Purchasing Last Minute Upgrades @ Heathrow with BA - Possible?

19lottie82

My Dad who is a very frequent flyer with BA, has booked flights for my DH and I, from Glasgow to Heathrow and onwards to San Francisco, in April, using his Avios.

When we get to Heathrow, would it be worth asking if there are any "deals" on upgrades for the leg to SF? If so, where would we ask? As, we won't have to "check in" again at Heathrow. And any ideas what we might expect to pay?

I know this is a long shot, but if there were reasonable options available, I wouldn't mind paying.

Any advice would be welcome!

Mands

19lottie82 wrote: »

My Dad who is a very frequent flyer with BA, has booked flights for my DH and I, from Glasgow to Heathrow and onwards to San Francisco, in April, using his Avios.

When we get to Heathrow, would it be worth asking if there are any "deals" on upgrades for the leg to SF? If so, where would we ask? As, we won't have to "check in" again at Heathrow. And any ideas what we might expect to pay?

I know this is a long shot, but if there were reasonable options available, I wouldn't mind paying.

Any advice would be welcome!

Upgrading from what cabin? There's a long-running thread on FlyerTalk where people list the price they've been offered for airport upgrades.

There's no WT to WTP price listed for LHR to SFO but for WTP to CW £599, per person per sector, looks to be the norm. For LAX and LAS, so similar-ish distances, people are reporting WT to WTP offers of £209 and £229.

The full thread is here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1568695-airport-upgrade-aup-cost-tracking-thread.html

HTH,
Mands

19lottie82

Hi Mands - Thanks a lot. We are just WT at the moment.......

I'll have a look at the thread, and just chance my arm at the airport I guess!

stoneman

I don't think you can upgrade tickets purchased with Avios.
There is sometimes same day upgrades for cash available but almost no chance of upgrading from WT to WT+ as the latter is the smallest cabin and the biggest earner for BA because it is constantly oversold
Your best bet is to try and book exit seats in WT. They become available from between 14 and 4 days out, unless a Gold has nabbed it first

HHarry

I wanted to do the same in September. I spent hours on Flyertalk, but the conclusion was that the oppurtunity for paid upgrades at the airport can be limited, and so I bit the bullet and upgraded about 6 weeks before we left.

We flew LHR-SFO-LAX-LHR. Originally we booked WT at £800 each (CW was £2200), when I called to upgrade the additonal fare was still only £1400.
Interestingly it was cheaper to upgrade for both flights, than it was to just upgrade on the return.

Doshwaster

At Heathrow there is often a dedicated upgrade desk where you can ask to see what is available. Nothing it guaranteed though.

19lottie82

Thanks, some food for thought here.

I installed the BA app on to my iPhone, apparently you can get upgrade offers through that nearer the time, so I will keep my eye out.

TBH I don't think I'd bother upgrading to WT+ unless it was really cheap (I've flown in it before and it was OK but I wasn't that impressed?), maybe £150 each one way, tops. Is it possible to upgrade from WT - Business Class (Club?)? Or can you only go up one tier?

Anyway, I doubt I will be able to get an upgrade to BC for what I'm willing to pay, maybe £600 each, but it's worth a bash I guess.

Thanks again!

Caz3121

£600 appears to be the rate from WT+ to CW. Don't believe you can buy a 2 class upgrade at Heathrow, I have seen posts where they say 1 class only

Mands

19lottie82 wrote: »

Thanks, some food for thought here.

I installed the BA app on to my iPhone, apparently you can get upgrade offers through that nearer the time, so I will keep my eye out.

TBH I don't think I'd bother upgrading to WT+ unless it was really cheap (I've flown in it before and it was OK but I wasn't that impressed?), maybe £150 each one way, tops. Is it possible to upgrade from WT - Business Class (Club?)? Or can you only go up one tier?

Anyway, I doubt I will be able to get an upgrade to BC for what I'm willing to pay, maybe £600 each, but it's worth a bash I guess.

Thanks again!

Some people do get offered two-cabin airport upgrades ... but if WT to WTP is £200 and WTP to Club is £600 then you'd have to be *really* lucky for someone to offer you WT to Club for sub £600.

A word of advice on the app: sometimes the upgrade offers there behave oddly. I've had an offer on one upcoming flight for ages but it only shows if I force refresh the booking, even if the app has refreshed the data. So, if you get an offer and go away to think about it, come back and find the offer is gone it could still be there.

That said I'd do as Stoneman says and buy exit row seats and then you know you've got an ok seat at a price you're comfortable with.

Are you on the A380 btw?

Mands

SW17

19lottie82 wrote: »

I installed the BA app on to my iPhone, apparently you can get upgrade offers through that nearer the time, so I will keep my eye out.

If they are offering you an upgrade, you will be able to see it when you go into the booking via the BA website as well. I get them offered regularly, usually from about 14 days out, though more often on short-haul flights. Don't think I've been offered one on an Avios booking, but I don't make so many of those.

loobs40

I recently asked at check in the price of upgrade from WT on a flight to New York. I decided that it was too expensive and didn't bother. At the gate I was offered a free upgrade to WT+

Coincidence?