Report Flight Upgrade Successes

blindman

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

danielindiagirl

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.

kazzercruise

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!

Good luck everyone!

scarlets_knees

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.

simon_the_saver

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.

jools0001

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.

GlennTheBaker

Why do these threads always get loads of 'first-and-only' posters?

richardw

GlennTheBaker wrote: »

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.

clairehi

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.

richardw

clairehi wrote: »

but many years ago flying economy

They've probably updated their computer software since then to try and minimise the need to give away free upgrades.