Unsuccessful auction bid for upgrade to F
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: lincs, uk
Programs: EK Silver, , ba exec club gold. Thai Air Silver, SPG - Gold.Etihad gold
Posts: 201
Unsuccessful auction bid for upgrade to F
My wife and I returned from SYD to LHR in business class. Before this flight we were invited to bid cash for an upgrade to first class. We bid just over the minimum at £700 each. On the day of the flight we received an email stating our bids had failed. When we checked in at Sydney airport I asked if there were vacant seats in F. I was told that 4 seats were available. I got the same answer when arriving st the lounge and again when leaving the lounge to board the flight.
I expected we would be given F boarding passes at the gate but no we remained in business. The flight was great . But i am confused and surprised that our bids were not accepted. Any thoughts on what was happening?
I expected we would be given F boarding passes at the gate but no we remained in business. The flight was great . But i am confused and surprised that our bids were not accepted. Any thoughts on what was happening?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,089
They can refuse any bid. Being the only bidder does not mean they have to accept it. if you would've bid 1000 or more you may have been successful - but not even certain at that price point. They decide on the winner (typically) 24 hours before the flight.
#3
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Yorkshire & Bangsaen
Programs: HH Diamond, EY Gold, AY Silver, MR Plat
Posts: 526
Back in December I had the minimum bid turned down for Y to J on a AUH-BKK flight. When I arrived at the gate I got an OP up to J for some unknown reason. The J cabin was about 20% full with lots of spare seats. My wife and son who were originally booked in J got an OP up to F. My wife and son were the only passengers in F on the flight & the flight attendants let spend most of the time with them in F and let me eat with them.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,509
My wife and I returned from SYD to LHR in business class. Before this flight we were invited to bid cash for an upgrade to first class. We bid just over the minimum at £700 each. On the day of the flight we received an email stating our bids had failed. When we checked in at Sydney airport I asked if there were vacant seats in F. I was told that 4 seats were available. I got the same answer when arriving st the lounge and again when leaving the lounge to board the flight.
I expected we would be given F boarding passes at the gate but no we remained in business. The flight was great . But i am confused and surprised that our bids were not accepted. Any thoughts on what was happening?
I expected we would be given F boarding passes at the gate but no we remained in business. The flight was great . But i am confused and surprised that our bids were not accepted. Any thoughts on what was happening?
A lot of American based flyers find empty seats in a premium cabin shocking, but that's how most carriers worldwide operate.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Etihad Platinum. Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 333
The J cabin was about 20% full with lots of spare seats. My wife and son who were originally booked in J got an OP up to F. My wife and son were the only passengers in F on the flight & the flight attendants let spend most of the time with them in F and let me eat with them.
#6
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
who said anything about an oversold situation? OP stated business class was only 20% full. That does not sound oversold to me? Even if Y was oversold they would usually not OP UP anyone from J-F until J was full of OP UPed Y passengers
#8
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Yorkshire & Bangsaen
Programs: HH Diamond, EY Gold, AY Silver, MR Plat
Posts: 526
I agree. I didn't understand it either. But, there was a last minute change of aircraft which may have had something to do with it. The flight was originally booked on EY metal, it then changed to Jet two months before departure. When we arrived in AUH the flight said delayed 5 hours. Ten minutes later it said on time. When we boarded, the pane had changed back to EY metal.
#9
#10
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,089
#11
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
I think perhaps OP meant it was 20% full pre-op ups? Though not sure how one would know that.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
As the name implies, an operational upgrade is an upgrade for operational reasons. Such an upgrade may occur when the original cabin is overbooked, or for any number of other reasons at the airline's discretion.
Johan
Johan