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
Jun 1, 2022, 7:45 am
#2386
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Jun 3, 2022, 2:06 am
#2387
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,684
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?
Jun 3, 2022, 2:16 am
#2388
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,338
What was/is the I-class availability situation in your case? Does the I-class sector show up in your booking?
For me nothing has happened so far. The sector has been upgraded but tickets not re-issued.
For me nothing has happened so far. The sector has been upgraded but tickets not re-issued.
Jun 3, 2022, 3:21 am
#2390
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 39000ft
Posts: 955
I requested two upgrades, one for a booking AMS-ATH-domestic (only the AMS-ATH) and one for ATH-BRU. Both had to be put on wait-list, agent said that did it. I could not see anything different in my booking (usually, you see both bookings one confirmed, one on waitlist). I called again, another agent told me that can see the request for AMS-ATH but could not see the request for ATH-BRU and proceeded with that. Which is true, since now I can see the "double" segment for my ATH-BRU booking.
Not sure what happened with the AMS-ATH (since nothing seems to have happened). 2-3 days before, when usually I-inventory is released, C class availabilty changed to 0, so I am now not expecting to be upgraded. I guess I will never know if the request was properly made and if there was any implication because of the married segment (AMS-ATH-domestic).
Not sure what happened with the AMS-ATH (since nothing seems to have happened). 2-3 days before, when usually I-inventory is released, C class availabilty changed to 0, so I am now not expecting to be upgraded. I guess I will never know if the request was properly made and if there was any implication because of the married segment (AMS-ATH-domestic).
Jun 3, 2022, 9:05 am
#2391
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,312
I hope this trend doesn't mean they're going to make a mess out of existing wait-listed upgrade requests. I am still waiting to get out of that wait-list since early November 2021 and during the whole time since the flight schedule became available (which was on October 7th 2021) there hasn't been a single I seat available for our flight, now general availability in business class is down to just 4 out of 12 seats (8 already occupied) and we're still 3 weeks before the flight takes place. I'm already afraid that this will go the way the AMS-ATH went for jerry_greece, but now I also have to worry, that if there's still space at OLCI and they decide to give it to upgrade requests, that perhaps my so long existing request will get overlooked due to new procedures (?) in place? 
Jun 3, 2022, 10:50 am
#2392
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,338
So a few things happen just before OLCI opens. One is that waitlisted coupons are cleared, but another is that Bid-For-Upgrades are processed. My bet is that this is what caused the availability to go down to 0 for jerry_greece. It would not surprise me if they:
- Make I space available for the seats still left over
- Process all paid bid-for-upgrade requests
- Upgrade any waitlisted Gold members
If true, that means that being upgraded after waitlist is now dependent on there not being too many bid-for-upgrade offers. Which means that it now, somewhat, depends on luck. You could theoretically still bid for an upgrade and be waitlisted for a coupon upgrade... would be interesting to see which one goes through..
In any case, if you have been on the waiting list for that long, I'd give them a call just to verify if all is still well and properly registered in case those 4 available seats do become available.
- Make I space available for the seats still left over
- Process all paid bid-for-upgrade requests
- Upgrade any waitlisted Gold members
If true, that means that being upgraded after waitlist is now dependent on there not being too many bid-for-upgrade offers. Which means that it now, somewhat, depends on luck. You could theoretically still bid for an upgrade and be waitlisted for a coupon upgrade... would be interesting to see which one goes through..
In any case, if you have been on the waiting list for that long, I'd give them a call just to verify if all is still well and properly registered in case those 4 available seats do become available.
Jun 3, 2022, 2:34 pm
#2393
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,312
Yeah I do ring them up from time to time for other issues and always mention that booking reference and have them check the status, up to about 1 week ago (last time I asked) all was as it was supposed to be. The strangest thing of all is, that for this particular booking I've never gotten an email regarding bidding for an upgrade and at the "my booking" website I can't find the option (there's a general "for this reservation no changes can be made online, please contact the call center etc." message). But I will try to find a way and place a bid, I still have some tickets where I can use my coupons, if that doesn't work out. But I am still secretely hoping that they will open up I availability before check in opens. If it gets too close to check in, then I might bid 
.
Edit: sorry, I must have missed something anyway I checked the original booking email confirmation again and there's a direkt link to the upgrade challenge in there which works. But at 95€ minimum bid... Hmmm.
.Edit: sorry, I must have missed something anyway I checked the original booking email confirmation again and there's a direkt link to the upgrade challenge in there which works. But at 95€ minimum bid... Hmmm.
Jun 4, 2022, 4:24 am
#2394
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: GVA
Programs: A3 *G, LX *G, AF *S
Posts: 761
So a few things happen just before OLCI opens. One is that waitlisted coupons are cleared, but another is that Bid-For-Upgrades are processed. My bet is that this is what caused the availability to go down to 0 for jerry_greece. It would not surprise me if they:
- Make I space available for the seats still left over
- Process all paid bid-for-upgrade requests
- Upgrade any waitlisted Gold members
If true, that means that being upgraded after waitlist is now dependent on there not being too many bid-for-upgrade offers. Which means that it now, somewhat, depends on luck. You could theoretically still bid for an upgrade and be waitlisted for a coupon upgrade... would be interesting to see which one goes through..
In any case, if you have been on the waiting list for that long, I'd give them a call just to verify if all is still well and properly registered in case those 4 available seats do become available.
- Make I space available for the seats still left over
- Process all paid bid-for-upgrade requests
- Upgrade any waitlisted Gold members
If true, that means that being upgraded after waitlist is now dependent on there not being too many bid-for-upgrade offers. Which means that it now, somewhat, depends on luck. You could theoretically still bid for an upgrade and be waitlisted for a coupon upgrade... would be interesting to see which one goes through..
In any case, if you have been on the waiting list for that long, I'd give them a call just to verify if all is still well and properly registered in case those 4 available seats do become available.
Upgrading with coupons was already before significantly more difficult if you didn't fly during low season. So indeed, they will now first process all requests that add cash to their coffers, and if something is left then, their higest tier members will get those.
The question will be whether this improves once everyhing is more "normal" again (i.e. capacity adapted to increased demand, no further variants, etc etc)
Jun 4, 2022, 5:13 am
#2395
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,684
Now that I can log in, I confirm that all sectors that I requested an upgrade are duplicated in the booking in I class.
Jun 7, 2022, 4:05 am
#2397
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,591
7th OCT CAI-ATH-PRG, cheap ECO saver ticket but for my liking overpriced Comfort Flex (H). Any way to to force the website to give me S class so I can use vouchers? Happy to pay 50-60 EUR more to use the vouchers.
Jun 7, 2022, 6:43 am
#2398
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,369
If I understand (sorry a bit more punctuation would help), you already have (or are offered) a Comfort Flex ticket in H class, yes? If so that is upgradeable with vouchers as ALL ComfortFlex tickets are, regardless of the fare bucket. Also, H is already a higher (more expensive) bucket than S anyway.
Jun 7, 2022, 7:58 am
#2399
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,312
If I understand (sorry a bit more punctuation would help), you already have (or are offered) a Comfort Flex ticket in H class, yes? If so that is upgradeable with vouchers as ALL ComfortFlex tickets are, regardless of the fare bucket. Also, H is already a higher (more expensive) bucket than S anyway.
https://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbon...-program/gold/
The only fare types that aren't upgradeable with vouchers are U, P & T "light" fares, which saver fares are not!
On a sidenote, I never came across such a pricing policy before, where for the very same ticket the various ticket types could have such a huge (or any at all for that matter) in the fare buckets they book into! P for one economy ticket type but H for the other? ...igo?
Jun 7, 2022, 9:24 am
#2400
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,591
No, 747jetter wants to pay less than what the H comfort flex tickets cost and get upgraded with the "minimum cost necessary". My question is: Aren't "saver" tickets upgradeable with vouchers regardless of whether P or S?
https://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbon...-program/gold/
The only fare types that aren't upgradeable with vouchers are U, P & T "light" fares, which saver fares are not!
On a sidenote, I never came across such a pricing policy before, where for the very same ticket the various ticket types could have such a huge (or any at all for that matter) in the fare buckets they book into! P for one economy ticket type but H for the other? ...igo?
https://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbon...-program/gold/
The only fare types that aren't upgradeable with vouchers are U, P & T "light" fares, which saver fares are not!
On a sidenote, I never came across such a pricing policy before, where for the very same ticket the various ticket types could have such a huge (or any at all for that matter) in the fare buckets they book into! P for one economy ticket type but H for the other? ...igo?
EDIT: Saver is really fine to be upgraded! I was just put on waitlist for both flights.
Last edited by 747jetter; Jun 7, 2022 at 10:11 am