Op-Ups on *A
 

Hi folks,

Just curious about the op-up experiences of M&B *G's on other *A carriers. I have been Gold since December 2010, but am batting 0 for upgrades after 60+ segments on AC, LH, LX, JJ, UA, and US. Anyone out there having any luck?

Cheers

Why should you get any op-up's to begin with ?

Being *G does not give you any entitlement for op-ups especially when you're not a member (especially elite) of the operating airline.

AC does not bother with other airlines' *G members. Neither do the LH group.

Don't get your hopes up. *G are not treated any better than non status pax on other airlines (except for published benefits)

Valid points. Nevertheless, what status flyer does not hold out a glimmer of hope for an op-up on an overbooked flight? As a Delta Platinum Medallion, I used to get op-ups roughly 50% of the time flying AF. And I would expect that a moderator would possess more insight than to respond with "Why should you get op-up's to begin with?"

Alright.. since I'm not a Moderator...

"Why should you get op-ups to begin with?" ;)

Killuminati nailed it I reckon...

Do DL/AF have a closer relationship than is "usual" on ST? Seems likely given your experience..

My experience OTOH:

I'm on the top level of the NZ program (Gold Elite.. but of course just *Gold to all the other *A airlines) .. never had an op-up on NZ..

Never had an op-up on SQ/OZ/UA/US/AC or NH (which are the other *A airlines I fly...)..

Had ONE from J>F on CX with zero status...... go figure.

I have no complaint about the published benefits... just look at the other alliances lack of a system wide baggage benefit...:eek:

Airlines such as UA are often willing to allocate available E+ seats and exit rows to *G flyers on regular economy bookings. It's certainly not a published benefit, and your mileage may vary, but it's worth asking at check in, and at the gate. I have about 75% success on United in this regard.

Have never had a sniff of any more than this, though

Exit rows/bulkheads/extra legroom seat certainly are an unpublished benifit that you can get at the airport as a *G. Op-ups to Premium economy or business class are rarer, but they do happen very occasionally.

OP Ups do happen. If Y is overbooked and the airlines own FF's have been upgraded then next in line are Star Alliance Gold members. So never say never. I have had Op UP's o TG and LX both only when Y was overbooked.

Ouch, that's hard... Is this the factual situation throughout *A?

I am asking, because in OW it is not this way. Sure, airline's own elites are higher ranked than alliance-elites, but you will still have some status recognition. As a matter of fact I had more op-ups on OW partner airlines than on my home airline.

I use to be TG *G and often received upgrades on LH, TG and UA. :p

You rank higher than non status pax...but that doesn't really result in any non published benefits. Of course in an oversold Y situation, after all the operating carriers elites have been upgraded *G will be next in line. But that isn't going to happen that often. Sure every once in a while but it's not something I would ever get my hopes up for.

Even as an AC STARSilver years ago I got an opup on LH because they'd gone through all their own elites and worked the way down other STAR carrier elites. That's the standard practice once an airline exhausts its own elite list, it moves on to remaining elites from other alliance carriers. Ticket price and check in become the next criteria to sort out among competing same tier elites.

That's been disproven by thousands of posts on FT and personal experience. Opups are now regularized by this process of acknowledging status passengers ahead of discretionary upgrades by gate staff.

Absolutely untrue. Access to fast track security or passport control are not published benefits of STARGold but A3 gives this same benefit of business class customers to all STARGolds. Can you please provide support for your statement?

How about we all stop challenging each other and just accept that not everything written on the internet is true or reliable? ;)

GoldCircle
A3 forum Mod