BA Upsells F seats?
Apr 4, 2015, 7:10 am
#1
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BA Upsells F seats?
Last week I was traveling on a USDM legacy ticket with two BA F segments. My BA 8 was from HND to LHR. Upon checking in, I was told the 772 F cabin had an occupancy of 7/12 (No 3K and 4K in this 772). However, when we boarded, I looked around and saw F was actually 11/12. The last seat open was 3F, and it was not filled because it was reserved for pilots.
3 days later, when I traveled BA 297 (LHR-ORD), again I was told F cabin was 5/14 (this is a different type of 772). However, unsurprisingly I found F was again fully occupied when boarding the plane.
If there were no op-ups, what are the alternative ways these people obtained last-minute upgrades into F cabin?
3 days later, when I traveled BA 297 (LHR-ORD), again I was told F cabin was 5/14 (this is a different type of 772). However, unsurprisingly I found F was again fully occupied when boarding the plane.
If there were no op-ups, what are the alternative ways these people obtained last-minute upgrades into F cabin?
Apr 4, 2015, 7:20 am
#2
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Last week I was traveling on a USDM legacy ticket with two BA F segments. My BA 8 was from HND to LHR. Upon checking in, I was told the 772 F cabin had an occupancy of 7/12 (No 3K and 4K in this 772). However, when we boarded, I looked around and saw F was actually 11/12. The last seat open was 3F, and it was not filled because it was reserved for pilots.
3 days later, when I traveled BA 297 (LHR-ORD), again I was told F cabin was 5/14 (this is a different type of 772). However, unsurprisingly I found F was again fully occupied when boarding the plane.
If there were no op-ups, what are the alternative ways these people obtained last-minute upgrades into F cabin?
3 days later, when I traveled BA 297 (LHR-ORD), again I was told F cabin was 5/14 (this is a different type of 772). However, unsurprisingly I found F was again fully occupied when boarding the plane.
If there were no op-ups, what are the alternative ways these people obtained last-minute upgrades into F cabin?
Apr 4, 2015, 7:32 am
#3
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Well here are a few reasons that spring to mind:
1) DUT upgrades - so WT is oversold (typically) and this ripples forward so that some CW customers get OpUps.
2) Last minute ticket sales or amendments to existing bookings
3) Upgrade Using Avios - this can be done on the day of travel
4) Last minute acceptance of POUGs (proactive upgrades)
5) Airport Upgrades (AUP)
6) Irrops from previous / future services become apparent at the last moment
7) Space Available upgrades - typically part of some previous customer relations remedy (I think they get processed with DUT though)
8) Seating mechanical failure in CW
9) Staff travel in F (there's not much of this)
10) Self upgrader who gets away with it (hopefully even more rare).
1) DUT upgrades - so WT is oversold (typically) and this ripples forward so that some CW customers get OpUps.
2) Last minute ticket sales or amendments to existing bookings
3) Upgrade Using Avios - this can be done on the day of travel
4) Last minute acceptance of POUGs (proactive upgrades)
5) Airport Upgrades (AUP)
6) Irrops from previous / future services become apparent at the last moment
7) Space Available upgrades - typically part of some previous customer relations remedy (I think they get processed with DUT though)
8) Seating mechanical failure in CW
9) Staff travel in F (there's not much of this)
10) Self upgrader who gets away with it (hopefully even more rare).
Apr 4, 2015, 7:46 am
#4
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Apr 4, 2015, 7:47 am
#5
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Well here are a few reasons that spring to mind:
1) DUT upgrades - so WT is oversold (typically) and this ripples forward so that some CW customers get OpUps.
2) Last minute ticket sales or amendments to existing bookings
3) Upgrade Using Avios - this can be done on the day of travel
4) Last minute acceptance of POUGs (proactive upgrades)
5) Airport Upgrades (AUP)
6) Irrops from previous / future services become apparent at the last moment
7) Space Available upgrades - typically part of some previous customer relations remedy (I think they get processed with DUT though)
8) Seating mechanical failure in CW
9) Staff travel in F (there's not much of this)
10) Self upgrader who gets away with it (hopefully even more rare).
1) DUT upgrades - so WT is oversold (typically) and this ripples forward so that some CW customers get OpUps.
2) Last minute ticket sales or amendments to existing bookings
3) Upgrade Using Avios - this can be done on the day of travel
4) Last minute acceptance of POUGs (proactive upgrades)
5) Airport Upgrades (AUP)
6) Irrops from previous / future services become apparent at the last moment
7) Space Available upgrades - typically part of some previous customer relations remedy (I think they get processed with DUT though)
8) Seating mechanical failure in CW
9) Staff travel in F (there's not much of this)
10) Self upgrader who gets away with it (hopefully even more rare).
Apr 4, 2015, 7:58 am
#6
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In addition to what have already been listed, positioning staff members (staff travel benefits are quite different from that). I have had quite a lot of BA pilots positioning in F for whatever reason on my flights. I love them as fellow passengers - they are generally really quiet and well-behaved and just sleep, sleep and sleep, usually without snoring! 
Apr 4, 2015, 8:08 am
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Apr 4, 2015, 8:11 am
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Apr 4, 2015, 8:18 am
#9
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I've seen them quite a lot. I play the game of 'spot the self-upgraders', such is my boredom with flying. I haven't got them wrong yet - those I suspected have all been identified by the crew members and sent back.
Apr 4, 2015, 8:21 am
#10
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I don't know what you mean by "I was told", but most F pax are using using awards, avios upgrades, paid upgrades. I do not know for BA, but many airlines also sell very cheap J/F seats to their staff (or other airlines' staff) on a waitlist basis. These are numerous on CX. Then there are true opups.
And yes, many longhaul BA flights are full, meaning opups to J and F.
And yes, many longhaul BA flights are full, meaning opups to J and F.
Apr 4, 2015, 8:27 am
#12
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Why not? Sounds right to me. I've heard of entire wtp cabins being moved forward which is at least 20 seats going forward. If j is busy there's no where to move people but F.
Apr 4, 2015, 8:56 am
#13
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I don't know what you mean by "I was told", but most F pax are using using awards, avios upgrades, paid upgrades. I do not know for BA, but many airlines also sell very cheap J/F seats to their staff (or other airlines' staff) on a waitlist basis. These are numerous on CX. Then there are true opups.
And yes, many longhaul BA flights are full, meaning opups to J and F.
And yes, many longhaul BA flights are full, meaning opups to J and F.
So it happens to me somehow weird when F cabin occupancy changes drastically between CI and boarding (2 hours at the most).
Apr 4, 2015, 8:59 am
#14
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