This thread is a continuation of the previous years' threads:
Pro-active Online Upgrade (POUG) tracking and discussion | 2017/18 thread
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1735505-pro-active-online-upgrade-poug-tracking-discussion-2016-thread.html
Pro-active Online Upgrade (POUG) tracking and discussion 2015 thread
which was a continuation from:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1117885-pro-active-upgrade-cost-tracking-questions-thread.html.
What is a Pro-active Online Upgrade?
The simple answer: it is a limited special upgrade that may be offered at a time of BA's choosing after your booking is ticketed up to and including online check-in. The offer, if it happens (and this is not guaranteed) will appear in Manage My Booking, either via BA.com or the mobile app. There is no email notification, klaxon sound or flashing beacons to alert you - so now you know why its called a Pro-active Online Upgrade
Please note, POUG rates differ from the rates offered at the airport (see,
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1948478-airport-upgrades-aup-promotion-2019-thread.html) and also the rate offered when you click on the “Upgrade my class of travel with money” link from within MMB, or the “Upgrade to the next available cabin” blue/grey banner in the app.
In summary- All POUGs earn full TPs and Avios for the upgraded cabin, subject to the original booking being paid for with cash.
- POUGs are not usually offered on bookings with connections, such as bookings that combine UK domestic and shorthaul flights (a simple UK-USA single or return flight is generally open for POUG).
- POUGs are offered on Hand-Baggage Only fares, if available
- POUGs only become available after 48 hours of making your booking, until any time up to, and including OLCI. After being checked in you will not be offered a POUG.
- POUGs do not seem to become available for travel agent bookings, until 2-3 days before departure (YMMV)
- When checking in online (OLCI), you may get a POUG offer as one of the first screens to the check in process. This includes travel agency and corporate bookings, at least potentially.
- POUGs are sometimes easier to spot on the App, but the cost and availability should be the same as with the main BA.com site.
- POUGs cannot be requested from Service Centres, except that occasionally BA.com will not proceed with a POUG online and display a message inviting you to call the Service Centre to complete the transaction.
- After a POUG has been purchased, the ticket become non changeable and non refundable, apart from government taxes.
- If you get subject to an irrop after getting a POUG you should be rebooked into the upgraded cabin, subject to availability. If the irrop means that it is best to cancel the booking for a refund and then rebooked, you can't count on the upgrade being made available for the rebooked service, but you should get your POUG payment back.
A Wikipost has been set up to allow us to collectively track POUG rates on a route by route basis (this may not be visible if you are looking at this forum via a mobile device but is visible via FT's full site version). Please add your own successful results to the list including the month/year when the POUG was offered to you.
For reference, the terms and conditions of POUGs are here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25075396-post582.html