Airline Workers: Top Upgrade Tips Please

Tojo_Ralph

...
If the contents of this thread and last weeks thread on the same subject aren't enough to convince Martin that armchair journalism does not work..... I don't know what will! :rolleyes:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=11699121

tenuissent

On the way to Singapore and back last year I sat down in an emergency exit seat, knowing that if I were asked to move I had a safe seat elsewhere. I was left in peace.

donny_osmonds_mad_fan

the person who mentioned the possible cash backhanders at newark are most likely not too wrong. The took the right for check in agents on united to upgrade at heathrow due to upgrades being sold under the counter for £50 a go lol.

I have opened passports many many many times to find money in them, sometimes a fair whack however always just pass it back however I guess this way does work in some countries, this was always on jet airways check in an indian airline and they would certainly always try to do offers for cash to take excess luggage etc and one of my friends flew back from pakistan on the national airline with wedding outfits for her wedding for her whole family, tottered up in was in excess of a £1000 excess to pay however for £20 cash sterling under the counter it went for no problems.

Have to say as well that arriving late for most airlines will not get you an upgrade but will merely see you sitting in a middle seat or getting the seat of someone who arrived earlier went on the SFU list and now you have turned up they being smart and early and polite get the upgrade and you will get their seat.

always some seat juggling at the end of check in/gate and trust me, even if the supervisors do the upgrades it is the check in agents you have to impress/be polite to because who do you think points them out for the upgrade....and yes certainly having friends in the airline does help. I have secured upgrades for friends just by asking the person editing the flight politely and if that isnt possible then they have always had economy plus, with the extra of some lounge tickets etc

donny_osmonds_mad_fan

and ps I agree 100% with the people who have said about people who buy a cheap product expecting a more expensive one, it is true people dont go asking for things like that in other aspects of life, why suddenly do they think they have the right to then? I now sell holidays and you give the price of the holiday and people say ok whats your best price, can you knock off £100 etc......do they do a weeks shopping in tescos and it comes to £90 and they say awww give it to me for £75....doubt they do!!

loopy25

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

Just wanted to say that on 75% of the flights I do I have to move people to exit rows. So I would say if you fly with Virgin you'd have a very good chance of getting moved to an exit row.

churchmouse_3

Don't forget it may be a very simple reason that you are asked to move forward....... Trim ie balancing the aircraft....

CheekyC_2

I am a very frequent long haul flyer with all the big airlines but my company only pays for ecomomy. I have most of the cards and gold status with most, which is nice for the airport lounges. I check in early, smartly dressed, polite and sober but have stopped asking for upgrades because they just don't happen for free, I have been asked several times if I want to upgrade for a reduced rate (betweed £100 and £300) but decline and wait until I have enough points to get a seat I can actually sleep in.

GlennTheBaker

I've posted this before but I'll repeat myself for the benefit of this thread:

In 2006, myself and Mrs Baker went to New York flying with British Airways into Newark and returning from JFK. The inbound flight was problem-free but when we got to JFK for the return, we found that our flight had been cancelled and everyone was being re-booked onto alternative flights. We got ourselves sorted at the booking desk and then went to check in. Because of the cancelled flight, the computer system was running at a snail's pace and the lady at the check-in desk was having real trouble allocating our seats. We stood chatting with her while she tried to sort it. Eventually she said 'Excuse me one moment' and disappeared for a couple of minutes. When she returned, she thanked us for being patient and said we'd been upgraded to World Traveller Plus. OK, not a huge deal but seeing as we'd only paid £165 return for the flights in the first place, it was a nice bonus.

hufinthewoods

I fly fairly often. UK<->US about 20 times per year, mostly on Virgin. So I have a Virgin gold card. Occasionally my more bounteous customers pay for Upper Class, but mostly it's Economy or Premium.

In my experience:
I always get upgraded if Economy is full.
I occasionally get upgraded if there has been some kind of problem (eg late flight).
Checking in late vs early makes no difference.
Being smartly dressed vs jeans makes no difference. Most of the people in Upper are wearing jeans anyway, or the romper suits they give you for sleeping in.
I am always polite and I never ask for an upgrade.

My conclusion is that, as many others have said, your best bet for an upgrade is to be a frequent customer of that airline. Sounds like sensible business - look after the customers who make you the most revenue.

I'm not sure there are any tricks really. But I do remember one upgrade beyond the usual "only if it's full" rule - it was my birthday.

Cheers, Richard.

emay

Me and my sis must jut be lucky, we weren't dressed smart, weren't frequent flyers of the airline, and didn't ask, one of the check-in staff just came along the queue and asked us if we'd like to be upgraded (admittidly in fron of us in the queue was a large school party which they obviosly didn't want in first class!!!!! and we were the next best alternative)
We also got £50 each for the inconvienience, and what an inconvienince it was too:D