Air Astana is following the likes of Cathay Pacific and Qantas in introducing a bid-for-upgrade service.
Known as MyUpgrade, the online tool enables economy customers to bid for an upgrade to business class up to 72 hours before their scheduled flight.
“Our aim is to make better use of our cabin inventory, whilst ensuring the best customer experience,” said Richard Ledger, Air Astana vice president sales worldwide.
“Whilst there are is no guarantee that customers will be successful every time they bid, it does provide an opportunity to enjoy Air Astana’s business class cabin across a range of long- and short-haul flights.”
The service is open to customers that book eligible flights online through the carrier’s official website, as well as via travel agents or Air Astana's ticket offices. They will receive a pre-departure email inviting them to visit a secure online portal to bid for the upgrades.
Air Astana has set a minimum and maximum range for the bids with the cost for an upgrade set lower than a full business fare, while also ensuring that the airline’s bottom-line income is not hit.
Once the bidding deadline falls, the MyUpgrade system will review all bids and send successful bidders their upgraded tickets via email. The higher the bid, the more likely an upgrade.
Credit card details are collected at the time of the bid, but Air Astana does not process payment until the winning bids have been confirmed. Customers whose upgrade bid has not been successful will not be charged, and they will continue to be booked on their original economy fare.
For more information, visit airastana.com
Clement Huang
