Jan 22, 2015, 6:28 pm
Last edit by: wandering_fred
'Upgrade' (or 'Get Upgraded' or 'Upgrade Yourself') is UL's implementation of Plusgrade's bid on an upgrade platform.
{29 Mar 2017}
I ended up with an UL itinerary where the first flight was sold out. Seemingly as a result I did not receive an email suggesting I bid for an upgrade, even though the other flight was "open". I received a link from UL reservations which is a variation on the FAQ link (above), but allows you to enter the PNR and your name and it will bring up the bid-to-upgrade option.
Link to the PNR bid to upgrade option
Note: If you are using cut & paste - the upgrade page does NOT like leading or trailing blanks in the PNR.
- You can check if your itinerary is eligible for bidding on an upgrade (most are) on UL's website here, but it typically takes 24-48 hours after the ticket is issued for the itinerary to be in Plusgrade's system
- You cannot bid for flights departing within 72 hours
- Minimum bids are dynamically set based on various factors, and don't appear to change as you get closer to flight departure
- Tip: If you're bidding the minimum, you should always make the bid in USD unless bidding in your home currency avoids credit card costs that are higher than the difference in pricing (see this post)
- Bid amounts can be changed or withdrawn up to 72 hours from flight departure. It does not appear that you can update the credit card number
- Accepted bids will be processed within the 72 hours window, generally prior to 40-48 hours to departure
- If your bid is accepted:
- The credit card will be charged
- You will be rebooked in "I" class
- You will receive an email notification from Plusgrade
- You will receive an email with your new eTicket from the airline
- Currently, your mileage accrual is based on the class you've been rebooked into, not the one from your original ticket
- Please read UL's FAQs
{29 Mar 2017}
I ended up with an UL itinerary where the first flight was sold out. Seemingly as a result I did not receive an email suggesting I bid for an upgrade, even though the other flight was "open". I received a link from UL reservations which is a variation on the FAQ link (above), but allows you to enter the PNR and your name and it will bring up the bid-to-upgrade option.
Link to the PNR bid to upgrade option
Note: If you are using cut & paste - the upgrade page does NOT like leading or trailing blanks in the PNR.
Sri Lankan Airlines - upgrade yourself
Jan 14, 2016, 6:06 am
#121
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Hi everyone,
I've found this thread great reading so thanks to everyone who's contributed - I was hoping someone with access to whether business class seats have all been bought up already or not could be kind and check availability for:
10 Feb 2016 SriLankan Airlines Flight UL504 Airbus A330-300
London - Colombo
and
23 Feb 2016 SriLankan Airlines Flight UL503 Airbus A330-300
Colombo to London
Many thanks in advance!
Charlie
I've found this thread great reading so thanks to everyone who's contributed - I was hoping someone with access to whether business class seats have all been bought up already or not could be kind and check availability for:
10 Feb 2016 SriLankan Airlines Flight UL504 Airbus A330-300
London - Colombo
and
23 Feb 2016 SriLankan Airlines Flight UL503 Airbus A330-300
Colombo to London
Many thanks in advance!
Charlie
May 12, 2016, 2:12 am
#122
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Flying Blue, Marco Polo, Skywards, Etihad Guest, IHG, Aeroplan
Posts: 269
Hello everyone! This is a great thread!
I recently flew from Colombo to Shanghai Pudong (May 9). My boyfriend and I bid for this leg and our bid was accepted. Strange thing is that our new booking reference is 'Z', not 'I' as many of you have mentioned here.
So I am a bit worried as I credited the miles earn to Marco Polo/Asia Miles and they don't recognize 'Z' booking class for business class. They do recognize 'I' though. FYI, before the upgrade, my booking class was 'V' which is also recognize by Asiamiles and Marco Polo.
So far, nothing has happened with my Asiamiles as I expect it will take a while for the miles to be credited. But should Asiamiles not credit the miles to my account, do I have a strong ground to object and ask for the miles?
I hope you guys can share your experience / some information about this.
Many thanks!
I recently flew from Colombo to Shanghai Pudong (May 9). My boyfriend and I bid for this leg and our bid was accepted. Strange thing is that our new booking reference is 'Z', not 'I' as many of you have mentioned here.
So I am a bit worried as I credited the miles earn to Marco Polo/Asia Miles and they don't recognize 'Z' booking class for business class. They do recognize 'I' though. FYI, before the upgrade, my booking class was 'V' which is also recognize by Asiamiles and Marco Polo.
So far, nothing has happened with my Asiamiles as I expect it will take a while for the miles to be credited. But should Asiamiles not credit the miles to my account, do I have a strong ground to object and ask for the miles?
I hope you guys can share your experience / some information about this.
Many thanks!
May 12, 2016, 3:10 am
#123
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,170
Is Z the booking class (showing as 'business (Z)' in manage my booking), or the booking reference (like 6 digit Amadeus reference number, e.g. ZBRCC6- that does not change when they rebook, afaik)?
Not done the upgrade thing in while, but never seen booking class Z on UL!
Don't know flysmiles-their program, but I suspect that award biz class books into U..so Z could, possibly, be an entirely new ball game.
CX MPC/Asiamiles take 2-4 weeks to post UL flights, btw. Worst case you could try to get a credit for the original booking class...
Not done the upgrade thing in while, but never seen booking class Z on UL!
Don't know flysmiles-their program, but I suspect that award biz class books into U..so Z could, possibly, be an entirely new ball game.
CX MPC/Asiamiles take 2-4 weeks to post UL flights, btw. Worst case you could try to get a credit for the original booking class...
Hello everyone! This is a great thread!
I recently flew from Colombo to Shanghai Pudong (May 9). My boyfriend and I bid for this leg and our bid was accepted. Strange thing is that our new booking reference is 'Z', not 'I' as many of you have mentioned here.
So I am a bit worried as I credited the miles earn to Marco Polo/Asia Miles and they don't recognize 'Z' booking class for business class. They do recognize 'I' though. FYI, before the upgrade, my booking class was 'V' which is also recognize by Asiamiles and Marco Polo.
So far, nothing has happened with my Asiamiles as I expect it will take a while for the miles to be credited. But should Asiamiles not credit the miles to my account, do I have a strong ground to object and ask for the miles?
I hope you guys can share your experience / some information about this.
Many thanks!
I recently flew from Colombo to Shanghai Pudong (May 9). My boyfriend and I bid for this leg and our bid was accepted. Strange thing is that our new booking reference is 'Z', not 'I' as many of you have mentioned here.
So I am a bit worried as I credited the miles earn to Marco Polo/Asia Miles and they don't recognize 'Z' booking class for business class. They do recognize 'I' though. FYI, before the upgrade, my booking class was 'V' which is also recognize by Asiamiles and Marco Polo.
So far, nothing has happened with my Asiamiles as I expect it will take a while for the miles to be credited. But should Asiamiles not credit the miles to my account, do I have a strong ground to object and ask for the miles?
I hope you guys can share your experience / some information about this.
Many thanks!
May 12, 2016, 3:45 am
#124
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Flying Blue, Marco Polo, Skywards, Etihad Guest, IHG, Aeroplan
Posts: 269
Is Z the booking class (showing as 'business (Z)' in manage my booking), or the booking reference (like 6 digit Amadeus reference number, e.g. ZBRCC6- that does not change when they rebook, afaik)?
Not done the upgrade thing in while, but never seen booking class Z on UL!
Don't know flysmiles-their program, but I suspect that award biz class books into U..so Z could, possibly, be an entirely new ball game.
CX MPC/Asiamiles take 2-4 weeks to post UL flights, btw. Worst case you could try to get a credit for the original booking class...
Not done the upgrade thing in while, but never seen booking class Z on UL!
Don't know flysmiles-their program, but I suspect that award biz class books into U..so Z could, possibly, be an entirely new ball game.
CX MPC/Asiamiles take 2-4 weeks to post UL flights, btw. Worst case you could try to get a credit for the original booking class...
But like you said, I will wait for 2-4 weeks and let's see what happens. Thanks for your reply!
Jul 24, 2016, 8:16 am
#125
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1
Hi everyone, I am new here.
I have one way flight from London to Colombo on 7th January 2017.
I asked about the upgrade to business class and at the moment the minimum bidding price is over 700 Euros/person.
Any experiences, how much have you paid London-Colombo -upgrade? The flight is UL504.
Thanks everyone for help.
-TiaMaria
I have one way flight from London to Colombo on 7th January 2017.
I asked about the upgrade to business class and at the moment the minimum bidding price is over 700 Euros/person.
Any experiences, how much have you paid London-Colombo -upgrade? The flight is UL504.
Thanks everyone for help.
-TiaMaria
Sep 9, 2016, 7:51 pm
#127
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: QR Platinum / SQ Gold
Posts: 147
It is showing Z. I know that MH used to have Z as their business promo fare and I successfully received the miles in my AsiaMiles account. So I hope Asiamiles will do the same with UL.
But like you said, I will wait for 2-4 weeks and let's see what happens. Thanks for your reply!
But like you said, I will wait for 2-4 weeks and let's see what happens. Thanks for your reply!
Sep 12, 2016, 10:25 am
#128
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: CMB/LHR
Programs: QR Gold / OW Sapphire, Le Club Accor Gold, Shangri La Jade
Posts: 144
I have previously used the upgrade auction feature with UL and had the miles and Q points posted to my QR PC account to reflect the upgraded travel class
Route: CMB-BKK UL402 Upgrade bid: $140
Miles posted to QR account: 1853 Qpoints: 16
Nov 17, 2016, 8:16 pm
#129
Join Date: Mar 2003
Programs: former MD-88 jumpseat Medallion. DL FO, AA PLT PRO. Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 752
MLE-CMB
booked a one-way coach fare MLE-CMB for $175. Put in an upgrade bid of $130 about 10 days prior to departure.
Bid was accepted, but didn't get the email until about 28 hours prior to departure. Seat map was fairly open.
Bid was accepted, but didn't get the email until about 28 hours prior to departure. Seat map was fairly open.
Dec 11, 2016, 9:59 am
#130
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,098
Trying to upgrade a BA Avios booking from DEL-CMB, says I am not eligible for an upgrade. I am still able to log into my reservation through the Sri Lanka website. Anyone else have this problem? Booked flight 1 months ago, will be flying in 3 months 12/16 seats open
Feb 24, 2017, 6:43 am
#131
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
SIN-CMB at the civilized time (afternoon not 0400)
min bid US$150
to purchase new seat = the cheap biz seats are gone though still J4.
I'll pass on this one I think as I have a couple more flights coming up shortly that are still wide open.
Happy wandering
Fred
min bid US$150
to purchase new seat = the cheap biz seats are gone though still J4.
I'll pass on this one I think as I have a couple more flights coming up shortly that are still wide open.
Happy wandering
Fred
Mar 9, 2017, 10:30 am
#132
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
DOH-CMB successful at $180 min $150
CMB-CGK successful at $195 min $150
Resolution: don't try to look at upgrade pages on my touch screen phone..... even if all you want to do is see if the minimum had been raised....
Happy wandering
Fred
CMB-CGK successful at $195 min $150
Resolution: don't try to look at upgrade pages on my touch screen phone..... even if all you want to do is see if the minimum had been raised....
Happy wandering
Fred
Mar 18, 2017, 7:25 am
#133
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,551
I'm flying CMB-BKK and about 2 weeks before departure, received an E-mail that the minimum Upgrade Yourself bid was reduced by 25% for a limited time. I'd be surprised if this is flight-specific, partly because it says offer is only available until 31 March (and I fly before then) and partly because the lowest available booking class for business is C, and has been for a while. Will put in a minimal bid and see what happens. Anyone else get a similar offer in the past?
Mar 25, 2017, 10:42 am
#134
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,551
I'm flying CMB-BKK and about 2 weeks before departure, received an E-mail that the minimum Upgrade Yourself bid was reduced by 25% for a limited time. I'd be surprised if this is flight-specific, partly because it says offer is only available until 31 March (and I fly before then) and partly because the lowest available booking class for business is C, and has been for a while. Will put in a minimal bid and see what happens. Anyone else get a similar offer in the past?
Mar 25, 2017, 6:51 pm
#135
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
It always is useful to check the flight loadings (or what fare classes are still available for sale) before considering bids. I have an upcoming UL flight which either shows J1 or the J cabin closed, depending on how I look it up. Don't think any bid will be useful on that flight.
The other thing is that the A320s have a lot fewer J seats than the A330s...
Happy wandering
Fred
The other thing is that the A320s have a lot fewer J seats than the A330s...
Happy wandering
Fred