BA crew upgrading a passenger on board.
Apr 9, 2016, 12:32 pm
#91
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
It would be entirely natural for a paid-up customer to be concerned about non-operational upgrades to their cabin. After all, they have paid for their class of travel. It is going to seem unfair, and may devalue the customer's perception of the value of the product as others are getting it on the cheap.
It is completely unrealistic to say it is none-of-the-business of other passengers in the higher cabin. We are a social species and we live in a culture of fairness which many of us learn from early childhood. We're all connected, and it is completely normal for this behaviour to be noticed and feel concerned about.
Apr 9, 2016, 1:31 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Greenock Scotland
Programs: BA Bronze!! Hilton Gold
Posts: 194
Friends of mine travelling black from San Fran a few weeks ago on BA got upgraded from WT to CW. One of the CC was an old school friend they hadn't seen in years..... Nice final touch to their holiday
Apr 9, 2016, 1:40 pm
#94
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,754
Wow - what a range of feelings and opinions as to be expected. I have read this thru all the way as I am directly interested in this. I have been very lucky with the large amount of travel I do, to 'know' someone at BA who does pass my name along to the relevant Capt. That Capt will or won't upgrade me at his discretion. I have had about a 50% success in moving from Y to CW, mostly as I cross onto the plane or just after I have sat down in my Y seat.
I have had a couple of occasions where there is no space further up and that's the luck of it. I had one time where the Capt was taken ill and replaced by someone else who never got the message. I even had one of my work colleagues upgraded by the Capt by accident because his name was very similar to mine! (Lucky bugger).
But whenever I fly, I always, always hope to move up and NEVER expect it. I know it's a huge favour and I treat it as that. I dress a little smarter than jeans, and when I do move up, I always make sure:
1. Never let on what's happening
2. Never post it on social media
3. Always behave as you would whenever someone does something kind to you. I treat the cabin crew with the utmost respect and graciousness.
I don't take advantage, I love having a chat with whoever has upgraded me in the cabin, and often the Capt will pop down for a quick chat and I always make sure they are aware of how appreciative I am without allowing others to overhear. Actually, I always have had really nice chats with the cabin crew in CW and they know how I got there. Only once have I had a rather surly CSD who grudgingly moved me to WT+ when the CW cabin was almost empty. He obviously did not want to move me at all and was under orders. Even then I smiled and thanked him and ignored his obvious anger towards me!
Yes, it's a case of not what you know, but who you know. And I see it as no different to getting a discount on a product because the shop owner is a friend. Or getting Sky at half price because a mate works there. Or whatever.
It's not anyone else's business because I don't rub anyone's nose in it. It is my business and that of the Captain of that aircraft, who has the authority to make the decision. He doesn't always do it either BTW.
And I even managed to repay one of the CSD's once by offering her a benefit of my business as a way of thanking her for all the great service. So it sometimes works both ways.
I have had a couple of occasions where there is no space further up and that's the luck of it. I had one time where the Capt was taken ill and replaced by someone else who never got the message. I even had one of my work colleagues upgraded by the Capt by accident because his name was very similar to mine! (Lucky bugger).
But whenever I fly, I always, always hope to move up and NEVER expect it. I know it's a huge favour and I treat it as that. I dress a little smarter than jeans, and when I do move up, I always make sure:
1. Never let on what's happening
2. Never post it on social media
3. Always behave as you would whenever someone does something kind to you. I treat the cabin crew with the utmost respect and graciousness.
I don't take advantage, I love having a chat with whoever has upgraded me in the cabin, and often the Capt will pop down for a quick chat and I always make sure they are aware of how appreciative I am without allowing others to overhear. Actually, I always have had really nice chats with the cabin crew in CW and they know how I got there. Only once have I had a rather surly CSD who grudgingly moved me to WT+ when the CW cabin was almost empty. He obviously did not want to move me at all and was under orders. Even then I smiled and thanked him and ignored his obvious anger towards me!
Yes, it's a case of not what you know, but who you know. And I see it as no different to getting a discount on a product because the shop owner is a friend. Or getting Sky at half price because a mate works there. Or whatever.
It's not anyone else's business because I don't rub anyone's nose in it. It is my business and that of the Captain of that aircraft, who has the authority to make the decision. He doesn't always do it either BTW.
And I even managed to repay one of the CSD's once by offering her a benefit of my business as a way of thanking her for all the great service. So it sometimes works both ways.
Apr 9, 2016, 1:56 pm
#96
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Why not? Will the thought police make arrests?
It would be entirely natural for a paid-up customer to be concerned about non-operational upgrades to their cabin. After all, they have paid for their class of travel. It is going to seem unfair, and may devalue the customer's perception of the value of the product as others are getting it on the cheap.
It is completely unrealistic to say it is none-of-the-business of other passengers in the higher cabin. We are a social species and we live in a culture of fairness which many of us learn from early childhood. We're all connected, and it is completely normal for this behaviour to be noticed and feel concerned about.
It would be entirely natural for a paid-up customer to be concerned about non-operational upgrades to their cabin. After all, they have paid for their class of travel. It is going to seem unfair, and may devalue the customer's perception of the value of the product as others are getting it on the cheap.
It is completely unrealistic to say it is none-of-the-business of other passengers in the higher cabin. We are a social species and we live in a culture of fairness which many of us learn from early childhood. We're all connected, and it is completely normal for this behaviour to be noticed and feel concerned about.
Apr 9, 2016, 2:16 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
But I just don't get how it is unfair for the paying customer that somebody else flew in the same cabin without paying for it. That sounds like jealousy to me. How are operational upgrades different from onboard upgrades? In both instances the passenger did not pay to fly in that cabin. Not everyone is pre-occupied with how other people get things. It is not as if other people are taking something from the paying customers. What's wrong with good things happening to people? Following your logic it may seem similarly unfair that people are doing ex-DUB flying without paying the full fare that other passengers are paying or that people are getting higher status with cheap TPs run cheapening the value of 'true' GGLs or CCR card holders. Someone else will always be getting something that others can't get for free or on the cheap in all sorts of situations in life - it will take too much time and will be too stressful to think about all of these situations. After all, fair does not mean that nobody gets what you can't get. Me thinks.
Opups are different from flight/cabin crew favoured upgrades because of the motivation behind them. Opups are for operational reasons, and the latter are for friendship, like or love.
Of course to actively be pre-occupied with other people's benefits would be unhealthy, and it would be too stressful and take too much time as you rightly say. However, there is a difference between that and noticing that your 1/3 empty cabin suddenly becomes full after doors have closed and the crew seem more friendly with them, and you are left wondering about the £3K you have spent when others clearly haven't.
Or, if you are sat in Y, and your next door neighbour suddenly gets a quiet word from the crew and get up and move forward, never to be seen again. Yes, of course, you still got what you paid for, but it would be completely normal to feel jealous as someone else has been favoured over you.
Jealousy (and envy) is a normal emotion that is a type of anger, which in turn is letting you know that something that you want is being frustrated. Best thing is to acknowledge it and understand why, then choose to feel something else. Like happiness or humour for example, and enjoy your flight!
Apr 9, 2016, 2:19 pm
#98
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
A lot of fuss over something that's usually the figment of the posters imagination rather than any solid evidence.
I always love the 'I have higher status than them'....'I saw all their boarding passes at the gate' ones the best.
I always love the 'I have higher status than them'....'I saw all their boarding passes at the gate' ones the best.
Apr 9, 2016, 2:20 pm
#99
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Moscow / Aylesbury / Leeds
Programs: BA-GGL, SU-G Agean, G,, Hhonours D, Starwood G, IHG G,
Posts: 1,531
Wow, how petty we can be.
This ain't the US, it ain't AA, you don't get to use every 1st and Business Seat via some one having one more point than someone else. It's BA and BA will fly with emptyish J and F cabins rather than give it away.
If you get an outa the blue upgrade, op-up, something from captain n crew or whatever, smile say thank's and be happy.
If you don't get an upgrade, tough, but smile and be happy, you got what you paid for
And do stop worrying about what others get, as it is really is not any of your business, you don't know why, and you will get so stressed out worrying why other people get something more than you do and feeling inadequate
This ain't the US, it ain't AA, you don't get to use every 1st and Business Seat via some one having one more point than someone else. It's BA and BA will fly with emptyish J and F cabins rather than give it away.
If you get an outa the blue upgrade, op-up, something from captain n crew or whatever, smile say thank's and be happy.
If you don't get an upgrade, tough, but smile and be happy, you got what you paid for
And do stop worrying about what others get, as it is really is not any of your business, you don't know why, and you will get so stressed out worrying why other people get something more than you do and feeling inadequate
Apr 9, 2016, 2:45 pm
#101
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,552
Wow - what a range of feelings and opinions as to be expected. I have read this thru all the way as I am directly interested in this. I have been very lucky with the large amount of travel I do, to 'know' someone at BA who does pass my name along to the relevant Capt. That Capt will or won't upgrade me at his discretion. I have had about a 50% success in moving from Y to CW, mostly as I cross onto the plane or just after I have sat down in my Y seat.
Out of interest, to the staffers out there, when a captain or CSD uses their legitimate discretion up upgrade someone onboard, are they supposed to report this to BA?
Apr 9, 2016, 2:49 pm
#103
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London & Surrey
Programs: BA Blue, Virgin Flying Club, Hertz #1 Gold, Avis Preferred, National Emerald, Dr. Oetker Speciale
Posts: 455
So long as I get what I pay for, I really don't care.
Every industry has it's perks and this particular industry is one where the staff have for years had their existing terms and conditions under attack and the joy sucked out of their jobs.
Live and let live I say.
Every industry has it's perks and this particular industry is one where the staff have for years had their existing terms and conditions under attack and the joy sucked out of their jobs.
Live and let live I say.
Apr 9, 2016, 3:47 pm
#105
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Jealousy (and envy) is a normal emotion that is a type of anger, which in turn is letting you know that something that you want is being frustrated. Best thing is to acknowledge it and understand why, then choose to feel something else. Like happiness or humour for example, and enjoy your flight!
Look at the thread about recognition of GCHs in Y. It is exactly the same thing. People get something extra for being Golds. Yes, some may argue that they are paying customers, but the premise is the same - we get something extra that BA has not necessarily authorized. But yet we justify it somehow. It appears that some want everything for them and nothing for others.