sinanju

Mrs. Sinanju and I are using a companion ticket to LHR that I earned last year in combination with some vouchers I received at the end of the year. We're flying in the cheap seats but managed to get 21A/B for the flight from BOS.

I have some VIPs, which I can't use on this fare -- I burned two of this year's batch already and borrowed two, so I have four left. It's looking like my business travel will be significantly curtailed this year, so I don't know if I'll be burning any more.

Heading back, only 21A is open. We're currently in 12A/B. I was thinking of upgrading 21B to get him out of the seat. I haven't called the EXP desk to see if they could/would do it. Were I 21B, I'd appreciate it, but I won't assume that would be a universal sentiment. Also, it's a daytime flight, so it's not like we're trying to sleep. I'm going to assume that no amount of begging will get seats in 17 unblocked.

It's been 10 years since I flew a TATL in coach so I'm curious for some opinions:

• If you were 12B, how would you react? Can you think of a reason someone might react badly?
• Is it worth a VIP to get out of 12A/B and into 21A/B for a daytime flight?

bdemaria

Who would pay the ex-LHR luxury tax associated with the upgrade?

Also, is there availability now for the upgrade? If not, then it is possible that 21B is occupied by someone currently waiting for his or her upgrade to clear. [Women fly too ]

sinanju

That would certainly be my responsibility.

C4

Indeed. Mrs. Sinanju is one of them. And, one would that English had genderless pronouns in common use.

britenbsas

If I was 12B, I'd be happy but I certainly wouldn't use one of my eVIPs to upgrade someone else in these circumstances. For a relatively short daytime flight, 12 A/B are fine and another seat in row 21 may open up before the flight so you can grab it then.

Deltahater

Why not upgrade your own fare so that you can use the eVIPS?

Are you on an O fare?

sinanju

Companion tickets can't be upgraded. The fare is an M.

SocietyFlyGirl

21a/b aren't all that. It can be extremely cold in 21a against the exit door. In 21a, I have spent the flight huddled in my winter coat with a begged comforter from B class and still been not completely warm. Exit row on the 763 is nowhere near as good as exit row on the 777.

I'd stay with 12 a/b. YMMV

I never reserve 21a anymore -- only 21b occasionally. If it's me in 21b, I'll gladly take your upgrade to B class.

pinniped

Whenever I'm on this type, I book 21B if I can. I agree with the SocietyFlyGirl: the A seat gets cold, like most exit-row window seats do.

That said, I can't think of a reason in the world why I wouldn't happily accept an upgrade on a TATL flight. Since I fly in and out of LHR quite a bit, I'd even take the upgrade if the airline told me "It costs you no miles and no upgrade instruments, but you need to pay additional tax."

That said, that's the only potential sticking point: someone not familiar with the tax or not familiar with the relative value of Biz vs. Coach might bristle a bit at the idea of paying anything.

HKG_Flyer1

If it were me, I'd be thrilled to take the upgrade.

magic111

What happens if 21B is on a fare that is not upgradeable?

gemac

This flight is BOS-LHR. I think there is no luxury tax flying into LHR, only out.

ijgordon

Or is on a reward ticket -- then this strategy becomes 100% unworkable.

sinanju

Indeed, but neither have I expended miles, dollars, or eVIPs in that case. Things would be as they are now.

sinanju

Actually, I said in my first post that I have 21 A/B from BOS and that heading back is the flight in question -- to BOS.

aktchi

Seems like too much headache; I'd stay with the current seats.

I'd also offer to give your useless VIPs to me provided they'd work for March flights.