OLCI - does it increase or decrease the chance of an op-up?
 

Going on a little J-class trip to US westcoast soon. Already have my upper deck seat pre-assigned. Just in case the plane is full and they need to op-up (looks good on Sabre so far) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif I was wondering if my chances increase if I OLCI (because then they know that I will actually fly and not end up as a no show) - Or do they tend to decrease (since then my seat will be confirmed and I am taken care of and they'll rather see if there are no-shows and only op-up the last ones to check in if they absolutely have to)?

What are peoples experiences on this?

BTW can't MFU since I am booked through a travel agent (D-class).

[This message has been edited by GreatDane (edited Jan 29, 2004).]

Never ever had an op up with BA (even when I worked for them), but my ex was upgraded twice LHR-DXB from WT+ to J. On both occasions the upgrade already showed by the time she went to OLCI. She was a blue member too.

I wondered about this myself just before Christmas on a WT+ trip to GRU (especially as it was the first time out of J/F for a while!). In the end I decided that it was more hassle to worry about than it was worth... so I OLIC'd 23hrs59m before as usual, picked a WT+ bulkhead and confirmed.

Met some friends in the bar at Paddington before the flight, arrived at LHR pretty late (about 50mins before) a little worse for wear, pondered about going to a checkin desk in the hope of a SFU comment but again decided not worth the hassle.

Put my card in the SS machine and out came a J boarding pass... I was so pleased! (I remember in my slightly pissed state thanking the SS machine profusely and getting a really weird look from a couple of people nearby http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

The conclusion, at least for me, was that if its going to happen (status, overbooking, OLCI, desk, no desk, whatever...) it'll happen.

When leaving from non Heathrow stations then it does help to NOT checking at a terminal, it's often these smaller stations that can have the station manager assign an upgrade, if you are checking in at LHR then it doesn't matter, if you are being upgraded then it will happen in advance anyway...

If you don't get an op-upgrade then make sure to mention that in the F lounge at LHR and ask the agent behind the desk to keep an eye on any moving around of seating assignments and that you'd be happy to move "up front", don't use the U***** word...

FWIW, I received a few J to F op-ups last year (plus one WT+ to J op-up), and I always use OLCI (well, at least on long hauls).

Oddly, all of my op-ups were going to London. No op-ups from London for me.

Mind you, I'm not complaining at all about a lack of op-ups frm London ... (especially as the J tickets were MFU from WT+). I just wonder if perhaps the selection procedure varies by departure point (departing London they might look at your gold score more closely, where I'm sure mine is relatively low compared to years past).

Each of the J to F op-ups, when I used OLCI (at around the 24 hour window), I checked in to J seat, and was given an F boarding pass at the airport check-in desk.

Scott: Thanx for this. As you can guess I WILL be checking in from outside the UK (CPH) and connecting through LHR. So maybe manual checkin is best so I can try and charm them? I don't think I'd ever dare try and work the lounge agent though... Would seem a little too obvious perhaps. And I NEVER use the U-word http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Been op'ed from WT+ to CW many times after OLCI and SS machine (i.e. no contact with check in staff only EC launge people).

Always happens at the gate though - never from the SS machine.

Or the F word if it does not happen. Great Dane if you are there and I am there, after your charming comments about my Sisters (Rich B&tch, and Poor Cow), you know where I will personally seat you...meals permitting!


XXXX

I've only been op'ed once (LHR-HKG), but this was my experience exactly. I OLCI'd the single WT+ seat on the 747 (28B) and when I got to the gate, the guy took my BP and scribbled out the seat number, then wrote another one. I was just about to start arguing when I saw he'd written 18B instead. About 2 nanoseconds of brain processing later, I took the BP back, said thank you very much and went off to search for my flat bed.... :-)

PhilH

Dear PUCCI

I think you must have me confused with someone else. I don't think I have ever had the honour of meeting with either of your esteemed sisters.
But appreciate your offer http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by GreatDane (edited Jan 30, 2004).]

I have always wondered if it is worth flying EDI to LHR then re-checking in for the long haul. When doing an EDI OCLI it lets me check in for the long haul but again I wonder if it has excluded me from an upgrade as I was so efficient and checked in early!

Only Op Up was a WT+ to J from BOS when I havdn't OLCId!

Rich

OLCI has never stopped me from getting the odd up from J-F. I jst found that the machine told me to complete check-in at a desk or I haven't been able to change my seat.
I think out of the 10 or so trips that I didn't pay for F I got an op-up on every one last year including a couple of WT-J missing WT+.

I always use OLCI

Well, I've now used OLCI twice and each time the seat change option has NOT been available (and to keep on topic, of course no op-up - which I really wasn't expecting because both flights were not full).

To those who know the system better than I, is the lack of the seat change facility a temporary system fault, or is there some other reason?

OLCI operates the seat map, on a % of seats avaiable. So for arguements sake if <10% of seats are unallocated. It will not offer you the seat change. If <10% of seats are available, more than likely it is very close to the the flight closing. At the airport agents busy checking in pax. Therefore you could see the seat map, with five empty seats, hit refresh and suddenly all the seats have gone.

The last thing we wanted was the pax, seeing an empty seat selecting it, hit confirm, only to find it is gone, select another empty seat...thats then gone as well.


2018

Speedbird2018, each time I was using OLCI, it was just after the 24 hour window kicked in - so there should have been something available (SYD-BKK BA10 was showing W9 T9 in WT+ the day before the flight). I was a tad disappointed as I wanted to see how it all worked - like a kid with a new toy! Maybe next time.

In all the examples I quoted above I OLCI'd both domestic and long haul and then got both domestic and long haul BPs from the SS machines at EDI airport.

Didn't seem to affect the joyous moment when the gate BP reader spat out the BP and the gate person got busy with his pen.

Its even more joyous when the machine does it... then you don't get the obvious correct or INVOL UPGRADE written all over it! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

On Feb. 2, I was op-up'ed from J to F on a very full flight LHR-DEL, after having OLCI'd and confirmed my upper deck seat. Got the nod right at the gate. (I am Gold EC.) It was particularly brilliant because (1) I hadn't asked for or been expecting an upgrade, and (2) the guy in line behind me saw me get the upgrade and started giving out about how he'd been asking for an upgrade "for weeks." Take that, Annoying Guy! Needless to say, he did not join the party in F. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I love it when that happens - but having said that I've been stood behind an upgraded and been passed over myself - though I never throw a tantrum - and I never ask.

If BA wish to encourage more people to use OLCI (as I assume it cuts their costs if you check yourself in rather than pay someone to do it at the airport) - why don't they only op upgrade people who use OLCI - word would soon spread.... (do I get an op upgrade on my flight to Miami for this super idea ;-))

I wonder why BA doesn't publicise one of the best fringe benefits of flying F: not having to stress over the whole up****e game! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

To answer my own comment, pleased to see OLCI seat selection section worked for my next flight. This is a great system. Now for that op-up if it ever happens!

In October last year I was flying to DXB in FIRST. Sheena was was on a CW BA Miles ticket. We used OLCI and at the Fast Bag drop at EDI the check-in agent made some notes in Sheena's booking that I was in F. The flight had being showing full for weeks and the check-in agent confirmed it was oversold. Just before departure Sheena went to the desk in Concorde Room and came back with a new BP and a big smile!

In December when flying WT+ EDI-LHR-JFK I used OLCI exactly 24 hours before my EDI-LHR leg. I was delighted (and very surprised) to see we had already been upgraded to J. Again the flight had shown as sold out in WT for many weeks.

I think it boils down to the fact that if you are going to be upgraded, you will be upgraded regardless of what mechanism you use to check-in.

But even F is not the complete answer. There is then the 1A/K issue. Having picked up on this vital issue here, I was neurotic about getting one of these last time I flew F in December. Unavailable at OLCI or once in the Concorde lounge, but guess what. The joy of the BP spat out at the gate and the hand made alteration to show my move to 1A was equally as good as any upgrade ...

And don't forget, up until recently, you had the F folks hoping for an op-up to Concorde!