Birthday Upgrade?
#361
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 219
My inbound flight was on my birthday. They crew didn't know. I did not have MPC, but they knew I was on AM since they told me when they asked me to join a survey. I told the stewardess who was serving drinks it was my birthday and they gave me a box of pralines and a card signed by the staff before I landed.
I was flying on J and did't see of there were any vacant seats on F. But since they didn't know it was my birthday, I am guessing I never had a chance for any upgrades.
I was flying on J and did't see of there were any vacant seats on F. But since they didn't know it was my birthday, I am guessing I never had a chance for any upgrades.
#362
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
My inbound flight was on my birthday. They crew didn't know. I did not have MPC, but they knew I was on AM since they told me when they asked me to join a survey. I told the stewardess who was serving drinks it was my birthday and they gave me a box of pralines and a card signed by the staff before I landed.
I was flying on J and did't see of there were any vacant seats on F. But since they didn't know it was my birthday, I am guessing I never had a chance for any upgrades.
I was flying on J and did't see of there were any vacant seats on F. But since they didn't know it was my birthday, I am guessing I never had a chance for any upgrades.
#367
Join Date: May 2006
Location: UK
Programs: Aeroplan, MPO Gold, Presidents Choice Gourmet Coffee, Flying Blue, Flying Club
Posts: 120
Was upgraded from Y+ to J on my birthday flight to HKG in late January. Better still, my traveling companion was also upgraded at the same time! ^
Cabin crew also gave me a signed birthday card before landing - a really nice touch!
Cabin crew also gave me a signed birthday card before landing - a really nice touch!
Last edited by karaokequeen3; Feb 4, 2015 at 3:06 am
#368
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,924
I've come to the conclusion that we FTers on the CX forum know more than ordinary sales representative of CX in the USA.
I was trying to get the sales team to put a remark on a client's PNR due to his missing an op up on his birthday as the original flight was changed and to unusual circumstance that a consideration be put in place. The sales team came back and said CX Marketing Dept does not op up DM members on their birthdays and that they will only receive a gift.
CX Sales Reps know nothing about true loyalties of their passengers. Even cabin crew have more feelings towards the wellbeing of their passengers. That is why the management of CX is losing the plot really of how to please their customers.
I was trying to get the sales team to put a remark on a client's PNR due to his missing an op up on his birthday as the original flight was changed and to unusual circumstance that a consideration be put in place. The sales team came back and said CX Marketing Dept does not op up DM members on their birthdays and that they will only receive a gift.
CX Sales Reps know nothing about true loyalties of their passengers. Even cabin crew have more feelings towards the wellbeing of their passengers. That is why the management of CX is losing the plot really of how to please their customers.
Last edited by Guy Betsy; Mar 19, 2015 at 5:15 pm
#370
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: QF Platinum, Former CX Diamond, TG Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Amex Platinum
Posts: 173
Flew on my birthday earlier this week. Warm birthday wishes at check in and advised I'd been upgraded. Warm birthday wishes from the cabin crew, a birthday card and my choice of a bottle of champagne or wine or a box of chocolates were offered. I firmly believe it depends entirely on the mood of both the ground staff and cabin crew. Flew on my birthday two years ago and received absolutely zero acknowledgement from anyone.
#371
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond (OW Emerald), former SQ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 2,526
I was trying to get the sales team to put a remark on a client's PNR due to his missing an op up on his birthday as the original flight was changed and to unusual circumstance that a consideration be put in place. The sales team came back and said CX Marketing Dept does not op up DM members on their birthdays and that they will only receive a gift.
#372
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,924
It is when the passenger asks for it. I'm not the passenger in this case but the TA.
#373
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Places
Programs: CI Paragon, AF Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador Elite, Shangri-La Jade
Posts: 170
They tore up my HKG-TPE BP (without a word) and gave me a new stub at the gate, went from C to F with a warm b-day greeting from FA. This was a few years back.
#374
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
There are two types of op-ups that airlines should realize.
1) Those idiotic loud mouths that demands an op-up everytime they check in, because they are either semi-famous (a famed director in Taiwan is notorious for demanding op-up everytime he flies), they are some elite member of a program that thinks everyone should kowtow to him, or, they just realized arguing works sometimes and when it works its his gain.
2) Op-ups presented as a gift that motivates people to stay with your airline. These are op-ups that just made FF feel special, and rewarded, for their loyalty and love for the airline. When done right it "steals" would-be FF from other airlines into your own.
I'm all for airline cracking down on 1), and stop appeasing to loud mouths and just tell them NO; however, airlines should also not be stingy on 2) (when done right), and realize this is why people gravitate towards you and sticks with you. Things like birthday upgrades, anniversary upgrades, operational oversold upgrades, milestone upgrades, are good ways to keep loyalty from FF.
1) Those idiotic loud mouths that demands an op-up everytime they check in, because they are either semi-famous (a famed director in Taiwan is notorious for demanding op-up everytime he flies), they are some elite member of a program that thinks everyone should kowtow to him, or, they just realized arguing works sometimes and when it works its his gain.
2) Op-ups presented as a gift that motivates people to stay with your airline. These are op-ups that just made FF feel special, and rewarded, for their loyalty and love for the airline. When done right it "steals" would-be FF from other airlines into your own.
I'm all for airline cracking down on 1), and stop appeasing to loud mouths and just tell them NO; however, airlines should also not be stingy on 2) (when done right), and realize this is why people gravitate towards you and sticks with you. Things like birthday upgrades, anniversary upgrades, operational oversold upgrades, milestone upgrades, are good ways to keep loyalty from FF.
#375
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Beijing, Paris, Edinburgh
Programs: Marco Polo Diamond, Flying Blue Platinum for Life, GHA Black, IHG Platinum
Posts: 442
My birthday was yesterday (23 March), this is what I experienced on my two flights:
1. Dhaka - HKG on KA191:
- birthday wishes plus a signed card and a box of chocolates from the KA ground services team at the airport (it is a small team and they know me well)
- no greetings etc. on board (and I was already in J, so no upgrade was possible on this flight)
2. HKG - BJS on KA908:
- I was booked in J, but a boarding card for F was already printed and waiting for me at the gate, was wished happy birthday by the agent;
- no greetings etc. on board
What happens is indeed very much hit or miss (probably a good thing actually)...last year I was given a signed card and chocolates on CX347 from BJS - HKG on my birthday, plus the J cabin crew came to my seat and sang "Happy Birthday to You" to me !!
1. Dhaka - HKG on KA191:
- birthday wishes plus a signed card and a box of chocolates from the KA ground services team at the airport (it is a small team and they know me well)
- no greetings etc. on board (and I was already in J, so no upgrade was possible on this flight)
2. HKG - BJS on KA908:
- I was booked in J, but a boarding card for F was already printed and waiting for me at the gate, was wished happy birthday by the agent;
- no greetings etc. on board
What happens is indeed very much hit or miss (probably a good thing actually)...last year I was given a signed card and chocolates on CX347 from BJS - HKG on my birthday, plus the J cabin crew came to my seat and sang "Happy Birthday to You" to me !!
Last edited by DernierVirage; Mar 24, 2015 at 6:05 am