Can you pro-actively airport upgrade another passenger?
Jan 20, 2019, 8:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Gold, Virgin Atlantic Silver
Posts: 210
Can you pro-actively airport upgrade another passenger?
I'm wondering, can you pro-actively airport upgrade another passenger, without them necessarily being aware that you're doing so.
Such that when they arrive at the airport they get a nice surprise...
Such that when they arrive at the airport they get a nice surprise...
Jan 20, 2019, 8:23 am
#3
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,077
I have done it for a colleague when I knew BA would upgrade me. I paid online using my credit card. You can have a different person paying to the actual passenger
Jan 20, 2019, 8:27 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Gold, Virgin Atlantic Silver
Posts: 210
Sorry, I should add, assuming you paid for the ticket. Assuming you paid this must you give some ability to manage the booking ?
I.e. you arrive for the airport, before the passenger, you pay for the upgrade at the sales desk at the airport.
Doable ?
I.e. you arrive for the airport, before the passenger, you pay for the upgrade at the sales desk at the airport.
Doable ?
Jan 20, 2019, 9:16 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Brisbane
Programs: BAEC Blue/Bronze, Krisflyer, Qantas
Posts: 417
I had a long palarva trying to do something similar but with UuA. I had to add myself as a third party nominee to their BAEC account and add their BAEC number to the flight booking. It’s not really a surprise with all the notifications they get.
I’ve always thought it would be nice if BA offered a mechanism to allow anonymous upgrades if members have opted in. “Allow anyone to upgrade my travel class on BA flight bookings.”
I’ve always thought it would be nice if BA offered a mechanism to allow anonymous upgrades if members have opted in. “Allow anyone to upgrade my travel class on BA flight bookings.”
Jan 20, 2019, 9:26 am
#7
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
Posts: 63,731
Yes, if you paid for the booking. And if an AUP comes up then you can also pay for it, though emails get generated along the way with AUP particularly if there are seat selections involved.
Jan 20, 2019, 11:43 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,742
I did the OLCI and saw the upgrade offer and accepted it, and didn't tell him. He only clued in when he had to stop at a row sooner then he was expecting upon boarding, and in a different cabin. He was very surprised and quite grateful.
Jan 20, 2019, 11:48 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,499
Also if you are a nominated party on the booking even if you didn’t pay. Eg convince the other they need to do that so you can change your seat or something...
Jan 22, 2019, 2:29 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: london
Programs: mileage plus
Posts: 11
if you can get hold of their PNR number and change the booking online without them knowing you can. A friend of mine upgraded his parents on Air
Canada so when they checked in they got the surprise.
Canada so when they checked in they got the surprise.
Jan 22, 2019, 2:41 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: London
Programs: Newbie BA Gold
Posts: 570
Once upgraded missus from Y to PE on Virgin without telling her. She then called me after she had boarded saying she was upgraded for some reason and now sipping champagne in upper. I was really worried she had somehow gotten lost! Turns out she got an extra bump last minute...