Upgrade question
Apr 26, 2017, 9:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bloomington IN
Posts: 882
Upgrade question
I realize that all airlines have been very stingy with upgrades--
We flew back LHR-ORD on 4/26 on the 747. I had confirmed business upgrades
from PE on the outbound but could not clear the return. I called until the last day but no Avios upgrades. The business class section of the flight [at least the bottom level] was almost empty. Is there a special phone number, handshake, to get them to clear an almost empty flight which they know will not sell out?
Thanks for the help.
We flew back LHR-ORD on 4/26 on the 747. I had confirmed business upgrades
from PE on the outbound but could not clear the return. I called until the last day but no Avios upgrades. The business class section of the flight [at least the bottom level] was almost empty. Is there a special phone number, handshake, to get them to clear an almost empty flight which they know will not sell out?
Thanks for the help.
Apr 26, 2017, 9:43 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
No there is not, and there is no reason to expect BA to open award seats on empty flights.
If there was certainty that BA would open aware space close to departure on empty flights, then passengers who would buy business class fares may instead buy WT+ in the knowledge they could usually upgrade.
If you want to travel in J, then the best way is to pay for it upfront.
If there was certainty that BA would open aware space close to departure on empty flights, then passengers who would buy business class fares may instead buy WT+ in the knowledge they could usually upgrade.
If you want to travel in J, then the best way is to pay for it upfront.
Apr 26, 2017, 9:50 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
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Apr 26, 2017, 10:23 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Melia Gold, Shangri-La Jade, BA Amex PP, Iberia+, Nandos Card
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Apr 26, 2017, 11:43 am
#8
formerly southsidesilver
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Diego,CA
Programs: BA Gold, UA Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 996
I'm surprised that BA don't want to make more money and offer bidding upgrades to sell out the cabin and empty seats.
After all we keep saying they are penny pinching, so filling up the J cabin with people who bid on an upgrade is almost something I thought they would do.
After all we keep saying they are penny pinching, so filling up the J cabin with people who bid on an upgrade is almost something I thought they would do.
Apr 26, 2017, 11:45 am
#9
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
I'm surprised that BA don't want to make more money and offer bidding upgrades to sell out the cabin and empty seats.
After all we keep saying they are penny pinching, so filling up the J cabin with people who bid on an upgrade is almost something I thought they would do.
After all we keep saying they are penny pinching, so filling up the J cabin with people who bid on an upgrade is almost something I thought they would do.
Apr 26, 2017, 11:50 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
It's about protecting future revenue.
If they went to the US model of upgrades, it would create a strong incentive for people like me (20+ paid CW sectors a year) to play the odds on getting a bump and book PE instead...
The Net Present Value of the few pounds they receive today from an upgrader is less than the several hundred pounds I will spend in 3 months time.
Business case doesn't stack up hence no dice...
If they went to the US model of upgrades, it would create a strong incentive for people like me (20+ paid CW sectors a year) to play the odds on getting a bump and book PE instead...
The Net Present Value of the few pounds they receive today from an upgrader is less than the several hundred pounds I will spend in 3 months time.
Business case doesn't stack up hence no dice...
Apr 26, 2017, 12:07 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pasadena, CA
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hyatt Plat, Amex Plat.
Posts: 651
Indeed, during a rare CSM greeting yesterday (and the very welcome gift of a CW size water), he apologized for not being able to improve my seating situation. I had paid for WTP and was in WTP, so no apology necessary.
Apr 26, 2017, 12:30 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Nothing special about the phone number: it's 1-800-AIRWAYS. You simply phone up, tell them which flight you're on, and pay the change fee and fare difference to get one of the many business class seats still available.
Apr 26, 2017, 12:49 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,176
There was a similar thread on the DL board not that long ago asking why there were empty seats in D1 on a TATL flight when there were mega diamonds and plutonium elites 'suffering' in economy.
Same answers as here given so it's not just BA not giving freebies.
Same answers as here given so it's not just BA not giving freebies.
Last edited by UKtravelbear; Apr 26, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Apr 26, 2017, 1:05 pm
#15
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Location: Pasadena, CA
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