Kilted_Scot - 05/04/2010 11:27 GMT
"What women want?" could be a similar question.
I am a frequent traveller and have been upgraded on a number of occasions, either from Economy to Business, or from Business to First. My strategy has always been to remain exptremely polite with the person I am dealing with (usually the check in staff or check in supervisor), even if there is a problem with the flight, booking etc. I always explain that I know that is not their fault, it must be hell for them dealing with this situation, especially with irate passengers. I try an form a psychological bond with them and think I get upgraded a reasonable number of times. Of course I could be completely wrong and bonding with the wrong people. I must also admit that I have seen passengers who go completely ballistic at the check in counters also receiving an upgrade.
So what is the best strategy?
I know that this is a subject most frequent travellers discuss, complain or gloat about. So let's hear it from you. I would be particularly interested to hear from current or former airline staff with their views.
Potakas - 05/04/2010 14:30 GMT
I Don't know.. once got upgraded to business and i didn't realize why, I was waiting on the economy queue , when the business one was empty, the girl from the business counter wave me, i went there and she checked me with upgrade to business. without saying a word. I didn't know that i can ask for upgrade at the check in process, is it really works?
Potakas - no it doesn't very often, unfortunately!!
Kilted Scot - the most reliable way of getting a First or Business Class seat is to buy a First or Business Class ticket, which is what I guess most people on this Forum will also tell you. Upgrading appears to hang on so many uncertain variables, that when and if it happens these days, it should be seen as a lucky but rare event!
Mind you, if airline staff are losing their travel privileges, there may be more seats available to which to upgrade the "bona fide" traveller. Who knows....
Simon
NTarrant - 05/04/2010 21:03 GMT
Simon is quite right, if it comes along then accept it as a bonus. There is no clear method, my wife and I were upgraded to First from Club when using an Amex companion voucher. Most unexpected, but most welcome!
RichardB - 05/04/2010 21:14 GMT
to get upgraded get a frequent flyer card for the airline and build up lots of miles on it so that you have more status than the other passengers. When your class (economy or business) is oversold the computer will sort the passengers and you will be picked for an upgrade (the upgrades are done by computer, the gate agents generally just follow its instructions).
for this to work your booking class must be overbooked, so book flights that will be busy.
do not travel on cards from partner airlines. airlines pick their own members first for upgrades.
do not order a special meal, if you do you will not be upgraded.
travel on your own.
with the above I get about 20-25% upgrades on LH.
freeling - 06/04/2010 02:09 GMT
I do not have such luck. Not once.
It doesn;t matter whether the flight is full or not.
But I do heard that if you are the frequent flyer the chances are higher.
I follow Simon Rowberry's view, buy the ticket instead of trying to turn left without paying - a bit like buying a car and begging for free petrol!
npchuaMY - 06/04/2010 03:03 GMT
I got upgraded many times from Y to C by TG, usually at the boarding gate, and at least on 2 occasions when seated in the plane, before the door close, the cabin crew called my name through the PA and ask me to bring along my hand luggage to the C-class.
What RichardB say is right, you have to be the airline's FF member in 1st place, do not order special meal and travelling alone, you stand a better chance to be upgraded in an overbooked flight.
I have to agree with Simon as well. In 30 years of flying I was upgraded once, at Vienna - some 10 years ago, traveling Y with Austrian, when I complimented the check in girl on her nice red stockings!!! It was only when I boarded I noticed she had put me in C.
Otherwise I once sat by accident in C class not noticing my seat (row 5) was for the second leg of the flight. No-one said anything and I had full C class service all the way.
I have been told by FA's that Swiss and LH do not upgrade to F unless you are a top tier pax with Hon status (or you upgrade with miles/vouchers) no matter the circumstances. This could be true as on one flight to JNB where they were looking for volunteers to take the next day's flight (I know because my 2 sons were booked in Y), we took off and there was 1 empty seat in F next to me.
can you imagine going into John Lewis or Harrods, buying a laptop and asking for the next model up as a free upgrade...........or during a game of golf, ASKING for a 'gimme' rather than one being offered by your opponent. Its just rude!!
I would suggest that pax who want to turn left, put their hands in their pockets and pay like hte rest of us.
Senator - 06/04/2010 15:47 GMT
Hi all,
This is an interesting discussion; yes the best way to be “upgraded” is to buy the seat. I have returned today from JFK using LX via ZRH and GVA on the new A330-300 in business class, and I paid my own way. I did upgrade with miles on the outbound to experience the new First product and the HON/FIRST lounge at ZRH.
Couple of points, first to LuganoPirate. I’ve had three complimentary upgrades on LX and LH from C to F due to overbooking. It seem odd to pay for extra night of accommodations or send someone on a different carrier if you have seats free on the flight. In my case, my paid business seat has been given to an upgraded Y passenger.
Now, in my experience upgrades only take place when there are operational reasons for this like oversold cabins. For example, the SK flights to/from the US tend to be overbooked in economy, so movement from economy to economy extra, and from extra to business happens frequently. Due to Star Gold I have been upgraded very often on these routes. However, I have noticed many times it is a lottery. Sometimes it is down to who checked in last. Hence, I always ask.
I for one, always dress smart and is the nicest passenger about. And yes, I do ask if my booked cabin is full and they are moving passengers. However, I never assume that this is a right. This is a privilege I may get from my patronage, but never assume it is my right.
I have however, twice been upgraded at the gate by LH from Euro Y to C after coming back to the gate from the lounge. Both times the agent stated: “Dear Mr. Senator, we have a weight balancing issue so we have moved you to the front. You looked like you could help us out.” I weigh 103kg and I am 192cm tall… Who said Germans are humourless, or perhaps this is “Lost in Translation?”
Good thread! I, like some others posting here, would never ask for an upgrade and have only benefited because of FF status (except once - see below). I am Platium with AF/KLM and Gold with bmi* and Emirates. I used to be regularly upgraded with KLM, especially on a route I used to travel frequently, THR - AMS, where overbooking in Economy was common. I was also up-graded on AMS-PEK with my family, all three of us (although only offered to me at first), because it was my wife's birthday! These sort of things have certainly declined in frequency with the decline in demand for J/F class. I have just once been "picked out of a crowd" with a colleague at the gate in LHR when neither of us had FF rights at the time by VS but that has very much a one off. So the realistic conclusion is to expect what you pay for, nothing more, nothing less!!
travelgirl - 08/04/2010 10:17 GMT
As ex staff of an airline and now a FF I can assure you that upgrades for both staff and passengers are now much rarer events. This is mainly down to load factors - capacity is strictly controlled in all cabins. Airlines will always select a FF, smartly dressed, pleasant, single traveller over 2 passengers travelling together. I have been upgraded on numerous occassions and although you can ask on check-in how busy the flight is, they will normally only upgrade at the gate as there are frequently no-shows for the flight. Operational delays are the best time to ask (nicely) and a FF card holder with the actual airline can work wonders. Jeans and casually dressed passengers can still be overlooked. Be nice but dont push too hard or you'll find your seat moved near the galley or the loos.
RoadKing - 08/04/2010 10:31 GMT
Clothing is not always a hindrance to upgrades.
When I was upgraded from C to F on a BA flight from LHR to LAX, I was wearing a t shirt with an open shirt over, worn jeans and leather boots (I ride Harley Davidson on my spare time).
Albeit my FF status certainly counted (Gold), I believe my luck was to be late at the gate.
RichardB - 08/04/2010 12:20 GMT
about upgrades being much rarer events: at least with lufthansa (who I fly a lot) they are a much MORE common event in the past 18 months. Airlines can sell economy seats but recently first and business are much harder to shift. They cannot instantly reconfigure their long haul planes with less F/C seats, so they oversell economy and the lucky ones (based on FF status) go into business bumping the ones with high status from business into first.
LH have configured a few of their 747's with less C and more Y to try to adjust their capacity but things cannot be done overnight.
As for what you wear - this might be true in the UK but most of my flights are helsinki-germany and in Germany my name is called at the gate. While waiting in Germany I can see from the seat map when my seat becomes empty and they've moved me to business. So unless the check in agent in helsinki makes a note of what i'm wearing, I think it's unlikely that clothing plays any role in this for LH upgrades.
And a month ago I went to check in at helsinki for HEL-FRA and FRA-IST and even before check in I could see my assigned Y seat for FRA-IST was empty and the check in agent in HEL gave me a Y seat for the first flight and C seat for the second flight - and he didn't even notice himself. I pointed out the new seat (since i knew what had happened) and said he might have told me the good news :) So in that case clothing could not possibly play a role.
The worst upgrade is when you are with someone but on different reservations and then one of you is upgraded. You can either try to smooth talk the gate agent into an upgrade for your companion or give up your upgrade and swap it with some lucky economy passenger so that you can sit together again. I've had both things happen. Two people on the same PNR tends to be no trouble - you're either both upgraded or neither of you.
M.Moose - 08/04/2010 13:50 GMT
This is getting very interesting! Been trying to understand the system and 'beat' it :D Having travelled for the past 10 years, airlines have evolved in their reservation system. From a more 'manual' discretionary upgrade, to a more systems driven one.
I have been upgraded numerous occassions on CX, a couple of times on MH and BA. I hold Silver tier cards with these airlines. Common reasons, are due to overbooked class. I was upgraded on 4 consecutive CX flights - apparently due to my birthday! When travelling with my wife on leisure, we've always been upgraded on at least one sector (hmm....interesting statistics!).
All in all, I concur that we need to dress appropriately, treat counter staff with respect and dignity, and put on a BIG smile at all times. Agree with comments that the best way in to purchase a ticket in the respective class - and if you get upgraded, be thankful. Else, just be glad that you're able to travel and arrive at your destination safely.
Safe travels everyone!
stevep47 - 08/04/2010 20:14 GMT
I once got an upgrade to business class on United flying LHR to LAX.
I always wear a suit when travelling,even on holiday.The upgrade was very enjoyable but no idea what I had done to deserve it,though was a member of frequent flier club.
It's ironic that Travelgirl and others suggest dressing well or wearing a suit to be upgraded, yet, traveling mainly F or C long-haul I rarely encounter people in suits. Perhaps we still hark back in our minds to the days when air travel was glamorous and reserved for film stars and the well-off, who all tended to dress up in those days. True there are more suits short-haul but then in both classes.
Potakas - 09/04/2010 13:02 GMT
it's just no realistic to dress well for a 7-8 hours flight, it is not comfortable..
MarcusUK - 09/04/2010 15:08 GMT
It is very true these days, to look at some businessmen travelling in dirty jeans, slobbing around. Even the SQ lounge at SIN around 11pm, few who bother even with a smart jacket n decent shoes...on long haul flights wityh Etihad, Thai, have often been upgraded, but it id not about wearing a suit.
I sometimes ask if there are any seats in First available for an upgrade, & often they can be offered if you volunteer to a "Paid" upgrade.
MH had a Policy in Sydney from economy to Business for $500 one way, but haven't tried for a long time.
Asking for an upgrade to or from Premium Economy, holds a better chance with a FF Card or offering to pay a nominal fee.. These days if some Airlines have free seats they are happy to gain extra revenue. Same with hotels as you check in, I always ask for upgrades available, then leave it to them if its complimentary or at a charge.
Often looking as though you have made an effort with a smart casual look, to travel, reflects some Airlines appreciation of those they would like to see in their premium cabins.
These days, they are less businessmen in suits, & more personal travellers, paying their own tickets, willing to be up front, ask, & it becomes a win win.
U also get ur miles much enhanced with an upgrade for a few £ hundred, cheaper than buying them.
Honest, smart, Polite & Courteous, n up-front in my view, best chance.
