Upgrade and when to ask
Dec 29, 2018, 7:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver, UA 1K, HHonors, Hertz Gold
Posts: 253
Upgrade and when to ask
Hello - a simple question today. I will be flying BA 268 LAX to LHR on 2 January. I will be connecting from an AA flight. I wanted to ask about upgrading from WT+ to CW at the airport but wasn’t sure if I should ask when checking in for the AA flight or if I need to wait until I get to LAX. Or should I scrap this plan all together and just call now and ask the cost of a cash upgrade? TIA
Dec 29, 2018, 7:52 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Programs: BA, JAL
Posts: 689
Hello - a simple question today. I will be flying BA 268 LAX to LHR on 2 January. I will be connecting from an AA flight. I wanted to ask about upgrading from WT+ to CW at the airport but wasn’t sure if I should ask when checking in for the AA flight or if I need to wait until I get to LAX. Or should I scrap this plan all together and just call now and ask the cost of a cash upgrade? TIA
There is a thread in the forum that lists upgrade prices at airport.
Maybe this helps.
Airport Upgrades (AUP) promotion 2018 thread
Dec 29, 2018, 8:41 am
#3
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
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The best place to ask is the landside TBIT check-in in LAX, which is perhaps unfortunate since I'm guessing you will be in the airside connection. There aren't many BA agents airside - there is at the gate but that would be too late. So you best go landside and round to TBIT. If you see a staff member in front of any queues, checking documents and what not, they will almost certainly know whether AUPs are available. AA don't see BA's AUPs, they can only do fare difference upgrades, which is almost certainly all that will be possible via Contact Centres too. However a Contact Centre would be able to arrange an Upgrade Using Avios if there is availability. Just to a normal dummy redemption check for a CW seat to see if it is.
Dec 29, 2018, 9:16 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
AA will treat a request to change your ticket from one class to another as a straightforward fare difference. Thus, likely to be very expensive (although I would certainly ask at your original AA check-in counter on the off chance that it is not).
As others note, your alternative is to ask at BA at LAX, necessitating another checkpoint clearance.
As others note, your alternative is to ask at BA at LAX, necessitating another checkpoint clearance.
Dec 29, 2018, 10:02 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver, UA 1K, HHonors, Hertz Gold
Posts: 253
Great tips! I have a long layover in LAX so I have plenty of time to go airside and ask at the BA counter. Sounds like much better and decent priced chances that way.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Dec 29, 2018, 10:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
However at the gate is generally deemed too late( if you need to pay they have no way to facilitate this so it's off the cards). CC can upgrade you at their discretion / for operational reasons but that's down to them and in the lap of the gods. They certainly ( that I am aware of anyway) cannot upgrade based on offer of payment to do so.
Anyone else knowing to the contrary please obviously correct me.
Dec 29, 2018, 11:25 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
Can you ask - YES
However at the gate is generally deemed too late( if you need to pay they have no way to facilitate this so it's off the cards). CC can upgrade you at their discretion / for operational reasons but that's down to them and in the lap of the gods. They certainly ( that I am aware of anyway) cannot upgrade based on offer of payment to do so.
Anyone else knowing to the contrary please obviously correct me.
However at the gate is generally deemed too late( if you need to pay they have no way to facilitate this so it's off the cards). CC can upgrade you at their discretion / for operational reasons but that's down to them and in the lap of the gods. They certainly ( that I am aware of anyway) cannot upgrade based on offer of payment to do so.
Anyone else knowing to the contrary please obviously correct me.
Dec 30, 2018, 4:43 am
#10
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 411
I wonder if this is a missed opportunity where the crew could pro-actively sell upgrades on board. They could also perhaps sell at a discounted rate half way through the flight.
Dec 30, 2018, 6:05 am
#11
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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That was an experiment with the iPads which for some reason didn't survive the trial period. I don' t think you can do gate upgrades very easily since paid upgrades need to be done before check-in is completed (or perhaps very shortly thereafter), so that would be 60 minutes from departure on longhaul.