Paying to upgrade - Econ to Bus.

[jacko]

First timer here - although I have been reading as a guest for a while.

Recently I saw mention of passengers paying at the airport to upgrade their econ tickets, and it seemed that they were only paying a fraction of the full business fare. If you have done this can you give me some idea of how it is done (at what stage of checking in do you ask), which airlines you are able to do it on (Qantas??) and an estimate of the cost.

We use FF points (QFF) to upgrade our econ flights but it's always 'wait and see' as to whether you'll get the upgrade or not, SO is gold (almost Plat).

 

[JohnK]

I don't think QF allows paid upgrades into premium cabins unless you specifically get a call from them.

I know United Airlines offers passengers upgrades for cash at check-in. Here is the thread.

 

[blueflamenco]

I don't have personal experience with this but I seem to recall reading about paid upgrades with Jetstar.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Off the top of my head United, Thai and Jetstar offer paid upgrades at check in when seats are available...Qantas does not but no harm in asking at check in if any upgrades are available.

 

[straitman]

jacko,

Welcome to AFF.

Which airline(s) are you referring to with your comments.

 

[jacko]

Hi everyone....thanks for the feedback so far. Some friends were on an Emirates flight and had said they upgraded by paying at the airport. I'm interested to hear about the airlines that do the long-haul flights (to US or Europe)

 

[extracta]

Thai upgrade prices

This link will show you the prices Thai charge for cash upgrade at departure.


Sorry I just tried to post the link but the system won't let me as I do not have enough posts.

It is a pretty good link too, it shows all of the prices for upgrades that Thai will charge.

example
BNE/MEL/SYD - BKK
Y - J US$630
Y - F US$1260

I will post the link when the system allows it.

 

[serfty]

Re: Thai upgrade prices

...
I will post the link when the system allows it.

You may be able to post said link using a non URL format, but still giving the site.

e.g. www(dot)xx_xx_xx_(dot)com/yyyyy/zzzzz

 

[extracta]

Thanks for that, I'll give this a try.

www (dot) thaiairways (dot)
no/REISE_THAIAIRWAYS/IMAGES/27.08.07_Stby_upgrade_table.pdf

the .no looks wrong but it is from their Norway site.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks for that, I'll give this a try.

www (dot) thaiairways (dot)
no/REISE_THAIAIRWAYS/IMAGES/27.08.07_Stby_upgrade_table.pdf

the .no looks wrong but it is from their Norway site.

Thanks for that table.

Why am I lead to believe that those prices are surreptitiously cheap? :-| Sure, they are only standby basis (assumed that if your upgrade does not go through, your money is refunded), but that's not a bad wager and win if it goes through!

Other than that, I know that QF do not offer cash upgrades. JQ offer some cash upgrades but not on a dependable basis (although others will beg to differ). Other airlines - no idea.

 

[extracta]

Thanks for that table.

Why am I lead to believe that those prices are surreptitiously cheap? :-| Sure, they are only standby basis (assumed that if your upgrade does not go through, your money is refunded), but that's not a bad wager and win if it goes through!

Other than that, I know that QF do not offer cash upgrades. JQ offer some cash upgrades but not on a dependable basis (although others will beg to differ). Other airlines - no idea.

I'm pretty sure that the upgrade is done by asking at check in, and you would have already of had to pay for an economy fair as well.

If there is an upgrade available you pay for it there.

 

[brett-au]

I asked the same question a fortnight ago on a Thai SYD-BKK flight. It appears the going rate is AUD$770 inc gst for a one way upgrade.

There was no suggestion that you needed a particular class of ticket, although I was booked in a class that earned miles.

 

[extracta]

I asked the same question a fortnight ago on a Thai SYD-BKK flight. It appears the going rate is AUD$770 inc gst for a one way upgrade.

There was no suggestion that you needed a particular class of ticket, although I was booked in a class that earned miles.

Out of curiosity did you take the upgrade? and

How full was Thai Business Class?

 

[brett-au]

Out of curiosity did you take the upgrade? and

How full was Thai Business Class?

Unfortunately not. Thai's 777 with in seat power for economy was enough to keep me happy on a day time flight. I counted about 3 or 4 seats in business class that still had the seat belts neatly folded. Economy was full as I think some of the pax from BA were being rebooked on to the flight (due to the strike).

On the return leg a week later it was 25-50% full, which was great having 4 seats to myself.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The more recent upgrade price list for Thai is here:

http://www.thaiairways.no/REISE_THAIAIRWAYS/IMAGES/stby_upgrade_table_25NOV09.pdf

 

[Hvr]

I asked the same question a fortnight ago on a Thai SYD-BKK flight. It appears the going rate is AUD$770 inc gst for a one way upgrade.

Given it is an international fare there shouldn't be any GST.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi everyone....thanks for the feedback so far. Some friends were on an Emirates flight and had said they upgraded by paying at the airport. I'm interested to hear about the airlines that do the long-haul flights (to US or Europe)

indeed this seems true for Emirates. Friends were travelling discount Y SYD-BKK and were called two days before the flight and offered upgrades to business class for AUD200 (one way only).

Only some of the party took to offer, and my friend was not one of them (and didn't seem particulary interested in all the ins-and-outs)... so I wonder whether this was just a paid upgrade for a better seat with economy service? AUD200 is way low for all the trimmings.

 

[jsoprano]

Hi everyone....thanks for the feedback so far. Some friends were on an Emirates flight and had said they upgraded by paying at the airport. I'm interested to hear about the airlines that do the long-haul flights (to US or Europe)

In regards to Emirates, I was offered to upgrade my Y class MEL-DXB (nonstop A345 flight) to Business for 920 AUD. Received offer by e-mail 2 or 3 days before the actual flight was due. Seems they send out those offers according to actual booking situation to collect some money from pax willing to pay for the service, before they have to give out free op-ups at check-in.

 

[Andyzx]

In Feb flying from Akl to Syd my wife didn't feel that well, and we tried to buy ($ or points) an upgrade from Y to J
I asked QP and they said no they couldn't do it. I asked again on the plane as we were :arrow:squeezed into a seat with a larger person next to us, they said to was too expensive (indicating that I would be paying full J fare) and I couldn't do it on points either, but would see what they could do but nothing happened. I assume that if you ask at the airport QF will sell you a full fare ticket less what you have already paid (as long as ticket allows). so generally speaking no.

We got to Syd ok but it would have been better if she could have got a J seat.

 

[anat0l]

In Feb flying from Akl to Syd my wife didn't feel that well, and we tried to buy ($ or points) an upgrade from Y to J
I asked QP and they said no they couldn't do it. I asked again on the plane as we were :arrow:squeezed into a seat with a larger person next to us, they said to was too expensive (indicating that I would be paying full J fare) and I couldn't do it on points either, but would see what they could do but nothing happened. I assume that if you ask at the airport QF will sell you a full fare ticket less what you have already paid (as long as ticket allows). so generally speaking no.

We got to Syd ok but it would have been better if she could have got a J seat.

Essentially what QF are telling you here is that if you really want a J seat, you would have to give up your old ticket and buy a walk-up J ticket right there and then. Depending on the fare rules of your old ticket and the discretion of QF, you would either forfeit the amount you paid on the old fare (perhaps minus taxes/charges) or you would be able to credit this to the new fare.

For a Trans-Tasman flight, I wouldn't really bother with a full J ticket unless you have Y-phobia (the cost really isn't worth it unless you have money to literally burn); if your seats that you were given were that bad, perhaps being reseated somewhere else in the cabin if the plane wasn't too full, or trying to negotiate a swap with another pax, was in order. It would have been nice if you got the J seat, sure, but as you found out you didn't have much chance.