Chances of getting a free upgrade?

[crim1978]

Hi.

We are flying with Monarch, and had a phone call last night offering us upgrades.

We know that there are still still seats available in economy and premium.

What do you think are the chances of being bumped up on the day? I have heard of people getting upgrades by surprise and of people asking for one and getting it.

Has anyone ever had any experience of being upgraded?

Just a thought.

 

[lagunn]

I have been upgraded but i have paid for mine.

 

[chmurf]

What do you think are the chances of being bumped up on the day?

You say "bump" but it's not the same thing as being upgraded.

being upgraded means you get a better seat on the same flight

being bumped means that you do not get to board your flight and you're given a compensation (upgrade, money, free ticket) when you accept to take the next flight.

I have heard of people getting upgrades by surprise and of people asking for one and getting it.

the odds of getting an upgrade decreases as the number of passengers in your party increases.

There are very few 1st class or PE seats when compared to economy
If you're a solo traveller, there is a higher chance to be upgraded when there is an empty seat in 1st/BC
If you're travelling as a family with kids, it is less likely that there will be enough empty seats in the higher class to accomodate your whole party. So it is very less likely to be upgraded.

There is no rule for upgrades. Sometimes the rep at check in will "fall in love" with you and upgrade you or put you on the upgrade list.
Sometimes asking might get you something, but most of the times the reps will refuse upgrades to people who ask, and upgrade people who've been nice and didn't ask.

It also depends on how full your plane is. If there are seats left in economy, the odds to get an upgrade is almost 0
The main reason you could get upgraded is that the airline needs your seat for a pax who has been bumped, or who missed their flight and is rebooked on your flight. They will offer you an upgrade (if a seat is available in a higher class) in order to give this pax a seat.
Online check in is hit or miss. Sometimes airlines release seats that were not available for advance seat selection, and you may get a PE seat free (again very unlikely to get them if you're not a solo passenger, and you need to check in at the very start of the check in window), and the best chance to get upgraded are by checking in at the airport, but too many variables (you'll most likely be offered to be bumped onto another flight - possibly the next day for transatlantics) nothing is predictable

But the higher the number of passengers in your party, the lower your chances for an upgrade.

 

[luke]

You say "bump" but it's not the same thing as being upgraded.

being upgraded means you get a better seat on the same flight

being bumped means that you do not get to board your flight and you're given a compensation (upgrade, money, free ticket) when you accept to take the next flight.

Pretty sure they meant bumped up as a way of saying getting something higher than expected, rather than the literal airplane meaning of bumped

 

[chmurf]

Pretty sure they meant bumped up as a way of saying getting something higher than expected, rather than the literal airplane meaning of bumped

I do think so too. But I thought it was useful to clarify.

try to imagine the situation at the airport desk

DISer : "can we get bumped ?"
Airline Rep : "ok sir, you're on tomorrow's flight now, do you need meal vouchers ?"
DISer : "I meant upgraded"
Airline Rep : "too late"

 

[luke]

true!

I keep having horrible visions of getting bumped from our flight next March as our cruise leaves the day after we arrive!!

 

[Elise79]

The days of airlines giving free upgrades for anything other than necessity are long gone. If they upgrade you for free they have to pay the higher rate of APD out of your fare thereby losing money.

Only on a full flight when you may get a operational upgrade but it is usually given to solo travellers as they are easier to move.

 

[rabbitroger]

When you fly, dress smartly and be polite to the check-in staff. The odds of your free upgrade jump up massively.

 

[1nfrequent]

On Monarch, I think you can forget it. The only way they'll op-up is if they've overbooked economy seats.

Most other airlines will op-up loyalty card holders in order of tier seniority before they'll do 'regular' passengers, so if you want an upgrade you really need to pay for it if/when offered.

1F

 

[loadsapixiedust]

I have never heard of Monarch giving free upgrades. We've been upgraded for free twice but only as a result of a mess up by the airline in the first place so in lieu of compensation really. Operational upgrades are more likely on scheduled airlines and on business routes rather than the bucket and spade routes like Orlando. Not to say it can't happen so keep those fingers crossed.

 

[wayneg]

Transatlantic upgrades are almost impossible to get. Out of all the trips we have done (over 250 flights) we have been upgraded once and that was to extra leg room exit seats, nothing else, I am sure it was because we had about 250,000 airmiles between us and been members for years.
If any upgrades are available they usually go to the airlines frequent flying members. My Brother is Virgin Gold FF, he sometimes gets them but he has over 1 Million airmiles.

As for being bumped & comp, those days seem to have gone, I posted in another thread a few week back I don't remember last time I heard them ask for volunteers. I was talking to an American family by the pool at OKW last week from Michigan, they were telling me the airlines rarely bump people anymore, it was costing them far too much.

 

[luke]

Transatlantic upgrades are almost impossible to get. Out of all the trips we have done (over 250 flights) we have been upgraded once and that was to extra leg room exit seats, nothing else, I am sure it was because we had about 250,000 airmiles between us and been members for years.
If any upgrades are available they usually go to the airlines frequent flying members. My Brother is Virgin Gold FF, he sometimes gets them but he has over 1 Million airmiles.

As for being bumped & comp, those days seem to have gone, I posted in another thread a few week back I don't remember last time I heard them ask for volunteers. I was talking to an American family by the pool at OKW last week from Michigan, they were telling me the airlines rarely bump people anymore, it was costing them far too much.

Glad to hear that about the bumping. We were once bumped coming home from Paris, we didn't mind that as we got £100 to sit in the airport for an extra few hours.

Just like I say, with the cruise the next day and us being on the second MAN-MCO of the day rather than the usual first flight I had horror visions
We are premium economy though so I imagine there'd be even less chance of a bump if they ever did one?

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We flew back from Florida last month on VA and I overheard a member of the cabin crew telling a passenger that it was now policy NOT to offer free upgrades. I have no way of knowing if other airlines have the same policy but it wouldn't surprise me.

Mick.

 

[janiebubble]

A colleague from work was upgraded from economy to premium economy on Virgin last month. It was just her and her husband travelling from Manchester. They're not frequent travellers, last went to Florida 8 years ago, so it wasn't a miles/flying club upgrade. Pixie dust can happen! (worked for Virgin too as they then paid to upgrade coming home!)

 

[wayneg]

A colleague from work was upgraded from economy to premium economy on Virgin last month. It was just her and her husband travelling from Manchester. They're not frequent travellers, last went to Florida 8 years ago, so it wasn't a miles/flying club upgrade. Pixie dust can happen! (worked for Virgin too as they then paid to upgrade coming home!)

I am sure they do upgrade the odd person, I just think you have almost as much chance of winning the lottery these days.
There was an elderly lady on our flight this morning I suspect was an upgrade, rest of the family in economy, she was sat infront of us in Economy Comfort. After the family kept coming to visit and leaving after about an hour or so a younger member of her family sat there and she moved back with rest of family into Economy, I don't think she enjoyed being sat up there on her own. Maybe they paid for the upgrade, I have no idea but I suspect a free upgrade.