Onboard paid upgrade
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 48
Onboard paid upgrade
Hello!
Having been discontinued in the past, there are reports of a limited trial being reintroduced in 2012 to allow for onboard paid upgrades. I am a little unclear as to whether this trial was extended, maintained, discontinued or indeed whether the programme was formally reintroduced. Does anyone have any information on this, please?
Thanks!
Having been discontinued in the past, there are reports of a limited trial being reintroduced in 2012 to allow for onboard paid upgrades. I am a little unclear as to whether this trial was extended, maintained, discontinued or indeed whether the programme was formally reintroduced. Does anyone have any information on this, please?
Thanks!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,819
Hello!
Having been discontinued in the past, there are reports of a limited trial being reintroduced in 2012 to allow for onboard paid upgrades. I am a little unclear as to whether this trial was extended, maintained, discontinued or indeed whether the programme was formally reintroduced. Does anyone have any information on this, please?
Thanks!
Having been discontinued in the past, there are reports of a limited trial being reintroduced in 2012 to allow for onboard paid upgrades. I am a little unclear as to whether this trial was extended, maintained, discontinued or indeed whether the programme was formally reintroduced. Does anyone have any information on this, please?
Thanks!
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,749
I don't believe that there have been any reports since last year. See these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...al+csd+upgrade
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...al+csd+upgrade
Prior to this trial ability to upgrade onboard went away in 2008:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...s-onboard.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...al+csd+upgrade
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...al+csd+upgrade
Prior to this trial ability to upgrade onboard went away in 2008:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...s-onboard.html
#4
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,464
I don't know why I know this (was it here? was it a conversation with a CSD?) but my recollection is that the functionality was put into the iPads, and a trial started where CSDs could offer a paid upgrade and take credit card payment. However it seemed to be a very limited trial and it wasn't continued after a few months on select routes.
I further suspect that BA aren't needing to try quite so hard to get payment for CE/CW occupancy, thanks to the general economic situation.
I further suspect that BA aren't needing to try quite so hard to get payment for CE/CW occupancy, thanks to the general economic situation.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,348
Apart from the crew aspect, I think that from a passenger's perspective it may not have been the best solution indeed. Few people knew about it, but if a CSD approaches passengers to propose them to buy a paid upgrade it may feel a bit "Ryanairish" in terms of trying to push sales. If it is knowledgeable passengers contacting CSDs, paying and moving, it may well mistakenly look to other passengers around like "wild upgrades" which would not give a good image (however unfairly). Rather have BA increase possibilities for OLCI or airport upgrades if need be.
#8
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,696
In addition, my own feeling is that the cc and the Csd have enough to do during boarding without going round and touting for paid upgrades.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: KSA
Programs: BA LTG, UA Gold, EK Silver, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,240
CSD has the manifest and the catering so no need to over complicate things.
In any event,I think upgrading on board for cash is generally a bad idea and has more downside than up
#10
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, BA Amex Prem, BA Amex Business, Amex Platinum, Coutts Silk, Hilton Diamond etc.
Posts: 4,320
Didn't they used to give you a letter which said something like "Here is your upgrade, you are very naughty for leaving it to the last minute!"
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452