Is this true or a myth? checking in late may give you a free Business class upgrade?

[CaptainPersia]

Hey guys,

Someone told me the other day that if you don't check-in online and go to the airport an hour before flight and check-in at the counter, the airline may have ended up over allocating economy seats and then have to give you a free business upgrade, he told me he's done a few times with Emirates.

Is this true? I think it's too good to be true, has anyone else done this?

 

[ozfflyer]

It's a little more complicated than that.

no not really, unless you're talking about airlines taking more freight & leaving standbys behind.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

no not really, unless you're talking about airlines taking more freight & leaving standbys behind.

I say the algorithms are a little more complicated because I implemented them for a major Australian airline.

 

[Happy Dude]

I was upgraded on Korean Air in similar circumstances so it does happen. I was really late though, perhaps just as the flight was closing, and was met with "You're so late!! We'll have to put you in Business Class!!" by the flustered check-in manager guy.

That was in the late 90's. These days I'd say the airline would bump more than upgrade. Showing up late without a seat allocation seems to be the best way to get a center seat at the back of the plane.

 

[Dr Ralph]

But you can't get bump off if you have a ticket?

HAHAHAHHA. You most certainly can!

Hey guys,

Someone told me the other day that if you don't check-in online and go to the airport an hour before flight and check-in at the counter, the airline may have ended up over allocating economy seats and then have to give you a free business upgrade, he told me he's done a few times with Emirates.

That 'someone' is a liar.

Whilst it is possible to be upgraded in this situation, it's much more likely that you'll get a middle seat instead!

 

[Matt_01]

.....It's not unknown for passengers in F/J to be put into a lower cabin and told to take it or not fly.

Agree, as a P1 travelling in J on the odd occasion I have been complementary downgraded . Just part of flying.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The conditions of carriage allows the airline to complete the carriage at any time not necessarily at the agreed time

I think this needs to be considered in light of Australian consumer law. I'm not sure 'any time' is true anymore. It must be a 'reasonable' time, and still fit for purpose, otherwise a refund is to be made available as an option.

For overseas jurisdictions, particularly Europe, other consumer protections apply (such as EU261).

 

[Quickstatus]

I think this needs to be considered in light of Australian consumer law. I'm not sure 'any time' is true anymore. It must be a 'reasonable' time, and still fit for purpose, otherwise a refund is to be made available as an option.

For overseas jurisdictions, particularly Europe, other consumer protections apply (such as EU261).

It really needs the ACCC to step in and examine this. Currently, what’s reasonable still incurs a penalty to the passenger in terms of lost holiday/business time, having to claim on their own travel insurance. And sometimes the refund takes weeks or months. Additionally a last minute refund is of less value because the passenger has to purchase last minute expensive tickets

 

[Ausbt]

They always call for volunteers to give up seat on US domestic flights

Earlier this year at SLC DL were offering a voucher for USD$1,000 for "any passenger that can help us out today". Geeze I was keen, but just couldn't delay my travel.

 

[Quickstatus]

A few years ago on Dec 26 was flying back from LGA-DEN on DL. The offer increased from $100 to $1000 (delta credits). We were 5 passengers. When it hit $1000 I got up to go to the desk, but when I got there they only needed 4 passengers

$5000 and hotel rooms for 1 extra night would not have been a bad deal.

 

[jase05]

A few years ago on Dec 26 was flying back from LGA-DEN on DL. The offer increased from $100 to $1000 (delta credits). We were 5 passengers. When it hit $1000 I got up to go to the desk, but when I got there they only needed 4 passengers

$5000 and hotel rooms for 1 extra night would not have been a bad deal.

EK are notorious for this at DXB. Have seen this happen a few times and I’d definitely take up the offer if we get asked

 

[JohnK]

In the majority of cases it's a myth.

Airlines that oversell economy will generally upgrade higher tier frequent flyers early on in the process and not wait until the last minute. It is also possible that last minute upgrades at the gate may also go to top tier frequent flyers.

In saying that it does not explain my situation on Christmas Day flying SQ. No status, award ticket and I was one of the last to check-in for flight. I was told I had no booking even though I did and then check-in agent made a call and I was given boarding pass for premium economy. No idea what happened but it was a full flight and I may not have been on the flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was told I had no booking even though I did and then check-in agent made a call and I was given boarding pass for premium economy. No idea what happened but it was a full flight and I may not have been on the flight.

Who was the award ticket issued through? If not KrisFlyer, SQ has some fairly strict ticketing deadlines. It is possible the partner didn't ticket in time (cancelling the booking, which was subsequently re-instated.)

 

[JohnK]

Who was the award ticket issued through? If not KrisFlyer, SQ has some fairly strict ticketing deadlines. It is possible the partner didn't ticket in time (cancelling the booking, which was subsequently re-instated.)

Award booked and confirmed through KrisFlyer back in May 2018. Economy must have been full and I was sort of offloaded and when I turned up they reinstated the award.

I can't think of any other explanation.

 

[Spongbob]

From my experience (and others here of AFF), airline FF status is the main influence on a points free (opup) upgrade.

 

[cjd600]

The only way to guarantee an upgrade is to dress nicely

 

[Hvr]

The only way to guarantee an upgrade is to dress nicely

Only if it's your birthday.

 

[TomVexille]

Only if it's your birthday.

And you're on your honeymoon

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Sometimes if you turn up late and whY is oversold they will upgrade an elite into J then slot the late runner into the seat in whY vacated by the WP. Other times pax will turn up late and the flight has checked in full so it's like playing musical chairs and there are no seats left when the music stops = SOL.

 

[dajop]

It's quite interesting, my most experience with upgrades is on SQ (between me when I was PPS, and partner who is Solitaire PPS). Sometimes upgrades are handed out at the check-in (more likely at out-stations, particularly if arriving late), sometimes they will be given to you in lounge, and other times they will happen at the gate. A couple of time's I've even had a hand written boarding pass handed to me at the gate. If you are picking up a flight at a hub, it may be a different experience to the "outstations" as they are dealing with uncertainties of lots of connecting pax whose flights may or may not be running late. Thus may wait until relatively late (after check-in has closed) to process upgrades. With out-stations, you probably see more advanced planning.

Whatever the case, it's usually higher status passengers on the highest fares that are most likely to be given the upgrade - irrespective of how late you arrive at the airport.

 

[love_the_life]

Can we call this 'debunked' now?