Aug 16, 2013, 8:51 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

An “official POUG” is defined (for the purposes of this wiki) as the rate that appears in red on the MMB/BA app. It is NOT the rate offered at the airport (please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ng-thread.html), or the rate offered when you click on the “Upgrade my class of travel with money” link from within MMB, or the “Upgrade to the next available cabin” blue/grey banner in the app.

All POUGs earn full TPs and Avios for the upgraded cabin, subject to the original booking being paid for with cash.
POUGs *ARE* offered on Hand-Baggage Only fares, if available
POUGs only become available after 48 hours of making your booking, until any time up to, and including OLCI. After being checked in you will not be offered a POUG.
POUGs do not seem to become available for travel agent bookings, until 2-3 days before departure (YMMV)
POUGs cannot be requested from Service Centres, except that occasionally BA.com will not proceed with a POUG online and display a message inviting you to call the Service Centre to complete the transaction.
After a POUG has been purchased, the ticket become non changeable and non refundable, apart from government taxes.

Please add to this list as required, and include the month/year when the POUG is offered to you.

LON to Europe from ET to CE (typically £59-£69 for Band 1, £69-£79 for Band 2, £79-£89 for Band 3 and £89-£99 for Band 4):

ACE - £105
AGP – £79 (£99/€119 Dec 2014)
AMS - £69 / £56 (£99 from HBO in Nov 2014)
ATH - £99 (£109 from HBO in Oct 2014)
ARN – £72
BCN – £79 (£89 for Silver/Bronze and £114 for HBO Blue Dec 2014 - same fight, two bookings) // Blue Feb 2015 - LGW - BCN - £89 / BCN to LHR £115)
BGO – £64 (£79 for HBO in SEP2014)
BRI - £119 / €144 (Dec 2014)
BRU - £69
BSL - CHF 85 for BSL-LHR (£55 at then exchange rate) (CHF120 in Dec 2014)
BUD - £79 (£89 and £105 Dec 2014)
CDG - £69 (£75 Dec 2014; CDG-LHR €115 Dec 2014)
CMF - £69 (Dec 2014)
CPH - £79 (£129 from HBO Nov 2014)
CTA - £119/€144 (both Dec 2014)
DBV – £79
DUB – £69/£56 (£99 from HBO Nov 2014, £80 Dec 2014)
DUS – £69
FCO - £170 (Dec 14)
FRA – £69
GIB - £72 (£140 Dec 14)
GOT – £79
GVA - £79/£89
HAJ – £69
HAM – £69
HEL – £89
INN – £89 out / €109 back (Dec 14)
IST – £89
JER – £69
KBP - £80 / USD 129 (BA is not currently accepting Ukrainian currency)
LCA – £89 (£190 Dec 2014 from LCA; separately £134 to LCA Dec 2014)
LIN – £79
LIS – £79 (£119 offered Nov 14, £99 and £145 Dec 14)
LUX - £69
MAD - £79
MAH - £69
MUC - £79
MXP - £119 (€89 MXP - LHR)
NCE - £140 (each way, 21/DEC/14)
ORY - £69
OSL - £79 (£64/640 NOK reported)
OTP - £79/€89
PMI - £69 (Dec 2014)
PRG – £79
PSA - £79
SZG - £114 (Nov 2015)
SOF - £89
STR – £69
TIA – £89 (£99 offered Dec 14 for TIA-LGW) (€119 TIA-LGW Dec 2014)
TRN – £79
TXL – £69
VCE – £79
VIE – £79 [£129 as of Nov14! GBP99 LHR-VIE + GBP99 VIE-LHR Nov14]
VRN- €139 (~£110) Nov 2014 - £89 / €109 Dec 2014
WAW – £69 (£110 Dec 14)
ZAG – £79
ZRH – £79 (£87 (CHF135) for ZRH-LHR): LCY-ZRH + v.v. £69 (offered 11/14)

LON to North America (price shown from lower cabin to mentioned cabin, e.g. WTP means price to POUG from WT to WTP):

ATL - WTP £189
BOS – WTP £189 (mid-2014) £219 (December 2014)
IAD - WTP £157
JFK/EWR – WTP £189 (can be as low as £133) / CW £443 / F £527 (F £599 02/08)
LAS - WTP £180
LAX – WTP £229 / CW £599 (CW £548 Jan 2015)
MCO– WTP £180
MEX – F £447/£525 / £229 WT-WTP (November 28 2015)/ 4640 MXN WT-WTP (December 14 2015)
MIA – WTP £209 / CW £525
ORD – WTP £171 / CW £525 / F £499
PHL – WTP £189
SAN – CW £599
SEA – WTP £199
SFO – WTP £170
YYZ – WTP £171 (return leg) / CW £425 / F £499
YYC - WTP £134
YVR – WTP £175 / CW £350

LON to South America (price shown from lower cabin to mentioned cabin, e.g. WTP means price to POUG from WT to WTP):

EZE – WTP £199
GRU – WTP £209 / F £499 / WT to CW £699
GIG - WT to CW £699

LON to Asia (price shown from lower cabin to mentioned cabin, e.g. WTP means price to POUG from WT to WTP):

BKK - WTP £126-£140 / CW £549 / F £
BOM - WTP £ / CW £450 / F £
DEL - F £499, subsequently reduced to £400
HKG – WTP £199 (offered £172 for a Nov 2014 flight) / CW £599 / F £599
NRT - WTP £199 / CW £ / F £525
ICN - CW £499
SIN - WTP SGD$320

LON to Australia and Oceania (price shown from lower cabin to mentioned cabin, e.g. WTP means price to POUG from WT to WTP):

SYD – WTP £170 / CW £399

LON to Africa & Middle East (price shown from lower cabin to mentioned cabin, e.g. WTP means price to POUG from WT to WTP):

AUH – F £499
CAI - WTP £121
DXB – WTP £179 / F £499
EBB - WTP £142
JNB - WTP £209
NBO - WTP £189

Non-LON routes (price shown from lower cabin to mentioned cabin, e.g. WTP means price to POUG from WT to WTP):

SYD-SIN – F £465
AMS-LGW - CE €79
BCN-LHR - CE £64
BRU-LHR - CE £105 (12.2014)
CDG-LHR - CE €79
DUB-LHR - CE €109 (£85.70-ish) from HBO booked 05.12.14, offered 08.12.14
BOM-LHR - F cINR40,000 (c£395)
JNB-LHR WTP - £189
TLV-LHR - F $600 (c£370)

Pro-active Upgrade cost tracking and questions thread

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Oct 26, 2013, 7:30 am

#2431

cziwkga

Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: Edinburgh

Programs: BA Gold, Accor Silver, Flying Blue Zilch, East Coast Rewards Lots&lots, Miles & More nada

Posts: 288

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravellerFrequently

I have a LHR-ORD-JFK-LHR TA booking in J, with BA long haul and AA short haul (AA flight number).

Is the fact that I do not have a simple point to point booking mean that I will not be offered any upgrade offers for my BA flights when OLCI opens for my first flight. ...

If the answer to the above is that these types of bookings do not get POUG offers, I will ask at check in.

I can't be 100% sure, but my experience with such flights (either open jaw or multi-segment) is that offers never appear online & attempting to do a pro-active upgrade usually tells you that you need to call BA. However, it is worth calling BAEC as they are able to access availability for individual segments. I would suggest trying this in the week before departure and enquire again at check-in if the first attempt doesn't succeed.

Oct 26, 2013, 7:34 am

#2432

TravellerFrequently

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: London

Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 6,720

Quote:

Originally Posted by cziwkga

Thanks and to nux too.

I will see what happens with A class availability between now and departure and when OLCI opens. If A availability remains and there are no offers, I will call the Gold line within 24 hours of departure and check at the airport if necessary.

Oct 26, 2013, 9:03 am

#2433

exbayern

Join Date: Sep 2006

Posts: 6,967

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippo72

As mentioned, NOT a big deal...just wanted to check if this is your experience, too?

I was offered a meal recently after doing POUG just a few hours before flight. But no idea if that is usual.

Oct 27, 2013, 2:38 am

#2434

LTN Phobia

Moderator: British Airways Executive Club

Join Date: Jan 2009

Programs: Battleaxe Alliance

Posts: 22,127

Quote:

Originally Posted by exbayern

I was offered a meal recently after doing POUG just a few hours before flight. But no idea if that is usual.

I believe it is "meal no assured". If someone didn't want a meal, or if there happens to be a spare, you will get one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippo72

While speaking about POUGs....
Just used it during OLCI (~23h Prior departure) for AMS-LHR a couple of days ago. 69€. Not bad at all.
But I did not get a meal onboard - which is not a big deal on such a route, of course.
Called GGL assistance line and was told that it is clearly mentioned during the POUG process that there's no upgraded meal. Wasn't able to read anything related.

As mentioned, NOT a big deal...just wanted to check if this is your experience, too?

The problem is probably due to it being under 24 hours from departure from an outpost. POUG normally does not exclude the meals, however, upgrade/booking within 24 hours can exclude the meals, I believe.

Oct 27, 2013, 8:26 am

#2435

Hippo72

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: STR

Programs: LH HON->SEN, BA GGL+CCR->Gold, HH D, Hertz PC

Posts: 603

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTN Phobia

That could be a valid explanation, thanks!

Checked 2 different itineraries for next week (LHR-CDG and LHR-TXL) yesterday and was offered a POUG for GBP69 each. Accepted both ^.

P.S: Thanks for moving my previous comments into this thread!

Oct 29, 2013, 8:52 am

#2436

rwoman

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: LHR

Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels

Posts: 10,187

Lhr-cdg / cdg-lhr

BA offered £69 for each upgrade. I was in 4C (so nearly "there") on the way out...um, no...not for a 50 min flight!

Oct 29, 2013, 11:57 am

#2437

the_seeker1977

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: London

Programs: British Airways Silver, Tesco, BA Amex, Kris Flyer

Posts: 533

LHR-BUD

I'm looking to book LHR-BUD, the current prices for my dates are:

LHR-BUD - £76 (ET), £173 (CE)
BUD-LHR - £92 (ET), £168 (CE)

Looking at the wiki the upgrade prices do not look like a much cheaper upgrade option, or have I read it wrong?

Would I be best to book both legs in ET and see if a cheaper upgrade option is offered, if not call BA and cancel and re-book the CE tickets?

Thanks in advance

Oct 29, 2013, 1:00 pm

#2438

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold / OnBusiness, SPG Lifetime Plat 100, AmEx Centurion & BAPP, Superking Westin Heavenly Bed :)

Posts: 1,142

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_seeker1977

If a POUG is offered, it won't be cheaper than £79 each way. With that in mind, absolutely: I'd book it in ET and see if the POUG appears right after your booking is confirmed. If not - as you say, cancel it and re-book in CE. To be safe, maybe book into CE first, just so those fares don't move?! Do the rates change if you select ET out and CE back? That would be optimal here.

Oct 29, 2013, 1:08 pm

#2439

the_seeker1977

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: London

Programs: British Airways Silver, Tesco, BA Amex, Kris Flyer

Posts: 533

Quote:

Originally Posted by JK

Thanks JK, interestingly if I book CE on the outward leg the inbound leg goes up by £9

, however, if I select ET out and CE back the CE fare stays at £168.

I just need to figure out how many Tier Points I need, CE one way and ET the other is fine.

Oct 29, 2013, 1:23 pm

#2440

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold / OnBusiness, SPG Lifetime Plat 100, AmEx Centurion & BAPP, Superking Westin Heavenly Bed :)

Posts: 1,142

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_seeker1977

Thanks JK, interestingly if I book CE on the outward leg the inbound leg goes up by £9

, however, if I select ET out and CE back the CE fare stays at £168.

I just need to figure out how many Tier Points I need, CE one way and ET the other is fine.

That's perfect! ET out and CE back is the winning strategy here, so that's good news. I have no idea why the fares change when you change cabins one day (hence me asking), but they do... I'm sure someone here knows why. Same with fares being cheaper when a weekend stay is involved - i just never understood why!

Good luck on your travels!

Oct 29, 2013, 2:05 pm

#2441

haasha

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: usually LON

Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Tesco Blue, TK Elite (*G), Oyster Diamond Jubilee edition

Posts: 1,546

Quote:

Originally Posted by JK

That's perfect! ET out and CE back is the winning strategy here, so that's good news. I have no idea why the fares change when you change cabins one day (hence me asking), but they do... I'm sure someone here knows why. Same with fares being cheaper when a weekend stay is involved - i just never understood why!

Good luck on your travels!

Simple - "business" travelers don't want to stay over weekend so airlines are milking them, as well as it's an incentive for "leisure" travelers to fill in empty seats on weekends.

Oct 29, 2013, 5:41 pm

#2442

Globaliser

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: London

Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.

Posts: 38,644

Quote:

Originally Posted by JK

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_seeker1977

... interestingly if I book CE on the outward leg the inbound leg goes up by £9

, however, if I select ET out and CE back the CE fare stays at £168.

I have no idea why the fares change when you change cabins one day (hence me asking), but they do... I'm sure someone here knows why. Same with fares being cheaper when a weekend stay is involved - i just never understood why!

The "inbound sector increasing in price" phenomenon is almost certainly due to the way that the booking engine on that page estimates and allocates the half round-trip price for each direction, as the round-trip fare is still usually constructed by adding together two half round-trip fares even though they're in different cabins; on BA it is not necessarily done by adding together two true one-way fares.

So, for example, if you choose CE on the outbound sector, the APD is £13 more than if you choose ET. The booking engine may effectively split that increase across both sectors, with the price for the inbound sector increasing as a result.

Weekend stay fares are to do with fare rules; the cheaper fares often simply require a Saturday night stay to be valid. This is to try to stop business passengers buying the cheap fares, when they are in truth prepared to spend more money than that. One aim of yield management is to try to extract the maximum amount from each passenger that they are prepared to pay for the seat, rather than the minimum that they would like to pay for it - and to do so in a way that extracts different maxima from different passengers even though the seat itself is the same. That's how we can benefit from the cheap fares that we often use.

Oct 30, 2013, 5:39 am

#2443

aceman

Join Date: Apr 2006

Location: London

Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond

Posts: 2,537

just been offered, and took:

LHR-JFK WT>WT+ £165

until today it was offering me fare difference upgrade for £995...

Nov 3, 2013, 7:04 am

#2444

MPH1980

Join Date: Aug 2012

Posts: 2,676

Just been offered YYZ-LHR WT+>CW for £400. Decided to leave it as I know economy is pretty busy so reckon chances of op-up are high-ish.

Wiki will be updated.

M.

Nov 4, 2013, 1:57 am

#2445

henley

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: London

Programs: BAEC Gold and various hotel programs (wishing they were all linked)

Posts: 100

Just been offered AUH/LHR CW > F £499