Airline Workers: Top Upgrade Tips Please

sharkmark

I am a frequent flyer with KLM/Air France and have found that normally they upgrade their frequent flyers first (the level of the flyer is crucial followed by the number of miles they have)...I've been lucky as I save my miles and never use them as KLM charge huges taxes to cash in your miles so hardly worth using.

I have never asked for an upgrade to business but always ask for an exit row. Again when I was not a regular frequent flyer this was always refused. Now I am Platinum nine times out of ten I will get an exit row if I ask. In addition I will be normally upgraded if they have overbooked economy no matter what I am wearing.

I am pleased that KLM are looking after their regular customers as I spend a good proportion of my life on their planes and whilst I mostly fly economy I do sometimes chose to fly business anyhow so over time they've kept my custom this way. There is such a thing as brand loyalty when the company in question looks after you...

So I think the trick here is to get an upgrade keep flying with the same company and try to reach higher levels of membership. For KLM PLatinum you have to go to Thailand about 7 times in a year in economy though just to warn you all!!!

fieldreg

Question: I wonder about this...... As a business traveller usually Premium economy hoping for more... If I check in on-line then does this reduce chances of upgrade (BA or Virgin particularly).... If I do checkin online then I feel I don't have the 'chance' to be upgraded at the checkin desk ... until I reach the gate? [Martin delete this if off topic. ....but this is the single reason why I avoid checking in online.... I (and maybe others?) would like to know 'the answer']

alba37

fieldreg wrote: »

Question: I wonder about this...... As a business traveller usually Premium economy hoping for more... If I check in on-line then does this reduce chances of upgrade (BA or Virgin particularly).... If I do checkin online then I feel I don't have the 'chance' to be upgraded at the checkin desk ... until I reach the gate? [Martin delete this if off topic. ....but this is the single reason why I avoid checking in online.... I (and maybe others?) would like to know 'the answer']

If you are a BA gold or silver exec club member there is a chance you can get upgraded by checking in online. (unless things have changed in the last few years)

adydye

Oil and Gas, mate? or I could be wrong....
If anyone out there is working for the oil and gas industry, they are members of KLM Flying Blue, and their companies fly them economy, I would strongly recommend applying for the Petroleum Club card.
This is really easy, and at least you can use the Lounge during that 6 hour wait.....
All the best, Ady

Tojo_Ralph

adydye wrote: »

Oil and Gas, mate? or I could be wrong....
If anyone out there is working for the oil and gas industry, they are members of KLM Flying Blue, and their companies fly them economy, I would strongly recommend applying for the Petroleum Club card.
This is really easy, and at least you can use the Lounge during that 6 hour wait.....
All the best, Ady

It is a good programme, however, you do have to be flying KLM or Air France on an Oil Route as is clearly defined on KLM and Air Frances website.

The list of destinations is of course limited, but does include some popular ones.

http://www.airfrance.co.uk/GB/en/common/voyageurfrequent/petroleumclub/petroleum_lignes_petrolieres.htm?BV_SessionID=@@@@0781856611.1213828229@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccjadeefdegdgfcefecekedgfndgfo.0

http://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/flying_blue/petroleumclub/discovertheclub/oilroutes/index.htm

adydye

The list of destinations is of course limited, but does include some popular ones.

Yes, Air Astana to Kazakhstan for example, have no customer loyalty whatsoever, let alone a program!:shocked:

dmg24

A few years ago I had an interesting experience with Virgin at Newark.

I asked how much it would cost to upgrade to PE (I don't ask for free upgrades, I think it is crass ), and was told some ridiculous amount over £1K (just for PE, at the time you could prebook an upgrade for £250). As I walked away a group of six went to the desk to ask about paying to upgrade. I bumped into them again a while later, and they had been offered an upgrade for $150 each, on the condition that they paid in cash.

We both had the same ticket types (in the cheapest group!), and if anything I was the more smartly dressed (I used to dress nicely for travelling, now I just don't care and dress for comfort).

Both the group and I concluded that the agent(s) must have been pocketing the cash. They were definitely able to take card payments, as the person in front of me had bought a ticket with his card.

So maybe that is a way to get a cheap upgrade - slip the agent a backhander? I'm not saying it is commonplace, but if ever you're passing through Newark ...

dmg24

There is also the way that will (almost) always work ... be famous!

My ex always gets upgraded. If not at check in, the crew will offer to move him (saves people bothering him through the flight). Sadly I never flew with him ... :think: :doh: :think:

HURRICANE1803

I have travelled all over the world on free upgrades the best being all the way down to Sydney Australia. While I don't have a gameplan as such I won't let my secret out as I might spoil it for myself... LOL
Also I have been admitted to various Airlines pre flight lounges as well,
my favourite being the Virgin Upper Class Clubhouse at LHR..

WiseInvestor_2

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this thread attempting to gleam facts about upgrades from those who actually know what they're talking about?

We've read countless anecdotes over the years reciting all sorts of weird and wonderful stories and sadly, this thread appears to be no different. Without wishing to be rude, regular passengers, frequent flyers and even cabin crew have no idea what goes on behind-the-scenes.

If Martin really wants to understand the mechanisms of upgrading he needs to try speaking to the organ grinder, not the monkey! The best respondents so far have been (ex)check-in staff but even then the detail has been very airline-specific. I could work through each and every post making corrections and pointing out glaringly obvious mistakes but I'm honestly not sure it would progress this thread any further than the usual, repetitive "I remember once when..." type stuff we see month-in, month-out.

Yes, I do work for an airline and yes, I do understand how this stuff really works.
And I never sit in Economy.