OpUp for *gold success rate
Feb 26, 2016, 10:27 pm
#46
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
No airline regularly gives out op-ups. If you want to fly in a better cabin then pay for it.
Feb 27, 2016, 1:35 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Singapore
Posts: 46
Went for a holiday at Kyushu, Japan last year, and bought return Economy tickets with 50% miles earn rate. For the outbound flight, economy was full, and they gave me a op-up at the gate. There was a beep when the gate agent scanned my pass, and he asked me to wait by the side, and another gate agent swapped it for a Biz class pass. It was a red-eye, so it was a treat to get some good sleep on a lie-flat bed.
Feb 28, 2016, 4:31 am
#48
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 267
I've been flying SQ for a while now as an elite.
The only time was when I was flying out of SIN. I was due to fly economy at the time and while I was waiting at the gate, the gate agent paged my name. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and I thought to myself "holy crap, this has finally happened to me on SQ".
So I walked up to the agent, probably the happiest I've been in my life, ready to receive the blue boarding pass.
Only to be assigned new seat in Y instead... (worst of all, they gave me an exit row next to a baby)
The only time was when I was flying out of SIN. I was due to fly economy at the time and while I was waiting at the gate, the gate agent paged my name. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and I thought to myself "holy crap, this has finally happened to me on SQ".
So I walked up to the agent, probably the happiest I've been in my life, ready to receive the blue boarding pass.
Only to be assigned new seat in Y instead... (worst of all, they gave me an exit row next to a baby)
Feb 28, 2016, 4:41 am
#49
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 267
However, my experience on CX was that I've received upgrades so often, almost 50% of the time. The only caveat is, the upgrades are usually intra-asia so it's almost useless.
I also definitely had flights where I was 100% sure I'd get upgraded (say overbooked in Y, me booked in PEY with J not full, DM status, BN 001 when that mattered), only for my boarding pass to flash green and I'd be waived through.
So I definitely agree that paying for it is the only way. It just feels different walking to the F counter after you have a confirmed booking, compared to going on J, hoping for an op up to F (or worst still, Y to J).
Feb 28, 2016, 6:03 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Your eyes must really hurt, stop rolling them!
Last edited by djjaguar64; Feb 28, 2016 at 6:36 am
Feb 29, 2016, 12:07 pm
#51
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SHA, SIN, AMS
Programs: BA, SQ, EK, FB, SPG
Posts: 452
My philosophy is that if you want to fly in a particular cabin, pay for it; be it miles or cash. Domestically in the US, upgrades are common for elite flyers, but that's not really a surprise given a, the price differentials for F on domestic flights are typically small, b, the product is generally fairly disappointing.
Personally speaking, being a current GGL member in Executive Club, my op-up percentages J-F have been pretty good, in the 30% range, but I should note, I am typically booked in F(70% of the time).
Feb 29, 2016, 8:06 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,847
Oh I never feel that way, even intra-asia I've had quite a few between MNL & SIN on SQ over the last few years, and always happy to have one on a 3.5 hr sector, never felt they are useless.
Apr 23, 2016, 6:26 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
Apr 28, 2016, 7:13 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 267
Technically it is an exit row but it's separated by a galley/toilet in front so the exit isn't actually right in the face like some of the other configs.