How often do Gold Card Holders get bumped from PE to UC ??
Apr 16, 2012, 3:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Virgin Flying Club Gold, Amex Centurion
Posts: 29
How often do Gold Card Holders get bumped from PE to UC ??
Hi
First time starting a thread, im a Flying Club Gold Member and i travel LHR - HK every 6 or 8 weeks, i usually travel in PE unless there is a particularly good deal on UC or i can pay to upgrade cheaply at check in. My question is are there any frequent flyers like myself who manage to get bumped up from PE to UC ever as ive never managed it (although i did get a Voluntary Denied Boarding last year which earnt me a free flight). If so, any tips ?
Thanks
First time starting a thread, im a Flying Club Gold Member and i travel LHR - HK every 6 or 8 weeks, i usually travel in PE unless there is a particularly good deal on UC or i can pay to upgrade cheaply at check in. My question is are there any frequent flyers like myself who manage to get bumped up from PE to UC ever as ive never managed it (although i did get a Voluntary Denied Boarding last year which earnt me a free flight). If so, any tips ?
Thanks
Apr 16, 2012, 3:41 am
#2
Ambassador
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 1,755
It will only happen if the flight is overbooked in Y/PE in which case you should be near the top of the list for upgrades.
In my fairly limited expreience of flying to HKG it has been pretty full in J anyway.
In my fairly limited expreience of flying to HKG it has been pretty full in J anyway.
Apr 16, 2012, 4:00 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,196
They are quite stingy (yay) on giving free upgrades just because there is space available - was one on a flight that was full in Y and PE but only 1/3rd full in UC and there were no free upgrades.
On VS the general rule is that to be be in UC is to pay to be in UC
Apr 22, 2012, 7:43 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: UA global, VS Gld , SPG plat
Posts: 287
I also travel this route every month and the chances are pretty close to zero of a free upgrade. You gave a better chance HKG-LHR (for some reason this seems busier although you would expect the traffic to be about equal).
If you want to sit in the nice seats then best to buy S fare and use miles to upgrade. The redemption/earnings are about equal.
If you travel this oftern then sounds like maybe you are on company business n which case you can buy K fare and use flyingco miles to upgrade to UC.
If you want to sit in the nice seats then best to buy S fare and use miles to upgrade. The redemption/earnings are about equal.
If you travel this oftern then sounds like maybe you are on company business n which case you can buy K fare and use flyingco miles to upgrade to UC.
Apr 23, 2012, 10:53 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home
Programs: Virgin FC, Qantas, Golden Circle, Sofitel, Hyatt, Starwood, Nectar, and my Tesco Club Card
Posts: 1,770
Remember sitting next to the wife of a Virgin director on a flight a few years ago. She said that no one (even RB himself) gets a free ride in UC if they can sell that seat.
May 5, 2012, 5:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: UK
Programs: Lots of shiny metallic ones.
Posts: 1,049
May 5, 2012, 6:52 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,196
Had a friend where SRB was on board and SRB had two UC suites - one to sit on and one to sleep on.
At the end of the flight he went on the tannoy to thank the crew for their work.
At the end of the flight he went on the tannoy to thank the crew for their work.
May 5, 2012, 8:42 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Programs: VS Silver, Kris Silver, IC Amb, HH Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 386
May 6, 2012, 2:11 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Hilton HH. Virgin Flying Club
Posts: 33
Yep VS will only generally upgrade if they need to and IF they need to they have an algorithm of who to upgrade depending on status and fare bucket
They are quite stingy (yay) on giving free upgrades just because there is space available - was one on a flight that was full in Y and PE but only 1/3rd full in UC and there were no free upgrades.
On VS the general rule is that to be be in UC is to pay to be in UC
They are quite stingy (yay) on giving free upgrades just because there is space available - was one on a flight that was full in Y and PE but only 1/3rd full in UC and there were no free upgrades.
On VS the general rule is that to be be in UC is to pay to be in UC
May 7, 2012, 5:14 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Programs: VS Silver, Kris Silver, IC Amb, HH Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 386
Private VS 747 - now that I'd be impressed with 
You and SIA would be best buddies.
Im with VS on this. For me to fly UC I have to work very hard to enable me to afford such comforts, I believe that if you are not a paying UC passenger then you should not be able to fly UC. AU card holders who are not flying UC already get a CH pass, is that not enough, next thing they'll be getting access to the UC bar area on the aircraft