DON'T LOSE HOPE!!!!

When I last flew back from BKK-HKG-YVR, the entire business class was sold out - i.e. NO upgrades. At BKK there were about 11 no-shows, so everyone who wanted to got upgraded as far as HKG. That still left HKG-YVR, but BKK told me I was first on the standby list.

On arriving in HKG, I find out that two higher fares have bumped me to #3, and 1.5 hours before flight time, there are only 5 unclaimed seats. I went what you are going through, but 30 minutes before flight time, I had my upgrade http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Suggestions:

1. Keep phoning CP, every few hours, if you can. You never know when their yield management will open up a seat. (Besides, they might get tired of your calls, and give in. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )

2. Make sure you get on the standyby list at exactly 2 hours. (In Canada, they'd probably put you on earlier, but I don't think the BA staff at LHR would.) It is first come, first serve, but only with-in each grouping -- i.e. status, fare, etc. If two Golds, in the same fare class, showed up, the first to check in would get the seat.

3. You're a Gold member so you'll have lounge access. Check in at 3 or 2.5 hours, go to the lounge, and wait for the 2 hour mark. (You might want to try earlier in the lounge -- they might go for it.) Have them put you on the standby list. Hang out at the counter if you have to. Remember this is "guerilla" air travel. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

4. Finally, the coup d' gras. CP has a policy of allowing same day standby on different flights, for no charge. If you are on a later flight, find out when the first LHR-Canada flight is, and if it is possible to connect from that flight to your intended destination. If it is, go to the airport 2 hours before that flight, and see if there is a) any standby space available, and b) any upgrade seats available. You may be able to travel on the different flight. HOWEVER, the BA staff at LHR may not be aware of CP's policy. Press the point if you have to. Phone the Gold line if you have to. But make sure that the BA staff understand that this is allowed. Do all this in advance, if you can. You might want to skip your scheduled flight for a later flight, but this option is fraught with risks. There may not be any space at all on those flights, so you may end up stranded. Clearly, it's better to try for an earlier flight, if you can. If you choose this option, you may spend a fair amount of time at the airport, and still not get upgraded. But you'll at least have access to BA's lounges (or CX's, or AA'x, or...)

On to the other questions: the 3 seats that disappeared may have gone to Platinum members who can bypass the upgrade capacity controls/yield management. (This also means it is unlikely that there will be any Platinums in the standby list.)

But it is possible that they were sold. CP has been selling out their entire business class cabin regulary on popular routes (YVR-YYZ, and LHR-Canada, being 2 examples. I wanted to fly YVR-YYZ-YQB on Monday, but on my chosen flight, every single business class seat was sold, for real money. My second choice only had 3 empty seats, before any upgrades. Excellent news for CP, not so good for pax looking for upgrades. :| )

As far as leaving with empty J seats, when there are people requesting upgrades: Not a chance in hell! Believe it or not, CP wants to fill their J cabins. Preferably with paying J tickets, but if not then with elite members. I've been told by an FA on LHR-YYZ that if they do have empty seats, they'll go through the manifest and invite certain Y class passengers up.

As far as someone jumping the queue -- BA is quite fastidious about following the rules, so I think this highly unlikely. Check out the BA forum for a lot of threads that revolve around this very point. I wouldn't worry about this.

Finally, about better ways to upgrade -- I only know of 3: Get Platinum, pay J, or bribe the agent! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif (See Rudi for details.)

Good luck,

Ken Hamer
P.S. I infer from your post that the flight is between 36 and 48 hours away. 5 seats at that point is still pretty good odds. Keep the faith! Bear in mind that there will almost certainly be at least a few no-shows. I think BA closes the flights at 40 or 45 minutes, so that is when you'll know for sure.

Let us know how it goes.


[This message has been edited by KenHamer (edited 06-11-1999).]