Mar 9, 2015, 6:33 am
Last edit by: Gnopps
*** MOD NOTE: Please do not remove ***
A friendly reminder that Flyertalk is not a marketplace, and nothing may be offered (or solicited) for sale or barter within the general forums - which includes offering vouchers for free. For those with sufficient posts and length of membership, trading/exchange is allowed solely within Coupon Connection, and then only in accordance with the specific rules of that forum.
Please do not attempt to solicit, sell or trade upgrade vouchers within this forum. Posts will be deleted and the members concerned potentially subject to disciplinary action. **Please note that this includes directly using the PM system to do so without first posting in Coupon Connection**. Thanks for your co-operation.
A friendly reminder that Flyertalk is not a marketplace, and nothing may be offered (or solicited) for sale or barter within the general forums - which includes offering vouchers for free. For those with sufficient posts and length of membership, trading/exchange is allowed solely within Coupon Connection, and then only in accordance with the specific rules of that forum.
Please do not attempt to solicit, sell or trade upgrade vouchers within this forum. Posts will be deleted and the members concerned potentially subject to disciplinary action. **Please note that this includes directly using the PM system to do so without first posting in Coupon Connection**. Thanks for your co-operation.
Criteria
- You must be travelling on A3 or OA metal - codeshares are not included.
- The original ticket must be issued on either A3 (390) or OA (050) ticket stock.
- Only revenue (paid) tickets, in fare classes other than U, P & T on a GoLight fare basis, can be upgraded, but not redemption tickets.
- All flights on the ticket must be on A3 or OA metal.
- There must be award availability in I-class for the upgrades to clear. You can check this by logging in to M&B then going to https://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbon...t/spend-miles/ The results page will initially be a calendar. To see Business availability, you have to click through to the next step. (You can also use a free or paid tool such as ANA website, UA website (looking for saver award space), Aeroplan, AwardNexus or ExpertFlyer to check for availability.)
- One coupon per person per journey leg is required - so, for example, TXL-ATH-SKG and return via the same route would require four coupons per person.
- Anyone can be upgraded using the coupons - you do not have to be travelling on the same booking or even the same plane.
Procedure
- Call A3 to request the upgrade. The phone numbers are listed at https://aegeanairlines.custhelp.com/ (most of them should go to the same call centre in Greece).
- If successful, a new ticket will be issued (with a new number). The PNR will remain unchanged.
- You are liable for any extra taxes applicable to Business Class (e.g. APD from the UK). Sometimes this gets charged, sometimes it doesn't - if it's due and you're not charged because the agent forgets, you've just been lucky.
- If there's no immediate I-class availability, you can ask to be waitlisted for upgrade. The ability to waitlist was reported to have been removed in August 2016, but was again possible in September. Check with the agent - option available on May 2018.
- in case you requested to be waitlisted for upgrade and want to check if the customer care agent made the changes on your booking you can check the reservation on checkmytrip.com (click here), the leg you requested the upgrade will be shown here as ”Waitlisted”.
- If you wish to upgrade one segment of a multi-segment trip (e.g. XXX-ATH-YYY) and there is availability on the leg you wish to upgrade, you may still have to be waitlisted due to married segment issues. The process of clearing the waitlist is somewhat confusing and may result in frustration due to the availability seeming to disappear but in reality, this may mean that the segments have been "unmarried" and the availability has been allocated to your reservation. See post 2272 and the update in post 2294 for more details.
Benefits
- No matter what the fare basis of the original ticket, you receive full Business Class benefits after upgrade.
- This includes lounge access (useful if you're upgrading someone other than yourself who has no status, or if you've run out of Silver lounge vouchers) and full baggage allowance (it applies for first leg as well, in case you are upgraded only on the 2nd leg of your trip - confirmed on the etix).
- Because the ticket books as a redemption, the free car hire is not included.
Mileage/segment earning
- You will earn at the underlying rate of your purchased ticket in economy, not at a business class rate. Because status miles are awarded, this also counts as a segment for re-qualification purposes.
- The flights may credit automatically, but may take longer to credit than tickets that have not been changed. They may also credit as 0 miles, and later change to the correct rate. If the flights have not credited properly after a few weeks then calling A3 will rectify this rapidly.
Expiry
- The vouchers expire at the end of your membership year - they do not carry over, even if status is retained. A new set is issued every year.
- It is the date when you use the voucher that matters. It can upgrade a flight that takes place after expiry as long as you apply the voucher before.
- On upgrade from Silver to Gold, any remaining Silver upgrade coupons expire, but they are replaced by four Gold ones which expire at the end of the Gold membership year.
BEWARE
- Once you have upgraded your seat, your ticket will be reissued. Suddenly, this ticket may be VERY expensive to change. If, for instance, you later decide to travel on a different date, you will probably be required to rebook into Business, even if Economy was available for new bookings. A3 will charge you the difference from your original Economy fare to a NEW Business fare. Plus fees, taxes and whatnot. Update 18/08/2021: this appears to no longer be the case, as an upgraded ticket was changed and the underlying Economy fare was used for the upgraded segments. The coupon was "removed" from the old dates and "reapplied" to the new dates.
- Coupons will not be returned/reinstated. Once a coupon is applied, it is gone for good (the T&Cs printed on the coupons allow for date and time changes, but not route changes).
- If you want to provide your coupons to upgrade a friend's travel, it is advisable to call in yourself. Your friend can call in if they know your name, birthdate, M&B-number and the email address associated with your account. That means: Anyone who knows these particulars can use your coupons without your knowledge. They do NOT need the coupon numbers.
- Crediting upgraded segments to another program will likely fail, as it will be reported as I-class. It may be possible to retro-claim the miles.
Seat upgrade coupons
May 29, 2022, 11:55 am
#2372
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 643
Yes please!
I’m in the same boat, having just yesterday posted in CC, which was promptly deleted by the mods without explanation. A little guidance would be appreciated.
May 30, 2022, 2:17 am
#2373
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: TXL
Posts: 218
Anyone else finding it incredibly hard to use their coupons lately? I have 6 upcoming flights, in July, August and September/October and there is no I inventory available. For the ATH-BER route there is no availability at all in July.
May 30, 2022, 3:19 am
#2374
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 39000ft
Posts: 955
The I inventory (esp. so early) is not the issue, since waiting list seems to be the norm. The point is whether the list clears or not. For me it's always been successful, even on lucrative routes in C (like BRU-ATH) and always cleared. I will try soon for this summer and report back, but i think the "good old days" of early upgrading might be behind us.
May 30, 2022, 3:41 am
#2375
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: TXL
Posts: 218
The I inventory (esp. so early) is not the issue, since waiting list seems to be the norm. The point is whether the list clears or not. For me it's always been successful, even on lucrative routes in C (like BRU-ATH) and always cleared. I will try soon for this summer and report back, but i think the "good old days" of early upgrading might be behind us.
May 30, 2022, 5:44 am
#2376
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,338
Yes waitlisting won't work for coupons expiring before the flight date. I find that ExpertFlyer can be a huge help searching for dates with availability, but it is very obvious that I-class availability is not being added to all routes in the same way that they did previously.
May 30, 2022, 1:13 pm
#2377
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Paris, France
Programs: A3*G, Accor ALL Gold
Posts: 597
The I inventory (esp. so early) is not the issue, since waiting list seems to be the norm. The point is whether the list clears or not. For me it's always been successful, even on lucrative routes in C (like BRU-ATH) and always cleared. I will try soon for this summer and report back, but i think the "good old days" of early upgrading might be behind us.
May 31, 2022, 6:07 am
#2378
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Both my legs WAW-ATH ATH-RHO cleared the upgrade for tomorrow's flight to RHO, but for some reason I can't do OLCI for the ATH-RHO leg. It says I have to go to check-in desk. Is this common?
Usually I don't upgrade the domestic legs but this is a case of use-it-or-lose it, since the coupons expire next month.
Usually I don't upgrade the domestic legs but this is a case of use-it-or-lose it, since the coupons expire next month.
May 31, 2022, 8:36 am
#2379
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,338
I've booked a Flex flight last night, just before the sale ended. Called in to upgrade (I2 availability) and she added the upgraded segment to the booking. She then mentioned that the procedure for upgrades has changed and another department will have to verify and re-issue the ticket, which will take about 10 days.
I'm a little surprised by this. Initially I was thinking that, because I called around midnight, the people at the CS at that time at night may not be the ones specialised in coupon upgrades. However, one working day has passed, and the flights are still in this odd status. I'm not too worried as obviously the upgraded segment has been added to my reservation (And I2 became I1 for the flight) but it is a little odd. Has the procedure actually changed or am I just running into some administrative issues within the CS?
I'm a little surprised by this. Initially I was thinking that, because I called around midnight, the people at the CS at that time at night may not be the ones specialised in coupon upgrades. However, one working day has passed, and the flights are still in this odd status. I'm not too worried as obviously the upgraded segment has been added to my reservation (And I2 became I1 for the flight) but it is a little odd. Has the procedure actually changed or am I just running into some administrative issues within the CS?
May 31, 2022, 9:46 am
#2380
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 639
I've booked a Flex flight last night, just before the sale ended. Called in to upgrade (I2 availability) and she added the upgraded segment to the booking. She then mentioned that the procedure for upgrades has changed and another department will have to verify and re-issue the ticket, which will take about 10 days.
I'm a little surprised by this. Initially I was thinking that, because I called around midnight, the people at the CS at that time at night may not be the ones specialised in coupon upgrades. However, one working day has passed, and the flights are still in this odd status. I'm not too worried as obviously the upgraded segment has been added to my reservation (And I2 became I1 for the flight) but it is a little odd. Has the procedure actually changed or am I just running into some administrative issues within the CS?
I'm a little surprised by this. Initially I was thinking that, because I called around midnight, the people at the CS at that time at night may not be the ones specialised in coupon upgrades. However, one working day has passed, and the flights are still in this odd status. I'm not too worried as obviously the upgraded segment has been added to my reservation (And I2 became I1 for the flight) but it is a little odd. Has the procedure actually changed or am I just running into some administrative issues within the CS?
May 31, 2022, 9:50 am
#2381
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,697
However, one working day has passed, and the flights are still in this odd status. I'm not too worried as obviously the upgraded segment has been added to my reservation (And I2 became I1 for the flight) but it is a little odd. Has the procedure actually changed or am I just running into some administrative issues within the CS?
The I space will go down by 1 within the first 12-24 hrs after the phone call.
Then 36-72 hrs after the original phone call, would the ticket re-issued.
That's assuming you found someone who can the right folks to work-around the married segment issue.
It felt the entire procedure became very manual processed and forced.
Essentally don't wait to the last week to use up your vouchers, otherwise you'll be sweating bullets!
May 31, 2022, 10:50 am
#2382
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,338
That's weird! Last time I called was about 3 weeks ago at night and the agent forwarded the call to another department which I found strange at that time. We were waitlisted as there was no I availibility. Did the agent mention any moment that your booking was waitlisted?
I had this I2 become I1 thing with my expiring May 23 vouchers (which I'm using for this current trip for the 4 segments).
The I space will go down by 1 within the first 12-24 hrs after the phone call.
Then 36-72 hrs after the original phone call, would the ticket re-issued.
That's assuming you found someone who can the right folks to work-around the married segment issue.
It felt the entire procedure became very manual processed and forced.
Essentally don't wait to the last week to use up your vouchers, otherwise you'll be sweating bullets!
The I space will go down by 1 within the first 12-24 hrs after the phone call.
Then 36-72 hrs after the original phone call, would the ticket re-issued.
That's assuming you found someone who can the right folks to work-around the married segment issue.
It felt the entire procedure became very manual processed and forced.
Essentally don't wait to the last week to use up your vouchers, otherwise you'll be sweating bullets!
To me this looks like the segments are separated into different booking classes. Basically all looks the way I'd expect it to - but no new eticket. Perhaps I'm too impatient expecting them to do that within a day? Usually they do it while on the phone and the upgrade comes through straight away. Guess I should give it a little more time to see what will happen ..
May 31, 2022, 11:42 am
#2383
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,697
She confirmed that there was availability, and immediately after calling the I-class space was reduced by one. So the segment in business class is secured. She also selected a new seat in business class.
Married segments.. That may be it (Route is DUS-SKG-KLX). Though .. this does seem pretty OK, assuming the I-class business segment is the first flight, the K-Class economy segment the second:
To me this looks like the segments are separated into different booking classes. Basically all looks the way I'd expect it to - but no new eticket. Perhaps I'm too impatient expecting them to do that within a day? Usually they do it while on the phone and the upgrade comes through straight away. Guess I should give it a little more time to see what will happen ..
Married segments.. That may be it (Route is DUS-SKG-KLX). Though .. this does seem pretty OK, assuming the I-class business segment is the first flight, the K-Class economy segment the second:
To me this looks like the segments are separated into different booking classes. Basically all looks the way I'd expect it to - but no new eticket. Perhaps I'm too impatient expecting them to do that within a day? Usually they do it while on the phone and the upgrade comes through straight away. Guess I should give it a little more time to see what will happen ..
It felt like someone at res needed to clean up the booking and rejiggle your record into the correct booking class.
Then its manually booted to ticketing for pulling the coupon and re-issuing the ticket.
And everytime it changes hands between department, there was a 12-24 hrs lag/response time.
With that said, the last leg I had upgraded.
They re-issued the ticket and never sent me an email.
I only noticed in MMB when the ticket numbers look different than what I noted down.
With all that said, the key is to keep an eye on the I inventory.
Before you call and after you call, if the I booking class doesn't decrease in the amount of seats within first 12-24 hrs.
Call back and double check if the initial agent understood what you wanted to do (especially those who don't speak Greek)
May 31, 2022, 1:11 pm
#2384
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Miles & Bonus (A3), Miles & More (LH)
Posts: 225
I've booked a Flex flight last night, just before the sale ended. Called in to upgrade (I2 availability) and she added the upgraded segment to the booking. She then mentioned that the procedure for upgrades has changed and another department will have to verify and re-issue the ticket, which will take about 10 days.
I'm a little surprised by this. Initially I was thinking that, because I called around midnight, the people at the CS at that time at night may not be the ones specialised in coupon upgrades. However, one working day has passed, and the flights are still in this odd status. I'm not too worried as obviously the upgraded segment has been added to my reservation (And I2 became I1 for the flight) but it is a little odd. Has the procedure actually changed or am I just running into some administrative issues within the CS?
I'm a little surprised by this. Initially I was thinking that, because I called around midnight, the people at the CS at that time at night may not be the ones specialised in coupon upgrades. However, one working day has passed, and the flights are still in this odd status. I'm not too worried as obviously the upgraded segment has been added to my reservation (And I2 became I1 for the flight) but it is a little odd. Has the procedure actually changed or am I just running into some administrative issues within the CS?
May 31, 2022, 7:28 pm
#2385
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,564
Both my legs WAW-ATH ATH-RHO cleared the upgrade for tomorrow's flight to RHO, but for some reason I can't do OLCI for the ATH-RHO leg. It says I have to go to check-in desk. Is this common?
Usually I don't upgrade the domestic legs but this is a case of use-it-or-lose it, since the coupons expire next month.
Usually I don't upgrade the domestic legs but this is a case of use-it-or-lose it, since the coupons expire next month.
Try OLCI-ing on the OA site! This has hapened to me a couple of times and it was resolved this way. My guess is that the (in)famous A3 IT system occasionally gets a bit messed up with the upgrade.