Anyone ever manage to get a free upgrade?

Miss Fluff

My last long-haul flight was with work and first class. Now I want to fly that way every time!!!;) Anyone ever been upgraded for free/a small bribe, and how did you go about it?

Noelie

On Long haul it's best to check in as late as possible, my cousin worked for AL and he said that a lot of flights can be over booked.

Also dress smart, the won't upgrade anyone who looks scruffy, as the people paying big for these seats will be pissed off.

M uncle got upgraded a few times, he done a lot of flying between Washington DC and London. Also my cousin and her hubby got upgraded when going on their honeymoon.

Benedict XVI

Noelie wrote:

On Long haul it's best to check in as late as possible, my cousin worked for AL and he said that a lot of flights can be over booked.

Also dress smart, the won't upgrade anyone who looks scruffy, as the people paying big for these seats will be pissed off.

M uncle got upgraded a few times, he done a lot of flying between Washington DC and London. Also my cousin and her hubby got upgraded when going on their honeymoon.

The only time I did get upgraded was from Sydeny to Auckland on an 8am flight.
I arrived for the flight early, scruffy and stinking of booze after an all day\night Paddy's Day in Sydeney.

Since then I have tried to follow the dress well tips etc as mentioned above, no luck though.

BuffyBot

Upgrades are normally given when flights are overbooked. However turning up late can also mean you'll be turfed off if they are overbooked and made get the next flight.

All the flattery/bribery offers in the world rarely work. The check-in agents have seen it all before. The best way of getting upgrades is to have frequent flyer status (preferably the upper tiers) with the airline in question, or one of it's partners. As upgrades are given to those people first, with plebs down the line, it does increase your chances somewhat.

b3t4

I managed to get a free upgrade on a long haul flight over to the Caribbean. It was a nice start to the holiday. When I was booking my seat I wanted a window seat but could only get a seat on the outside by the aisle. This worked to my advantage.

When I sat down the guy on the inside called one of the flight attendants as his seat was broken. They moved him and his partner out one. This left me with no seat which I was a little concerned about. As I was flying on my own the nice flight attendant asked me would I mind being upgraded. Did I mind!! I still laugh at this.

The only problem is that I want to fly like that from now on!! It was so comfy. When I had to fly economy class on my flight home it was a real let down. I was also sitting beside a wench so that didn't help matters.

A.

therecklessone

Benedict XVI wrote:

The only time I did get upgraded was from Sydeny to Auckland on an 8am flight.
I arrived for the flight early, scruffy and stinking of booze after an all day\night Paddy's Day in Sydeney.

Bumped up from World Traveller Plus to Club World on a BA flight to Hong Kong wearing jeanes and a t-shirt. Reckon it was because my name was top of the list (I'd booked 11 months in advance!)

Only time I'd be inclined to take the dress well advice would be if I was on standby. Sure half the people who fly business class dress casually anyway.

Miss Fluff

therecklessone wrote:

Only time I'd be inclined to take the dress well advice would be if I was on standby. Sure half the people who fly business class dress casually anyway.

I agree. Long gone are the days when people get "dressed up" to fly. If you were a culchie in the 1970s perhaps but people don't anymore, I think comfort is most people's priority and you can still dress comfortably and smartly

jjbrien

I got upgraded twice. I was the first person to check in for a flight from Norway to Gatwick and they only had a aisle seat on the plance i gave out saying i was the first person to check in. they called upstairs and i was soon in the business class lounge living it up and in a nice comfy seat on the plane.

secondly i got a free upgrade with my sas eurbous card on an sas flight from chicago to stockholm that wss really nice it also helps when you know someone in their head office in oslo who mamanged to help get this for me.

bigears

I got upgraded twice. I was the first person to check in for a flight from Norway to Gatwick and they only had a aisle seat on the plance i gave out saying i was the first person to check in. they called upstairs and i was soon in the business class lounge living it up and in a nice comfy seat on the plane.

secondly i got a free upgrade with my sas eurbous card on an sas flight from chicago to stockholm that wss really nice it also helps when you know someone in their head office in oslo who mamanged to help get this for me.

I got upgraded on oslo/dublin route in march. if you've got your frequent flyer card and they're overbooked it helps. i think sas are frequently overbooked as this is not the first time i've been upgraded by them.

FlutterinBantam

therecklessone wrote:

Bumped up from World Traveller Plus to Club World on a BA flight to Hong Kong wearing jeanes and a t-shirt. Reckon it was because my name was top of the list (I'd booked 11 months in advance!)

Only time I'd be inclined to take the dress well advice would be if I was on standby. Sure half the people who fly business class dress casually anyway.

Can guarentee you the time you booked had nothing to do with the u/g.

Half the people who fly business dress casually. When you pay the full whack you can dress as you like.
If airlines are looking for someone to u/g someone due to circumstances,they will avoid the scruffies like the plague.

You got lucky.

WexCan

To be honest, upgrades aren;t as common as they used to be. Arriving late just annoys people and isn't worth the hassle. The simple fact is, if there's enough seats in cattle class that's where you'll go. If you're just a normal Joe Soap who flies maybe three or four times a year, you'll be bottom of the eligibility list - before you are airline staff on "space available upgrade" tickets, upper tier frequent fliers, big spenders (some airlines will mark you as suitable for upgrade if you spend over €X with them a year).

The PSAs at check in have seen every excuse in the book. Again, simply, if you want a club or first seat, pay for it.

Culchie

Polish up those wedding rings, and pretend to be all 'giddy and in love' at check-in.

Tell the girl/man you're newly weds, and chance your arm.

Have a success rate of 4/6 so far

Ruu_Old

Going to try it out shortly out of Chicago O'Hare to Dub with American Airlines, time to put on the auld Ruu charm. *straightens jacket*:)

Dellas

Ruu wrote:

Going to try it out shortly out of Chicago O'Hare to Dub with American Airlines, time to put on the auld Ruu charm. *straightens jacket*:)

AA out of Ohare ??? Good luck mate youll need it . I used to be Gold with them and only ever got upgrades using my miles.

I use Star Alliance for all my fights now and have Gold status and always get upgraded if the planes full and if its not I cash in my upgrade vouchers. Best to join a frequent flyer club and stick to same airlines in the group and build up your miles and status.

Ruu_Old

Hehe I know, not expecting a whole lot.

edit: Also as Wexcan pointed out below, boo.

WexCan

Dellas wrote:

AA out of Ohare ??? Good luck mate youll need it . I used to be Gold with them and only ever got upgrades using my miles.

I use Star Alliance for all my fights now and have Gold status and always get upgraded if the planes full and if its not I cash in my upgrade vouchers. Best to join a frequent flyer club and stick to same airlines in the group and build up your miles and status.

Bit of a nightmare with EI leaving oneworld will lose all my points.

Dellas

I switched from Aer Lingus to BMI a few years ago as I saw this comming . EI leaving Oneworld. I have to say I find the Star Alliance one alot easier to get premium status and good benefits.

WexCan

I'm not a huge fan of BMI - something about their aircraft and their crew I just don't like.

For me, living literally right beside Gatwick airport, I have a few options:

- BA LGW-DUB (Oneworld - takes ages to get Executive club points)
- Ryanair LGW-DUB (Points? Hahahaha)
- EI LHR-DUB (Again no alliance points come Jan)
- BMI LHR-DUB (Star Alliance points, quick enough to accumulate but Heathrow is a few hours away)
- CityJet LCY-DUB (SkyTeam points, but an hour away on train+tube+docklands light rail)

At the moment, I'm going for BA, Ryanair and CityJet for convenience.

WexCan

WexCan wrote:

- BA LGW-DUB (Oneworld - takes ages to get Executive club points)

Why?
They're usually added by the next day if you are on an LGW-DUB-LGW BA flights or any BA flights.
The longest I've seen was about 4 days for them to add tier points for EI premier Snn-jfk-snn but they did add them.
I'll be going BA EC gold early in the new year \o/ \o/ having been Silver with them for a few years.

By the way czech airlines iirc are joining one world next year,so thats more options out of Dub for anyone thats BA ec and wants milage/tier points.
Japan airlines are also joining so theres another option to Oz aswell.

WexCan

Ah, what I mean is Executive Club tier points can take a while to accumulate, they're not very generous lol, have been using my EI FF account for yonks now but now that I'm living in the UK I don't see the point, especially with the loss of oneworld privs. So it would seem I'm starting from scratch with BA. Damn. lol

Darren

If you ever want to spot the airline staff on the plane, they are the ones sitting down the back wearing trousers and shirt and maybe even suits.

ArphaRima

80+ percent of the time. Mixture of my job contract obligations, contacts, and my naturally overwhelming charm.

And there is NO formula for joe soap. Dont even bother. (though the honeymoon one is interesting... I think they will ruin it for genuine honeymooners)
Checking in later than usual may help. Some flights can be overbooked in economy yes. Though be careful. If you arrive at the desk minute after checkin closure, they will likely not refund you when you are kicked off the flight...

WexCan

Darren wrote:

If you ever want to spot the airline staff on the plane, they are the ones sitting down the back wearing trousers and shirt and maybe even suits.

Haha so true.

Dellas

BA is ok if you fly 2 or 3 times a year in Business or First class but crap if you mostly do Economy like me . Id never get Gold with BA but can just make it with BMI.

whippet

I am actually getting married in January and flying to Hong Kong on the honeymoon .. I'd really like an upgrade but how does one make it be known that you are heading on honeymoon with out sounding like you are begging!!

Plus I will more than likely have two eyes like 'pi$$holes in the snow' after being up all night !!

John Mason

I got a free upgrade coming back from Malaysia with Malaysian Airlines. They told me that they had overbooked the plan and I just said “oh, I have a connecting flight to catch in Heathrow”, the lady went and came back with her Manager who apologised for the all inconvenience that had be caused and would I mind being move to business class!!!!! I do a lot of long-haul flights and the its the only time I have been upgraded

cheeky_guy

Ive a sister that works Crew for BA and we have got business class on the last 5 holidays we were on. (Going on standby). And i just LOVE going for a stroll down through economy and looking at all the sardines packed into their tiny seats lol.
She told me, upgrades are virtually non existant and even if you are off on your honeymoon, and even if you do manage to get bumped up you will only go from Economy to World Traveller Plus and someone from World Traveller Plus will get bumped to Club. Nobody gets bumped up to first. Only ticket holders, senior pursers, pilots and their familes get first class. No other staff are allowed up there.

If you are going on a honeymoon, she has told me the best way to get an upgrade is be pure lovey dovey to each other while checking in and hope the check in lady notices. But there a slim chance really.

Darren

cheeky_guy wrote:

. Nobody gets bumped up to first. Only ticket holders, senior pursers, pilots and their familes get first class. No other staff are allowed up there.

Think you need to add staff on duty and managers to that list too. I 've had first LHR-NRT and LAX-LHR on a club duty ticket.

Culchie

cheeky_guy wrote:

If you are going on a honeymoon, she has told me the best way to get an upgrade is be pure lovey dovey to each other while checking in and hope the check in lady notices. But there a slim chance really.

'Dat's the way to do it !'

I'd say your chances are approximately 50/50