How to get an upgrade?
- Thread starter Bes
- Start date
Soldato
William said:
I like the sound of that one
Associate
- Joined
- 8 Jan 2004
- Posts
- 1,188
Dress smart. Ask at the desk. Even if you don't get it at the time remain polite and friendly make sure the person at the desk knows your name. This way if a seat becomes available you have a good possibility of getting upgraded before everyone else.
Soldato
Get there 4 hours before the check in time.
(it worked at Denver airport!)
(it worked at Denver airport!)
Soldato
Get to check in after the rest of the economy pax. Once economy is full, they will look at seating people in the remaining available space ie First Class/Business Class etc.
Depending on the airline, and if the aircraft is overbooked, they may even ask for voluntary offloads in which case you'll get a nice payout and a stay in a hotel for the night.
Depending on the airline, and if the aircraft is overbooked, they may even ask for voluntary offloads in which case you'll get a nice payout and a stay in a hotel for the night.
Associate
William said:
You raise an interesting point... what are they gonna do about it.
I'm surprised at people asking for upgrades. My Dad was pretty much an expert at getting them and insisted that asking was a surefire way not to get upgraded. We even got our whole family upgraded a few times, thats pretty impressive (2 screaming kids etc.).
There's a lot of advice about; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7656110/page/2/ seems reasonable, notice it doesnt say to ask!
If i was travelling alone i'd dress smart, be extra-especially nice and enquire about how much it would cost to upgrade. Also make sure to have a frequent flyer card or a Gold card (etc) -- i expect that would be the one thing to increase your chances the most.
There's a lot of advice about; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7656110/page/2/ seems reasonable, notice it doesnt say to ask!
If i was travelling alone i'd dress smart, be extra-especially nice and enquire about how much it would cost to upgrade. Also make sure to have a frequent flyer card or a Gold card (etc) -- i expect that would be the one thing to increase your chances the most.
Last edited:
Associate
Yeah, a decent frequent flier status with that airline (or partner, say One World/Star Alliance) is your biggest asset when looking to upgrade. Without this it's harder, but not impossible - just make sure you're dressed relatively smartly.
I'd guess that different airlines have different policies, but it seems to me that upgrades typically only happen when the main cabin is overbooked. In that situation, the best bet is (IMHO) to be on one of the upper levels of a frequent flyer club. One flight a year isn't going to cut it. Gold or Platinum (or whatever they call it) status does ..... sometimes.
Another factor is your ticket class, and that of other passengers. For instance, a full-fare minimal restrictions transatlantic ticket is about £1500. If you paid £200, you have a ticket with heavy retrictions. I know that some airlines look for people with the higher category of ticket (and higher fare) to upgrade.
Then, you need to "fit". If you're scruffy, the odds are you won't get upgraded. If you're part of a large group, or a family with kids, the odds aren't good, because they won't want to risk upsetting people paying business-class fares with noisy kids, etc.. But if you're presentable, and either a very frequent flyer or hold a relatively expensive ticket, and the main cabin is overbooked, you stand a decent chance.
Alternatively, either use frequent flyer points to upgrade a basic ticket, or buy one ticket of the class you want, and use frequent flyer points to get a free companion ticket.
Another factor is your ticket class, and that of other passengers. For instance, a full-fare minimal restrictions transatlantic ticket is about £1500. If you paid £200, you have a ticket with heavy retrictions. I know that some airlines look for people with the higher category of ticket (and higher fare) to upgrade.
Then, you need to "fit". If you're scruffy, the odds are you won't get upgraded. If you're part of a large group, or a family with kids, the odds aren't good, because they won't want to risk upsetting people paying business-class fares with noisy kids, etc.. But if you're presentable, and either a very frequent flyer or hold a relatively expensive ticket, and the main cabin is overbooked, you stand a decent chance.
Alternatively, either use frequent flyer points to upgrade a basic ticket, or buy one ticket of the class you want, and use frequent flyer points to get a free companion ticket.
Soldato
You have no chance nowadays unless they horrendously over book the flight. If this is the case then all of the above are worth trying.
Last edited:
Soldato
Someone asked me for an upgrade when I worked on Ryanair check in at Stansted.
I laughed, looked up and then realised he was serious
I laughed, looked up and then realised he was serious
Soldato
get your wang out...
I paid £1000 for the flight as I only booked it last week and am flying tomorrw- iI'm gonna be dressed smartly as I am going immedatley to the office when I land. I'm also travelling alone so this might help!
I am flying BA though and don't have a flyer card with them as I normally fly Virgin (and hold a card with them) but couldnt get a flight with them at such short notice.
I am flying BA though and don't have a flyer card with them as I normally fly Virgin (and hold a card with them) but couldnt get a flight with them at such short notice.