Airline Workers: Top Upgrade Tips Please

Sam_Bee

WiseInvestor wrote: »

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

I was under the impression that you sat in the seat with the best views of all, or am I mistaken?

richardw

I had that impression aswell, knows a lot about BA A319s perhaps.

richardw

WiseInvestor wrote: »

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

Spot on, I think Martin will have to be careful with his updated article.

Hugh_Jorgan_2

If you are travelling economy class, and get seated next to a very fat person, who is invading your personal space with their body-fat, for example; crushing your shoulders and arms, and breeching beyond the arm rest. do this:

Go directly to the cabin crew, and ask to speak to the head purser. Explain how your very fat neighbour is causing you discomfort, numbness and pain my invading your body space in you seat. Be polite and ask for a change of seats. DO NOT metion UPGRADE, just change of seats.

If Economy Class is full, you WILL be given an upgrade.

REASON: Last year a woman successfully sued an airline for discomfort and arm damage because she was sitting next to an obese passenger. Her claim was settled out of court for $23,000.

All airlines know of this case, and do not want a repeat.

So if sitting next to an obese passenger. Complain.

veryskint_3

stuart07970 wrote: »

Best story I ever saw to get upgraded was a honeymoon couple who said that the husband was suffering from SHINGLES, apparently this is contagious,
they were removed from the aircraft and refused travel until we received a medical certificate stating that he was 'fit for travel' THREE days later.

His new missus did not look happy at having missed the first 3 days of their honeymoon.

In short - don't jerk around with airline staff - they hold all the cards!!!

I found this on a website about shingles that i didnt know.

"A person with a shingles rash can pass the virus to someone, usually a child, who has never had chickenpox, but the child will develop chickenpox, not shingles. A person with chickenpox cannot communicate shingles to someone else. Shingles comes from the virus hiding inside the person's body, not from an outside source."

mbam_2

I have never had an upgrade. But the last time I traveled to Spain the Check In Girl gave me the Emergancy Exit seat! My passport has a stamp on the page next to the picture page from Basra Airport from my last Op Tour there with the army.

The girl had already printed out our boarding cards, but on seeing the stamp, she tore them up! And said as I was in the army she would give me the extra leg room! Which is very helpful when I am 6 ft 4!

That was with Thomas Cook flights.

predding

Top Upgrade tip - use FF points to upgrade to Bus Class. Have just done this for Club at Xmas for less than Economy seats incl taxes. And spend the afternoon in the lounge to start off the seasonal holiday courtesy of BA.

Also get a BA Amex Card and get the Partner Voucher after £20000 annual spend. We just had Bus Class return flights to Sydney 2 people for the costs of the taxes - around £600.

Have had 2 Bus Class --> First upgrades LHR-SFR, these days, sounds like the last minute pay-to-bump deals are the best way to go.

richardw

predding wrote: »

use FF points to upgrade to Bus Class.

Some tickets aren't upgradeable, worth checking first to see if you have the right number of miles and are buying an upgradeable ticket.

dmg24

WiseInvestor wrote: »

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.

Sorry for breathing!

If you don't want to help by pointing out glaringly obvious mistakes, then why are you even responding? :rolleyes:

fragileworld

MSE_Martin wrote: »

to Help Keep This Thread On Topic - Rather Than General Discussion Of Upgrade Chances As These Have A Tendancy To (please use the many other threads for that)- We're Going To Delete Off Topic Threads.

last week coming home from bostonUSA on north west airlines,I checked business class and saw minimal take up of seats.I asked the senior flight attendant politely if two of us could transfer/upgrade to the front.A look of shock on his face told me, wrong question!he replied "big trouble,big trouble"and refused politely in that charming manner Americans have.Oh well!better luck next time.