I'd like to open a post / get some discussion going on anyone's advice on how to get upgrades, because it's all a bit of a mystery. Some people advocate just asking and being direct, other people say that's the last thing you should do (because you're seen to be cheeky). Some people say that being smartly dressed helps, others don't think it plays much of a part.
Some people advocate that a FF card is an absolute must ; some people say that that's more important than the level you're at (I have, and can provide links to a BA site where one person claims to have got one even though they had blue (Qantas = bronze) membership.
Even though I have two mates who are pilots, I have a 'tame' travel agent, who I am good mates with, plus I've got Qantas Club membership (personally paid for, not corporate rates), but I never get asked ; but I DO make a point of wearing a shirt / tie / smart clothes at the airport when I fly. I don't expect an upgrade, but I do ask nicely if there is any room free in business class, unlike one guy (on a flight from SYD to LAX, who's wife spat the dummy and complained that her husband (Qantas Silver member) didn't get a business class upgrade, and that it 'was not on' that there were business class seats empty.
One time, I was flying out of ADL to HKG, and the gate assistant put me and my partner at the BACK of the airplane ! :O I wasn't that happy, because even though I'm paying economy class, I didn't particularly wish to be at the back of the plane, given the loyalty that I've shown to Qantas and that I'd spent a few hundred $ on QC membership.
:x
I went to the QC and politely asked if there was any room further forward, and there was, so they changed me to get 17 rows forward, which was good of them. So, that was O.K. - I reckon that the check in agent was just trying to be nasty.
Some people advocate that a FF card is an absolute must ; some people say that that's more important than the level you're at (I have, and can provide links to a BA site where one person claims to have got one even though they had blue (Qantas = bronze) membership.
Even though I have two mates who are pilots, I have a 'tame' travel agent, who I am good mates with, plus I've got Qantas Club membership (personally paid for, not corporate rates), but I never get asked ; but I DO make a point of wearing a shirt / tie / smart clothes at the airport when I fly. I don't expect an upgrade, but I do ask nicely if there is any room free in business class, unlike one guy (on a flight from SYD to LAX, who's wife spat the dummy and complained that her husband (Qantas Silver member) didn't get a business class upgrade, and that it 'was not on' that there were business class seats empty.
One time, I was flying out of ADL to HKG, and the gate assistant put me and my partner at the BACK of the airplane ! :O I wasn't that happy, because even though I'm paying economy class, I didn't particularly wish to be at the back of the plane, given the loyalty that I've shown to Qantas and that I'd spent a few hundred $ on QC membership.
:x
I went to the QC and politely asked if there was any room further forward, and there was, so they changed me to get 17 rows forward, which was good of them. So, that was O.K. - I reckon that the check in agent was just trying to be nasty.