Blagging an upgrade

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Viewing 11 posts - 16 through 26 (of 26 total)

  • AisleSeatTraveller
    Participant

    FDOS_UK and the marginal extra cost of a nicer meal and a few glasses of champagne (maybe) is what, 50 quid, quite a money spinner for them (given the seat would fly empty otherwise), but worth it for the extra comfort!


    FDOS_UK
    Participant

    [quote quote=847499]FDOS_UK and the marginal extra cost of a nicer meal and a few glasses of champagne (maybe) is what, 50 quid, quite a money spinner for them (given the seat would fly empty otherwise), but worth it for the extra comfort!
    [/quote]

    Exactly – but that’s why I tend to use BA WTP to/from the UAE these days, the comfort level is suitable for that length of flight and the cost is less than Y and an AUP with EK.

    If EK added premium economy, I’d look very seriously at it, but their Y (whilst good) is not really what I want on business and their J isn’t worth the cost.


    AisleSeatTraveller
    Participant

    FDOS – I was use WTP for flights to the Middle East, as it’s more cost effective than CW or biz and the flight is relatively short (I try for a day flight but going that means a knackered old 747), especially as now Silver and therefore receive the only FFP reward i value (lounge access)

    I have been unrequested upgraded twice in the last 8 months

    I have a dilemma though as a project will take me to Bangkok, stick to BA premium econ (one option is to try the dreamliner through KL) or move (with more hassle) to Cathay?

    Don’t use Emirates as it would involve ScotRail (are they ever not on strike) to Glasgow


    midorosan2
    Participant

    Laughed out loud when I read this only an Englishman could write it. My own story re upgrade, when I applied for the Qatar frequent flyer programme one of the titles in the dropdown menu on the application form was Capt. as a retired Cat. from the British army I thought what fun and clicked on it.
    Several months later when flying from HKG to LHR via DOH as I approached the checkin for the second lag I was informed that I was to upgraded from business to first, it was quite spectacular and I was very surprised until the Cabin director asked me what aircraft I flew and for whom!!


    ChrisJR
    Participant

    As I think another contributor has said, I always tell people the secret to getting a seat is business class is… to book a seat in Business Class. I did get a double upgrade from BA once though – I was flying back from Nairobi to London with BA, night flight in economy. I reserved an aisle seat, and was very late to the airport due to bad traffic. I think I was the last person to check-in, and was given a window seat. Not even thinking about an upgrade (I had only just started flying as part of my job and had no airline status), I complained bitterly, saying I was claustrophobic (which I am) and needed access to the aisle to use the toilet regularly. The check-in guy went away and came back five minutes later saying he’d upgraded me to Premium Economy. I was very happy. I went through passport control etc and to the gate and was about to board when I noticed my boarding card had someone else’s name on it (how I had gotten through passport control I don’t know!). I saw the same chap who’d checked me in and pointed out the issue. He took the boarding card and my passport and disappeared. About ten minutes later (I was starting to worry…!) he reappeared and said that Premium Economy was full (I was expecting to have another argument about my claustrophobia) but to my delight he said I’d been upgraded to Business.


    TiredOldHack2
    Participant

    I used to be quite good at this, in the days when I had a humble BA blue card.

    Dressing cleanly, not necessarily smartly, was always essential. Nobody wants to sit next to someone who’s dirty and smelly.

    I used to use props. Something visibly expensive or unusual. I like mechanical watches, so my beloved ancient Oris was one. I’m a journalist, so the lens case for a Nikon F2.8 200mm lens (look it up – that’s expensive glass) was another. Scribbling something at check-in using an equally beloved proper fountain pen with an italic nib was another (drummed into me at school, and I have always used proper pens ever since).

    And a hat. A proper hat, not a baseball cap. I like hats. The great thing with hats is that lifting them in greeting is a courtesy you don’t see much these days. And a hat makes you stand out a bit from the crowd.

    So I’d stroll up to the check-in desk, raise hat, greet politely, open passport wallet which also has a visible international journalist’s card, and snap the credit card down on the desk, with a simple request: “What will it cost me to change this ticket from (eg) World Traveller to Club World?”

    It’s not asking, wanly, for an upgrade. It’s “Here I am, I’m not quite run-of-the-mill, I like nice things, I’m polite, and I’m offering to pay.”

    You’d get – actually, you still get – three usual responses.

    1. “Im afraid the cabin is full, sir.” Response: “Oh. Well, can I give you my mobile number in case there’s a no-show?” “Of course, sir.” “Or perhaps I could wait in the lounge? It’ll be easier to locate me.” (at the very least you get free lounge access out of it…)

    2. “How much were you thinking of paying, sir?” This is great. This means there’s space and all you have to do is negotiate. “I don’t know. Make me an offer?” Anything from 200 to 500 dollarpounds seems the usual on-the-spot fee. Still worth it.

    3. (fx: Tappitty tappitty-tap). “That will be another one thousand, three hundred and forty pounds and seventy-three pence, sir.” To which the response is: “Ah, well. Too much for me, I’m afraid, but thanks anyway.”

    4. “Well, actually, we are over-sold in World Traveller, sir, so we can move you into Club World, yes.” RESULT!!

    A few years ago, Mrs TOH and myself were flying back from Singapore and we were killing time by the hotel swimming pool while we waited to go to the airport to catch the evening BA flight. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go to the airport early and see if you can get us both an upgrade.” (we were in WT) So we got there about three and a half hours early, I fired up my upgrade mojo, and the result was (4) above. She is now convinced of my omnipotence.


    FDOS_UK
    Participant

    [quote quote=847609]FDOS – I was use WTP for flights to the Middle East, as it’s more cost effective than CW or biz and the flight is relatively short (I try for a day flight but going that means a knackered old 747), especially as now Silver and therefore receive the only FFP reward i value (lounge access)
    I have been unrequested upgraded twice in the last 8 months
    I have a dilemma though as a project will take me to Bangkok, stick to BA premium econ (one option is to try the dreamliner through KL) or move (with more hassle) to Cathay?
    Don’t use Emirates as it would involve ScotRail (are they ever not on strike) to Glasgow
    [/quote]

    Sorry, AST, I only just saw your post.

    I’ve never used Cathay premium, though I expect it’s okay. The 789 is my regular bus down to the ME (I avoid Dubai and travel through Abu Dhabi) and I really like it – quiet and a very good implementation of WTP, since it is only 7 across.


    maxgeorge
    Participant

    KrispyKreme donuts for an upgrade?

    Nice one , Esselle.

    Worked with me once on BA 278 up to F for a couple of my home grown avocados with the lounge agent at LAX.

    Well, they were organic, and a good size.

    The avos, not the lounge agent.


    Cwyfan
    Participant

    Some years ago, I once flew back from Boston with my elderly parents.

    Being 6ft 4, I said that we should book in separately so I could ask for some leg room, an exit row, and maximise my chance of success.

    I was surprised when the agent said that she could do better than that, and upgraded me to business.

    I dare not tell my parents less they thought that I did it deliberately knowing that I would be upgraded, leaving them in cattle.

    I was just sitting in my seat wondering what on earth I could say when inevitably my mother strolled round looking for me after take off, when I heard her voice shout hi from across the gangway, saying that they had been upgraded to first.

    Naturally, once on the ground I inferred that I had a hand in it, but heaven only knows how it happened.


    capetonianm
    Participant

    I was once travelling to BUE with my ex-boss, who was a nasty piece of work.

    Because he was a company director, he was on confirmed space business class. Because I was a lowly earthling, I was on a staff SBY ticket, economy upgradeable subject to space available.

    At the boarding gate, I was on SBY until the last minute and then they took away my economy BP and handed me one for ‘F’. I decided to take my revenge on him so I walked through business class, greeted him, and as he was expecting me to head towards steerage in the back, I said : “See you in Buenos Aires, I’m upstairs” as I turned round to climb the spiral staircase.

    He later said to me : “If you had any decency you’d have given me your first class seat.”
    I replied : “Yup, but I don’t.”
    Needless to say my career in that division didn’t exactly flourish.


    K1ngston
    Participant

    To the OP’s point, the best I believe (albeit may be mistaken) was a passenger in PE sitting in front of me at LHR en route to SIN and she was crying and saying she was scared of flying and had (to their credit) a lot of fuss being made of her by the crew, when the CSD comes by and collects all her stuff and said she was going to sit near him ( I assume thats a J seat near his cubby hole on a 380)

    I am convinced and my husband agrees that we saw her smiling as she looked back being escorted to her seat in club…

    The best upgrade I ever had was delayed in Sydney on the way to India was travelling with CX and I wasn’t informed to head to the gate and wandered there with my name being called on the tannoy .. I was about to be “angry” when i was handed a boarding card for 1C and I was the only person in First from Sydney to HKG and to say the service and attention made me quickly forget my anger…..

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