Travel with Children - Children Upgrades?

Can children get an upgrade on long haul flights? How could they do it?

Would dressing in a suit and saying 'I read online that I am more likely to get an upgrade if I dress nicely. Is that true?' to the flight attendants work?

Yes. The same as adults would.

No. No.

Recently flew to and from Sanford. The outbound aircraft was new and very clean. The premium seats were comfortable and well worth the extra money. Cabin crew weren't the best and didn't speak a lot. The entertainment was good. Inbound aircraft was an ex My Travel one. The premium cabin was a different configuration and the entertainment was poorer due to the smaller screen and non-moveable control. On this flight, cabin crew fantastic and the captain was great. Overall a pleasant experience. Also, boarding was quick as the premium cabin boards first.

Recently flew to and from Sanford. The outbound aircraft was new and very clean. The premium seats were comfortable and well worth the extra money. Cabin crew weren't the best and didn't speak a lot. The entertainment was good. Inbound aircraft was an ex My Travel one. The premium cabin was a different configuration and the entertainment was poorer due to the smaller screen and non-moveable control. On this flight, cabin crew fantastic and the captain was great. Overall a pleasant experience. Also, boarding was quick as the premium cabin boards first.

Children? Upgrades?

Can children get an upgrade on long haul flights? How could they do it?

Would dressing in a suit and saying 'I read online that I am more likely to get an upgrade if I dress nicely. Is that true?' to the flight attendants work?

Yes, children can be and are upgraded - same rules as adults, status, etc.

The only exception is if the (young) child is the highest on the list, but there is only one seat in the upgraded cabin - they won't upgrade a child without their parents.

Wearing a suit to fly in will just ensure you are uncomfortable! I've been upgraded more in yoga pants and in a suit!

Can children get an upgrade on long haul flights? How could they do it?

Would dressing in a suit and saying 'I read online that I am more likely to get an upgrade if I dress nicely. Is that true?' to the flight attendants work?

Where did you read that?
Children can be and have been upgraded, but not because they are/were dressed well. My children were upgraded to first on most domestic flights and to business class on a few international flights.

Can children get an upgrade on long haul flights? How could they do it?

Would dressing in a suit and saying 'I read online that I am more likely to get an upgrade if I dress nicely. Is that true?' to the flight attendants work?

If you read it online it must the truth. :p

Recently flew to and from Sanford. The outbound aircraft was new and very clean. The premium seats were comfortable and well worth the extra money. Cabin crew weren't the best and didn't speak a lot. The entertainment was good. Inbound aircraft was an ex My Travel one. The premium cabin was a different configuration and the entertainment was poorer due to the smaller screen and non-moveable control. On this flight, cabin crew fantastic and the captain was great. Overall a pleasant experience. Also, boarding was quick as the premium cabin boards first.

Which airline? And where is Sanford?

Please continue this discussion in the Travel With Children Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Which airline? And where is Sanford?

Orlando_Sanford_International_Airport

So I guess it's in FL

Which airline? And where is Sanford?

Sanford is a little north of Orlando. It is served by domestically by Allegiant and also has some charters from the UK and possibly other European locations.

Can children get an upgrade on long haul flights? How could they do it?

Would dressing in a suit and saying 'I read online that I am more likely to get an upgrade if I dress nicely. Is that true?' to the flight attendants work?

Welcome to FT cruth!

People write lots of crazy and untrue things. You will not get an upgrade because you are dressed nicely or because you are celebrating your birthday, etc. If you bother a gate agent with that nonsense, you'll probably be placed on a "never upgrade this person" list :).

How do you get an upgrade, regardless of age? Pay for it or support it with an upgrade instrument. Any free upgrades are going to go to the elite, frequent flyers. And, there are procedures in place to handle upgrades; they aren't just handed out.

You have to pay to play for the most part.

Dressing well really isn't going to get you anywhere with kids or without.

Which airline? And where is Sanford?


See
http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/dorset-holidays/sandford/sandford-holiday-park.htm

Is this one of those threads to see how many people will bite at it?

If you read it online it must the truth. :p

The advice used to be semi-true, but it's dated.

Back in the olden days, GAs and ticket agents had a lot more discretion around upgrades. When my sister and I were in college and visiting our parents who lived overseas at the time, my dad used to send us into the TWA club with a little note on the back of his business card asking the agents there to "do what they could" to help us out. They all loved my dad so we got quite a few upgrades.

That doesn't happen much anymore.

Yes, I'm glad someone else remembers!

Us employees had a strict code for flying in general, stricter for First and Business. Women had to wear a suit (same material) or a dress. Of course paying passengers who weren't dressed decently were grit-teethingly tolerated but no go for upgrades and anyone with the airlines.

Remember too, in the days before everything was computerized and before FF programs or in their infancy, they had more leeway with upgrades, and yes, someone dressed better had a better chance.

Also, flights were not as full too, so there was more wiggle room with that too.

It makes me laugh now, with passengers in bikinis and half their underwear showing are allowed on... Times do change!

But there are some old timers still working the desks and I would say, globally, if you and your children are decently attired, it can't hurt!

But there are some old timers still working the desks and I would say, globally, if you and your children are decently attired, it can't hurt!

If those old timers are working for carriers which require an instrument to upgrade, they won't be handing them out just for asking. If they do, they won't be working there much longer.

Most North American carriers have very strict protocols when it comes to upgrades, and operational upgrades are given based on status and instruments.

OP, there is a lot of nonsense on the internet, and even here on FT. I can think of recent links to 'articles' from a supposed respected travel guru who advocates that type of nonsense, and those 'articles' have appeared in US Today and on Yahoo. The reality is that on the vast majority of carriers, upgrades without an instrument or without status (and luck) are extremely rare. Even during irregular ops, upgrades tend to happen to passengers with status first, unless it is a very unusual situation.

If those old timers are working for carriers which require an instrument to upgrade, they won't be handing them out just for asking.

No, I wasn't saying that upgrades were handed out just by asking but, and this isn't off the internet but from experience working for the airlines, there was a protocol but trust me, if the person look scrappy, they'd be skipped over for someone who presented themselves better.

Just as a detail, when I first started working, we actually had room in business in first. The back was often overbooked. That changed soon afterwards and when the FF programs kicked in, that became the main route to upgrades.

But that isn't relevant in 2012.

The airline industry had changed.

Instruments are required to upgrade, or the airline offers an 'upgrade' for a fee. Premium cabins tend to be full, whether with revenue passengers, award passengers, or those who did upgrade with an instrument. The times when the GA actually sees a passenger and makes a decision based on their looks are (thankfully) extremely rare if non-existent in 2012.

The times when the GA actually sees a passenger and makes a decision based on their looks are (thankfully) extremely rare if non-existent in 2012.

My airline never did this in the first place, even back then... I doubt this was ever the case. I certainly didn't see it when I flew.

The point was if someone looked really awful, they might be "skipped". Please don't misread other's posts. The airline never used this as a criteria. Being decently dressed "helped" if all else had been equal.

BTW, the old criteria, before FF programs were full fare tickets and order of check-in. The number of passengers traveling together could also play a role, if seats in the premium cabins were limited. Obviously individual travelers had the advantage.

Where did you read that?
Children can be and have been upgraded, but not because they are/were dressed well. My children were upgraded to first on most domestic flights and to business class on a few international flights.

I didn't read that. I was just making up a scenario to see what people would think.

Hello. I'd actually be flying on Emirates Airlines or Korean Air (most likely)! And I was just wondering if there was a way we can snag an upgrade (no one in the family is a premiere FF member :( ).

The children are pretty frequent travelers, and we go into clubs all the time (with Amex Platinum or Priority Pass). But we won't pay too much for an upgrade. I hope we see a really nice person or an old school agent!

Hello. I'd actually be flying on Emirates Airlines or Korean Air (most likely)! And I was just wondering if there was a way we can snag an upgrade (no one in the family is a premiere FF member :( ).


Yes, as already stated numerous times - pay for it.

I hope we see a really nice person or an old school agent!
Not happening. For every airline, there are procedures in place that must be followed if upgrades are being done. And, I guarantee the frequent flyers are right up there at the gate, watching the GA to make sure they are followed.

Not happening. For every airline, there are procedures in place that must be followed if upgrades are being done. And, I guarantee the frequent flyers are right up there at the gate, watching the GA to make sure they are followed.

Agreed - just look at the UA forum right now. And I don't know why people keep suggesting that as it just builds false hope for people like the OP. Sometimes FT doesn't do travellers a service. :(

OP, if you want the upgrade, be prepared to pay for it with money or miles or some form of 'instrument'.

Agreed - just look at the UA forum right now. And I don't know why people keep suggesting that as it just builds false hope for people like the OP. Sometimes FT doesn't do travellers a service. :(

OP, if you want the upgrade, be prepared to pay for it with money or miles or some form of 'instrument'.

Do you know if Emirates Airlines Upgrade Vouchers can be purchased on eBay? Anywhere else I can find one?

Also, would a friend (international AA 777 pilot) have upgrade vouchers? Does AA give those out
?

Are you just yanking our chains?

I didn't get that impression about the OP.

Let's face it, there are still travel 'articles' in the media which tell people that upgrades are given to those well-dressed people who simply ask for it. Even this thread leads some readers to believe that if they have an 'old timer' gate agent or if one doesn't look 'scrappy' :confused: one can receive an upgrade. There are threads on FT about upgrades for birthdays and holidays, which I am certain also mislead infrequent travellers.

That's why I said that sometimes FT does people a disservice. Someone reading this thread may well think that an upgrade without an instrument is something still entirely possible.

OP, I doubt that someone here would advise you on how to do something which violates the policies of frequent flyer programs and employ by airlines. Again, the best way to guarantee an upgrade is to pay for it with cash or some other form of instrument.

Yes, I'm glad someone else remembers!

Us employees had a strict code for flying in general, stricter for First and Business. Women had to wear a suit (same material) or a dress. Of course paying passengers who weren't dressed decently were grit-teethingly tolerated but no go for upgrades and anyone with the airlines.

Remember too, in the days before everything was computerized and before FF programs or in their infancy, they had more leeway with upgrades, and yes, someone dressed better had a better chance.

Also, flights were not as full too, so there was more wiggle room with that too.

It makes me laugh now, with passengers in bikinis and half their underwear showing are allowed on... Times do change!

But there are some old timers still working the desks and I would say, globally, if you and your children are decently attired, it can't hurt!

My company has a firm policy about how we are required to dress for travel which has only relatively recently been updated to include slacks for women. As such, we are often better dressed than most travelers but this has not resulted in any consistent upgrading.