Frequency of Upgrades: Gold Members
Aug 7, 2018, 5:57 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,551
My wife as a Silver has had pretty decent luck with ORD, both WTP-CW and CW-F. She tends to travel when it's busy at the back and on her own. My only op-up was WTP-CW on LHR-DEN back in the days when it was 3-class 777. There was an equipment change onto a 4 class and I ended up in 1E. Was very happy with that!
Aug 7, 2018, 6:07 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 914
I have never been upgraded as a Bronze,Silver,Gold, and only once as a Blue that was over five years ago and that was my first ever flight with BA, so I don't even think about them now I book the class I am prepared to travel in. I have around 12 more flights booked in this calendar year with about 50% where there is no higher class.
John
John
Aug 7, 2018, 6:09 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: Thai Royal Orchid Plus Gold, BA Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 348
I would argue that depending on the FFP and T&C, guaranteed upgrades may suit some people better than a simple calculus of earn and burn rate. For instance, my TG Gold status provides one round-trip upgrade from Y to J, which is applicable to non discount Y fare classes and books into standard J inventory. Vs BA, if I wanted to UUA from WT+ to CW , I'd need to be sure there's award space available in J. as I travel mainly for work - max PE travel policy and impossibility to book 330 days oro - the “free” TG Gold upgrade makes helluva difference for me.
Aug 7, 2018, 6:09 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US/UK - and elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,555
Non-random lottery is the best to describe BA's upgrade possibilities. As others have noted, clearly upgrades are only possible where seats are available - if you always travel on over-sold routes, you'll be out of luck.
Personal statistics-wise: 32 years of flying, 576 sectors and >1.5m miles. Total upgrades 21, or which 11 were as Blue (27 yrs), 4 as Silver (2 yrs) and 6 as Gold (3 yrs). As a blue I had 2 flights where as a family of 4 we were all upgraded from WT+ to CW (SFO-LHR and SEA to LHR) - never happened as Gold. More recently (as Gold) - nothing over the last 10 months... :-(
Personal statistics-wise: 32 years of flying, 576 sectors and >1.5m miles. Total upgrades 21, or which 11 were as Blue (27 yrs), 4 as Silver (2 yrs) and 6 as Gold (3 yrs). As a blue I had 2 flights where as a family of 4 we were all upgraded from WT+ to CW (SFO-LHR and SEA to LHR) - never happened as Gold. More recently (as Gold) - nothing over the last 10 months... :-(
Aug 7, 2018, 6:45 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SYD
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH D, QFF, EB
Posts: 404
In the last 4 years I have had 1 WTP - CW on SIN-LHR as a silver, 3 WTP - CW as a gold and 1 ET - CE as a GGL. As I tend to fly in minimum of CW or equivalent (except for domestics) I don't bank on upgrades. I actually have a better strike rate for upgrades with QR while crediting to BA.
Aug 7, 2018, 8:42 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: BA Gold; IHG Plat
Posts: 116
I've probably experienced around a 10% upgrade level from ET - CE, but am yet to (ever) get upgraded on longhaul flights. That said, despite a significant amount of longhaul travel already this year, the chances would have been fairly insignificant (WT+ to/from JNB, where I couldn't use my GUF1 either way, and a CW to MIA returning on AA). All other longhaul has been with other carriers, except my current ORD trip which I took advantage of the F fair ex-INV for. Previous years it's been much the same, with a fair amount of flights either on CX, QF, or QR.
Aug 7, 2018, 8:56 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (and other non-status plastic)
Posts: 1,889
DXB, numerous occasions, *terrible* J seat allocations and zero upgrades, despite spying CIP/my company name listed next to my name on the manifest (on account of employer/corporate bookings)
But J->F upgrades to HKG, KUL, SIN, and all on discounted ex-EU tickets
And I've had several Y->CE upgrades, although all done on board, a couple of times with the CSM picking out pax using iPad, and a couple of times recognised by crew after overnighters/B2Bs; not sure if any of these were legit, but I (probably needlessly) passed on catering, so as not to put them in a tricky situation; being Gold definitely helped to get those ones, but I suspect also being, ummm, nice and therefore generally memorable
Aug 7, 2018, 11:43 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,911
I got no upgrades while i was gold.
I have been more successful while Silver. I had 2 upgrades in the few months before i became gold and one shortly after i moved back to silver.
I have been more successful while Silver. I had 2 upgrades in the few months before i became gold and one shortly after i moved back to silver.
Aug 7, 2018, 1:07 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 774
No one, not even the brainiest of FTers can determine the DUT algorithm. Op needs are just that, and many factors come into play.
Maybe I should start ordering special meals to see if my chances increase?
My advice is to book the desired cabin to avoid disappointment.
Maybe I should start ordering special meals to see if my chances increase?
My advice is to book the desired cabin to avoid disappointment.
