Birthday upgrade
Nov 8, 2018, 9:39 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: BA Executive Club and OnBusiness
Posts: 720
If you fancy looking at the maths in more detail have a look here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_problem
Nov 8, 2018, 9:47 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Scotland
Posts: 377
Nov 8, 2018, 10:24 am
#33
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
Quick calculation, ignoring leap years and assuming every seat is full and no lap infants, and the flight only falls on a single date:
747 Hi J (275 passengers) - 53% chance it's someone's birthday on board
A380 (469 passengers) - 72% chance it's someone's birthday
So (on average) half of the 747 flights have a birthday passenger, and 2 out of every 3 A380 flights
747 Hi J (275 passengers) - 53% chance it's someone's birthday on board
A380 (469 passengers) - 72% chance it's someone's birthday
So (on average) half of the 747 flights have a birthday passenger, and 2 out of every 3 A380 flights
If you assume the probability of two birthdays are based on one person being 1/365 (or 366 occasionally) then on a flight with more than 365/366 people you'd think the probability would be over 100% (not 75%) since there are 469 people on an A380 and only 365 dates possible, but the math is more complex:
https://betterexplained.com/articles...thday-paradox/
So airlines giving out $000's of upgrades to every birthday calls for the odds to be multiple per flight and that's a money loser for sure.
Nov 8, 2018, 10:43 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
Score +two points if he's flying with an emotional support animal.
Nov 8, 2018, 11:29 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 186
). Mind you, I dressed better as a student than I do as a professional.
Nov 8, 2018, 11:41 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,193
I never really understood the upgrade rules anyway... in all my years of flying BA, I never received an upgrade. The only times I did get upgrades was on Lufthansa as a student (parents lived in Germany but I studied abroad = frequent flyer
). Mind you, I dressed better as a student than I do as a professional.It includes things such as status, fare bucket of your ticket, your previous flights and cabin classes. So if you are a regular CW flyer in WTP and BA need to upgrade on that flight they may skip you in favour of a regular WTP flyer who has never been in club in the basis that after a taste you may be more willing to pay for it and thus earn more money from you in the future.
Nov 8, 2018, 12:12 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 186
BA has a behind the scenes algorithm to put the list together IF it needs to upgrade. Remember BA does not upgrade just to be nice only if it needs your seat in the cabin and has space upfront.
It includes things such as status, fare bucket of your ticket, your previous flights and cabin classes. So if you are a regular CW flyer in WTP and BA need to upgrade on that flight they may skip you in favour of a regular WTP flyer who has never been in club in the basis that after a taste you may be more willing to pay for it and thus earn more money from you in the future.
It includes things such as status, fare bucket of your ticket, your previous flights and cabin classes. So if you are a regular CW flyer in WTP and BA need to upgrade on that flight they may skip you in favour of a regular WTP flyer who has never been in club in the basis that after a taste you may be more willing to pay for it and thus earn more money from you in the future.
That sounds like a coding exercise.
Like a complex version of the one where you need to create the guest list for a ‘fun’ company party, but the rule is that no one can enjoy the party when their immediate superior is in attendance...
Nov 8, 2018, 1:35 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
When I landed in Dublin last year on my Birthday the borders lady who checked my passport wished me a Happy Birthday, it was a simple act but greatly appreciated and raised even further my high regard of Ireland.
Things which cost money are not always necessary. Having staff who are motivated and can take initiative. Priceless.
Things which cost money are not always necessary. Having staff who are motivated and can take initiative. Priceless.
Nov 8, 2018, 1:56 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Nov 8, 2018, 3:56 pm
#41
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold/ All the AMEX Plat things
Posts: 195
I'm just curious as to how this played out. It makes it sound as though you were trying to blag yourselves into lounges you didn't all have access to on the basis of it being a birthday. Having rarely had duty managers approach me in lounges did you seek out a duty manager in the CX lounge to have a whinge about being denied access to the F side? If so, IMO, *cringe*.
Maybe it's just me but people who make a big deal about their birthday and particularly those who expect strangers to do them favours are narcissistic. Congratulations, you made it another 365 days without being hit by the metaphorical bus *slow clap*
Now if the airline wants to proactively upgrade someone or do them a favour that's completely different and a nice bit of "surprise and delight".
Maybe it's just me but people who make a big deal about their birthday and particularly those who expect strangers to do them favours are narcissistic. Congratulations, you made it another 365 days without being hit by the metaphorical bus *slow clap*
Now if the airline wants to proactively upgrade someone or do them a favour that's completely different and a nice bit of "surprise and delight".
Seek out the Duty manager? No. He approached us asking if everything was ok.(I was also surprised by the approach) We explained that we were celebrating a birthday and it would have been nice to be able to eat in the dining area.
That’s how it all played out. And why have extra 3 pax in the already busy club lounge when 2 of the 3 of us were eligible for the quieter 1st lounge anyway? Maybe it was a case of ‘proactively’ managing lounge numbers. Who knows? We were granted permission. Why sound so bitter about it? I’ll say it again- no harm in asking.
PS. If I was travelling alone and a complete stranger asked me to guest him/her in, I think I would now, knowing that it would annoy the likes of yourself!
Last edited by Finavia; Nov 8, 2018 at 4:01 pm Reason: Typo
Nov 8, 2018, 4:48 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
Nov 8, 2018, 10:33 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Turku/Edinburgh
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Explorer/Flying Blue Petroleum Club
Posts: 149
This year I will fly HEL > LHR > EDI the day before my Birthday in CE so no upgrade available
The day after my Birthday GLA > LGW > MCO in WTP so there is hope........
No Flights on my actual birthday I think I have missed a trick here
The day after my Birthday GLA > LGW > MCO in WTP so there is hope........
No Flights on my actual birthday I think I have missed a trick here