Airlines upgrades question for you ....

[AliceGardner]

Alice
it can happen if there has been a change of plane configuration, such as a Heathrow configured 747 instead of a gatwick 747 for instance, a lot more UC seats and much less PE seats, or even a complete change of aircraft type.

Oh yes, as I said a few posts back:

It doesn't mean that airlines don't upgrade people before online check-in - as you yourself have experienced - but it is rarer than airport upgrades.

I just think that it is incorrect to say that most upgrades are done before anyone checks-in and that op-ups are very rare... For example, hasn't LGW-MCO been operated by and A340-600 1% of the time (the other 99% of the time being operated by the normal LGW/MAN 747)? That is a very low proportion of flights that may require a significant number of op-ups before check-in due to aircraft change... Whereas many full flights will need op-ups to be carried out at the airport due to oversell.

Although op-ups are very common, it doesn't mean that they are easy to get... Many people might go to the airport hoping for an upgrade, but the chances are still very slim (since there are another 300 people on your flight ALSO going to the airport hoping for an upgrade... ). So unless you happen to be the right person in the right place at the right time, you will most probably be disappointed .

That is one of the reasons why it is pointless to be annoyed at people who get upgraded to PE/UC - yes they get an unexpected treat, but that is it. If anyone definitely wants to fly PE/UC, then they have to pay for it - since there are VERY few people who can get guaranteed free upgrades.... Upgrading people occasionally can actually be good for airlines - since sometimes those people like the better class of service and are willing to pay for it next time.

Alice

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

The last time we travelled the check in assistant tried to upgrade us but when she pointed to certain seats her supervisor shook her head

We had just arrived in from the Belfast flight, were just over 2 hours before the flight was due to take off (so not late for check-in) and had only hand luggage as it was a short trip.

Economy was full other than the 2 seats they could offer us - one on each side of the plane I have a funny feeling that the seats the check-in assistant was looking at may have been UC as she says she tried PE and it was full.

In the end DH and I had to sit on our own for the 9 hour flight..........great. Even the people beside me weren't friendly, just about got an 'hello'

 

[gilld]

We were flying VA Economy into MCO with 2 teenage boys a few years back and were early checking in - first passengers for our flight actually. We were pulled from the queue, asked if we'd mind flying with Continental via Newark in their Business First cabin and given 4 free Economy tickets anywhere, valid for 18 months. Did we agree - you bet!

 

[AliceGardner]

We were flying VA Economy into MCO with 2 teenage boys a few years back and were early checking in - first passengers for our flight actually. We were pulled from the queue, asked if we'd mind flying with Continental via Newark in their Business First cabin and given 4 free Economy tickets anywhere, valid for 18 months. Did we agree - you bet!

That is "being the right people in the right place at the right time"

The last time we travelled the check in assistant tried to upgrade us but when she pointed to certain seats her supervisor shook her head

Either you were the wrong people in the right place at the right time or - much more likely - (because there were two economy seats still left) that you just got a supervisor who was in neither a particularly good nor charitable mood... basically she could have upgraded you (and made you life a lot better), but she didn't have to and she didn't

 

[Mermaid2sea]

We were flying VA Economy into MCO with 2 teenage boys a few years back and were early checking in - first passengers for our flight actually. We were pulled from the queue, asked if we'd mind flying with Continental via Newark in their Business First cabin and given 4 free Economy tickets anywhere, valid for 18 months. Did we agree - you bet!

That's great....where did you use them for??

 

[gilld]

That's great....where did you use them for??

We used them for a fabulous holiday in St Lucia. We spent the same as we would have spent without the free flights, but it all went on a much nicer hotel.