Getting upgrades

comeandgo

Never been upgraded to first class but have had front row seats or emergency exits but it helps knowing some of the crew. Regularly get hotel upgrades as I use them so often both for holidays and work.

zagfles

Where are you going? In the US hotel upgrades (or price discounts) are fairly easy to negotiate. Flights unlikely, but they might give you a freebee eg champagne.

kizkiz

I've actually managed two recently out of the three flights I've taken
The first was coming back from New York to Heathrow. Got upgraded from WT to WT+. Only found out when handed our boarding cards. I'm 2m tall, so always pay extra for a bulk head/fire exit seat. The bulkheads in WT are also the only spot for a baby cot. We think a family with baby needed the seat so we got moved up as the flight was full, but really have no idea why.


The second was aerlingus. First time I have flown with them, and discovered I cannot physically sit in their seats! So little leg room it is ridiculous. I was ok going, as the other half and kiddie werein the same row, so I sat sideways with arm rest up.
Coming back we could not all get the same row. Had a word with the stewardess, and she moved us up to the front. I had no idea that a tiny Aerlingus plane had another class! Much more room and practically nobody there. We actually had 3 rows between three of us!

EssexExile

Like Kizkiz I don't actually fit in the tiny seats so always pay to sit nearer the front. Having said that I've been moved even further forward on a couple of occasions. I've no idea why, perhaps me & the missus just look like we belong there

Doshwaster

MasterPoo wrote: »

I think the general "rule" is that you are most likely to get an Operational Upgrade if you're a single traveller and sometimes when there is two of you.

And when they do need to upgrade someone then they almost always choose someone with elite status in their frequent flyer scheme. I'm Silver with BA/One World have have got the occasional one class upgrade (WT to WTP or WTP to Club) but never yet managed to get into First.

A couple who don't have any status stand virtually zero chance of being upgraded just because it's their wedding anniversary. It's the sort of request they must get hundreds of times a day. You'd be better off concentrating on getting the hotel upgraded - you can have a lot more fun in a hotel suite than a business class seat!

bylromarha

Myself, my 10 year old and my 8 year old were upgraded this summer. 3 people upgraded, 2 of them kids. I was wearing trainers and denim crops. Kids were wearing hoodies.

I joined the frequent flyer scheme before we flew - first flight ever with the airline.

No rhyme nor reason to it - just very grateful!

Downside is daughter now wants to travel in business when we fly next time as she got a chef cooking exactly what she wanted to eat, she had a bed to lie in while she watched what she wanted on the TV and she had 5 hot chocolates!

More details on this thread if you want to know company and thoughts as to why we were upgraded.

dondo

When we flew on our honeymoon a few years back I tried my luck and all got was seat with extra legroom with American Airlines to Boston, which was still good being 6' 3".

Only time it's happened hotel wise was following a complaint I made and manager said I could get a free upgrade next time I stayed- which they did and very nice it was too

pelirocco

We have had some great free hotel upgrades , my husband always asks nicely. We got upgraded to Hyde Park View suite at Grovesnor Hotel once ( and that was without asking )!

Its my understanding that airlines dont have much problem selling better class seats so very unlikely you'd get a free upgrade although I have known it happen to friends once , but he was a very very frequent flyer so i guess that helped

InsideInsurance

Airlines its very rare, the only times I've had it is when they've messed up and then the smaller the number you are the better the chance as seats arent necessarily going to be together and the higher tier you are with the airline the more chance it has of happening.

Upgrades in hotels are more common and you can on occasion go from a small room to a large suite. In Dublin we booked the 2nd lowest room grade but was given a named suite (its unclear the pecking order of each of the suites but there were junior, suite and deluxe suite before you got to the named rooms)

You may also find the hotel may put flowers/ champagne or such in the room or do something for you. When we were in Dubai for our first anniversary we had an upgrade but that was part of our rate but there was champagne in the room when we arrived and each evening they delivered a chocolate cake after dinner, which was a tad excessive amounts of cake (taking a full 16" type thing not just a slice or such)

The challenge can be getting the hotel to acknowledge its a special event and it is where using agents sometimes can help more than just booking via hotels.com or such. Certainly the travel booker I use they blunderbus the place with a phone call, on the booking request and an email to the general manager too. Certainly seems to help.

sazaccount

Hi,

I don't really know anything about being upgraded on flights, but as a hotel receptionist, if you put something on your booking to make them aware that its your anniversary. eg would like to book a table in advance on XX to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary so its not saying give me an upgrade (If I see that on a booking and we are offering upgrades they wont be my first choice) and its not asking for something free but they are aware.

If not upgraded ask at check in, please dont demand it, be polite, charming and dont hassle the receptiontists. We really dont like it one of the hotels I worked in in australia if they were aware they would put some chocolates in the room. where I currently work the HSK do lovely arrangements in the room. it may not be a lot but it puts smiles on peoples faces when they walk in :j