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 5, 2015, 11:19 pm
#481
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 6
stan64, my apologies for such a delayed welcome to FT and the A3 forum. Hopefully this is the first of many contributions from you.
In answer to your question, there is no reason why companion fares would not qualify for upgrade - they book and credit into normal fare buckets.
However, bear in mind that companion fares are only available on domestic routes, so the upgrade benefit is absolutely tiny - on a 50 minute flight, a Business Class meal consists of a very small snack presented on china and a minature bottle of wine of the standard provided in international Y at best.
In answer to your question, there is no reason why companion fares would not qualify for upgrade - they book and credit into normal fare buckets.
However, bear in mind that companion fares are only available on domestic routes, so the upgrade benefit is absolutely tiny - on a 50 minute flight, a Business Class meal consists of a very small snack presented on china and a minature bottle of wine of the standard provided in international Y at best.
May 13, 2015, 10:04 am
#482
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 39000ft
Posts: 955
Okay, just managed my 1st upgrade! CHQ-ATH-DUS. Total time ~10min (with waiting), no fare difference and the lady told me that only 1 (of the 4) coupons was used.
Indeed, the coupon appears used and the new booking arrived via email
Indeed, the coupon appears used and the new booking arrived via email
May 13, 2015, 11:01 am
#483
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: HappinesSMiles Silver
Posts: 544
I have same experience about upgrading myself with the voucher. However my companion was put on waitlist for upgrade. Website indicates that only one coupon is used so far.
May 17, 2015, 7:38 am
#487
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,649
So, if we re-qualify for next year early, we can't get the new upgrade coupons before Nov 24? Other elite programs give you the upgrade coupons upon re-qualification. This would have been nice, so we can apply them early to next year's flights, while there is still availability.
May 17, 2015, 7:44 am
#488
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,167
So, if we re-qualify for next year early, we can't get the new upgrade coupons before Nov 24? Other elite programs give you the upgrade coupons upon re-qualification. This would have been nice, so we can apply them early to next year's flights, while there is still availability.
But I agree, it would have been better if such an 'early re-qualification' existed.
May 17, 2015, 11:28 am
#489
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: lounge next door
Programs: *A Gold / ST Elite+ / OWS / EK G / HH Diam. / MR Tit / Hyatt GLOB / IHG Diam. / SL Jade / GHA Tit.
Posts: 1,523
So, if we re-qualify for next year early, we can't get the new upgrade coupons before Nov 24? Other elite programs give you the upgrade coupons upon re-qualification. This would have been nice, so we can apply them early to next year's flights, while there is still availability.
May 17, 2015, 12:18 pm
#490
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
Also important - the coupons that expire on Nov 24th, can they be applied to flights after Nov 24th? In other words: Has anybody already been able to upgrade a flight beyond that date?
Personally I won't be able to use all my coupons this year due to a 'slow start' with star/A3 . All the A3 flights I have taken so far were either on the wrong ticket stock, or they didnt have I-class availability. It'd be nice if I can book flights for late Nov/Dec and apply the left over vouchers of 2014-2015 for an upgrade of these. The availability should be good these months since its out of season.
I'd expect that this should be possible; Once the voucher has been redeemed (which will happen before Nov 24th) the Expiry date becomes moot. I can't imagine them changing flights back from I class to the original economy fare either. The only thing that I expect may block this if they would not allow to apply the voucher on flights past Nov 24. Has anyone tried?
Personally I won't be able to use all my coupons this year due to a 'slow start' with star/A3 . All the A3 flights I have taken so far were either on the wrong ticket stock, or they didnt have I-class availability. It'd be nice if I can book flights for late Nov/Dec and apply the left over vouchers of 2014-2015 for an upgrade of these. The availability should be good these months since its out of season.
I'd expect that this should be possible; Once the voucher has been redeemed (which will happen before Nov 24th) the Expiry date becomes moot. I can't imagine them changing flights back from I class to the original economy fare either. The only thing that I expect may block this if they would not allow to apply the voucher on flights past Nov 24. Has anyone tried?
May 17, 2015, 12:25 pm
#491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,649
Also important - the coupons that expire on Nov 24th, can they be applied to flights after Nov 24th? In other words: Has anybody already been able to upgrade a flight beyond that date?
Personally I won't be able to use all my coupons this year due to a 'slow start' with star/A3 . All the A3 flights I have taken so far were either on the wrong ticket stock, or they didnt have I-class availability. It'd be nice if I can book flights for late Nov/Dec and apply the left over vouchers of 2014-2015 for an upgrade of these. The availability should be good these months since its out of season.
I'd expect that this should be possible; Once the voucher has been redeemed (which will happen before Nov 24th) the Expiry date becomes moot. I can't imagine them changing flights back from I class to the original economy fare either. The only thing that I expect may block this if they would not allow to apply the voucher on flights past Nov 24. Has anyone tried?
Personally I won't be able to use all my coupons this year due to a 'slow start' with star/A3 . All the A3 flights I have taken so far were either on the wrong ticket stock, or they didnt have I-class availability. It'd be nice if I can book flights for late Nov/Dec and apply the left over vouchers of 2014-2015 for an upgrade of these. The availability should be good these months since its out of season.
I'd expect that this should be possible; Once the voucher has been redeemed (which will happen before Nov 24th) the Expiry date becomes moot. I can't imagine them changing flights back from I class to the original economy fare either. The only thing that I expect may block this if they would not allow to apply the voucher on flights past Nov 24. Has anyone tried?
May 17, 2015, 12:28 pm
#492
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
Earlier on in this thread the answer to that question was confirmed, but I cn't recall if that was by experience or not.
I agree that some programmes give new upgrade coupons on requalification criteria is met, but there are also/have been some that only do it on your new year starting.
Personally I feel that if you can use coupons for flights in the future, beyond your current membership year I don't see any issue with getting a new set of coupons only when your new membership year starts. This also saves any issues about expiry dates being a year from when they were isued.
I agree that some programmes give new upgrade coupons on requalification criteria is met, but there are also/have been some that only do it on your new year starting.
Personally I feel that if you can use coupons for flights in the future, beyond your current membership year I don't see any issue with getting a new set of coupons only when your new membership year starts. This also saves any issues about expiry dates being a year from when they were isued.
May 17, 2015, 3:36 pm
#494
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,474
Thanks nk15, useful information. I think when there's a few more confirmed reports and we can be confident this is happening as the norm (there has been the odd report before of auto-crediting) that will be a good time to update the wiki.
May 18, 2015, 1:24 am
#495
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PRG
Programs: A3 *G, ex LH FTL
Posts: 68
Just tried the upgrade for the first time.
Called Aegean Germany (+49 69 238 56 30), 1 min on hold, transferred to M&B, agents English was very good, she took the PNR, checked C availability OK, 3 min on hold (probably asking about the process) and then I was told I will receive a new ticket via email by this afternoon. She did not need the coupon number.
Total time on the phone 8:50 which could improve but I can't really complain so far.
Called Aegean Germany (+49 69 238 56 30), 1 min on hold, transferred to M&B, agents English was very good, she took the PNR, checked C availability OK, 3 min on hold (probably asking about the process) and then I was told I will receive a new ticket via email by this afternoon. She did not need the coupon number.
Total time on the phone 8:50 which could improve but I can't really complain so far.