seats available and subject to the discretion of the CSD (senior flight attendant), but without the additional frequent flyer point earning that would normally come with that cabin.

(4) The YUP, KUP, QUP, etc. fares in the US are NOT "special full-price economy tickets", and, in my experience, they're far from being "fully flexible." Despite the first letter of the fare basis code indicating an economy fare, they are in fact no different to any other discounted first-class fare (booking into something like A or P class on domestic US flights, but varies by airline). They are usually much cheaper than a fully flexible economy fare.

(5) The article says "If you're likely to fly BMI or one of its partner airlines often and especially if you're near its East Midlands airport base..." As someone who lives close to EMA, I can assure you this is of little use with bmi (-- annoyingly, they don't capitalise their name.) Since the birth of bmibaby several years ago, bmi do not use EMA as a hub, currently having just Cologne and Brussels (iirc) as routes served from there. Also, one should differentiate between partner airlines who are fellow Star Alliance members where Diamond Club status might, in some rare instances, be recognised when prioritising upgrades, and non-Star Alliance partners, who wouldn't even know one's Diamond Club status.

(6) The "Seat pitch comparison" table refers to a 38" premium economy pitch at American Airlines. AA don't do premium economy and never have. They used to have entire economy cabins with 38" seat pitch (or was it 36"? - I forget) during their "More Room Throughout Coach" campaign, but that ended a few years ago.

(7) One of the cheapest ways of accessing airport lounges is to apply for an American Express Platinum chargecard, at a cost of £300 per year. Not only will this get two people a Priority Pass (lounge access) card for a year, it will also get comprehensive annual worldwide travel insurance for up to six people and each of their partners and their children.

blindman

MSE_Martin wrote: »

To answer the question "where does martin says its thoroughly researched." I don't say this anywhere in this article or any I write - nor have I ever seen it written in the Times or the FT as part of their articles.

I'm a professional journalist and am very lucky that I also have a professional team backing me up. This article, like all articles was based on research from a number of sources, some for anecdotal evidence did indeed come from this forum, other info came from travel experts, the airlines press offices as well as general source and data research. When we do an article, we work hard to make it as accurate and authoritative as possible.

MSE Dan said it was thoroughly researched as mentioned in an earlier post by Cardew

If it was then how come this part about bmi is wrong on three counts?

You need to rack up 56,000 miles over two years to get gold membership.

If you were to start from 0 status miles then you need 57k miles as this well researched article on Flyertalk points out.

This could be done in well less than 1 year and some FF do this in months

but it offers free upgrades to all Silver (& Gold) members where they're available.

Only available to Gold and only one cabin class upgrade from Economy to either Business (Two class flight) or Premium Economy (three class flight).
Also (in theory) it will only happen 4 times as the upgrades require vouchers and new golds only get 4 or these

I appreciate your sterling work on loads of moneysaving matters, I have saved and "earned" a lot however I think you are straying out of your comfort zone here.

richardw

blindman wrote: »

you are straying out of your comfort zone here.

especially when you have https://www.flyertalk.com that does the Frequent Flyer job so very well.

Locoblade

Blimey, judging by the comments on here I didn't realise how lucky we were to get an upgrade when we flew with BA to St Lucia on our honeymoon last month!

We'd booked premium economy tickets and the wife of a work colleague offered to try and get us upgraded as she works for BA. When we checked in online we saw we still had PE seats so assumed she hadn't managed to upgrade us, but when we arrived to check in our luggage, we cheekily asked anyway and were upgraded to First Class!

After returning home (in cattle class!) we found out from the colleagues wife that although she hadnt been able to upgrade us directly, she had put a note on the booking to allocate us an upgrade if one was available, so I guess the "Ask friends who work for the airline to pull strings" can be confirmed as a good ploy, because Im not convinced us simply asking at the desk was the only reason for the upgrade.

samhale

Can't agree with the comment in the guide that sitting near the emergency exit has no drawbacks-on one US flight I was assigned the seat near the overwing exit and was pleased with the extra leg room until I realised that my seat cushion was at least three inches thinner than even the other two in the same row. Perhaps I was sitting on the first aid box- I certainly needed it by the end of the flight. I vowed to remeber the plane model but unfortunately have forgotten it . Anyone else had this experience?

Cardew

samhale wrote: »

Can't agree with the comment in the guide that sitting near the emergency exit has no drawbacks-on one US flight I was assigned the seat near the overwing exit and was pleased with the extra leg room until I realised that my seat cushion was at least three inches thinner than even the other two in the same row. Perhaps I was sitting on the first aid box- I certainly needed it by the end of the flight. I vowed to remeber the plane model but unfortunately have forgotten it . Anyone else had this experience?

Certainly there are some disadvantages of exit row seats. Most of these are listed in Seat Guru which shows each configuration of aircraft for all the airlines.

Many are narrower because the tray is stored in the armrest, some have limited or no recline. There are those near the toilet/galley where it is noisy and it smells! also passengers congregating by your feet.
On the 767/300 it can get extremely cold.

On the other hand most of us would trade these disadvantages for the extra legroom.

CassWebb

It was interesting to read Little Ettchy's comment regarding the use of a title in order to be offered an upgrade. Both we and American Airlines usually offer upgrades to a passenger(s) - if space allows - where they are titled and are booked in economy. I know that Continental also does the same. Similarly, if one books a flight plus hotel deal through Continental, the appearance of a title on the booking form will, more often than not, have it's rewards. We Americans love the British aristocracy and most hotels would offer rewards galore just to be able to say they had a Sir, Lord, Earl, or whatever staying with them and will use upgrades, freebies, complimentaries, etc to keep them coming back.

I can't condone the using of a title in such a way. But if it works for him, and he isn't actually saying he's titled, then the cheeky chappie's found a 'loophole' which, when all is said and done, does no harm and breaks no laws. However, having said that, from now on I will ensure that I, and my team, will ask anyone with a title on their form if it's genuine or a simple error.

With regard to Cardew's comment, re US immigration not allowing Little Ettchy into the country, they wouldn't see the booking form and so would have no reason or cause to prevent his entry.

HeimRoller

I can vouch for the "ask nicely at check in" approach. I have had a couple of upgrades to business from a cheap economy ticket. The first was with bmi, I had a joke and a laugh with the check in girl when I first approached the desk and was generally polite and friendly. We got up a good rapport. I then mentioned that I travelled frequently with BA but wanted to try something different, I also then said that BA no longer have a business class section in domestic but that I had heard bmi still did even though it was unlikely that I would see it, she replied "oh you never know", smiled at me and gave me a boarding pass in business! Did similar on a long haul flight and had the same reward! I didn't specifically ask for an upgrade but made it obvious that one would be nice!

As an aside the bmi scheme is very good, and I have rattled up miles rapdily with them by taking advantage of offers, credit card etc.

keletubbie

Upgrades can and do happen.

I have been upgraded from cattle class to first with BA simply by being in the right place at the right time. I showed up on time and chipped for a flight to Washington DC, quite scruffily dressed (I am a journalist, I don't dress to impress much!) and our entire scruffy party was upgraded thanks to being polite friendly and good natured.

Interested to hear that staff can put notes on accounts... flying to NYC next month on a cheapie ticket, but the girl I am travelling with has relatives at the airline. I'll have to have a few words and prmise to bring sweeties back for her little ones!