Have you ever been upgraded on a plane?

[TheRozzers]

I never have. Never flown anything but economy.

If you've ever been given a free upgrade on a flight make me jealous and tell me how it happened?

Happened a few times to me but the best was on a Virgin flight when we were upgraded to upper class.

We had requested extra legroom seats at check in and were over the moon to have been given them.

Got to our seats and were making ourselves comfortable when a couple of people arrived and announced that we were in their seats.

Realising that we had both been given the same seats at check in the other couple got a bit stroppy and demanded the flight attendant sort it out.

Flight attendant asked us to move and then whispered in my Dh's ear not to worry as he had got better sets for us.

Next thing we are sitting in upper class and being asked if we want a massage or a manicure for our in flight spa treatment.

Best flight ever.

Have been given upgrades to business and to premium economy on other occasions. It's always a lovely surprise.

I fly a lot and have status with BA and I had an upgrade to First as I usually fly Business (even intra-Europe) so it’s the only cabin I can jump up too. The downside of all this is I can’t be upgraded on most flights I take as I fly 95% intra-Europe :(.

Once, about ten years ago, from premium economy (was travelling for work) to Business.

I think it probably helped that I was alone... anyway, it was very nice!

I never have but my DD ( who is currently in the air flying to Hong Kong) was upgraded on her connecting flight a couple of days ago. Also on her way to Dubai at Christmas. Must be lucky and she has a nice smile 😊

Once, London-Australia via Tokyo. Had a 6 hour layover at Tokyo, so checked into connecting flight first thing then had a shower and something to eat. When we boarded I was sent left instead of right and I was in business - the flight was so full they'd allocated me there. 'Twas bliss - so much room. Didn't get the business class menu but didn't care.

Yes, once, Singapore to London. Had a small accident whilst in Singapore, fainted in my hotel and smashed the side of my head against a table. Had a black eye and a few stitches. Airline staff felt sorry for me, I was traveling alone, so upgraded me to business class. They took very good care of me!

Yes on our honeymoon. They couldn't give us seats together so I made a sad face and said "but we're on our honeymoon" so they upgraded us to business class. Was fab.

We got upgraded to business on our fight to Thailand on our honeymoon! It was bloody fabulous, especially the lounge beforehand where I gorged on croissants.

Made the journey back seem a bit shit in comparison though ☹️

Yes. There was some sort of issue and they gave out new boarding passes at the gate. The man looked at me, looked at the next boarding pass, and patronisingly said 'you'll enjoy this' and I got business class.
My DH flew a lot and I think was bumped up to first a few times if there was room, but he must have flown business with the same airline about a dozen times a year so had that golden frequent flyer type thing.

I think it's because they to want to seat families together and it's easier to move one person.

Yes last year going to Orlando, I was upgraded but my husband wasn't. I said I wanted to stay in my original seat as I didn't want to sit on my own for 10 hours but was told as the plane was full they weren't able to arrange that at that time . I had to go to my 'new' seat and wait until they had spoken to the man who had been given my seat. He was delighted to be upgraded and happily sat in the upgraded seat. Why upgrade one half of a couple, when there were plenty of single travellers who could have been moved.

To business class but was on a trip organised by the airline so not a surprise, really. It was lovely.

Several times. Because I am gold/gold equivalent in their frequent flyer clubs.

Airlines don't upgrade randoms who fly infrequently (unless there's an incident and it's the only space on the plane to move someone) and definitely not because it's your birthday/getting married/just got married.

Pre children we treated ourselves to a trip to NYC on Boxing Day and paid to go premium economy. When we checked in we were told the flight was overbooked and first 12 people to the gate would get upgraded to First Class. We went straight to the gate and were upgraded. I had a bed which was wonderful, I slept for most of the flight. It’s never happened again.

I have also heard a rumour that if you’ve ever paid to do a later upgrade on your ticket, you are unlikely to be offered a free future upgrade, as you are perceived as someone that may succumb and pay for an upgrade anyway at last minute. Not sure how tier status plays into that though.

Yes, it was great fun. It was soooo easy to spot we were upgraded, the steward came round with a tray of champagne and we said "is it free??" When we were told yes we said wow!! and had several glasses.

Luckily it was a short flight otherwise we would have been VERY tipsy.

I’ve been upgraded three times in my life with no explanation given or sought - all 3 times I was travelling solo though:

First time was Tokyo to Sydney with JapanAirlines, and the other two times were both from Miami to London, once with American Airlines, the other time was KLM. I did enjoy the experiences, but not enough to ever think it was a good idea to splash out for business class myself!

You left your 4yr old with your other kids whilst you sat on 1st class with your husband?!

My DSis was upgraded on a flight from Kenya to Mauritius a good few years ago. There was a typhoon which delayed their flight for 2 days so they were put on standby. Rather dishevelled they checked in and DSis was booked into first class her DH went into business class. DSis was sat next to the Kenyon ambassador for Mauritius, he was a little cold when she tried to chat to him, but then she discovered that his son was studying in the UK, to enter the same profession as my DSis. It broke the ice and they chatted throughout the whole flight.

In the old days, pre 9/11 and ultra cheap flights we would always be offered extra leg room seats ( back then you couldn’t reserve seats and were allocated at check in so staff would try and allocate the leg room seats to those who needed them) DH is tall and the checkin desk would take one look at him and ask if we wanted extra leg room.

When we flew with EasyJet to Paris (Disney) with the children, all under 6, check in gave us the full back row, with the extra seat it meant the two smallest could stretch out and sleep. It was the first time my DS had flown and he loved it so much he cried when we had to disembark. The stewardesses were concerned until I reassured them that he was upset that the flight had ended. They couldn’t believe how good the little ones had been.

Yes absolutely we did - they couldn't give us 6 seats in the same class and our two oldest were over 18 and were happy to watch them - in fact, they suggested the arrangement. My children have always been very well behaved so I don't have any reason to be a helicopter parent. Mind you, they are all adults now so not my responsibility anymore.

I was upgraded at the gate just as I was boarding, to first class with Emirates flying to Oz, it was divine! They served Dom champagne and caviar, I had a door to my cabin and I watched the last season of Line of Duty, eating the most delicious food, the higher level of experience than that would be a private jet for me!

Yep my Fiancés 40th bday I took him
To Crete and I paid for extra leg room because he is super tall. I accidentally messed up the check in online so they'd allocated the seats to someone else. I played dumb at the airport, cried a few tears because it was that bad, they gave us 2 seats in the first row....they started bringing us food then drinks....everyone that had paid was getting lovely things. Wee bottles of gin etc...we took the lot and had a fabulous flight! Don't remember much except he had a fabulous birthday 🤩

I fly regularly with BA from North America, because they fly out of my local airport.

I’ve been upgraded to business a few times, which I’ve greatly appreciated. 😀 Mind you, I’ve spent $$$$$’s with them so I think I deserve the odd perk. 😂

Once with Air New Zealand. I love Air NZ even in economy so being upgraded was sublime. We didn’t want to get off the plane!

We were both scruffy AF, so the ‘wear smart clothes and you might get upgraded’ was a nonsense for us.

I adopt the “squeaky wheel” approach for upgrades in that I ask at the check-in desk and at the gate, and emphasize what a regular traveler I am with BA. 🤣