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Original poster

Have you ever gotten a flight upgrade?

53 replies

InMemoryOfSleep · 26/07/2018 18:22

It has literally never happened to me, I don’t fly lots but I’ve got friends who seem to manage to get them all the time! We’re flying longhaul for a wedding next year, does anyone have any tips for how we might get an upgrade? I realise they’re like hen’s teeth, but thought we could at least maximise our chances

OP posts:

Bombardier25966 · 26/07/2018 18:27

Pay for it.

Be a frequent flyer and gain status with the airline.

Collect airmiiles.

There are no magic tricks, and I'd take what your friends say with a pinch of salt.

Which airline are you flying with?

xTinkerhellx · 26/07/2018 18:29

I cried.

Proper snotty heart breaking sobs.

I think they upgraded me (to the fairly empty 1st class) because I was scaring the other passengers.

Costacoffeeplease · 26/07/2018 18:32

Several times. Once our seats were double booked and we were upgraded to business. Twice we knew people either on board or ground crew and we were upgraded to business and upper

Earthmoon · 26/07/2018 18:35

My brother got it once when his seat was double booked. He was upgraded to first class

theladylovescupcakes · 26/07/2018 18:59

Just once, flights were cancelled due to snow and we were bumped up to business on the rearranged flight.

You can find yourself bumped up if you've already paid to upgrade to premium economy (or similar). Also solo travellers are more likely to be upgraded. After my first upgrade I've always asked but never been lucky enough to get another freebie.

Peanutbutterjar · 26/07/2018 19:01

Yes, randomly bumped up to business on flight to Hong Kong. No idea why, I was not a frequent flyer, I was wearing casual clothes, just lucky I guess. It was amazing!

TroubledLichen · 26/07/2018 19:03

Twice. First from premium economy to business class as my headrest was dangerously broken and the only spare seat was in business. The other I was booked onto an overbooked flight in business and got to the airport quite early so was offered first class to take an earlier flight.

Sunnybeachbabe · 26/07/2018 19:05

@xTinkerhellx you cried because you were in economy? I'm intrigued.

It's never happened to me but happens to my mum and dad quite a bit because:

They travel a lot.
They are very very nice unassuming people who look like they won't upset anybody (can't have their precious elite customers disturbed)
They are always polite, friendly and pleasant even when things go wrong.
My dad has a skill of becoming best friends with anybody in five minutes.

sunnnyscotland · 26/07/2018 19:45

Happens to DH, because he is a single traveler who has lots of airline loyalty cards and points.

kingseat2016 · 26/07/2018 20:56

Twice. Economy to business.

First time was to Hong Kong. Boxing Day flight that was overbooked.

Second time was return to Sydney due to a cock up made by British airways and this was their compensation.

IndianaMoleWoman · 26/07/2018 21:06

We checked in second to last (due to disorganisation) for an overbooked flight. The check in woman looked nervous, got on the phone. Shit, we thought. Upgraded to first class! The people behind us were bumped off the flight, so a very risky strategy. We were also lucky in that our first class seats weren’t together, but the other passengers offered to swap seats when they realised that we were together.

WiseDad · 26/07/2018 21:16

It does happen. Usually on a really full flight so to maximise chances fly on really full flights. But then again if you don’t get upgraded you’re on a really full flight. I try to fly on the emptier flights, I get two or three seats to myself and fly “poor man’s business class”. Space is the key advantage.

To get upgraded as a frequent flyer you have to fly a lot in premium cabins so they bump you the rare time you fly economy.

I was bumped to business when flying Swiss to Singapore once, as Star Alliance gold card holder. Given I was was my daughter and they upgraded both of us it was a surprise. Next time, long haul with Lufthansa they upgraded me, but not my daughter. The woman who had been given my seat looked shocked when the cabin crew told her to move to the front.

I’m now a Qatar frequent flyer. Never been put to the front. I can’t even use my qmiles or Qpoints to get upgraded at the airport.

My advice. Just relax and enjoy the journey.

LapinR0se · 26/07/2018 21:19

Yes but both times I was BA silver and was flying business anyway when I was offered a seat in first. Upgrades don’t just happen.

NotMoreFootball · 26/07/2018 22:15

Got upgraded to Business twice last week on two different airlines but was flying with DH who is a very frequent flyer with both Airlines so he's in the top tiers of their loyalty programs, never happens when I'm on my own!

Jojoanna · 26/07/2018 22:20

Yes to first , was great

Cheeseislife · 26/07/2018 22:24

Once from economy to premium - I was 19 and flying to America for the first time with my then boyfriend - didn't ask for it, just got very lucky! Legroom was bliss!

DreamingofSunshine · 26/07/2018 22:26

Yes a couple of times. Both times travelling on my own and a member of the frequent flyer scheme.

On a flight back from NYC I was in PE and my friend was in economy, I jokingly asked the guy at check in if he could upgrade her and he put her on standby as the flight was oversold and sure enough she was upgraded to PE. She's also a frequent flyer with the airline.

FrankiesKnuckle · 26/07/2018 22:37

Once on Delta airlines. Red eye back from NYC. The lights/entertainment console were not working on our row of 3 (me and then boyfriend)
We were upgraded to business class which on reflection was quite disappointing! It was a nicer meal with proper knives/forks etc and an almost flat seat but not the 'business that I had imagined! This was about 12 years ago.

Similarly, I've flown long haul solo many times. Once, on a Quantas flight to Melbourne (HK stopover) I helped out with a medical emergency - I am a HCP. I sat with the patient for 7 hours en route to HK. I didn't mind at the time bit thought I might have been upgraded on the second leg (I wasn't - I received the toiletries pack for 1st as a gift).

Ok.

On the return journey from Melbourne to HK, a female passenger collapsed and vomited right behind me. Again I helped out completely took over her care.
On arrival at HK, I was subject to a very scary handover to at least 8 personnel in white suits and breathing masks ( it was the height of swine flu)
Again barely any recognition for my interrupted flight!

Can't say I'd volunteer again even though I know I would.
Several hours of constant monitoring on both flights is a bit of a killer!

donkeysandzebras · 26/07/2018 22:38

I used to get upgraded most times I flew with BA in my 20s. I have no idea why. Long haul; short haul; travelling by myself; travelling with a friend; in business wear; in casual clothes; in frankly dirty clothes (been backpacking); early check in; standard check in; upgraded when checking in; upgraded when boarding; upgraded after boarding.
The latter was my favourite. Woman kicking up a fuss about her very tall son not having enough legroom and I was somehow brought into it as she pointed at me and said that short people like me didn't need aisle seats. The attendant went off to speak to her colleague, asked me if I would be willing to move to business class and then offered my seat to the lad. Mother of course then kicks off again as it would be more appropriate for her son to be moved to business class.
It happened so often that I used to feel quite put out if they didn't upgrade me.

CraftyGin · 26/07/2018 22:41

We got one a few weeks ago - LHR to JFK - three of us.

We kept getting error messages when we tried to bag drop, so went to a manned check in desk. After endless tap tap tap on the computer, the check in clerk said “I have good news for you”.

It’s all pre selected by the computer. We assumed we got it because we were executive club members (a pitiful bronze).

It was such a bonus for us as we were travelling for a funeral.

inniu · 26/07/2018 22:43

A few times from business to first. DH is a very frequent flyer. They must link my frequent flyer card to his because I have been upgraded a couple of times when flying without him.

flickflop · 27/07/2018 07:32

A few times with DH who is Silver, never on my own as a measly Blue or travelling with DC. Mostly economy to PE, twice PE to Club.
Best one was economy to First overnight from Thailand, but that was about 15 years ago.

AsAProfessionalFekko · 27/07/2018 07:39

Only once when I was 17 on a flight to Paris. No idea why.

Never again though.

QOD · 27/07/2018 08:00

Tokyo to Abu Dhabi 11 hr flight upgraded to 1st
Ammmmaaazizng experiences but I’d not try for it again to be fair. Felt out of my depth and I’m pretty well travelled

m0therofdragons · 27/07/2018 14:17

They messed up. We were flying with a 4 yo and 22 month old twins. Two babies on laps cannot sit in the same row due to oxygen masks so we'd booked for dh and dd3 to sit behind me and dd1&2. They gave the seats away by accident so dh would have been an extra row behind. We were fine about it as we figured 3 pre school children flying was about survival so expected the worst.

We arrived at boarding only to have our passes taken an torn up then told to go to other queue where we were given business class seats. I had a twin in a back pack carrier and one in a moby wrap so must have looked ridiculous. They rushed us through customs too. It was fab.

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