CMK10

Five BA flights for me this year where I was eligible for an upgrade. One CW, three ET, one WT. I got an upgrade on the WT one. I think a lot of it depends on the route, I was flying LGW-MCO which I imagine is not frequented by many elites of BA or anyone else. Otherwise I imagine it's tougher.

Dicksbits

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere in the thread, but are upgrades in Europe always decided in LDN in the 'back room' or at outstations?
In our example, we were returning from BCN to LHR, the flight was full (partly because the flight before had been cancelled I think, but Expertflyer has said all 9 flights that day were very busy before the weather-related cancellations and delays). We were on a rtn section of an avios redemption, had chosen 12A/B in Y, and were 'elevated' via the app in the lounge to Club, albeit in different rows (5/6).

The_Doctor

Upgraded at the gate WTP to CW 2 Oct BA278 SJC-LHR. I'd been offered (and declined) a paid upgrade for around $900 at check-in. While in the lounge I noticed my seat had (silently) changed in the app. Didn't want to get my hopes up but waiting at the gate a long list of names started to be called out to visit the counter (mostly for passport checks I think) and then my name was called ... great way to finish my trip! As an aside had a great flight and I thought the CC were excellent.

corporate-wage-slave

By computer, no idea where it lives but presumably in West London or Bangalore. I would estimate 98% are DUT led, so it matters not where you are. On the margins, there may be cases at out-stations where something is only discovered at the last moment (e.g. a broken seat discovered during boarding) so crew or ground staff have to make a decision quickly. Then there are very limited circumstances when the SCCM can use their discretion to upgrade to fix problems. But DUT is built into FLY and can automatically, rapidly work out who should get an upgrade.

icegirl

Earlier this week I came across an Instagram story that was publically shared globally of a MF crew member on a long haul route which upgraded her friend to First on the flight she was working on. Is this kind of behavior really allowed or an infringement of business conduct?

CKBA

Is it the same system that sets the POUG prices - and who gets such 'offers'?

corporate-wage-slave

No, that's a separate gizmo. There is some randomising aspect to it, such that you can't rely on them being offered*, but the key factor is whether it can be computed via Self Serve. So too much complexity, too much alteration, you won't get a POUG 'cos the hamster falls out of the wheel.

Some of your recent POUG examples seem way off the POUG scale and look suspiciously like Fare Differences instead, but if it's shown as a Time Limited Offer then it's officially a POUG, the key point being that your base ticket stays the same rather than become a new fare.

* there are cases reported of people travelling with identical tickets, one person being offered a POUG, the other not, and just occasionally it will be SIlver = Good, Gold = Bad.

Dicksbits

Thanks for the reply. I've flown on many sold out flights as Gold in Y and never been upgraded. Is it possible that the computer assesses revenue spend? We've spent thousands lately on BA flights.

Excuse my ignorance but what does DUT stand for?

corporate-wage-slave

You probably need to be travelling in WTP to see the benefit of this. BA flies with a lot of status passenger in ET and WT, depending on the route, so no-one's chances there would be that good. But in WTP, being a small cabin, the chances would be somewhat higher, even though, paradoxically, that cabin is status rich (again a generalisation which varies between routes).

Discretionary Upgrade Tool. It's an Amadeus originated module like Theoretical Seating, where BA can configure the beneficiaries to suit their business needs.

k146

LHR-MXP 02Oct - 2 travellers on booking , upgraded from ET to CE on a full Avios redemption booking but seats split up post upgrade. We were originally seated on exit row in ET.

Gengy

We were upgraded at the gate YYC to LHR from WTP to CW last week. We are both blues!

CMK10

Of course you're assuming the story is true. People love to stunt for the 'gram and it's possibly the crew was just making it up for attention.

BerksFlyer

LHR-AMS today travelling with my nephew we were OpUp’d to CE travelling on RFS. I noticed my seat change in the app about 90 minutes before departure time. I’d only passed through security about 15 mins before.

denhaagflyer

JTR to LHR. Having been offered 239 per person upgrade at check-in I declined. At gate (if you can call it a gate in JTR) the notorious beep. Upgraded from exit row to row 1 ( me gold, wife silver). No new boarding passes, just told the seat numbers, felt a bit odd, enjoyed service very much!

yellow_peril

Santorini for those (like me) who have gaps in their IATA airport codes!