Airline Workers: Top Upgrade Tips Please

patrick0

I've never paid for business or first class before but have been upgraded a few times due to travelling with a partner who worked for an airline (which also allowed for some very cheap flights).

I travelled first with NWA (Heathrow-Detroit-Mexico City) and found having the crew constantly hovering around me quite annoying. Their over-friendliness came across as false. Being able to lie down almost flat was nice but I didn't sleep any longer than what I sleep in economy. Also flew business on Iceland air from LHR-Reykjavik-New York -- was okay but it convinced me business class is overpriced and not worth it (unless your company is paying).

I travel long distance in economy to NZ, Oz and Australia quite frequently and I always go for an aisle seat, take an eye mask, ear plugs and the sleeping pills Boots sell at airports. Airlines will often give you earplugs/eyemask if you ask. I can never sleep if I don't have the combination of all three. Also worth buying a big bottle of water once you get through security as staff are never around in the middle of the night when you're feeling dehydrated. And don't drink more than a glass or two of wine as it's dehydrating.

gingerdad

Airline staff pass works best. though i did go a bit far forward on a Ba flight to Rome, but enjoyed the jump seat.

I would also stress that you should be nice to check in and ticket staff, becasue if you need their help, they won't

We would bend over backwards to help people who were nice, but the ruder (?) you were the less likely we would help.

As far as upgrades go, i have been upgraded 3 times, once on honeymoon, once travelling back from the state in Scout Uniform and just asked, the third time was bumped on a CO flight from DUB-JFK and travelled with AerLingus half an hour later in Business. Did also travel as staff in business all the time usually on the British Midland Heathrow Dublin flights.

Once my mum got upgraded to first on Royal Jordian, but going to the wrong desk, but it was just luck that they were sorting issues on the flight (it was in 1988) and the other time she got upgraded was when she passed out on a flight to Dubai last year.... but wouldn't reccommend that one.

GD

airbus321

I work for a cheapskate airline which positons its crews around the world steerage class. The only reliable method of getting an upgrade is to turn up at checkin in full uniform! Even then it only works sometimes!
When not travelling for the company, I have always found that a polite request at checkin is the best policy for being upgraded, an absolute no-no is travelling with children. Quantas checkin once said to me, "we would love to upgrade you for your flight:rotfl: to Oz, but we can't with the kids" nearly had them adopted there and then!

Twins

- You need to dress smart (they won't upgrade scruffy passengers)
- Be polite to the check in agent
- Ask how busy the the loads are (ie, if there are any empty seats available in club)
- Best chance of being upgrade is if you know someone who works in the Airline!
- If you get off loaded or have to take another flight you have a better chance of being granted an upgrade

cjt105

BA were kind enough to post their policy on the FlyerTalk forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=803509

In summary, the prioritise their own Executive Club card holders (Gold, Silver then Blue) who have checked in online.

Checking in online is a good idea anyway, since at least with BA you can now select the emergency and bulk-head seats.

As a BA Gold card holder I can confirm that I have a very good success rate for upgrades - perhaps 50% of the time on long-haul flights

A couple of other key tips:

• Never book a special meal - they won't have a low salt kosher vegetarian etc meal avaliable in your upgraded cabin
• Travel on your own - it's much easier to upgrade one person than a whole family
• Don't expect an upgrade on short-haul. Most airlines can convert seats from business to economy at the press of the button in shorthaul planes.

Incidentally, I dress comfortably for flying (often jeans and t-shirt) and often drag myu luggage around in an aging backpack - it makes no difference to your upgrade likelihood.

Cheers,


Chris.

MorecambeRules

Good manners and no children seem to be the best bet. Staff like people who give them some respect.

My son aged 18 was on his first ever flight - going to New York with a college party and asked for extra legroom at check in and at the plane door, as he is 6ft 8 tall. A steward placed him in a seat with no others in front of him but didn't upgrade.

He must have been impressed with his behaviour however, as on the return flight (from Washington) the same steward was on the plane and greeted him by his first name and offered him an immediate upgrade.

Due to his inexperience and not knowing how fortunate he was, my son declined saying he preferred to sit with his friends for the long flight. The steward then placed him once again in the same seat on the aircraft that he had had on the outgoing flight.

I bet that was a first for that steward - offering an upgrade and having it declined!! :rotfl:

alba37

With BA you're much more likely to get an upgrade if you are a gold or silver card holder. Generally being smartly dressed will increase your chances of at upgrade at check-in. As ex BA staff (reservations) we were always advised to dress appropriately in hope we may be upgraded.

My opinion is, if you don't ask you're less likely to get. You can request a note be put in your booking to be considered for an upgrade, then ask again at check-in. I'm not sure if this increased your chances, although I was asked frequently to do this.

lisi_heffa11

Hi! I work for an airline! Upgrades are never given FOC with the one I work for. You have the opportunity to pay for exit rows, bulkhead seats and Premium seating at checkin if seats are available. You also have the opportunity to purchase them onboard for a slightly reduced rate than what they were selling them for at checkin but it depends if you want to take the risk of waiting and possibly missing out. They are never given FOC by checkin or on the aircraft as its totally unfair on the customers who have paid ££££s extra for the seats to have someone move into the seats next to them - drink all the free booze and brag about how they hadnt paid for the seats at all but been upgraded!!

sleepless_in_south

I'm afraid I can't tell you which airline this information is about, but it comes from a good source, the airline is well known and flies long haul.

In your airline who has authority to grant free upgrades?
- No-one but Customer Relations and only if it operationally necessary.

How common are upgrades?
- More common than you would think, especially on the busy days when the economy cabin is heavily oversold and the higher classes are empty, on these days economy is always oversold to fill ALL the seats on the plane ultimately, regardless of class.

What do you think is the best approach?
- There are two best approaches 1) Become a very loyal customer (Top frequent fliers are ALWAYS given an upgrade first) or 2) Turn up just before the flight closes for check-in, by doing this you run the risk of being denied boarding should there be more passengers than seats and even in this case you will only be upgraded if there are no high frequent fliers to move.

In what circumstances are upgrades given?
- Customer Relations will have given an upgrade as compensation (but this upgrade is only given if there is space on the day, a revenue passenger would always take priority).
- If there is an operational need to upgrade (i.e to fill every seat on the plane, it's better to upgrade for free and have some money for the economy ticket than let the plane go with empty seats).

Are upgrades even given to passengers who aren't members of frequent flyer clubs?
- Yes, see above, it's very rare though! And even if you are a frequent flyer, you have to have wracked up a fair few points to be at the top of the upgrade list.

Is it better to ask for an upgrade or is that just annoying?
- If you knew how many times we get asked and the way it's asked, it's annoying. You will NOT get an upgrade if you ask, so there is no point, and if we were desperate, you will be the last person for just being annoying!

Anything else you want to tell us...
- Well what do you want to know?!

MoneyLovesCompany

A couple of years ago, I flew out to the States on British Airways. As I was getting married, I treated myself to an upgrade in World Traveller Plus.

Apart from the additional leg-room, it was definitely not worth the extra money I paid. The cabin staff were rude and the service, such as it was, was non-existent and I said 'never again'. I wrote to BA about my experiences and they could not have cared less.

Their loss as I now fly to the States several times a year and if I use BA, I travel cattle class as there is no difference.