I have had the pleasure of a few complimentary upgrades including one at the express ceck-in at YWG. The most appreciated was the one returning from my father's funeral. AC was attentive and compassionate. I was met at YYZ and taken by golf cart to gate 76.

My cup runneth over http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Most of my tickets are J or M/Y with confirmed upgrades, so I'm rarely in a situation where a comp upgrade applies. I don't bother with V class because it doesn't really save that much money.

However, occasionally I'll buy L class tickets because these are almost free. A few years ago AC had a YYZ-MIA sale in L class and I bought tickets for 4 consecutive weekends. It had been years since I'd had a flight in the Y cabin so I actually wanted to experience economy. (I began to ask myself if J is really worth the extra money.) I didn't get to experience much Y cabin travel because I was comped on 6 of the 8 segments. No reason given. My status was Elite.

I've travelled about 10 segments so far this year in M/Y class with confirmed upgrades. I haven't needed to surrender a single upgrade coupon. Either I'm not asked for the coupons or I hand them over and the agent just gives them back and says "we don't need those today." Do these count as comp upgrades?

Empress, I might have better luck than you simply because we fly different routes.

I flew YYZ-MXP in Y and arrived home Friday afternoon. Saturday afternoon left for LHR for a week, in Y, and was upgraded on the way home. I was actually seated on the plane when the gate agent came on board with a new boarding pass for me, moving me upstairs. Fare was V I think. Status is Elite. She didn't know why I was being comped the upgrade.

Could be because my flight to MXP the week before was delayed 6 1/2 hours. Or that on my last flight to the UK, they guy next to me puked all over the floor. I'm sure my file says I am on the verge of "air rage"...

Nonetheless, the upgrade was greatly appreciated even though those 747's are looking a wee bit shabby compared to J in the 330/340

Several times in the past few weeks, most due to bumping but one due to problems in getting my boarding passes to print out. I ended up having to get unchecked in somewhere midstream, then rechecked in on my oversold flight. Somewhere in the process my confirmed seat was given to someone else and no hospitality class tickets remained. Worked out well for me because I ended with a J-class ticket.

Last Sunday was the first time that I was given an upgrade on a United flight. What was funny was when the GA offered a family free upgrades to "First Class" and the husband starting getting defensive. "Do I have to?", "You can't make me do that.", & "What's in it for me?". The GA did his best to explain that the upgrade was a good thing. In the end, the family was quite content to take their seats in the back of the plane.

my condolences on the loss of your father - my mother died recently and United was very gracious on the fare and the outgoing seat assignment...

MapleLeaf: my condolences on the loss of your father. Glad to hear that AC handled it well for you.

Ferrari: At least I know I am not the only SE around here who is still waiting for that first time! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

If we count CP, then I have gotten comp upgrades from CP in the good old EP days. The best being a YYC-YYZ flight, my flight from YVR was late and i missed my connecting flight to YYZ by 5 minutes. When i arrived, a concierge was waiting for me at the gate. As the YYC-YYZ was the last of the day until the red-eye flight, she told me that i could take the red-eye flight or any flights during the next day in J. As i had to be back in YYZ the next day, i picked the red-eye flight. She printed me a new boarding pass in J and then gave me a big stack of any fare upgrades (including those ultimate black ones). I thought that was it. But then she said she will put me in a hotel for the next 6 hours and gave me $30 for a nice dinner over at the hotel!! She gave me all her contact details and tell me to give her a call if i needed anything else before departure. Talk about knowing how to treat their best customer!

Empress, I really miss CP for their pro-active attitude. I had a red-eye delayed for 3 hrs (ie. 3am sched departure) and was put up for the night at the Chateau Airport at YYC and given meal vouchers etc (I was flying J - the delayed flight left at 5:30am and I left well rested at 6:30 am!!) I think AC in your situation may have provided you with the fax number for "Customer Solutions" as per Ken Hamer's recent experience.

I used to get them reasonably regularly in the pre-"any fare" days. After 1992 my international travels were mostly paid J, and I never needed them.

I got one from DEL-LHR on a RTW, and I have gotten a couple from UA, but my SE certs have pretty much taken care of me ever since.

I've never received a comp upgrade.

But then, I've never really needed one. The last time I flew in coach (other than on single class planes like Dash-8s) was in December 1997, and before that, I don't really remember.

Within minutes of my first ever sticker upgrade in the fall of 1996 I began figuring out how to work the system to maximum advantage. And when I "work" a system, I really, really work it.

I believe you Ken. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif You were the first one ever to teach me all about upgrading on CP when I first became a Gold and then EP couple years ago. Thanks!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

No wonder CP went under: free hotel nights, unlimited sticker packs... While I do applaud the high level of customer service, I sometimes felt the employees were giving perks away like drunken sailors. Or spending money like a Liberal government. [That analogy's for FlyerAl and company!]

But I admit to having had my fair share of operational upgrades over the years on both CP and AC, where I was Gold and Elite respectively. It most always happened when the back cabin was oversold, and generally when I first checked in. With a mock apologetic tone, the agent would say: "We've had to up grade you tonight...". I assume this was due to elite status, if not fare paid.

But from time to time, when my favourite Empress Lounge agents were on duty [Barb or Bette] at YEG, and my wife and I were not booked in the front cabin [first class in those days], they would invariably call me over and if there was a pair of seats available, reprint our boarding passes.

In circumstances where I have offered to take a later flight in oversold situations, in addition to any compensation, I have always been given a seat in the front cabin, even on discounted economy fares.

Operationals are as named, a function of the operational situation: i.e. overbooking or involuntary rerouting situations. But gate and lounge agents do have great discretion.

Dear me... I certainly hope I'm not included in the "and company" part http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Empress, believe it or not, I just received 5 (five) upgrades on yesterdays flight from YYZ to YYT. More coming on this soon. If you don't ask you won't receive. BlondeBomber had given me a few pointers and they worked!

Oh Skyhawk, please please tell me how you pull it off, i have a YVR-YYZ flight in Y tomorrow. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Empress (edited 07-17-2001).]