blagging first class...??

LundiMardi

What are the odds on being upgraded to first class if i were to turn on the charm at check in?

It's an Aer Lingus flight to NY and i'm travelling alone.

Does it happen much? If at all?

Ruu_Old

Slim to none these days, can't hurt to try though.

LundiMardi

Ruu wrote:

Slim to none these days, can't hurt to try though.

and try i shall!! hahaha

Something tells me it would be easier/more likely seeing as i'll be on my own.

A friend of mine got upgraded to First class on a return flight once, can't remember the reason, he didn't realize it until he got on the plane and was told where to sit.

Afuera

If you have a frequent flyer card with any of the OneWorld companies (Iberia, British Airways,...) maybe presenting that at checkin could help. I know that Aer Lingus is leaving One World soon (not too sure when) but I got bumped up on a Dublin-Barcelona flight when I did that about a year ago. I was traveling alone and it was a quiet time.

BuffyBot

I would imagine it's very unlikely. They'll only do it if they are oversold in economy, and need to move people. Even them preference will be given to frequent fliers of Aer Lingus with status in their FF plan, and then to status members of their partners FF plans.

While it's not unknown for upgrades to happen, they rarely happen by turning the charm on at check-in. If you even get to a near a check-in desk and aren't sent to a machine

dak

My sister worked for AA (American Airlines) in ticketing and has flown around the world several times mainly being upgraded to first class . She had the advantage of knowing what flights were half empty I suppose but she did say to me once that your chances were better when flying out at unsocial hours and also you need to be dressed reasonably well. Don't expect to get upgraded into first class wearing jeans or looking scrufffy. If you are too smartly dressed they will think you have the money but too mean to pay./ Happy blagging !!!

FlutterinBantam

dak wrote:

My sister worked for AA (American Airlines) in ticketing and has flown around the world several times mainly being upgraded to first class . She had the advantage of knowing what flights were half empty I suppose but she did say to me once that your chances were better when flying out at unsocial hours and also you need to be dressed reasonably well. Don't expect to get upgraded into first class wearing jeans or looking scrufffy. If you are too smartly dressed they will think you have the money but too mean to pay./ Happy blagging !!!

You have about as much chance as going into a butchers chop looking for a gigot lamb chop,and the butcher saying to you"Ah son,you are only paying for an auld gigot,but here's 5 nice striploins for nothing,just 'cause you are a nice guy".

Quit living in fantasy land son.

BuffyBot

My sister worked for AA (American Airlines)

That being they key point

Pythia

I've just come back from New York on Aer Lingus. I was travelling with my friend. We were offered to go on voluntary standby to take the later flight as our flight was over booked. We would be moved to first class in the later flight (2 hours, 45 mins later than the original).
Unfortunately the flight ended up having enough seats for everyone, some people mustn't've turned up.

xebec

Two friends of mine were flying from Shannon to Boston with EI on 30/12 and both got bumped to 1st class.

The best way to improve your chances are arrive early, be dressed well and be polite. It's highly unlikely the charm offensive will work as they'll only bump you up if it's absolutely necessary!

spurious

I've been bumped a couple of times. It never involved any charm, just a case of being in the right place at the right time.

mikedragon32

If anything, arriving early decreases your chances of a bump as you're sure to get checked in.

There's no art or science to bumps and it's just dumb luck if you do.

As for dressing well, that's balls. The only time I got bumped I was wearing ripped jeans, old boots and a t-shirt. Wasn't transatlantic though

Darren

mikedragon32 wrote:

If anything, arriving early decreases your chances of a bump as you're sure to get checked in.

There's no art or science to bumps and it's just dumb luck if you do.

As for dressing well, that's balls. The only time I got bumped I was wearing ripped jeans, old boots and a t-shirt. Wasn't transatlantic though

I know that people can be marked NSFU where I work for being scruffy! So, It's not balls, he is correct.

You'll find that most upgrades go to the airline staff who are travelling.

jester77

Darren wrote:

I know that people can be marked NSFU where I work for being scruffy! So, It's not balls, he is correct.

You'll find that most upgrades go to the airline staff who are travelling.

Very true, I used to work for a major airline and appearance was very important. You wouldn't even be allowed to fly standby if you looked anyway scruffy, as I once learned. I came direct from a party to fly somewhere and they wouldn't let me on with my current clothes, had to buy new ones in the airport as my luggage was already checked-in! And most upgrades go to employees as well and former employees that were above a certain level within the company!

FlutterinBantam

Contrary to what would seem to be popular opinion,airlines are businesses set up to make a profit.

I was once travelling first class to LA and a scruffy smelly student type appeared in the seat beside me.... As on can't ignore someone for 11 hrs I inquired of his "background". Turns out his friend worked for the airline .
On arrival I registered a complaint about beig ripped off and subsequently received a refund of nearly 2k....

I ain't going to pay the guts of 3k to be treated like that..neither should anyone else.

tuxy

Location: High in the saddle

lol

Darren

FlutterinBantam wrote:

Contrary to what would seem to be popular opinion,airlines are businesses set up to make a profit.

I was once travelling first class to LA and a scruffy smelly student type appeared in the seat beside me.... As on can't ignore someone for 11 hrs I inquired of his "background". Turns out his friend worked for the airline .
On arrival I registered a complaint about beig ripped off and subsequently received a refund of nearly 2k....

I ain't going to pay the guts of 3k to be treated like that..neither should anyone else.

I don't doubt you. The airline I work for instructs it's staff not to disclose to fellow passengers that you work for the airline when on concessionsary travel. Maybe this is a good example why!!

Naked Lepper

FlutterinBantam wrote:

Contrary to what would seem to be popular opinion,airlines are businesses set up to make a profit.

I was once travelling first class to LA and a scruffy smelly student type appeared in the seat beside me.... As on can't ignore someone for 11 hrs I inquired of his "background". Turns out his friend worked for the airline .
On arrival I registered a complaint about beig ripped off and subsequently received a refund of nearly 2k....

I ain't going to pay the guts of 3k to be treated like that..neither should anyone else.

the poor chap who gave his friend a upgrade probs got in **** because of you

i understand that you paid more than the other chap and might be frustrated at it but to actually go and complain, thats taking it a bit too far and is just being a whinge imo.

mikedragon32

I should probably qualify my scruffy appearance by saying that I wasn't smelly (at least I don't think I was!) and am reasonably well spoken!

tinkerbell

Speaking of first class, what is the first class on Aer Lingus like?

Darren

Let's just say it fits in well with the rest of the Aer Lingus 'experience'.

tinkerbell

So just like good ol Aer Lingus then on the European routes? Or is there slighty more legroom? What's "premier economy" like on Virgin, compared to their normal "economy"?

sim2

Roomier seats, glass of champagne on departure, more food choices if I remember rightly!

honru

I reckon First Class on Aer Lingus is indeed quite a luxury for those used to economy, but from what I've heard it's a joke compared to airlines such as Virgin, where you get a bed-like seat and get absolutely pampered. Apperantly there isn't much difference in price if you were to compare a typical transatlantic flight.

BuffyBot

Aer Lingus don't even have a first class, so to speak. It's business class - and it's nothing much to write home about in comparison to other airlines business class on long haul routes - although I hear the food is generally nice. It doesn't come near Virgin/BA/most other airlines though.

Premium economy on Virgin is pretty good, and getting better (their putting in even better seats and other improvements to the service) and at the right price can be a reasonable experience on long flights.

tinkerbell

It's an extra £500 to go Premium Economy on Virgin (nearly double the price of economy!) for the flights I'm looking at to Vegas and San Francisco, so I'm not sure if I should be upgrading if it's not really worth it.