[BMBettesworth]

Thanks – unfortunately, I am going via BKK so it looks as though ‘slim’ is the word!!

[armadillo]

Just flew back from LAS and had nice new seat – great to see 1st going to Vegas – so much much much better than just virgin as competition

[Binman62]

ginger1 – 23/05/2011 11:45 GMT

I was upgraded last week First Lounge entrance and advised to proceed across to the Concorde room. On examining my boarding card it contained a narrative ” Invol upgrade due to OV “….

Surprised you allowed to enter the Concorde Room. It is supposed to be for the exclusive use of First Ticket Holders and a very select few Gold and Premuim Card Holders. Well done though….
The comment “Invol Upgrade” should perhaps not have appeared on the boarding pass but the crew would have known and this then allows them to further differentiate the First product on board the flight. You may have noticed that you were not asked about meal choices in order of seating but to be fair it can often be very subtle.
It is one of the issues I have with BA and the First product. If you are in that cabin then the service should be uniform and excellent to everyone which sadly is now rarely the case.
Would love to hear you thoughts on this.

[EdTraveller]

I did not notice any differentiation of service , and the cabin staff were excellent and attentive !

[Henryp1]

I may be missing something here, but why does it matter that the boarding pass notes involuntary upgrade. I have had seat numbers changed by hand in the middle east due to last minute upgrades at the gate and really dont feel as though it matters. At all times I have never noticed any different service. I have just appreciated the upgrade.

[VintageKrug]

More rubbish from the Binman (perhaps that’s why he chose that handle?).

All passengers receive a consistent F service whether they be onbusiness, BA Miles, shareholder discount or full fare.

If you are upgraded at check in, you are now and F pax and as such entitled to the Concorde Room.

The only small difference is status and paying pax are prioritised for meal service, but this is usually done very subtly back in the galley; given you are flying in a tube at 35,000 feet, I don’t think it’s unreasonable not to have unlimited choice and there are (in my considerable experience) usually several choices which I’m happy to sample – I always tell the crew to come back to me rather than deny someone else their preferred choice, as would normally happen.

Apart from this very subtle meal prioritisation, and the availability of A1A/K to prior to T-24, there is no differentiation in F product delivered between an upgrade and a full fare payer, unless you have a Special Services escort.

[Swissdiver]

Well, VT, you are confirming that in facts crews know whether they deal with an upgraded passenger or not. And this is blunt wrong!

[MartynSinclair]

Yes Swissdiver, crews do know you have been upgraded. How else would they know to, subtly or otherwise, prioritise the real pax from the upgraders in terms of food choice.

I think VK is extremely noble to “always tell the crew to come back to me rather than deny someone else their prefered choice………..”

….very generous VK………a pure example of The Upgraders Etiquette of How to Behave When Free Loading in First!

[VintageKrug]

Sorry Swissdiver, but there is quite a bit of detail on the manifest from which crew will know if you are, for instance, on a shareholder booking, staff travel, upgraded and various other categories, including other info such as oneworld status and your CIV score.

[nevereconomy]

I cannot honestly say I have ever noticed any difference in the way food orders were taken for upgraded passengers in First – but perhaps I have been preoccupied with my pre-takeoff V and T which I am not supposed to have because duty was not paid on the vodka.
I do howver agree with Monsieur Krug ( a rare occurrence) about the meal choice issue – I always yield mine if someone gives the crew a hard time about lack of availability – BA food is definitely not worth fighting over. JAL never has this problem – in First they have one of everything for everyone.

[MartynSinclair]

You are right VintageKrug, I was out of order to imply you free load in First.

Comment retracted with full apology.

[openfly]

VK…wrong!

An upgrade at check-in does not ENTITLE you to the Concorde Room. You may be lucky and be allowed to use the facility.

An upgrade to F at check-in is annotated on the passenger list as ”upgrade due oversales” and the cabin crew can treat you as they wish in order of service and offerings.

As for waving the crew away to offer the menu etc to other passengers, that is very generous of you, but also the behaviour of a BA staff passenger (BA staff travel rules) !

On the thread subject, BA are not going to convert the last eight aircraft to new First.

I now await the flack.

[RichHI1]

Now we have revealed VK’s undoubted altruism, can I ask which equipment the comment “BA are not going to convert the last eight aircraft to new First” relates to?
I have been watching the 744 updates over the last month or so and news appears to have stalled. Does anyone have any new info, please? the Mid J used primarily on the LAX route still seems to have a very low conversion percentage.

[Potakas]

Which are the 8 aircraft that you are referring to?

IMO if it was such a chance the only candidate would be the 777-200 (non ER) . I am talking about the G-ZZZ* series which are 3.

[BusinessClass]

openfly………Which last 8 aircraft are BA not going to upgrade with NF?

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