Oversold flights & operational upgrades

[ellen10]

Not sure what happens on multi leg flights whether you can get upgraded mid-journey ie DXB/LHR when you've requested SYD/LHR.

I'm assuming you ticked the opt-in box to upgrade at the airport if the request didn't clear ahead of time.

Staff only get upgraded after commercial pax with upgrade requests have been processed as the latter have a higher upgrade category than any staff leisure travel category.

Yes we had ticked the box to upgrade at the airport as well.

My husband just reminded me about our flight over, SYD to Dubai (it was 2 months earlier). There was a couple across from us, front row PE. A couple of staff came down to say hello and chat, (obviously knew them, by their conversation), prior to take off. After takeoff they disappeared for the entire flight and only returned for landing.

 

[stroudie]

Two years ago my wife & myself were upgraded at the gate to business class with Emirates. We were boarding at Dusseldorf for Dubai on a QF ticket & both bronze members.
Just last week, we came back from coughet via Singapore. I was very sick (put it down to the breakfast at hotel) At the gate boarding in Singapore my wife asked if I could be seated somewhere I could lie down, she was told no vacant seats anywhere. Early in the flight she asked a steward if I could lie down somewhere. They reluctantly moved me to a vacant business class seat for the journey to Sydney, after sternly advising my wife that it was me only & that there would be no meals or drinks (last thing I wanted) They put the bed down, threw a blanket of sorts on me & left me unattended for the duration, at least I managed to get a few hours sleep. Before nodding off I overheard the steward answering another as to why I was there "he's supposed to be sick !"
Hardly the way I expected to be upgraded

 

[mannej]

I'm not surprised about the skepticism of your ill-health as they probably have many try it on

 

[Denali]

I'm not surprised about the skepticism of your ill-health as they probably have many try it on

I cant remember what airline show it was but there was a pax who had fallen ill and was moved to a J seat. On landing, paramedics entered cabin and pax declared they were well enough to go home and thats what happened.

hmmmm...

 

[Basalt]

I suspect that the check-in staff can quite readily use their own volition for op-ups. +1 and myself had one in DUS heading to HKG on CX. We were in the Y+ queue with Y+ tickets and were beckoned to the J counter to check in and given an op-up to J. We had no status at that point and I can only presume our level of sartorial elegance assisted...

 

[Melburnian1]

I suspect that the check-in staff can quite readily use their own volition for op-ups. +1 and myself had one in DUS heading to HKG on CX....

That's also my experience on EK, PR and TG to name three.

The 'hints' that tabloid and broadsheet newspapers' travel sections give to 'avoid dressing nicely, as it makes no difference' are useless.

If one was a check-in staff member, would the bogan in a tank top (yes, I've sat next to these in Y) or the quite pleasant, smart casual (without being over the top) gent or lady get the upgrade if one was needed due to overselling of Y?

 

[coco50]

A free upgrade has only ever happened to me once. That was on American from ABQ - LAX. Pity that sector was so short. In June this year I had booked business class for my wife and me from SYD - LAX and put in a request for points upgrade to first. We were lucky enough to get this at a total cost of 90 000 points. It was well worth it. The service was superb and our flight attendant, Geoff was excellent.

 

[Bindibuys]

Hubby & I received op-up on BA flight SYD/SIN. Think it was the first time I had ever worn jeans on a flight (I had given up on the "dress up" to get upgrade prior) That flight may have been our downfall on ever going Y again.....

 

[pearler47]

I boarded a BA flight from Bangkok to Melbourne a few years ago. Someone was sitting in my allocated seat. The seat had been allocated twice. I went to premium economy. Accidents should happen more often.

 

[spudseamus]

A few yrs ago on a flight from Dublin to Melbourne in J EY ,I had been informed before leaving Dub that there was an expected 2 hr extra delay at AUH " we are sorry this will be happening ,we hope it doesn't inconvenience you greatly". Well why shoot the messenger! Lol! " no that is something that happened on long haul , thank you so much for phoning me"
Got to AUH and proceeded to J lounge for shower ect. I was rounded up by an attendant who profusely apologised for not catching me at the lounge desk and would I mind accompanying him to the first lounge as I had been upgraded to first class for the flight to Mel ! Ohhh what can I say ? Reimagined!!!

 

[smcgrego]

Apart from when my Dad worked for CX, I've only had one upgrade. It was on Emirates, three years ago, flying from MAN to KL. The guy at the check-in desk was fiddling around for ages (husband huffing and puffing, me stamping on his foot to shut up). The guy eventually looked up and said "in recognition of your Qantas Gold status, we are upgrading you on the Dubai leg." He handed us J boarding passes to Dubai and Y for the KL leg. I was quite pregnant at the time so it was very appreciated. The best part was, in Dubai when we went to board, our economy passes made that gratifying little beep sound at the gate, and were torn up and replaced for more J passes. Heaven!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I was wondering... if a flight has been oversold in economy class (meaning operational upgrades are required), how do airlines decide who gets the upgrade/s?

I realise this varies by airline, but is status generally the most important thing? What other factors would be taken into account - booking class? Order of check-in? Something else? And who would make the decision - a computer, or would the check-in staff on the day have a say?

Further to this, is there anything you could do as a passenger to increase your chances of an op-up if you know economy is oversold?

I'd be interested to hear from anyone with knowledge of how this all works!

SO was flying in whY MXP/DXB on his way back to BNE and I'd told him to ask about paid upgrades to J at the airport. The checkin staff went off to check but I don't think anybody knew much about what it would cost. Anyway they came back and said "we've got a surprise for you" and handed him a new boarding pass for J. I'm not sure whether the flight was oversold in whY or not.

The ticket was the cheapest whY fare booked direct on the EK website but not sure of the fare bucket. SO had recently got a status match from QF WP to EK SW Gold - the latter being in his pnr so not sure if that influenced them at all. This was prior to EK changing the way they upgrade pax so back then it was more about status than fare paid.

I got an op-up on EK BCN/DXB when the A380 had a problem with two exit doors which resulted in a delay of about 3.5 hours. They could still depart with them inoperative however they had to move a certain amount of pax away from those doors. Their CSM or equivalent walked throught the cabin looking at the manifest so I'm assuming they were looking at the freq flyer status and the end result was myself and quite a few others were moved to J while the ground staff (Swissport) had new boarding passes issued.

Because of the last minute nature of the upgrades there wasn't time to order the extra J meals so we still received whY catering which was still very tasty however they gave us J champagne which was Veuve. My ticket was a classic award ticket so the EK flight was booked in N class and the QF flights DXB/SYD/BNE in X class. This was also prior to EK changing the way they upgraded ie from status to fare paid.

I suspect that the check-in staff can quite readily use their own volition for op-ups. +1 and myself had one in DUS heading to HKG on CX. We were in the Y+ queue with Y+ tickets and were beckoned to the J counter to check in and given an op-up to J. We had no status at that point and I can only presume our level of sartorial elegance assisted...

It totally depends on the airline. It may appear like the checkin agents have done it as they may be physically handing you the new boarding passes for the higher cabin but it's quite likely that the upgrade has been actioned by people in yield management, ops or even by a checkin supervisor - it all depend on the airline concerned.

 

[VPS]

Back in the days when I knew nothing about FF I had a flight from LHR to ADL with Qantas and in the BA lounge I asked if I could apply for a points upgrade and was told that I couldn't get the upgrade on the day that I should have asked at least 24 hours before. I said I'm sorry I'm sure I was told I had to ask in the lounge and I smiled and said it's not your fault. Got to the gate and got a beep and put in J with no points needed.

Also had one ADL to Darwin when the plane was chockers and they upgraded all SG and WP. Another cancelled flight from SYD to ADL and they said I'd have to wait another 2 hours and I said OK without getting cranky and got paged about 20 minutes later - they had me on the earlier flight and she said I think you'll like your seat (and I did!!)

 

[Tonkatough]

There is hope: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....er-program/family-business-upgrade-46934.html

That was in 2013.

Keep the faith..

 

[straitman]

Flying HKG-MEL about 8 years ago all three of us and a few others all got upgraded to Business. My wife and I were happy but our daughter who was pregnant and who had to work next day was exceedingly happy.

 

[JohnK]

I boarded a BA flight from Bangkok to Melbourne a few years ago. Someone was sitting in my allocated seat. The seat had been allocated twice. I went to premium economy. Accidents should happen more often.

Careful that you don't experience a seat allocated twice where you are one of the last board and flight is full and you miss out. And pray that flight is not with United airlines.

 

[BAM1748]

I only know QF, little known but if you are P1 every 10th flight is upgraded if there is a seat or seats if you have someone on the same booking.

Until the day of departure one J said is held back at full fare so if not taken you still might be lucky at check in. But they hold it back for the disorganized business market who is prepared to pay which they often do.

There is a little chain smoking man (or he could be big chain smoking man these days but he is a smoker) who watches and decides with his trusty computer who will be flagged for upgrades from 24 hours prior to departure, once check-in is open it is handed off to them. It is based on a number of things, fare paid, status, position in your industry sector QF think you have ie influence.....the smoking man can override what the computer suggests.

If you want a better chance of an upgrade on the transpacific route fly Tuesdays s the lowest loading day of the week.

Staff (including their families) are obviously treated differently and only the top management and pilots get to go first, all other management and staff are J or Y. PE is not on the options list for staff but not to say if there are seats available they don't get used.

Matt

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Staff (including their families) are obviously treated differently and only the top management and pilots get to go first, all other management and staff are J or Y. PE is not on the options list for staff but not to say if there are seats available they don't get used.
Matt

Even 'top management' and pilots on staff leisure travel still have a lower pecking order than commercial pax with points upgrade requests who have opted in at the airport.

The only categories higher than someone with a points upgrade request are for duty travel.

 

[BAM1748]

I'm not so sure about that. Yes can't bump anyone off but I suspect the top levels override someone getting a freebie upgrade. I think it might be part of their package.

I will try and check.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm not so sure about that. Yes can't bump anyone off but I suspect the top levels override someone getting a freebie upgrade. I think it might be part of their package.

I will try and check.

Not sure what sort of "freebie upgrade" you're referring to however the P1 upgrades would be done way before staff upgrades are done at the airport.

If an oversale had to be sorted whether it be several hours prior to departure or at flight close commercial pax will always trump staff leisure travel pax.

Re top levels and their packages - it all comes down to what their onload/upgrade category is. If they are on a staff leisure travel ticket they will not outrank commercial op-ups due to oversale nor commercial pax with points upgrade requests.

Put simply, if there is one J seat left SYD/HNL and a NB has opted in for a points upgrade vs a staff traveller on the highest leisure staff travel category the NB won't have to walk past row 8 to their seat.