I managed to upgrade both JNB/BKK and BKK/JNB (on today's final TG flight to JNB for a while) from I (award J) to F. I had called the Jo'burg office and a very helpful agent made notes that we intended to upgrade and promised to send a note closer to the time to BKK. He said that on occasion they had been unable to upgrade pax because of lack of catering even when seats are available. (Guess this is more of a problem at the outstations like JNB with only 1 flight on the day. Also a reason to there early so that they can still make a plan with their caterers.)
At JNB the duty manager at the check-in desks walked me over to the SAA ticketing desk to arrange everything. SAA didn't have the premium desks open
so that caused a bit of a wait and I told the TG chap he could get on with his duties once he'd told me what to ask for. Payment was USD825 equivalent. We were the only pax in F! There was no printed menu although there was a full choice of dishes. (Another sign of last-minute catering?)
Originally Posted by
Thai-Kiwi
I suggest that if you are keen, then call THAI and advise them that you intend seeking standby upgrade for the return leg (BKK-JNB) and that you would appreciate if they can make a note on the PNR. Then, when checking in at KBV, you can ask again about availability and ask for them to alert BKK load control. At BKK, go to the checkin for the desired classs of travel (F?) and see if seats are available.
I did this for sis, and at when passing through AKL (she'd checked in at WLG), the THAI staff were very proactive (even meeting her) and assisted with the paid standby upgrade (Y to C). Smooth as silk!
Good luck, TK
On the return, as I entered KBV I noticed there was no queue at the ticketing desks so I enquired about the upgrade from BKK expecting the response
Thai-Kiwi described. Instead the agent got on the phone and ascertained there were seats and that she could issue the upgrade. ^ (Maybe it's better to ask at ticketing rather than check-in?) So all arranged for THB 26,000 p.p. Plus they met us at BKK to escort us to the F lounge. Not that it's at all difficult to get there from domestic but, hey, why risk any of precious lounge time taking a possible wrong turn. (We only had 2 hours - not a long enough visit to do it anything like justice, but it was great to get a taster of it.)
Originally Posted by
kiam
So paid standby upgrade on Award ticket will FOR SURE not get miles credited?
My miles have shown up on my BD account for the first leg. SO's did not because the SA check-in agent moronically put in 2 FF numbers next to his name: mine and his with mine first!
Now I'm in a quandary: do I ask BD for the miles and risk having a query raised about mine? Or is it a bona fide F trip with full entitlement? On the one hand you have travelled on an F class ticket and the rules for F class travel are clear. On the other hand there's the award element. Mmm.... enough to exercise the debating skills of Talmudic scholars for a good while. Guess I'll just play it straight and live with BD's decision.