Report Flight Upgrade Successes

GlennTheBaker

Blimey, I was only making an observation! My post didn't contain any snide remarks, slaggings-off or anything else for that matter.

Anyway, what's wrong with skin-tight chinos? It is the weekend after all.

situatedness

I have about 600,000 frequent flyer miles between two different programmes (rarely time to use the miles!) and have a fair bit of experience in business and leisure air travel.

I don't like to rain on anyone's parade but in my experience the chance of being upgraded out of the blue, these days, is very low, unless you have some special circumstance. A special circumstance might be that you are travelling with children and they have run out of seats together, etc., in which case they will put you in the next class up.

The reason upgrades are unlikely for 'ordinary' people is that all the major airlines have tiered frequent flyer programmes and if they were going to give away upgrades they would do so to their top tier travellers -- this is complete common sense as these are their best customers.

I feel that the article that spawned this discussion was below Martin's usual standard -- it repeated a lot of stuff about dressing nicely that used to be written in the US thirty years ago (and maybe was valid then).

My bottom line, don't waste your time worrying about upgrades.

Jonathna

TimN

flying to south America. The flight had been heavily delayed and re-routed through washington, plus I was on my honeymoon, which all probably helped. The carrier was American Airlines from Frankfurt to Washington and Washington to Beunos Aires. I gently asked the crew once on board the plane for an upgrade because of our honey moon and they kindly obliged. I had asked the staff who check boarding passes and was told it was company policy not to do upgrades! It's worth perservering and being nice to them!

Lying down on a plane is possibly the greatest luxury there is for a traveller! (apart from arriving on time!)

richardw

situatedness wrote: »

this discussion was below Martin's usual standard -- it repeated a lot of stuff about dressing nicely that used to be written in the US thirty years ago (and maybe was valid then).

My bottom line, don't waste your time worrying about upgrades.

Good to hear your interesting thoughts.

the_tango_doll

I've been upgraded once. It was a short flight from London to Glasgow. I wanted a window seat and was given an aisle seat. I asked if there were any window seats when I boarded the flight and the fellow came back and asked me to follow him.

Next thing, I'm by the window in business class kitted out in my trackies and trainees.

result!

listo

Hi I've just returned from New York flying with BA and was upgraded both ways using the tips I found on this site. :beer:

My wife and I were booked in to premium economy because it was only a little more than economy and it gave us much more free time in New York due to better flight times, as all the economy seats were sold.

To start I joined BA's executive club

Then I made sure I checked in online as soon as I could, online check in opened at 8.20am on xmas day, we were checked in by 8.30am!

Then next day I made sure my wife and I were smart but casually dressed I used a laptop bag as my hand baggage to complete the look. When it came to check in our bags, we were greeted by a gorgeous BA member of staff who made me melt! We were polite and friendly and without any prompting she said in a quietish voice "I have good news you for you, you have been upgraded to business"! I was now in love but thats another story!

Business class was fantastic there is no other way to describe it! You owe it to yourself to try and get upgraded. I f you look and sound like the pitbull who was in the queue next to us, I dont think you have a hope. I'm sure the staff on the desk have the final say.

On the return leg I again checked in online in New York using a computer in the hotel just for that purpose. How many people do this?

When we got to the airport we did the same routine, polite, well dressed etc etc, but the american BA employee was giving nothing away, until right at the last minute she told us she was printing new boarding passes, as we had moved seats.

What a result, upgraded to BA business class both ways free of charge. Many thanks to Martin and all the mods at the MSE. :T

bluejosiah

I was upgraded on a ba flight to Dar es Salaam last year. When I boarded the plane I politely told the steward that it was my birthday (which it was) and asked him if there was any chance I might be upgraded...and I WAS to business class, window seat and spare seat next to me! (Not only that but I hadn't paid a penny for the flight as I had used airmiles collected from the past 15 years+)

Teahfc

I had had double digit upgrades always on Virgin. I pay top ticket price for Premium Economy and picked out for upper class and always when upgraded I have travelled solo. 9/10 it was done at the gate rather than check in. I have me old frequent flyer silver card as my carry on bag tag and ensure it is always on show.

schoolrunmum

Best way to get an upgrade?Make sure you are the Captains wife !!!!!

discoinferno_99

schoolrunmum wrote: »

Best way to get an upgrade?Make sure you are the Captains wife !!!!!

Sounds like a cracking plan to me :j

More credible than a few of the 'stories' of upgrades in this thread too. (Quite a few credible ones too mind you!)