How to get an upgrade

[wolfbagger]

Good afternoon BM,s

 

Heres a thing I have tried on countless occasions to numerous places not just LOS and just cant get a free upgrade to Business class

even when i can see empty seats how nice would it be to have that empty seat

Yep Im a cheap charlie on my travel costs rather have the extra for my adult fun

but for the life in me i just cant get that upgrade

ive read the how to,s on the net spoke to people rang airline service desks etc

I KNOW IM JUST NOT BLESSED OR LUCKY

 

anyone have inside knowledge

[dudebrah]

pay more ?

 

[hazze]

I've only ever got a free upgrade once.

It was flying between Bangkok and Manilla. There where big ques of people with huge amounts of baggage. I was one of hte only one with very little.

One of the girls sent me to the business class desk and they just upgraded me for free.

 

 

A mate of mine gets a lot of upgrades by checking in mega early and specificly asking for one.

His theory is if your first to check in they'll give it to you.

[BostonSteve]

This seems to be the holy grail. Even with the tips my late father gave me (35 years as a airline employee), these do not give you any leverage. It seems it is all about the money. On my flight back I was pestered by a family who wanted to sit together. They went to the flight attendants and they asked me to move, nicely. I politely told them that I would move if they would upgrade me. It did not take long and she came back and said no room. 1 a hour later, a trip to the bathroom and a peek at business class. About 10 open seats.

 

I think the everything has to align for them to upgrade you.

[supertony]

Hi All,

 

This topic pops up all over the place, with various results, mostly negative.

 

I take the view if you don't ask, you don't receive, & if you ask nicely & politely, you may get lucky... so why not go for it?

 

So far, on 8 occasions (KLM - Amsterdam-Bangkok & return)I have always been refused an upgrade on grounds of policy / seat availability, except on one occasion where I was told yes & for about half the cost. I declined. I take the view that you don't get to your destination any quicker, just in more comfort. Having said that, if I could easily afford business class I would consider it. But with sterling continuing to collapse & the Euro in a similar position, & I'm on a pay freeze, unlikely for me,

 

Tone

[Benny10]

Over a period of 20 years Thai airways upgraded me twice form Business Class to First Class.

 

I assume that I was picked because of a combination of serveral factors:

 

- Single traveler (easier to move)

- Business class was totally overbooked (cheaper to upgrade than to compensate me)

- Had connecting flights in Europe

- Royal Orchid Gold Card holder

 

I dont think that airlines are very loyal towards repeating customers, it all comes down to money.

Edited April 26, 2010 by Benny10

[niteray]

I was upgraded on the first leg of my last trip because they oversold the flight and they asked me if sold them my seat for $250, they would upgrade me to business class for the next days flight.

I said yes before they could even offer me the $250.

[Gone with the wind]

If you dress smart, travel alone, are a frequent flyer of that airline and check in very early or very late, you may be a small chance.

[spider0064]

Now have emirates skywards silver, flown 10 times over the last three years and had four upgrades in the past 18 months.

Two times dubai to BKK on the A380 the best being in feb when it was also a free (well £72 tax's)flight, well impressed with that one. I think join the airlines FF programme and fly with that airline 2/3 time per year and you should stand a good chance of an upgrade.

[chivas]

Dress smartly no jeans trainers etc and checking in close to the cut off time will give you the best chance along with a gold card FF.

 

And dressing smartly means having your shirt tucked in !

[yvrgoodtimes]

Dress smartly no jeans trainers etc and checking in close to the cut off time will give you the best chance along with a gold card FF.

 

And dressing smartly means having your shirt tucked in !

 

I almost always get a little extra questioning and searching when I fly, but that's cause I have a shaved head and wear shorts and a basketball jersey. I know I should probably wear something different, but I figure if I'm paying $1000+ for my ticket and I'm gonna be stuck on a plane with crying kids for 10+ hours, then I'm going to be comfortable.

 

I was surprised when I was flying from Tokyo to Vancouver, and I asked if I could get an isle seat cause I get claustrophobic in the middle or window seat. Truth is I just hate being stuck in my seat if I wanna get up. The clerk said he'd check. After a few minuets he said I'll do you one better. How about a free upgrade to an isle seat in first class? Well no, I think I'll pass, HELL YA I'll take the upgrade!

 

It was the best flight of my life. It was one of those capsule seats that folds out to be a bed. The service was better. The food was better. Everything was better. The only downside is now I'm really going to despise economy flights!

[ourkidmrd]

The last 3 flights to patts i have been upgraded 3 times always on second leg of journey,usually travel alone but last time was with mate .i never ask for upgrade but do have a skywards silver card , i am always polite and never tried to time arrival .My upgrades have been pure luck.

[chivas]

I almost always get a little extra questioning and searching when I fly, but that's cause I have a shaved head and wear shorts and a basketball jersey. I know I should probably wear something different, but I figure if I'm paying $1000+ for my ticket and I'm gonna be stuck on a plane with crying kids for 10+ hours, then I'm going to be comfortable.

 

I was surprised when I was flying from Tokyo to Vancouver, and I asked if I could get an isle seat cause I get claustrophobic in the middle or window seat. Truth is I just hate being stuck in my seat if I wanna get up. The clerk said he'd check. After a few minuets he said I'll do you one better. How about a free upgrade to an isle seat in first class? Well no, I think I'll pass, HELL YA I'll take the upgrade!

 

It was the best flight of my life. It was one of those capsule seats that folds out to be a bed. The service was better. The food was better. Everything was better. The only downside is now I'm really going to despise economy flights!

 

I bet the first class passengers having paid to avoid such creatures were thrilled.

[arbiez]

The days of being able to ask for an upgrade are pretty much gone by the wayside for a few reasons:

• All the travel gurus indicating that if you bitch/moan/complain/whine you'll get an upgrade. All that did was increase the number of people whining, bitching and complaining thereby decreasing the number of available upgrades.
  
• Airlines are filling more seats on a flight.
  
• Airlines check your fare purchase category code. A "Y" class fare will be upgraded before an "M" fare. (At least in North America where coach may have as many as 10 fares in coach. IOWs the lower you pay, the less likelihood of being upgraded.)
  
• There is a pecking order to being upgraded. It starts with employees, then top tier frequent fliers (FF), then gold tier, then silver, then regular FF followed by everyday folks. Additionally, there are wait lists for the upgrades as well.
  
• Certain mileage levels get automatically upgraded. When I was United Gold, if there was an upgrade seat available, I automatically got it on domestic flights and on those occasions when a free seat up front was available trans-continent it would boil down to who had the highest status. I remember the first time it happened to me, I was worried there was some mistake and my company would be billed a higher rate and I requested the coach seat. Boy was I stupid.
  
• Travel consolidators have taken up some of the cheap fares in coach for last minute fares. Therefore the airline earns less revenue. (yeah right)
  
• Nowadays, some airlines are charging more for an aisle or window seat. More categories means fewer bumps.
  

So if you want to get upgraded, you might go from coach to premium econ, but business class requires at least silver/gold status (or miles).

 

But there may be some sneaks left if you . . .

• Don't start travel from a major int'l hub airport. (For example, if starting your trip on United going trans-pacific from either Los Angeles or San Francisco getting the bump will be more difficult to obtain at the counter. They are just programmed to say NO. However, if you leave from a small airport like Bend, Oregon and transfer flights at a major airport, the small town counter staff may be a bit nicer and upgrade the segment to San Francisco or the entire route, but don't bet on it.)
  
• Check your fares. If you buy at 900 and you later see the fare has dropped to 600, call the airline. You might be offered a credit for the 300 difference at which point you ask for an upgrade instead of the credit. (Highly unlikely unless you're a FF.)
  
• Ask at the gate. The ticket counter is less unlikely to do the upgrade because they're working check-in for several flights.
  
• Ask at the gate when there is no-one waiting in line. If you're booked on a 747 with 300 coach seats and half of those people are in line asking for upgrades and kosher/vegan diets and will the flight take off on time, you are so NOT getting an upgrade.
  
• Are you a member of their corporate lounge? (not to be confused with the FF program) On United, you are far more likely to get the bump at the service desk inside the Red Carpet Club than you are at the gate or check-in.
  
• Partner airline: When I was gold status on United, I found it much easier to get upgrades on Star Alliance partners Lufthansa and Singapore than United. Hell, I even got an upgrade on LOT and I'd never been to Poland.
  
• Flirt with the ticket counter wench; especially if she's unattractive.
  
• Ask the travel department at your employer. Quite often major corporations get discounts if the guarantee a minimum number of seat-segments based on the anticipated travel. In these cases, the airline may offer discounts to the company and other incentives like upgrade coupons. Even if you're flying for personal use you may be able to ask if there are any travel discount privileges you may receive as an employee buying your ticket through the company. (I don't advise this because it's can be risky if you're not already in a position to know about this.)

But don't count on it. These strategies may increase your chances by maybe 3-5%.

Edited April 28, 2010 by arbiez

[petermik]

Dress smartly no jeans trainers etc and checking in close to the cut off time will give you the best chance along with a gold card FF.

 

And dressing smartly means having your shirt tucked in !

Help-Where exactly should I tuck my shirt in?

[chivas]

Help-Where exactly should I tuck my shirt in?

 

In your strides.

 

People who walk around with their shirt hanging out don't realise how stupid they look in the evenings.

 

Do you see Cruise,Kilmer,Pitt or Cloney in films with their tails hanging out ??

[dibley69]

You could spend hours trying to work out how to get an upgrade just type in on google for starters, You could sell the information on how to... and with the money you make just buy a business class seat!!!

I have been lucky twice leaving bkk travelling back to blighty and mainland europe i arrived early and spoke polite basic thai to the pretty girl at check-in. I do this everytime and just got lucky. I wear shirt and smart dark jeans i shave and smile thats it..

its a black art those that know dont tell and those that tell dont know.

 

Worst case you get economy class you get mow nid noy at the airport and sleep all the way to BKK!!

[sybarite]

On a stopping return flight from London to Bangkok last year I got upgraded 3 times out of the possible 4...completely for free! On the 4th leg I was offered the upgrade but only if I paid for it this time so I refused.

 

It's a great feeling to be sitting in amongst the cattle in economy when the stewardess walks down aisle just before take off and says "Are you Mr. so and so?...well could you please come with me".

 

You are shepherded down to the front with the stewardess carrying your carry-on luggage for you and everybody looking around with a look on their face as if to say "who the fuck is that...?"

[bobby1961]

Last year I had 3 trips to LOS

So that is 12 flights with Emirates all paid for economy direct from Emirates website.

I used miles to upgrade 3 of my flights and my boss used his miles to upgrade me on another.

I actually flew 3 economy 8 business and 1 first class (on the 380 and that having a shower was amazing)

The reason is I am a single traveller a frequent flyer and last year got lucky

[cc2709]

The only consistent way to get upgraded is to be a frequent flyer and to concentrate your travel on one carrier. As a frequent flier (United 1K and Million Miler) I typically get upgraded (more then 80% of the time), but I only get upgraded that much because I avoid traveling from the US on Saturday (typical business travels leave the US on Sat to be in Asia for Monday business) and I avoid returning to the US on Fridays and Saturdays (once again typical business travel days). The only other people who get upgraded are people with Full Fare (or close to it) economy tickets.

 

Remember airlines upgrade people for 2 reasons 1) reward loyal customers and 2) fill seats in economy, if economy is oversold they will move people to business based on a) frequent flier status and b) $ paid for the ticket. If a flight is not full they typically will only move loyal customers....

[burp]

got upgraded last november with Qatar Airways just because i had a broken arm.

was a great experience.

[rtpman]

I think the days of free upgrade is over. If you check the mileage program on just about all the airlines, they have increased the mileage requirement for upgrade so I don't think they are now going to give it up for free.

[mufdi]

I think, the most important thing is beeing lucky. The economy class has to be full, it is better to travel alone, no frequent flyers (with a status) in front of you during the check-in,... ok, I still think, it is all about luck.

[discoman]

Airlines will still upgrade you to business or first class, but it has to be in their advantage to do it. If economy is oversold and there are seats in Business available the ticket agent will usually wait till the last possible minute and take the person in economy with most miles that year and upgrade them quietly to business.

 

I don't believe there is anything you can say or do that will get you an upgrade these days. The airlines have finally realized that they are their worst enemy when it comes to customer service. The days of complaining to the higher supervisor until you get what you want are all but gone.

[splitpin]

I had a sneaky trick with KLM a few years ago, it was one of the bucket shops that told me, i was silver wing, but if you changed the first digit of your FF number you became gold wing, and e that number its was printed on your ticket. Never once was i asked to show my FF card at check-in, they just assumed i was Gold, 3 flights out of 4 i was given an upgrade at the gate, still got the little bottles of gin they gave you.

 

This all stopped when they went e-ticket and merged.