Flight upgrades - BA automated check-in

blindman

This old thread has advice re upgrades.

Hope you enjoy the flight.

mystic_trev

Most upgrades are now done at "the gate" and preference is given to single travellers, as this is usually the best way of reorganising the cabin.

Cardew

With a few exceptions, most airlines will not upgrade passengers until their economy cabin is full.

They then have rules about the order of priority for upgrading – higher status frequent fliers, full fare economy etc etc. That is not to say that the check-in desk clerks cannot use their discretion to vary that priority; but the chances of getting an upgrade on long haul these days is pretty slim.

iceliquid

muzzle wrote:

Looks like we'll just have to sit where they put us!

Thanks again for the advice.

I think, for now, thats the best bet. Thought for some reason that "we're sorry we've reached the allocated number of seats" thing does change.


Anyway, say you get something like 45ef.. ie



___ ___ ___ ___ xxx xxx ___ ___ ___ ___


or heaven forbid......seated NOT together


xxx ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ xxx ___ ___ ___


While most people quake at the thought....this could (and from experiance) works in your favour. When presented with this option the check in assistant will say that "you's are not seated together"

Cue you and you wife "oh no...no this is a special trip/nervous flyer" we would like to be seated together. Check-in calls "the out of sight office" :rolleyes: and the seats are changed to either goods ones (business) or together in a bulkhead/emergency exit.

Doppleganger

muzzle wrote:

Some really helpful stuff there - thanks everyone.

We'd originally booked with Zoom,

ZOOM!! aaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :mad:

Good luck with the wedding and VERY GOOD LUCK with zoom

brettles

The 'here' link by iceliquid (above) is a little mystrious.

It leads to a US site called 'airlines of the world'. I checked a flight to SA...turned out to be £72+ cheaper (at current xchange rate) than expedia.co.uk and lastminute.com.

So I looked to see if there was a uk site...nice to have someone to sue if it goes wrong. Well there is one....https://www.flyaow.co.uk

BUT tried to get the same flight and the site doesn't seem to think Johannesburg exists...! Not listed as a SA airport.

I'd be interested to know if anyone has used this site...either US or UK and what there experiences are?

WiseInvestor_2

iceliquid wrote:

Cue you and you wife "oh no...no this is a special trip/nervous flyer" we would like to be seated together. Check-in calls "the out of sight office" :rolleyes: and the seats are changed to either goods ones (business) or together in a bulkhead/emergency exit.

Sadly, as has already been explained, too many people have used these excuses in the past which have only served to destroy the flexibility for the genuine travellers!

The airlines have realised they've wasted a fortune over the years by giving free upgrades as passengers purposefully book a lower class knowing they can request/demand an upgrade on the day! On the main thread, others have suggested showing a little knowledge of 'the system' during check-in, but actually this only serves to make you look like a regular free-loader!

Check-in / gate staff will now 'pass the buck' to the cabin crew who may or may not be willing to ask adjacent passengers on your behalf once on board

Cardew

iceliquid wrote:

While most people quake at the thought....this could (and from experiance) works in your favour. When presented with this option the check in assistant will say that "you's are not seated together"

Cue you and you wife "oh no...no this is a special trip/nervous flyer" we would like to be seated together. Check-in calls "the out of sight office" :rolleyes: and the seats are changed to either goods ones (business) or together in a bulkhead/emergency exit.

I suggest they are far more likely to move/upgrade a single passenger to allow a couple to sit together.

If you go on the frequent flyer forums you will see just how few people get 'free' upgrades; and these are the people who have 'Elite' frequent flyer status and know all the tricks.

It does cost the airlines a few pounds extra to cater for First Class passengers, and of course the cabin crew have no wish to look after extra passengers in a crowded First Class cabin.

arealhighlander

BA especially seem to like keeping their First and Club World cabins "elite" - well, not really elite, you pays your money you gets your seat. If I had paid double fair for a Club seat and then the filled it with people from Economy I would not be well chuffed.

I have been flying for several years now, and in the last 2 years have been flying every month between UK and Egypt.

Last trip home I was upgraded from Traveller Plus to Club, my first ever upgrade. And that was because the plane was very busy. On the plane, they have the passenger list - which also lists what type of ticket you are flying on as well as your Frequent Flyer status.

When it comes to upgrades on the plane, they go through the list and work their way down (e.g if you have a Gold card and you are in Economy there is a VERY good chance you will at least get to Traveller Plus, if not Club).

So, there is not a lot you can do about it, join the FF programme for the airline you DEFINATELY should do, dress smart, if there is anything wrong with your seat, anything broken or not working, point is out to the cabin staff and ask if there is any chance of another seat.

The last thing I would do is ask for an upgrade.

If you are booking through an agency, see if they can mark you down as SFU (Suitable For Upgrade) or MVP (Most Valuable Passenger, LoL) as this too is marked on the passenger sheet that the cabin crew have.

Murphy_The_Cat

Nobody has said anything on this thread from the perspective of a first class/business class passenger.

Sadly i have never flown first class/business class, but i know that if i have spent £6658.50 (incl tax) - yep thats right over 6 & 1/2 grand to travel first class from London to New York i would be absolutely p***ed off is some sweaty oik from cattle class who had paid only £310.50 (incl tax) was getting exactly the same service/munchies/seats that I was !

I wonder how much pressure has been applied by First/Business class frequent fliers about upgrades being handed around in the past

MTC

p.s. all the above fares taken from BA.com for random dates. First class fare is flexible, Cattle class fare is fixed.

p.p.s. posted at the same time as above poster !