What's your earliest Opup?
Feb 3, 2019, 5:59 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 860
If you use the BA App and allow notifications you'll often see the "seat change" pop up if you get upgraded "at the gate" (i.e. you'll know about it before you get the beep at the boarding gate so can work on seat changes in the lounge if needed).
Feb 4, 2019, 3:50 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Our "earliest" wasn't until about 17:45 on 25 Sep 2014, at Gate 42 at IAD. 
We had been BAEC Silver since 2011, and had just renewed that on the outbound to IAD 3 weeks previously.
A useless data point really, as it was our only ever OpUp (W > J). On this occasion we had been unable to UuA to J on the return leg, so we were doubly grateful! What the algorithm was on that day I have no idea. We'd been doing the TATL UuA to J a couple of times a year since 2008, so BA knew we weren't big spenders, and certainly didn't need to show us how nice CW is! So was it sympathy for not getting our usual UuA to J?
We had been BAEC Silver since 2011, and had just renewed that on the outbound to IAD 3 weeks previously.
A useless data point really, as it was our only ever OpUp (W > J). On this occasion we had been unable to UuA to J on the return leg, so we were doubly grateful! What the algorithm was on that day I have no idea. We'd been doing the TATL UuA to J a couple of times a year since 2008, so BA knew we weren't big spenders, and certainly didn't need to show us how nice CW is! So was it sympathy for not getting our usual UuA to J?
Feb 4, 2019, 4:46 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: All good weekends in the UK begin at Heathrow :)
Programs: Amex MR, A3, BAEC
Posts: 195
Have never had a free one with BA. Been a mix of Blue and Bronze since 2004. Should make Silver for the first time this year owing to weekly short haul flights. I am paying for the upgrades myself so that I can hit Silver. Won't have another chance like this so I thought what the heck. I guess in future upgrades would be most welcome given company policy on business flights is non-existent unless flying out on >5 hr flight.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:25 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,895
36 hours from departure once when leaving ICN. There seemed to be a huge tour group on the plane so I suspect there were a lot of op-ups. I started with a WT+ to F upgrade which then became a CW only upgrade but I was happy enough �� Usually they happen when the flight is under gate control in my experience.
I have twice been upgraded onboard - once when I pinned down a disruptive passenger and then he was restrained in his seat which was next to mine upstairs on a 747, the other time was when I had a non-functioning CW seat on an almost brand new Dreamliner - CW was full but there was one remaining seat in F so I got it.
My latest upgrade before boarding was last week out of MAN. My BP was scanned, the lady said it was OK and then came running down the airbridge 20 seconds later to tell me I was now in 2F
I have twice been upgraded onboard - once when I pinned down a disruptive passenger and then he was restrained in his seat which was next to mine upstairs on a 747, the other time was when I had a non-functioning CW seat on an almost brand new Dreamliner - CW was full but there was one remaining seat in F so I got it.
My latest upgrade before boarding was last week out of MAN. My BP was scanned, the lady said it was OK and then came running down the airbridge 20 seconds later to tell me I was now in 2F
Last edited by ThatT1Feeling; Feb 4, 2019 at 7:41 am
Feb 4, 2019, 6:05 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DUB / DOH
Posts: 693
I have gotten two op ups on BA, and I am not even a member of BAEC, I am a Oneworld Sapphire on QR however. Both happened at the gate, one was WT to WTP and the other was WTP to CW.
As an economy flier, needless to say I was very grateful!
As an economy flier, needless to say I was very grateful!
Feb 4, 2019, 8:10 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I once got a call from BA to let me know about an op-up, about three days before the flight. But that was back in cradle seat days, so that welcome human touch is probably long gone.
I've had a few at or just before OLCI, but the vast majority have been at the gate.
I've had a few at or just before OLCI, but the vast majority have been at the gate.
Feb 4, 2019, 8:30 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,543
2 op ups at blue from WTP to CW. Both at desk. First we due to equipment change to a Super J 747. Then two weeks later on way back to Mexico was not even told I was upgraded. Just printed me a CW BP and sent me through FT security.
Feb 4, 2019, 9:51 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: All the usual suspects
Posts: 342
Not only you,
I'm a firm subscriber that you book the cabin you want to fly in, however just the occasional nibble would of course be welcome. I guess they know what they are going to get from me though with well established patterns and a restrictive corporate policy that BA will be well aware of. The only times I got the magic beep to upgrade was into CE on a trip to Algiers in around 2008 and from PE to C from Moscow around 6 years ago!
I was on a practically full BA 279 yesterday with, according to the lady who checked me in, only a couple of spare seats in First and she said there would definitely be 'some passenger moves'
Needless to say First got filled up without troubling me, I say good luck to the lucky few, clearly the algorithm gods are not with me and I had to contend with a pleasant enough flight in the mini Club World cabin
Feb 4, 2019, 5:36 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 494
Originally posted by abligh:
Once after thinking "no, £x for PE->J AUP doesn't seem worthwhile"
Once after thinking "no, £x for PE->J AUP doesn't seem worthwhile"
The oddest was when I guested a friend into the lounge at LHR, both booked in WT+. She got an upgrade and a new BP before reaching the gate, but I didn't. At the gate my WT+ BP produced a ping, and a comment from one of the agents that I appeared to have boarded already! Another agent typed a few strokes and then handed me a new, CW, BP, and I found myself sitting next to my friend.