How to upgrade with BA

[TonightWeAreSix]

Hi! We are flying long haul with BA in January and I want to upgrade to premium economy. I have the app and have checked the website but it says upgrade not available but when I go to book the flight there’s the option for PE so there’s definitely seats available to do this! I have tried to ring but getting through to them is like getting a hotline through to the pope!

Does anyone know if it’ll become available closer to the time of flying? Thanks

I think you need to call them.

Are you trying to upgrade with cash or avios?

If you’re trying to upgrade with avios only certain flights and routes are upgradable.

With cash! I had quire a few avois points but didn’t realise they wipe after a year 😢

Not all fare buckets are available for upgrades. Possible that you booked an economy seat that isn’t upgradable or that there are no upgrade seats available (or not enough for your party). Having seats available for purchase doesn’t mean that there are seats available to upgrade into.

Ok thank you very much, I’ve just had a look on Reddit and it’s saying pretty much the same thing. I’m a bit gutted as looking at the difference in price on the seats that are available to book, it’s actually cheaper to upgrade to premium economy than it is to book seats on the flight!

Avios shouldn’t expire so long as you keep the account active ie add or spend within three years.

What kind of ticket did you book, as economy fares can’t be upgraded.

I think you’re best off calling to understand why you can’t do it / have the best chance of actually upgrading!

Avios don’t wipe if you use your Avios account in a 12 month period. So, if, for example, you get a credit card which earns Avios and make a purchase on it, the account remains active.

They don’t, unless there’s no activity on the account for 3 years. You can exchange Nectar points into Avios, which counts as a transaction.

I’d definitely ring them. You might get something last minute (with £, not Avios).

It was economy I booked and now want to upgrade with premium economy due to some health issues I need a bit more room (but pay the difference), I just thought it was a simple transaction but obviously I was naive!

I have only collected Avios through flights, I did a long haul at the end of 2022, then I did 6 long half flights in feb/march/April last year (and collected avois for all of them). Then I haven’t been abroad this year however I booked the flights to America for January 2025 earlier this year. When I go onto my Avio account it has my points then -points in red and says reset?

And my balance was back down to 0

l may be wrong but that doesn’t sound right. There is a “Missing Avios” form on their website. There’s nothing to be lost by inputting the details you have given here and sending it.

Were these Avios or Tier Points? Tier Points help frequent flyers reach bronze, silver or gold status but do reset after a year.

I fly BA in economy to the US once or twice a year and I always get an option on check in to upgrade to PE. It's usually around £210 per leg. I travel alone so don't know if they would make the same offer to groups of 3 or 4 people traveling together or if it's possible to just upgrade one member of the booking. It might be worth asking customer services what is the best way to do this.

It looks like a cup of coffee or a large glass of wine, depending on the time of day, and in the words of Debbie Harry, hanging on the telephone. Good luck OP!

I've messaged BA on Instagram before and they rang me. Worth a shot.

I flew PE this year and it's worth the extra.

Is the food better in PE? I have never upgraded on check in despite being offered it on every flight.

I look at the extra legroom as I pass through PE on every flight but being short I can manage in economy even on overnight flights. I usually get an aisle seat though so am not as hemmed in as the middle seat passengers.

The service is definitely better! Sparkling wine as soon as you're seated and you are seen to first etc. I can't comment on the food as I haven't flown economy on long haul BA in a while. Food was good though.

The seats are far superior- they recline quite far back, nice and wide and really good leg room.

The thing is you are not trying to "pay the difference". When you use the upgrade feature, you are paying less than the difference in price which is why there are limited number of seats available (as you said, it is cheaper to upgrade to PE than to book tickets on the flight). If you are actually willing to pay the difference, call BA (well, call them anyway to check on upgrade options) and ask what the fare difference is and how you can pay it (sometimes, when moving up a class, airlines will waive the change fee and just do fare difference - though not always).