Airline Workers: Top Upgrade Tips Please

_Andy_

fragileworld wrote: »

.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.

And rightly so.

Sam_Bee

My input. I get upgraded a lot. I am 6ft5. I join a lot of frequent flyer schemes. I fly a lot. I work in travel. I book the flights myself, so I can check availability and make a couple of comments in the booking. I have lots of friends who work at airlines, normally in reasonably important positions who I contact in advance, who will make a note in the booking for me. I'm the politest man in the world at check-in. I never ask for an upgrade, but as i'm always one of first to arrive so I can request an emergency exit seat as I am so tall.

Therefore I think I musty tick just about every box possible to do as much as possible except amalgamate all my flights into one airline and maximise my mileage.

However, i'd be lying if I was to expect an upgrade, even with all of the above!

If you don't tick as many boxes, maybe try the below:

I have a friend who boarded an (Air India) flight (about 13 years ago to be fair). We were last on, I turned right, he'd looked left, and went to sit down in a sparsely populated Business Class cabin.

The sheer audacity amazed me, so I didn't say a thing. He didn't get chucked out.

He did though get politely removed when he tried the same thing on the return.

So there you go, my top tip, sit down by accident in Business Class, and claim ignorance, I've seen it work 50% of the time.

daglow

helenbee wrote: »

Stuart07970, airlines certainly do upgrade people without the lower grade being overbooked. I flew by BA in business class on a longhaul flight last year and when everyone was seated (therefore no overbooking) the stewards went back to economy and chose three people to upgrade to fill empty seats in business class. They chose elderly, smartly dressed people. I watched them do it and all they did was go and invite these people to move forward. The people concerned hadn't even asked for an upgrade. Business still wasn't full so obviously they weren't just trying to fill it up.

As an airline worker, there are no hard and fast rules for upgrading, as a great many considerations have to be taken into account before any upgrade take place. Generally speaking the airline I work for will only upgrade if it's necessary and assists us with any particular situation. There are endless possibilities of what 'any particular situation' may be and it may not always be evident to an on-looking passenger what may be happening. Assumptions by passengers are often made. Often, to someone who doesn't know all that facts, it may look like one thing, but may, in fact, be something completely different.

To try to remain on-topic, overbookings are the most common reason for upgrading. Then they will be allocated to frequent flyer members taking into account, their status, if they are travelling alone, if they are suitable dressed and if they have any special meal request (if you do have a special meal request, you can forget your upgrade! If we have gone to the trouble of ordering a meal specifically for you in the cabin you have booked, you will get it in that cabin. And no, it won't be transferred!)

Also, before passengers board, all the meals are in place for those passengers booked in each cabin. So even if there are spare seats in a higher class of cabin, it is highly unlikely someone will be upgraded to an empty seat if there isn't enough meals on board for that cabin - not even if the passenger wanted to pay just to sit in the luxury and comfort of a bigger/better seat.

There is nothing to stop any passenger, frequent flyer or otherwise, from asking for a free upgrade upon boarding at the door or at any time whilst on board. Whilst this has been known to work, more often than not this will get your crew's back up as you are asking for something for nothing and is considered cheeky.

Passengers who are travelling together with another family member or business colleague, but in separate cabins, are often put out when, knowing there are spare seats in the other passengers higher class of cabin, are refused a complimentary upgrade. They cannot understand why, when there's a spare seat, they are not allowed to sit there. Simply put, it would be unfair to upgrade the passenger for free when every one else in the higher class cabin has paid for that level of service. Also it would be unfair to all other passengers in the lower class also, who would want to know why they couldn't get the same. Furthermore, in the name of consistency, if we did it once, it would falsely raise a passengers expectations it may happen again.

As I said there are countless reasons as to why any upgrade may take place, not all of which are obvious. My best advice is to book and pay for the cabin you want to travel in, then you won't be disappointed.

(Edit at your leasure, Martin!)

Good luck guys.

alba37

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.

I think it would be helpful if you pointed out mistakes, especially as you are currently employed with an airline, making you one of the most qualified to post up-to-date facts.

Regarding BA, I think it may have been mentioned but I can't find it, don't book a special meal, if you are hoping for an upgrade.

I was upgraded on an Air Jamaica flight to J, but advised there would be no catering. We took the upgrade anyway, and received the same meals as the other business passengers. Check-in were obviously being cautious.

daglow

Sam_Bee wrote: »

My input. I get upgraded a lot. I am 6ft5. I join a lot of frequent flyer schemes. I fly a lot. I work in travel. I book the flights myself, so I can check availability and make a couple of comments in the booking. I have lots of friends who work at airlines, normally in reasonably important positions who I contact in advance, who will make a note in the booking for me. I'm the politest man in the world at check-in. I never ask for an upgrade, but as i'm always one of first to arrive so I can request an emergency exit seat as I am so tall.

Therefore I think I musty tick just about every box possible to do as much as possible except amalgamate all my flights into one airline and maximise my mileage.

However, i'd be lying if I was to expect an upgrade, even with all of the above!

If you don't tick as many boxes, maybe try the below:

I have a friend who boarded an (Air India) flight (about 13 years ago to be fair). We were last on, I turned right, he'd looked left, and went to sit down in a sparsely populated Business Class cabin.

The sheer audacity amazed me, so I didn't say a thing. He didn't get chucked out.

He did though get politely removed when he tried the same thing on the return.

So there you go, my top tip, sit down by accident in Business Class, and claim ignorance, I've seen it work 50% of the time.

Well done. You are to be applauded Sam Bee for playing the game as it should be. You're doing all the right things and are to be congratulated and respected.

You're friend, on the other hand, was lucky (Cheeky as hell, but lucky! lol)
I know of one flight where someone did that and they were asked to move or pay. They refused. And were met at the other end by police and charged with fraud!! Not recommended!

Macster13

I don't consider myself a "Frequent" flyer, more of a regular flyer, and may I say my loyalty to airlines leaves a bit to be desired as I play them off and generaly take the cheapest deal. That said, if I had to choose a North American carrier to the west coast, it is undoubtedly Virgin Atlantic.

On several occassions I have been offered "CHEAP" upgrades. Yes, from bog standard Economy to Business class for £100. (Virgin). £300 (BA).
My biggest mistake was to turn one down. The offer never came again, and I know this was because I turned it down as I have seen it in writting.

On two occassions when leaving San Fransisco X I have arrived early and mentioned to the check in staff that if they do become over subsribed, I would be willing to be bumped off to the following day.
One resulted in being transferred to a posh hotel, 5 course evening meal with wine, full room service breakfast and transport back to the airport for my flight and seating in economy plus.

The second resulted in waiting back till the plane was fully loaded, then to be told "thank you, but my seat isnt needed and I can fly", I smiled and said thats fine and sorry I couldn't be of assistance.
When I boarded the aircraft I was taken through to Business class and was afforded the luxury of business class travel and sleeping.

Things I cannot stress enough are :
Always be polite and talk to staff as you would expect people to talk to you.
Not all airline staff have the authority to upgrade but they do have a mouth and can communicate your suitability.
Remember, the price you have paid is proportionate to the seat you have booked, any upgrade etc is an extra, usually free, not your right or if that were the case everyone would be travelling first class.

There's no such thing as a free ride but little extras often come along for nothing, so be courtious, polite and do not be scared to ask.

WiseInvestor_2

wrote:

We were last on, I turned right, he'd looked left, and went to sit down in a sparsely populated Business Class cabin

Re-seating yourself without permission can be very dangerous as the Load Plan for passengers/fuel/luggage/cargo has been calculated specifically for that flight, sometimes with minimal tolerance. One person (~80kgs) is unlikely to change the handling characteristics of the aircraft too much, but you have no idea if/how many others have done the same thing! If you wish to change seats - even within the same cabin - you must ask the crew first. This applies to jet passenger aircraft too, not just small commuter propellor 'planes.

Another reason not to move unannounced (look away now if you're a nervous flyer) is the accident investigation in the very unlikely event your flight doesn't quite make it in one piece. Once investigators have identified the survivors/corpses they compare this with the passenger manifest to build a map of the wreckage. This often helps establish how and where the aircraft started to fall apart, so moving to another section of the aircraft can severely hinder their work.

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.

What if the "head purser" was oversized himself/herself? Don't you think he/she would be just a tiny bit offended by your request to be moved away? Not unlike the religious anecdote I gave earlier, there's every chance the crew would opt to move the "fat" person away from you, who is arguably more deserving of a bigger seat anyway.

Also, I suspect you may be giving airlines' communication systems more credit than they deserve. Cases such as the one you quote are invariably not passed down the line to cabin crew. Instead, the policy makers make the necessary high-level amendments to their rules which crew are required to follow. Nowhere does it say that passengers should be moved away from fat neighbours, or smelly people, or children or ....

justice4all_2

;)slip a £20 into your passport or euro or dollar
it works 99% of the time same as a room upgrade??, they sometimes say oh theres some money in there, just say oh i was wondering about a upgrade,
it costs but it works , mostly U.S and middle east :j

loopy25

I work as cabin crew. I would say it's very rare to get an upgrade from the crew. Only in exceptional cirumstances. You can however pay onboard to upgrade at a reduced rate (Just ask crew the current prices)

Not an upgrade but... it's always worth asking if anyone is needed for an exit row seat. We have to have a min of two people sat at each exit row before we can take off. I'd also like to add that asking once is enough!

I have seen cash offered to the crew for an upgrade and I've never seen it work.

Lastly be nice. I would never even ask my manager on behalf of a pasenger who had been rude or cocky. Politeness goes a long way in my opinion.

WiseInvestor_2

We have to have a min of two people sat at each exit row before we can take off

That's not strictly true for a number of reasons but your suggestion of asking may be a good one. The ground staff are responsible for ensuring all rules regarding emergency exits are satisfied and whilst they occasionally get it wrong, the chances of the crew needing volunteers to sit in 'better' seats are slim.