Upgrade advice for transatlantic novice - 12/23 CPH-EWR
Hi,
Been reading FT for the last few days trying to get some insights, so here's my story and question:
- Been studying abroad in CPH since August, got RT ticket EWR-CPH using Citi TYP fixed-point that I racked up really fast on signup offers.
- Don't have any EB card, but I have the Citi PP World Elite if that can be used as a sort of status-y symbol?
- Flying home tomorrow, would like to be op-up'd to Y or C.
Given that Dec 23 is probably a huge day for SK, what are my best strategies at CPH to try to get this upgrade?
Seatcounter for this flight seems to show economy nearly fully booked, confirming my thought above. All classes except C, D, G, J, S and Y are full.
Programs: EBG (soon to be EBS after 10 years of EBG), PC Gold Ambassador, BA Silver
Posts: 918
Welcome to FT maestro11.
IMHO your chances are very slim, with no status (although CPH is the station with best probability for this to happen) and no EB account to use for upgrading with points. But it never hurts to pursue the opportunity.
Members of this board have a couple of different strategies.
Option 1:
Do not check in too early (provided that you do not have a seat assignment already) - hoping to be be upgraded at check-in. Risky, as if this does not happen you will likely get a center seat.
Option 2:
Show up at the gate (likely 39/40) when it opens (1-1½ before departure) and ask if there are any options to be upgraded.
I would check-in around 2 hours before, and go straight to the gate - and prepare for absolutely nothing.
Safe travels home and all the best for the holidays.
If you, unlike most people, do not necessarily have to be in the US on the 24th, ask not to be upgraded but if they need volunteers, my experience is that asking this may make the gate agents look favourably upon you and maybe give you an op-up if needed. If it is indeed full and volunteers are needed, you can earn yourself a 600 euro voucher and possibly a new routing which may include segments in C-class (has happened to me).
Finally, PremierPass? Where do you put your miles for this flight? Since it is on a student fare, it may be in a 100% class? At least that used to be the case but now it seems that SK has decided that student fares will only earn 25% - evil, and the end to my EBG status (luckily first in January 2010).
OFFlyer: Given that I'm already scheduled to leave my flat pretty early tomorrow, I'm thinking option 2 looks a little better as well...
Erasmus: While I don't have any pressing reason to be in the US on the 24th, it's also true that I haven't seen my family for ~4 months, so yeah there'd have to be a pretty damn good reason for me to take a flight on another date, especially given that I'm out of a flat as soon as I leave tomorrow morning (unless SAS puts me up in a hotel).
As far as the miles go, Citi is rather reluctant to give flight points for award tickets but I'm going to try it anyway once I get home. In terms of a FF program, I don't plan to fly that much after I go back (I got the PP card to get points for intra-Europe flights, mostly on budget carriers like easyJet), so as far as the points eligibility, it's not a student fare, it's a regular straight-up M fare right now and I'm not terribly concerned about those miles in any FF program.
I think, and this is what has worked the best for me, is to ask if they need volunteers as Erasmus says. Just make a disclaimer that, should they need any volunteers you would be happy to help, but of course, you would like to be on the flight. They have never off-loaded me before gate when volunteering but produceed new boarding passes at the gate in those circumstances, i.e. upgraded me.
I would check-in as early as possible, then check-in at the counter, not the bag-drop (so be early) where you should volunteer. My experience is that those at check-in are more knowledgable than those at the baggage-drop. If they say they need volunteers, say you are willing, then enquire at the service desk (saying you have volunteered but would prefer to be on the flight (as in how is it looking, checked-in full etc...). Repeat at gate if no success at the service center.
Or try to find an alternative routing, that departs after the potentially overbooked flight, that arrives at your final destination at a suitable time for you, that is mostly operated by star alliance (even better if operated by SK). When volunteering tell that you agree to arrive latest XX:XX with this routing as an example, but that a next-day flight is not acceptable to you. That could be the safest option. However, if they reroute you on other carriers, it will be in economy i guess, but you still get the 600 EUR you can use for an upgrade for cash at departure from EWR on your way back... or for something else.
ranskis: There's LH that leaves 10:05am through FRA, but my flight leaves 12:20 and is direct. After that, there's nothing really on *A that I can see through sidestep until the next day. Is this 600 euro cash money or is it just a voucher? I'll take cash money, but a voucher is quite a bit less appealing to me. Also, just to clarify, this is the return leg of the trip, so there's no return from EWR I live about 20 minute drive from EWR back in the states.
ranskis: There's LH that leaves 10:05am through FRA, but my flight leaves 12:20 and is direct. After that, there's nothing really on *A that I can see through sidestep until the next day. Is this 600 euro cash money or is it just a voucher? I'll take cash money, but a voucher is quite a bit less appealing to me. Also, just to clarify, this is the return leg of the trip, so there's no return from EWR I live about 20 minute drive from EWR back in the states.
If you have no status then your only hope is to follow Erasmus' advice unless you get very lucky. You don't have to accept the offer (if you have a seat) and they want to route you the next day.
There are other options on *A. There is the parallel flight to IAD (probably full too). You can go via Chicago on the later SK flight. You can connect later down in FRA. There is a flight at 1700 to JFK. You could also take a two-hop on the late LHR and FRA flights to IAD on UA.
Ok, I see a problem that there is no flight to FRA between 10 and 17..... wow, what a lousy schedule!..... And you would need to take the 12:00 flight to get to LHR in time.
So your same day options unless they change it well in advance (very unlikely) are IAD or ORD on SK. And I would not be surprised to see them oversold.......
So your same day options unless they change it well in advance (very unlikely) are IAD or ORD on SK. And I would not be surprised to see them oversold.......
Nope, they are not oversold. They are in fact not even operating the day prior to Christmas!
Only ARN-ORD-ARN and CPH-EWR-CPH are operating today 23DEC.
That is the sign of a top quality and reliable airline.
In the end, got to CPH, struck up a rapport at check-in...to no avail. She gave me a window seat pretty close to the front of economy, which at the time seemed like a decent seat.
Asked again at the service center and the gate, under the pretense of allowing myself to be bumped, but was told that it wouldn't be necessary and that was that.
Get on the plane, and lo and behold, in the seat next to mine is a mother with an infant on her lap. I was about to take my ballpoint pen and put it firmly in my wrist, presented with the thought of 9 hours sitting next to a baby who is quite grumpy on planes according to Mom.
Meanwhile, plane is pretty full, but I ask one of the FAs anyway before takeoff if there is anywhere else I could possibly sit. (Sidenote: Much respect to the FAs on that flight, great service.) She comes back a few minutes, points me toward an aisle seat, 30F if I recall. I'm quite grateful as I move, but when I look behind me, I notice an empty exit row seat (31F). So I move myself over one more row, and enjoy legroom ++ and relative peace and quiet on the way.
To top that off, for the meal apparently they had extra salmon meals from Y so was able to get on that, so, in all reality, there wasn't that big a difference between what I had and Y from what I understand.
I live about 20 minute drive from EWR back in the states.
