Has anyone ever been upgraded from Economy to Business Class....

yes

Whats the magic?

I got an extra leg room seat on a Virgin Atlantic flight last month for nothing. The couple next to me paid £75 each for theirs.

I have only once been upgraded and that was 16 years ago for flights

3 years ago i was upgraded in a NY 5 * star hotel to a while suite, that was superb!!


Do you just ask for an upgrade then? I never have asked.

I did once think about asking if there were any upgrades available, but thought better of it once i was at the check in desk. Do the check in desk clerks really have the power to do this anyhow, or is it later down the line you work the magic?

Your ticket will be marked "SFU" or similar ( suitable for upgrade) . This is usually because you have a (close) family member who works for the airline.
Without that sort of link you are a million.

They like it if you treat them mean.

I got an upgrade on a ryanair flight. they allowed me to sit in the toilet

overboard

really?

my uograde 16 years ago was done and i did not have any links, as far as im aware..
im flying with cathay pacific next week, would love an upgrade, but there is a few of us.

lolol magic flea

i thought you have to pay to use the toilet now?

:-)

Overboard interesting. I actually had a friend working as an air hostie for Virgin. She got tickets for her brother and one of my mates over to Barbados in Business. My friend went in First because he had a collar on. Wouldnt let the other guy in as he was just wearing a T- Shirt. The Captain comes out and greets you mid flight in first class apparently.

The Captain comes out and greets you mid flight in first class apparently.

not any more

The Magic Flea 11 Nov 12:34


The Captain comes out and greets you mid flight in first class apparently.

not any more


MAYBE THE CAPTAIN IS AFTER HIM?

BE CAREFUL

The Magic Flea 11 Nov 12:34


The Captain comes out and greets you mid flight in first class apparently.

not any more


This was last year in 2008, why would he lie about something like that.

against protocol. since 9/11 the captain and 1st officer are only allowed outside the flight deck if going to the toilet. And then they have to put the seatbelt sign on and the flight crew have to check everyone is seated

sid
if you didn't blag them with a "my wife is a stewardess ect" when you booked, you have no chance. Especially if there are a group of you.
My cousin is coming up to retirement and is a senior pilot for BA. He has been able to get me upgraded ( Business to First, never Cattle to Business) over the years but not every time. usually impossible to the States as Business and First usually full of business men and their companies will have paid full rate.
generally, if you have paid for a Business flight then you can sometimes find yourself in First class if there is a seat available. Almost impossible these days to be moved up from Cattle class.

if you're in the top tier of the airlines frequent flyer program, you have a slim chance.

otherwise forget about it.

I've been up-graded because they overbooked the flight.

happened to me a few years back... I was 15 and our flight back from sri lanka got cancelled - they had one seat spare on one day and one on another so I took the first flight - got upgraded as I was a minor flying on my own - my seat and i remember it to this day was 1A :D it was the best flight ever!

Bravado 11 Nov 12:42


happened to me a few years back... I was 15 and our flight back from sri lanka got cancelled - they had one seat spare on one day and one on another so I took the first flight - got upgraded as I was a minor flying on my own - my seat and i remember it to this day was 1A it was the best flight ever!


AWWWWW

thats a nice story

THE CAPTAIN FIDDLED HIM

Yes ..you have to look very smart , and look like you would fit in and be respectable ....
Prob no Real Ale available to me on those days :D :D
You get Free drinks , as many as you like within reason , your own arm console tv and a reclining seat ...we also had many Stewards in our area on one upgrade . ..and there were only 8 of us in there ...

but you can get as many free drink on most long haul

i have done in the past

even when fairly wrecked

but am i happy drunk on flight

:-)

8sid ..youre a Pilot aren't you ?

was dating an Emertes airline worker in Korea very briefly, asked her how they decide who gets upgrades - she said usually if the guy is polite and handsome, as its upto the checkin girls.


Im always very polite, but as of yet never got an upgrade!!!
:(

I DO :D :D

that explains it then :D

if you are high level member of their frequent flyer program then much more likely.
also as mentioned being well dressed and polite helps.
not been upgraded myself but will be flying bus class to oz soon so hopefully can try out the theory of more likely to get upgraded to first from bus than bus from cattle.

Ive been a Singapore airlines goldcard member for 5 years.. never got upgraded either cattle to biz, or Biz to first..

that point about being well presented would be worth considering.. I usually look dragged through a hedge, especially after the last night rattle before home

For Virgin to Hong Kong or Shanghai , its just cattle pre economy or upper class.. I have never seen a captain near the upperclass cabin.. just the blond bimbo hostesses to lust after

Using BA:

when flying on your own, arrive as late as possible.

They will often sell your seat if someone is buying at the counter or on the day and move up people on their own.

In one year between London and Montreal on 3 trips / six flights, this was the case on four of them.

look well presented, nap

get airmiles/loyalty points/whatever

turn up late (they normally overbook flights slightly, assuming no-shows... so late on is when they have to start shuffling people around if the flight has filled up)

If you know someone who works for the airline at the airport you are flying from then they can usually ask the flight dispatcher to consider you for ugrade if space is available. It requires the 'Suitable for Upgrade' marker to be entered onto the computer. Moving from economy to business has become a lot harder since they introduced the intermediate cabins such as BA's World Traveller Plus. You've got to remember (a) that these people are getting asked for free upgrades every day and are entitled to be heartily sick of it and (b) what you are asking for is a free gift worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds and is is not lightly handed over to anyone that asks.

Have been upgraded at Heathrow quite often via family connections. One of the best though was at JFK check in when I asked about paying to go from Economy to World Traveller Plus and the guy just moved us to Club without charge. Our gratitude knew no bounds!

im wearing a suit next week

i am not ugly

i bet i dont get upgraded

I got upgraded flying from Aus to NZ on Air New Zealand once - though we got normal food not the better menu. Still got plenty of booze, better seats and good service. They did it because there were more crew on the flight than passengers.

i always travel first class

have you ever been upgraded?

Two years ago got upgraded from Economy to Business Qatar airways from Manila to Doha. Called my name called to the front at the gate and reissued wityh new seat number. Didn't realise until I got on the plane and had to turn left. Was fantastic meals, drinks and free giveaway package compared to Economy, and that screen and space.

3 weels ago Cathay, my boarding passes Manila-Hong Kong, Hong Kong-Heathrow were both economy, but Heathroiw-Manchester (BA code share) said Buisness class. I was overjoyed. The reality was I went on the same bus as everyone else, got on same way as economy, got served the bacon sandwich and coffee same as economy but was worse because seat was at the back of plane so was last off. Typical British Airways to let you down.

son-in law..upgraded to aussie....armyman

I got upgraded from Economy to Business going to New York a couple of year's back. Helped that my mate was the First Officer on the flight ;)