MilesBuzz! - Airlines still generous with upgrades

Hi all

As you can see Im a newbie here hello to everyone

A question which has been bugging me
Are there any airlines who are still generous enough to give upgrades if you politely enquire
Im a frequent flyer and get upgraded when I have the points but are there any airlines who are nice enough to upgrade you just through courtesy

When I first started travelling with my job in 98 Cathay Pacific were very good at giving upgrades if you asked politely and they were feeling generous

Any airlines still good at these freebie upgrades ?

but are there any airlines who are nice enough to upgrade you just through courtesy?

None of the ones I fly. You better have upgrades in account, or hope they roll the cabin forward due to overbooking in coach.

I can't understand the mentality of people who wish to get something for free by simply asking.
Do you also do that when you shop for things?
When you buy a new car do you politely ask if you could have their top-of-the-range model for free? Don't think that would work even if the sales person felt generous that day! Same should be true for air travel. If you want to sit up front then pay for a ticket with cash, miles, vouchers etc. and be happy if the airline might give you a free upgrade because of overbooking or other unusual circumstances.
SQ is known to not give upgrades to people who ask for one. They pride themselves on the excellent product they provide in their premium cabins and, for the benefit of those who actually pay for the product, do not wish to see it become "diluted".
It is interesting to see how different the premium products of airlines that allow "easy" access (status based upgrades, vouchers etc) to those seats is compared to those that really only have paying customers upfront. Next to you fly keep that in mind.
My 2 cents woth!

I can't understand the mentality of people who wish to get something for free by simply asking.
Do you also do that when you shop for things?
When you buy a new car do you politely ask if you could have their top-of-the-range model for free? Don't think that would work even if the sales person felt generous that day! Same should be true for air travel. If you want to sit up front then pay for a ticket with cash, miles, vouchers etc. and be happy if the airline might give you a free upgrade because of overbooking or other unusual circumstances.
SQ is known to not give upgrades to people who ask for one. They pride themselves on the excellent product they provide in their premium cabins and, for the benefit of those who actually pay for the product, do not wish to see it become "diluted".
It is interesting to see how different the premium products of airlines that allow "easy" access (status based upgrades, vouchers etc) to those seats is compared to those that really only have paying customers upfront. Next to you fly keep that in mind.
My 2 cents woth!


Thanks for the reply
As I can see this is a strong subject for you

It was a general question as I wondered if any airlines still did this out of courtesy as I'd experienced with a previous boss who when asking Cathay for upgrades many times got one

Sorry to brew up a storm

Any airlines still good at these freebie upgrades ?

AA gives complimentary domestic upgrades to their top tier elites.

Any airlines still good at these freebie upgrades ?

Alaska Airlines gives free, unlimited upgrades to elites on a space available basis. Non-elite flyers can purchase upgrades the day of flight for something like $50/1,000 miles if any are left after elites are upgraded. As an elite AS flyer, I'm given free upgrades about 90 percent of the time. As an elite flyer on AA, I have to redeem electronic upgrade coupons I've either earned or purchased to get an upgrade. I would be seriously upset if someone else were given a free upgrade when I had to pay for mine.

I think most airlines are offering free upgrades first to their frequent flyers (i.e., those who have attined elite status); it is extremely rare for the free upgrade to be offered to someone who just walks up and asks. If you don't have elite status with the airline your flying, I seriously doubt you'll ever get a free upgrade.

Free upgrades, called "operational upgrades" or "op-ups" for short, often happen when a flight is oversold in back but there are seats up front. The airline will upgrade some passengers to make room for more people.

Unfortunately, airlines usually choose who to upgrade on the basis of elite status. Fare paid may also be a factor. If you just ask, you will probably be told politely "I'm sorry, but if we have to move anyone forward, it will be our best customers" or "I'm sorry, but [ditto] it will be those who paid full fare." Asking won't hurt, but don't expect a positive result.

And I'd like to welcome you to FlyerTalk and apologize on our behalf for the answer you got a few posts up. Your question was not unreasonable, and you asked it nicely. The fact that the answer may be "no" does not, IMHO, justify attacking you for asking it.

And I'd like to welcome you to FlyerTalk and apologize on our behalf for the answer you got a few posts up. Your question was not unreasonable, and you asked it nicely. The fact that the answer may be "no" does not, IMHO, justify attacking you for asking it.[/QUOTE]

I agree completely. You never know until asking. I always ask for upgrades everywhere. I usually get them at hotels. Never on airlines. Joking and being kind gets you everywhere in my opinion. :)

I'd like to ... apologize on our behalf for the answer you got a few posts up. Your question was not unreasonable, and you asked it nicely. The fact that the answer may be "no" does not, IMHO, justify attacking you for asking it.

^ I concur. I just wish I had spoken up sooner myself.

To the OP:
Although I forgot to say so in my earlier post ...

Welcome to Flyer Talk! :)

there are some people that hate free stuff, tax rate on that stuff is high. and from my experience you usually have to ask for it, business or people usually just say "free stuff here", so my point is there is nothing wrong with asking for complementary upgrade.

Continental, Northwest and Alaska offer complimentary space available upgrades to their Elite members (any level -- silver, gold, platinum). AA and UA offer complimentary space available upgrades to their highest level elite flyers (Platinum Executive or 100K). I don't know about US Airways or Delta.

Continental, Northwest and Alaska offer complimentary space available upgrades to their Elite members (any level -- silver, gold, platinum). AA and UA offer complimentary space available upgrades to their highest level elite flyers (Platinum Executive or 100K). I don't know about US Airways or Delta.

Make sure to mention it's domestic US and Central America (at least on AA andCO, don't know about the others).

AA and UA offer complimentary space available upgrades to their highest level elite flyers (Platinum Executive or 100K).
UA does not offer complimentary upgrades to anyone.

UA does not offer complimentary upgrades to anyone.

It does, to full fare (Y/C) passengers.

Also, while there are no complimentary upgrades for 1Ks, the fact is most 1Ks never run out of instruments to upgrade.

I guess we're all talking domestic here. AFAIK no airline offers complimentary international upgrades to anybody.

AFAIK no airline offers complimentary international upgrades to anybody.

I don't believe so either. However some award some sort of upgrade instrument to elites. AA, for example, gives 8 system wide upgrades (good for 3 segments up to 25K miles on AA metal) per year to its top tier elites.

Welcome to FT RFCMod. We're not mean, just a little jaded at trying to "play" this game of airline travel.

While the OP was polite and acknowledged his being new to FT (FlyerTalk), his question really was naive.

He says he's a FF and uses miles to upgrade, so I'm slightly perplexed by his asking the question. You'd think he would ask about free upgrades before using his miles? You would also think he'd know that the persuit of ANY kind of upgrades are a major part of why communities such as FT exist.

We even have a term called "battlefield" upgrades on FT. It describes upgrades that do not clear prior to arriving at the airport, and usually only are given during the chaos of boarding/at the gate.

Again, not to demean the OP, but thinking of the many many battlefield situations I've seen, I just chuckle at his asking politely for a free upgrade while a zillion elites are hovering at the desk waiting for their "earned" or "deserved" or "waitlisted" upgrade to clear...

A more realistic question would be what airlines offer complementary upgrades to their eiltes and which ones charge, and what is the upgrade percentage.



p.s. - Please be a good FT'er and let us know if you are successful in asking for upgrades. We'll all want to know the airline and what your trick/tactic was.

As an extra information I have just found out yesterday: Lan Airlines provides unlimited space-available free upgrades for their highest-level members (Commodore). As far as I understood, it is for their complete network, that means for example including the 16 hour - flight SCL-MAD-FRA. That seems to be the most generous policy of the business.

I guess we're all talking domestic here. AFAIK no airline offers complimentary international upgrades to anybody.

Well, sort of. AS gives free unlimited upgrades to their elite flyers (MVP and MVP Gold) on a space available basis, including flights to Mexico and Canada, their only international destinations.

Yes, welcome to FT.

I had difficulty understanding your original post, as well.

To all readers, please take this in the right spirit...

I think hoping for an upgrade these days without a bit of travel seasoning, usually occurs because of books that are sold with the promise of insider secrets for upgrading, travel agents who advise outdated information or what they think they know about the subject, (no offense, I was in the industry, too, so don't be angry), or something they've heard thru the media or acquaintances. When it occurred while I was on duty, it usually resulted in the person being a bit put off because of the answer not being what was expected. I always wondered if they considered that possibility before asking.

I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming weekend!!!

Welcome to FT

One reason that this doesn't happen anymore is that the airlines have instituted policies of no favors/no waivers as the previous policy had been abused by some GAs. (ie friends, family, etc.)

You can still ask and the majority of the time the answer will be just like here - a polite no. Sometimes it will also be just like here an impolite no.

UA does not offer complimentary upgrades to anyone.

That's not entirely accurate as is true of most blanket statements. About two years ago, when UA still was flying aircraft with FC cabins to/from LAS, I asked the GA about the possibility of an upgrade for me and my wife on the LAS/ORD return leg. He was quite polite, gave me little hope of success, but did take our names. We had just completed the first half of our first rt on UA having bolted Delta via a status match (Prem Exec) with UA. Obviously, we hadn't earned any 500 milers or the like. Moments before boarding began, the GA called us to his post, gave us FC passes, and welcomed us to UA.

We have also landed complimentary upgrades on USAir and Delta over the past few years. All were obtained because we asked.

lex

I can't understand the mentality of people who wish to get something for free by simply asking.
Do you also do that when you shop for things?
When you buy a new car do you politely ask if you could have their top-of-the-range model for free? Don't think that would work even if the sales person felt generous that day! Same should be true for air travel. If you want to sit up front then pay for a ticket with cash, miles, vouchers etc. and be happy if the airline might give you a free upgrade because of overbooking or other unusual circumstances.
SQ is known to not give upgrades to people who ask for one. They pride themselves on the excellent product they provide in their premium cabins and, for the benefit of those who actually pay for the product, do not wish to see it become "diluted".
It is interesting to see how different the premium products of airlines that allow "easy" access (status based upgrades, vouchers etc) to those seats is compared to those that really only have paying customers upfront. Next to you fly keep that in mind.
My 2 cents woth!



Oh please. If the airline can charge me $800 dollars for my seat and the person sitting next to me $198, then I think it is completely reasonable to ask for an upgrade if no one was booked in that class anyway. It doesn't cost the airline anything and it makes for loyal customers.

It doesn't cost the airline anything and it makes for loyal customers.

True, but is anyone really getting these upgrades unless their own airline's program entitles them to the upgrade (i.e. AA will comp me upgrades due to status, but if I have no status and walk up to the counter and ask for a free upgrade I'll probably get a blank stare).

Looking through this thread, the only one that seems to report success walking up to the counter and asking for free upgrades is the OP, and one other poster. Most of the other posters are talking about upgrades they are entitled to based on elite status or type of fare paid, which they're rightfully entitled to. As most of us on FT do have status, we're probably an unlikely group to be asking for free upgrades, as we know what the rules are.

Back in the early 90's when I flew YYZ-AMS-SVO frequently, I could get an upgrade on KL about one time in three simply by dressing well, being pleasant, and asking nicely. It helped flying on busy days when coach was heavily overbooked and they were bumping people anyway.

Times (read: airline economics) have changed, and airlines have realized they can sell the upgrades or capture frequent flyers with those seats, so it's difficult or possible to do these days unless one is lucky and on a flight heavily overbooked in coach.

There's nothing unreasonable about asking if something can be done, particularly when the airlines have been willing in the past to do it.

The only airline that is still reasonably ethical regarding upgrades is AA.

US Airways is actually practicing consumer fraud. They say they have "unlimited" first class upgrades for their Chairman's Preferred flyers at 7 days prior to flight. But, they are capacity controlled, and now it is their policy to withold whatever seats have not sold, up to the number 9 until day of departure (and usually, time of departure so that they can sell the upgrades. What this means is that at 7 days prior to flight, if 10 first class seats are unsold, only 1 will be given to a single Chairman's flyer.

It is very important that US Airways go our of business because of the 34 ways in which they have disconnected completely from their customers, including their top 2% of frequent flyers.

Emirates is one of the better airlines now-a-days that offer upgrades to Business even though you are not even a member of their elite program. About two years back Emirates upgraded us to Business from LHR to DXB when they found out that we were on our honeymoon to Mauritius.
I have ever since flown with them for almost all of my international flights - excellent airline and extraordinary service.

The only airline that is still reasonably ethical regarding upgrades is AA.

US Airways is actually practicing consumer fraud. They say they have "unlimited" first class upgrades for their Chairman's Preferred flyers at 7 days prior to flight. But, they are capacity controlled, and now it is their policy to withold whatever seats have not sold, up to the number 9 until day of departure (and usually, time of departure so that they can sell the upgrades. What this means is that at 7 days prior to flight, if 10 first class seats are unsold, only 1 will be given to a single Chairman's flyer.

It is very important that US Airways go our of business because of the 34 ways in which they have disconnected completely from their customers, including their top 2% of frequent flyers.

I have been a Platinum Elite plus with NWA for several years. Their upgrade policy is exceptional for elites. PE, GE, and SE elites are all eligible for domestic upgrades in ranking of their elite status. PE elites are automatically upgraded 5 days in advance of departure if seats are availabe. I'm upgraded 95% of the time. It's automatic and i receive an email from NWA confirming the upgrade and my new seat assignment. GE are eligible 3 days in advance and SE 1 day in advance. All upgrades of course are usually taken by PE's and GE's before SE's are eligible. It's very rare to see an empty seat in FC domestic flights. NWA appreciates their elites.

International upgrades are available and issued at the gate automatically if coach is oversold and FC or BC seats are empty up front. PE level is accommodated first, then GE and SE.

Usually it does no good to ask for an upgrade to BC or FC on international flights even if there are seats empty at departure.

I don't believe so either. However some award some sort of upgrade instrument to elites. AA, for example, gives 8 system wide upgrades (good for 3 segments up to 25K miles on AA metal) per year to its top tier elites.

United gives their top-tier (1K) elites six System-Wide Upgrades per year, and you can earn more as well depending on how much you fly.

Tim

I wondered if any airlines still did this out of courtesy as I'd experienced with a previous boss who when asking Cathay for upgrades many times got one

I find this very hard to believe! Maybe your boss was pulling your chain. :p Was your boss a top-tier flyer with CX?

Oh please. If the airline can charge me $800 dollars for my seat and the person sitting next to me $198, then I think it is completely reasonable to ask for an upgrade if no one was booked in that class anyway. It doesn't cost the airline anything and it makes for loyal customers.

Ahem. Cathay Pacific's business class product is a bit more than $600 over their economy class. Try about 5 times as expensive.
It is ridiculous to expect to get something you didn't pay for. But alot of people expect something for nothing nowadays, huh?
Why the tired old "oh, please" comment? Very boring and unimaginative!

UA does not offer complimentary upgrades to anyone.

That's funny because I don't remember paying for any of the 16 500 mile e-upgrades I received from UA last year, which allowed me to upgrade for free on several UA flights last year. Not a complimentary upgrade in the same sense as NW or CO, but still complimentary.

That's funny because I don't remember paying for any of the 16 500 mile e-upgrades I received from UA last year, which allowed me to upgrade for free on several UA flights last year. Not a complimentary upgrade in the same sense as NW or CO, but still complimentary.

Along the same lines, AA gives four "free" 500-mile e-upgrade certificates for every 10,000 miles I fly.

UA does not offer complimentary upgrades to anyone.

I beg to differ. I did actually get one last year. Well, it did help that there were extraordinary circumstances involved. End of the story is that the flight was left three hours late (a 737) with only 9 passengers onboard. I guess I was the only "elite" on board as they only offered a complimentary upgrade to me. One of the other families on board tried to sit up there as well and were sent back to coach. I ended up with my own flight attendant and was offered all 8 breakfasts if I so chose :D But alas, I just took mine and went on my way. Still, the elite status helped, even if it is a low end elite status at that.

Ahem.
It is ridiculous to expect to get something you didn't pay for. But alot of people expect something for nothing nowadays, huh?
Why the tired old "oh, please" comment? Very boring and unimaginative!

The OP didn't write anything about expecting an upgrade. He made a perfectly reasonable inquiry into whether flyers can get upgrades simply by asking. The answer to that, btw, is a qualified yes.

Dress nice, smile, have your paperwork ready, and ask in a polite tone with no hint of demand and it will, upon occasion, work, even on international flights. Delta upgraded me EWR-ATH two years ago. UA did as well to LON. KL to AMS. On a Virgin flight three years back I was actually upgraded after take-off when a FA told me the GA had asked her to move me if possible. (She asked me to be discreet, which I was, and it was fine.) HP routinely upgrades a friend of mine who travels SFO-PHX.

I'm not a good looking, or particularly charming, guy, so others I suspect others would fare even better.

I have UG on Emirates three times without status by asking in the last 18 mths. I got UG on my birthday on KL and twice last year from very discounted economy to businesses on BA to NY. Each time I was dressed well, empathised with the staff, and asked.

BTW - I did get the latest model Volvo upgraded by asking - its also called 'negotiating'. :-)

UA does not offer complimentary upgrades to anyone.

UA does offer complimentary upgrades for Elite (GS, 1K, PE, P) who are traveling on certain Y tickets. Problem is that the upgrade is only processed on day of departure if space is available.

I had an op-up flying NRT-SFO on NW a few weeks ago. (and I dont even have NWA status). Just got lucky I guess.

FYI, the fare I got upgraded on was a "K" fare or one of the lowest NW fare classes.