Last edit by: starflyergold
Aer Lingus Bid to Upgrade Offer
Starting March 2014 Aer Lingus are offering a "bid to upgrade" offer for longhaul passengers.
Eligibility:
Only flights between Ireland, North America and Canada are eligible to be considered for an upgrade. Not all flights are automatically eligible for an upgrade. Eligible passenger will receive an email shortly after booking inviting them to make an offer.
Only bookings made via the Aer Lingus website, mobile app or via the Customer Contact Centre are currently eligible to make an offer to upgrade.
Full details are available here.
Starting March 2014 Aer Lingus are offering a "bid to upgrade" offer for longhaul passengers.
Eligibility:
Only flights between Ireland, North America and Canada are eligible to be considered for an upgrade. Not all flights are automatically eligible for an upgrade. Eligible passenger will receive an email shortly after booking inviting them to make an offer.
Only bookings made via the Aer Lingus website, mobile app or via the Customer Contact Centre are currently eligible to make an offer to upgrade.
Full details are available here.
New: Make an offer to upgrade
#46
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,187
I am not sure why there is a minimum. Why doesn't EI accept all bids and simply accept or reject those that they think aren't to the companies advantage? By setting a minimum bid, EI is not collecting data which truly tells it what customers think of so-called premium services.
#47
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,586
I am not sure why there is a minimum. Why doesn't EI accept all bids and simply accept or reject those that they think aren't to the companies advantage? By setting a minimum bid, EI is not collecting data which truly tells it what customers think of so-called premium services.
All airlines that operate the plusgrade system have a minimum. On a recent EY flight the minimum was €650 one way (C to F).
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,729
I am not sure why there is a minimum. Why doesn't EI accept all bids and simply accept or reject those that they think aren't to the companies advantage? By setting a minimum bid, EI is not collecting data which truly tells it what customers think of so-called premium services.
And, in "real life", many auctions also have a minimum bid/reserve price.
By allowing any potential bidders to labour under the incorrect assumption that a ridiculously low bid will not only be entertained, but actively considered, also prevents misconceptions amongst the public from leading to disappointment with the whole experience.
Of course, you could say that "but even a bid for €50 means that they get an extra €50 in revenue". But that would also eventually educate the market that the airline in question does not value the product at the price that they normally sell it to paying customers. And that getting to travel in business class is worth a punt at offering a low amount having bought a cheap economy ticket.
Most airlines will want to "preserve" the value of the cabin, and not pack it out in the same way that US carriers do. I recently travelled on a short-haul Brussels Airlines flight for which the minimum bid they would accept for a biz class upgrade on either sector was twice the amount I had originally paid for the ticket.
Last edited by irishguy28; Jun 22, 2015 at 4:16 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1
My upgrade bids of $460 each way were accepted both to & from Dublin from JFK. I flew out on june 22 & returned july 3rd. On the jfk to Dublin flight there were still a few empty business class seats, while on the 10:40am return flight from Dublin, there were at least 8 empty seats.
#52
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 1
Have an upcoming trip beginning midweek so hoping the flight will be quiet + any offers accepted.
My questions are, since there are 2 pax with 1 connection TXL-DUB-JFK, can we chose to upgrade just one or both trans Atlantic flights ie. we make an offer for both of the names on the booking and would like to fly business class on the way there but perhaps not on the return. Is the system smart enough/coded well enough to differentiate between names on the booking and sectors?
Any help appreciated.
My questions are, since there are 2 pax with 1 connection TXL-DUB-JFK, can we chose to upgrade just one or both trans Atlantic flights ie. we make an offer for both of the names on the booking and would like to fly business class on the way there but perhaps not on the return. Is the system smart enough/coded well enough to differentiate between names on the booking and sectors?
Any help appreciated.
#53
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
Programs: EI AerClub Concierge, EK Gold, BA Gold, BD Gold (Retired), HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,923
Ineligible flights?
Any insight on ineligible flights (even if booked direct with EI)?
Data point: An upcoming EI123 (DUB-ORD) travelling on a Monday and booked through EI website appears to ineligible.
-- Dambus
Data point: An upcoming EI123 (DUB-ORD) travelling on a Monday and booked through EI website appears to ineligible.
-- Dambus
#54
#55
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: This one time I got upgraded ord-bos
Posts: 57
Flying SFO-DUB in two days and my upgrade just came through.
Here's the data:
Bidding started at $970/seat per the tool.
9 business class seats were open/unasigned yesterday (3 days in advance) per expertflyer.
My bid of $1090 was accepted 2 days in advance.
Here's the data:
Bidding started at $970/seat per the tool.
9 business class seats were open/unasigned yesterday (3 days in advance) per expertflyer.
My bid of $1090 was accepted 2 days in advance.
Last edited by nycsfo; Mar 24, 2016 at 4:55 pm Reason: mixed up dates
#56
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Raleigh-Durham
Programs: HH Diamond; Marriott Gold; AA Platinum
Posts: 758
Flew DUB-ORD last week; 4 in family.
Bidding started at $400, and I submitted the bid at $400. Got the notification from my card two days before the flight of the charge; thats how I knew we got the upgrades.
Bidding started at $400, and I submitted the bid at $400. Got the notification from my card two days before the flight of the charge; thats how I knew we got the upgrades.
#57
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Auckland, NZ
Programs: NZ G
Posts: 40
Upgrade yourself - what to bid
Hi FT
First time EI flyer here. I have booked ORD-DUB 15 June (the late flight, arriving 9:45am). Upgrade yourself starts at around $400 to go from Y-J. Any feedback on what level of bidding is likely to get me the upgrade?
Thanks in advance
AI
First time EI flyer here. I have booked ORD-DUB 15 June (the late flight, arriving 9:45am). Upgrade yourself starts at around $400 to go from Y-J. Any feedback on what level of bidding is likely to get me the upgrade?
Thanks in advance
AI
#58
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 94
This thread has all the information on what people have done previously.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aer-l...r-upgrade.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aer-l...r-upgrade.html