if you are hoping for a last minute upgrade (at check-in or at the gate) your chances to be upgraded are much better, if there is NO SPECIAL MEAL request in the airline's computer for you.

(no problem if it is a confirmable upgrade with more than 24 hours advance).

Rudi,

Why is this? I have gotten last minute upgrades on Delta, even though I ordered a special meal. Maybe I won't order any more special meals when I am waitlisted for an upgrade.

UA's local people in ZRH told me so (I, some times on flights, prefer vegetarian meals western style).

They explained: Check-In/Gates-employess are afraid not to be able to deliver the special UPGRADED meal - and to avoid any discussion they prefer to go the simpler way (upgrade somebody without special meal).

The employee (downtown, not at check-in) thought, that even the UA-computer, making proposals for possible upgrades, "might" list those with special meals last in their respective categories (1K, PremEx, Prem).

Thanks Rudi, never realized that. I will be sure to not order a special meal when I think I might have a chance to be upgraded.

Obviously for many, ordering a special meal isn't an option - it's a necessity (vegetarians, kosher etc.) - even if it kills your chances of being upgraded. I'm not complaining as I can see the airlines' rationale - it's no different that if you want to be bumped (voluntarily) than it's a lot easier if you don't have checked luggage or vice-versa airlines are reluctant to involuntarily bump someone with checked luggage. For intl. flights the luggage must be off-loaded for a bumped passenger (not sure for domestic US - maybe someone can enlighten me ?)

Regards to all.

I can't speak for all airlines but I know on United that if a coach passenger requested a special meal, it does not hurt their chances of being upgraded.

However, you will not be served a first class meal of any sort; your special order coach meal will follow you up front.

I happen to know this from my flight of two days ago when I overheard the flight attendant explaining this to the dissapointed woman behind me.

I was talking of United.

I guess the remark "the flight attendant explaining this to the DISSAPOINTED woman" underlines, that agents may want to avoid such explanations/situations by not upgrading/upgrading others.

Rudi - I think you are spot on with that piece of advice. I know for a fact that BA ground-staff will not 'click' the SFU (Suitable For Upgrade) box at check-in if you have book a special meal.

Do you think that booking specific seats in advance makes any difference?
MERRY FLYER

no - I don't think so (special seats) and I never experienced so.

if I can I book first row window (on international flights in eco) than I can, from time to time, lay my legs high (against the wall). But I had never an upgrade problem if there was a slight chance.

If I have to end up in coach, I always hope
to end up in the first row of seats. I too
need that extra room to occassional stretch
these legs of mine.

Thanks for the tips on the special meals. I
think this should be added to a list called
"Ridicious hidden rules for frequent flyers"
or some other rule. This could make a good
article or forum or end of year wish list.

Personally, a special meal should not be a
problem to handle. This is ridicuous. What
is one's diabetic, or has heart condition,
or like some of my friends are vegetarians?
CATMAN

Catman, You could just order Ben & Jerry's and not have to worry about it.

Jaws43... the Ben & Jerry's/Special Meals is
not an issue for me, but I did not realize
that sometimes it was difficult to upgrade
when making special meal requests. Glad I
know this if the doctor ever tells me I have
to eat special foods and watch out for
that Ben & Jerry's. CATMAN

I guess you can't be upset if your special-request coach meal follows you to 1st class on last-minute upgrades; afterall, you asked for it!

Justin, believe it or not, I saw just this very thing happen last weekend. A young lady sitting next to me got pretty upset when told that she would be getting her special request meal. I thought that the flight attendant handled it quite well, but the passenger was being plain obnoxious in my opinion. Eventually it turned out that one of the other passengers did not want a meal so the lady next to me did get the regular first class meal.

If you order a special meal because you need it, that's one thing, and if the airline can't manage to get that meal served up front, you should be prepared to give up the upgrade or accept the coach meal (whichever happens to be that airline's policy - I can't imagine not being able to serve a coach meal in first). On the other hand, if you ordered that special meal because you thought it would be better than regular coach fare (which I've sometimes done), then you'd better be prepared to eat it in the front cabin (I've done that too, and sometimes found it better than the regular first class meal)
And, Catman, how about "Rudi's hidden rules for frequent flyers" or, even "Rudi's ridiculous (but effective) rules for frequent flyers."