Paid Upgrades at the Airport?

[Aussie_flyer]

Thai Airways offer this if you ask at check-in. Approx USD700 ex-east coast to Bangkok. You can pay double to upgrade Y-C-F if you like.

There is fixed prices on each route. Worth asking if you are interested, some report that they get biz class miles when doing so, others say miles for original class only. YMMV with this.

 

[trooper]

My understanding is that BA no longer allow the "onboard" upgrades....

I'm sure that is a sad loss for some folks!!!

tuppaware.. Don't forget to come back and tell us how it went/what you thought of the flights etc...

*A reports are a bit outnumbered on this site!!! :mrgreen:

 

[tuppaware]

tuppaware.. Don't forget to come back and tell us how it went/what you thought of the flights etc...

*A reports are a bit outnumbered on this site!!! :mrgreen:

Will do, although its not until July anyway.
I am doing a return lax-lhr trip (within this trip) as well.. (Going to Farnborough airshow) .. PE is only a little more $$ .

Although I would rather rack up the QF FF points - then AIR NZ ones.

 

[trooper]

Most of us are "martyrs" to our FF program in some way!!!

 

[tuppaware]

Most of us are "martyrs" to our FF program in some way!!!

I would of said a 'Slave' as a better term .. haha

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I noticed a lot of US carriers do paid upgrades at the airport or even online the day before when web checking in. I wouldn't bother web checking the day before at the hotel as generally you would already have your seat allocation done at the time of booking.

The actual web checkin process takes a bit longer (eg if at hotel vs the airport) typing in the billing address of your credit card etc whereas at the airport you just swipe your credit card at the self checkin kiosks and it's much quicker.

If you do upgrade to First Class on the day your checked baggage is free instead of US20.00 per bag. If you prepay your baggage fee the day before then choose to upgrade at the airport you don't get a refund for the baggage fee.

I recently flew SAN/SFO on Virgin America (VX) and when checking in at the kiosk at the airport the option to upgrade to First Class was USD50.00 which included free checked luggage. We didn't bother with the UPG on this occasion however I would do this next time as the net cost of UPG would have been USD30.00 - in my opinion well worth it for the experience.

The VX seats in First Class are awesome - only 2 rows and they are huge white leather seats. Their Airbus A319's are very snazzy & in November the GoGo wifi was complimentary. I loved ordering the inflight refreshments from the touchscreen on the seatback.

If the kiosk doesn't show a prompt to UPG to First Class I would enquire at the counter with a checkin agent - you never know. If it's a 'no-go' then go back to the kiosk to checkin before doing the bag drop. You will only get charged more for baggage if you don't use the kiosks and use the full service queue.

Cheers

Oz

 

[Sprucegoose]

Tried it with EK, was told that they are not allowed to do it.

On some airlines I used to slip the purser $100 and they would reseat me after takeoff.

Depends on the situation and who you are dealing with.

Some airlines only have male pursers who seem the most ammeanable to a backhander.

 

[MelUser]

I have found that on AA it is impossible to get a paid upgrade at airport. They have so many high tier frequent flyers clambering for a free upgrade that the whole First cabin is full of them.

I once offered to pay full fare First (F) at checkin and AA did not accept citing that cabin is full of its VIP Exec Plat FFs!

 

[QF WP]

IainF's wife got the paid upgrade option from LAX/SYD on UA last weekend, so they are still actively seeking extra revenue

 

[trooper]

Any mention of actual $$$ for that one?

 

[QF WP]

I think it was $900USD, but I'll ring him to check (or point him to this thread and get him to answer)

 

[trooper]

Ta! :mrgreen: