Flight Upgrades

leeegglestone

I have just been reading the tips to boost your chances of a Flight upgrade.

I am a member of the KLM Blue scheme, although havent got my Card yet, just the Number.
Will the airline automaticallyk now from my booking that im a member, without me showing the Card.

If I write SFU (suitable for upgrade) or CIP (commercially important passenger)
ony my E-Ticket Receipt that i will present at Check In or on Boarding Card.

Do you think it would do much good

Theres only me and my Mam, we are flying from
Durham Tees Valley - Amsterdam
Amsterdam - JFK

I will get my Boarding Pass for Amst-JFK in Durham Tees.
plus i will be doin the online Check In, will this reduce my chances lol

Lee

stoneman

The only way to guarentee an upgrade is to pay for it!! There are loads of old wives tales about the best way to get one( telling them you are a doctor, dress smart, etc.) but the check in staff has heard them all, the only reason for them to upgrade anyone is if the flight has been overbooked, which doesn't happen very often, so the most likely to get bumped is the last people to check in

LB1985

leeegglestone wrote:

If I write SFU (suitable for upgrade) or CIP (commercially important passenger) ony my E-Ticket Receipt that i will present at Check In or on Boarding Card.

No - it won't make a difference. Write what you like on the e-ticket receipt, but it won't tie up with what their system says.

Also - having KLM Blue membership won't make a difference either, I expect. You won't have any form of frequent traveller status on it.

richardw

AMS-JFK isn't that long, KLM is a good airline you should be OK in economy.

Bob63

stoneman wrote:

the only reason for them to upgrade anyone is if the flight has been overbooked, which doesn't happen very often, so the most likely to get bumped is the last people to check in

Wrong on two points I'm afraid.

Overbooking of economy on a three class aircraft happens a lot.

The people who get upgraded most frequently are the ones with high status e.g. with an airline gold card or who are paying full fare economy.

The way it works is business class passengers get bumped up to first to fill all the available seats, then the high status and full fare economy passengers get bumped up to business class so that they can fill economy class to the brim with fare paying passengers. Result - although business and first contain people who didn't pay to sit in that class, the whole aircraft is full of people who paid to fly.

How do I know? From doing 70+ transatlantic return trips. My airline gold cards are literally worth their weight in gold to me because the of the number of complimentary upgrades that I get.

Mike

richardw

No first class on this route on KLM Mike, world business class only.

Bob63

richardw wrote:

No first class on this route on KLM Mike, world business class only.

OK, but the same principle applies. If they don't sell all their seats in business class then the people who get bumped up are, in order of preference:

1. People willing to pay for an upgrade using miles or cash
2. People with gold status
3. People paying full fare economy
4. Anyone else the airline takes a fancy to if the other criteria aren't met

saveapenny

SFU and CIP Have to be added by the airline in the endorsement box's and then its only upto the check in staff. It helps if you have a friendly Travel Agent who books your tickets