Getting upgraded to first class ... any tips?

Ruu_Old

i only choose AL because they fly direct to Chicago. I dont really like going through Heathrow the way BA do, but BA had nicer staff and yeah the tellys in front of you, although some of the AL planes have that too.
you cant choose what seat you want online with AL, but you can choose if you want a window or an aisle. Afaik, other airlines allow you to choose your seat online, but not AL.

daveg

We have 11 flights to take in January. 5 of them longhaul. I'll trying to blag my way into first class on all flights using the excuse "it's our honeymoon" which will be true. Hopefully one of the airlines will upgrade us (B.A, Qantas, A.L. & A.A).

sharkman

daveg wrote:

We have 11 flights to take in January. 5 of them longhaul. I'll trying to blag my way into first class on all flights using the excuse "it's our honeymoon" which will be true. Hopefully one of the airlines will upgrade us (B.A, Qantas, A.L. & A.A).

Make sure you have joined the relevant Frequent Flyer Programmes to increase your chances .

ambro25

Make a scene at the check-in desk

it worked for my wife and I a few years back (Manchester airport) - our first hol together in years, going to New England, we were checking in *big* transatlantic flight (Delta), got at airport early, we'd been in queue for easily an hour +, and then they tell us to start queueing on another desk beside that they'd just opened. The guy checks the couple in front of us (just the one after opening desk), then closes the desk :eek: and we have to go back to end of other queue :eek: :mad:

Needless to say, we eventually get back to the desk we were about 4 from reaching before the above happened, and amongst last to check in: "can't seat you together anymore" :mad: :mad:

Well, I just about f*cking tore the poor girl's neck off at the counter to sh*t down her neck. I went just this side of berserk that they did call the machine-gun equipped security - for anyone who's been to Manchester Airport, you could hear me from one end of the big hall to the other. Eventually calmed down and made way through customs - then PA annoucement "could Mr ambro25 come to boarding gate no.X?" - got there: "can I have your boarding tickets, please? You've been upgraded to 1st Class" - Result

sharkman

ambro25 wrote:

Make a scene at the check-in desk


Well, I just about f*cking tore the poor girl's neck off at the counter to sh*t down her neck. I went just this side of berserk that they did call the machine-gun equipped security -

Yeah , you do that in any airport these days and you will be refused travel and probably arrested for Air-Rage . Its not just on the aircraft that these powers apply .

ambro25

sharkman wrote:

Yeah , you do that in any airport these days and you will be refused travel and probably arrested for Air-Rage . Its not just on the aircraft that these powers apply .

Good job it was before the Anti-Terrorism Act or samesuch, is all I'll say

HarryD

I fly with malev alot who always seem to overbook.
I've been bumped up 3 times with them and bumped off once.
Loadsa friends/family have had same experience with them.
My tips:
- Frequent flyer card (silver/gold if poss)
- Check in late - if there are no more seats in ecomony due to overbooking
they'll stick you in first/business
- Present yerself well at checkin (shave..etc)
- Smile
- Try get opposite sex check-in person

Our man in Havana

It would seem that EI don't overbook. The penalty is too great for them.

not_sure

My sister is crew for British Airways and nobody not even off duty crew on consessions are allowed into First class. The only person who can make it in is a business class passenger whom the crew pick at their pleasure.

If you are in Economy you might be really lucky and get moved up into World traveller, then a World traveller gets put into business and so forth. But first class is out.

Me? I travel business. (On consession)
Sorry

Oh yea and pilots are automitacally put in First as long as there are seats available. They get priority on all airlines.

not_sure

not_sure wrote:

My sister is crew for British Airways and nobody not even off duty crew on consessions are allowed into First class. The only person who can make it in is a business class passenger whom the crew pick at their pleasure.

Yeah I kinda pointed that out earlier.
Some people think business class is first class though -it is not.
That said club world on BA is pretty impressive.

The only exceptions that I know of are Virgin and EI.
EI only have 2 classes, economy and premier.
Premier used be their first class and they never had business.
So if you get upgraded on aer lingus, its to premier which is like a 1970's style first class.You might get bumped up to premium economy on Virgin-or if you are in premium Economy, you might be bumped up to their excelent upperclass suite-its got a bar and a masseuse for you to make use of during the flight

If you are in Economy you might be really lucky and get moved up into World traveller, then a World traveller gets put into business and so forth. But first class is out.

Thats world traveller plus-known as premium economy on most airlines including virgin.

Me? I travel business. (On consession)
Sorry

you mean on an airmiles upgrade or an I class ticket.
The club world tickets to new york can cost €3000 or more return per person.But if you get a special offer I class ticket, its about €1100

Our man in Havana

The club world tickets to new york can cost €3000 or more return per person.But if you get a special offer I class ticket, its about €1100

Are these tickets available to anyone?

Dodge

Bond-007 wrote:

It would seem that EI don't overbook. The penalty is too great for them.

They do. My girlfriend and myself were flying back from JFK to Dublin in Dec 03 and were one of the first to check in. They told us they had overbooked the flight. There was no problem with our booking but they were looking for "volunteers" to fly with American Airlines to Paris and then on to Dublin with Aer Lingus. We'd be an extra 90 minutes travelling but would receive compensation of US$400 each. Think it worked out about €700 (and we were paid by euro cheque drawn on irish bank)

We asked about upgrade but no joy. We took the money and went via paris. Paid for our original flight cost and more...

Our man in Havana

Well done.

They had to do that or you could claim serious cash off them!

Dodge

No, they said we'd be on the flight no problem (as we were one of the first to check in) but obviously that way is cheaper than forcing others to do it. BTW would recommend American Airlines for people looking leg room.

Joe_Soap

Earthman wrote:

The only exceptions that I know of are Virgin and EI.
EI only have 2 classes, economy and premier.
Premier used be their first class and they never had business.
So if you get upgraded on aer lingus, its to premier which is like a 1970's style first class.

Actually, the premier cabin on Aer Lingus is business class, not first class.

Darren

not_sure wrote:

My sister is crew for British Airways and nobody not even off duty crew on consessions are allowed into First class. The only person who can make it in is a business class passenger whom the crew pick at their pleasure.

If you are in Economy you might be really lucky and get moved up into World traveller, then a World traveller gets put into business and so forth. But first class is out.

Me? I travel business. (On consession)
Sorry

Oh yea and pilots are automitacally put in First as long as there are seats available. They get priority on all airlines.

Erm, you're wrong. BA can and do upgrade their staff to first.

Bluehair

Darren wrote:

Erm, you're wrong. BA can and do upgrade their staff to first.

Erm, he's not wrong.

BA policy is no concession travel in First except for certain managerial levels and pilots etc.

Travel in Club World or World Traveller Plus is not a problem however.

(now while that's the official policy it's not unheard of, though rare, for someone to be shifted up to First rather than be left behind but if there's seats further back they definately won't be in First)

Darren

Bluehair wrote:

Erm, he's not wrong.

BA policy is no concession travel in First except for certain managerial levels and pilots etc.

Travel in Club World or World Traveller Plus is not a problem however.

(now while that's the official policy it's not unheard of, though rare, for someone to be shifted up to First rather than be left behind but if there's seats further back they definately won't be in First)

I've travelled in first on a 54A/M47. LAX-LHR, Not a manager, not a pilot.

Plus, my understanding is that somebody travelling on a long service concession with J eligibility should be upgraded into First if club is full and then into wtp if first is full and then into World traveller.

Joe_Soap

Joe_Soap wrote:

Actually, the premier cabin on Aer Lingus is business class, not first class.

To clarify:
Well Afaik its only available on US flights now and that was and technically is EI's "first class"
It used have a limousine transfer to the airport for instance something which was more akin to first class and not business.

Of course Virgin now do the limousine for their upperclass which is basically a first class business seat.

EI's premier trans atlantic service for years up untill say the last 8 or 9 years was the equivalent of many an airlines first class without the flat bed.
It's very much the poor relation now as it has a relatively poor seat recline albeit with a flexible reading light more room, a personal tv screen and china plates for your dinner.

Though now gone,the Euro and GB premier EI service was always just the equivalent of business class on other Euro routes on other airlines.

Bluehair

Darren wrote:

I've travelled in first on a 54A/M47. LAX-LHR, Not a manager, not a pilot.

:rolleyes: There is no 54A on BA long haul unless you meant 64A which would be the upper deck Club World seating. On BAs 747s rows 1-5 are First and the 777s are rows 1-4.

Darren wrote:

Plus, my understanding is that somebody travelling on a long service concession with J eligibility should be upgraded into First if club is full and then into wtp if first is full and then into World traveller.

Again with respect your understanding is incorrect. Unlike many of the American carriers BA protect their First class cabin to a huge degree. Having said that what is BA policy and what occurs in practise can differ but they tend to be pretty strict about First.

Bluehair

Earthman wrote:

To clarify:
Well Afaik its only available on US flights now and that was and technically is EI's "first class".

Technically Aer Lingus long haul 'Premier' is and always has been business class, they've never claimed it was anything else and it's sold as such.

Mind you you're bang on in your description of the service. When it was introduced it was intended to be a little better than the business class service of the time but it's fallen far behind the times particularly in comparison to BAs or Virgins current business class product (especially seat comfort).

Our man in Havana

Earthman wrote:

To clarify:
Well Afaik its only available on US flights now and that was and technically is EI's "first class"
It used have a limousine transfer to the airport for instance something which was more akin to first class and not business.

Of course Virgin now do the limousine for their upperclass which is basically a first class business seat.

EI's premier trans atlantic service for years up untill say the last 8 or 9 years was the equivalent of many an airlines first class without the flat bed.
It's very much the poor relation now as it has a relatively poor seat recline albeit with a flexible reading light more room, a personal tv screen and china plates for your dinner.

Though now gone,the Euro and GB premier EI service was always just the equivalent of business class on other Euro routes on other airlines.

How they can justify a fare of €3700 to LAX is beyond me.

Bluehair

Bond-007 wrote:

How they can justify a fare of €3700 to LAX is beyond me.

Roughly what business class is for long haul (give or take a grand). Simply a case of what, mostly, big business is prepared to pay.

I think though BA and Virgin are on to a winner with the 'slightly bigger seat but not business class' idea.

We fly BAs World Traveller Plus quite a bit and Club World less often and while the former is definately worth the premuim(roughly double) over economy and there's often great deals to be had.

Darren

Bluehair wrote:

:rolleyes: There is no 54A on BA long haul unless you meant 64A which would be the upper deck Club World seating. On BAs 747s rows 1-5 are First and the 777s are rows 1-4.



Again with respect your understanding is incorrect. Unlike many of the American carriers BA protect their First class cabin to a huge degree. Having said that what is BA policy and what occurs in practise can differ but they tend to be pretty strict about First.

54A/M47 is one of many onload and cabin priority codes for people travelling on staff travel. The code is basically an ID90 subload ticket for serving staff with an economy entitlement.
For example a 53/M47 would be a ID100 subload but still with economy entitlement. A 20/J44 would be a staff member travelling on a very long service concession with club entitlement.

BA do protect their 1st product but do upgrade staff into it. It's happened to me and I see it happen regularly.

Bond-007

Bond-007 wrote:

How they can justify a fare of €3700 to LAX is beyond me.

Especially when its only €3,300 return to there on BA club world with the fully flat bed seat and tonnes more perks.
A cheap EI over to LHR for around a €100
I tried the CW sleeper service recently with a delicious all you could eat meal in the terraces in JFK and then upstairs in 64 k with a thick blanket ,cushion and the bed seat-just bliss.
What you get from EI is a rikety nigerian style commuter flight in comparison.

I know which option I'd choose and indeed a decent travelagent could probably get a cheaper I class club world fare if you are also booking accomadation with them.
You get a lot of airmiles with that too which are good for free economy trips to paris or somewhere-thus making the club worls trip better value.

That said, the seats in WT+ are nice,comfy and wider than economy and also with a decent milage bag.A few trips on that and you can use your miles to pay for WT+ and upgrade to Club.

jhegarty

back in 02 aer lingus did an upgrade for me on a dusseldorf -> dublin flight becuase they my bag arrived two days after I did on the way out...

netwhizkid

Be dressed executive type, it also helps if you are old:rolleyes: If you are of the right-type you will get upgraded. Think of your average South Dublin Upclass snob, they are the sort of people that they want for first class. It also helps you have a name like Winthorpe, Mortimer or Hubert.

shuushh

qantas are quality i had a 12 hour flight with them, they'll treat you well in standard class dont worry

Kobie

I was on an Aer Lingus flight from Paris & asked he girl (French) if I could sit in an 'A' seat. I meant the 'A' column - to the left of the plane, but she must have thought I meant business class. She hesitated, & then said OK. When I got on the plane I realised I was in business class. It was grand except AE were obviously not expecting the extra passenger, so were one meal short. So instead of providing the bus. class passengers with their dinner, nobody got a meal. The paassengers weren't happy (we could smell it cooking), but I kept my head down.

K.

patsyh

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4665194.stm