abligh

How often does an OpUp CW>F happen? I've never had one despite flying quite a lot (mainly LHR->JFK). Specifically is it more or less likely than an upgrade WTP->CW (which has happened a couple of times over the same period?

fruitcage

Less likely than WTP-CW because WTP is such a small cabin on most planes. Also if WT is overbooked, pax can be rolled forward WT-WTP and WTP-CW, but CW-F would be the last stage and only be as a last resort.

orbitmic

Dubh

Extremely route and airframe dependent I would imagine. I would fly out of AUH on a monthly basis and would get 1 or 2 on the outbound. I've had a solitary 1 on the inbound over the last 5 or 6 years.

abligh

My most common route is leaving LHR lunchtime-ish on a 747-400 to JFK on a Monday, and returning on the Friday evening on a 747-400. Excess nerdery often shows there is F availability (and I've often bought AUPs) so I doubt it's full F. It may be simply that WTP is more often oversold than J, or that WT is more often oversold than J (resulting in WT->WTP upgrades and thus knock on WTP->J upgrades).

FlyingGarden

Happened once a few years ago DFW to LHR but was from WTP to F. Was a period when I'd fly in economy the day before with daughter and return on my own the next in WTP (though their gambit worked as started doing WTP + avios to get into CW after that)

Flying solo certainly helps it seems

Lenis

Ziggy1

corporate-wage-slave

WTP is going to be oversold on that route, yes, particularly on the Super J aircraft, where WTP is only 30 seats, but because CW is so big on SuperJ there shouldn't be much need to push people into First. I do get upgrades into First on that route, but essentially the aircraft has to be chockerblock for it to happen. The Monday service probably isn't going to fall into that category, depending on the Friday one you should have at least some chance there I would have thought, but it's not so much about whether First is available, what is much more important is the total number of passengers flying. So you need to think aircraft wide. BA love selling WTP, it's their big cash cow, so don't look at the W bucket at all, nor E, maybe T. They sell WTP on the basis that some / many passengers will have to go forward.

Often1

It is route & frequency dependent. After all, it only occurs when either there is an overbooking resulting in a real risk of oversale in a cabin or an oversale created by a defective seat or the like. That is close to impossible to predict. Then factor into the equation where you stand in the pecking order should a decision be taken to upgrade someone. BA's preference is, of course, to accommodate passengers in their ticketed cabin and to send the F (CW & WTP as well) seats out empty if not purchased.

fatmac70

riku2

out of 2 paid CW segments i've had one op-up to F and in about 50 paid WT+ segments about 10 op-up's to CW. But the op ups from WT+ are now far less common than 5 years ago.
I think they track what upgrades they have given you in the past and give them out to people they think might change their travel habits and buy tickets in the higher cabin. if the op-ups don't change your behaviour then you are moved lower down the op-up queue.
This is true on AY since I was chatting to a flight attendant and she explained that AY have exactly this concept for op-up's now and based on my treatment from BA I think they have a similar algorithm now.

HighwayToHEL

HRE

firstlight

We have had this happen on two occasions as a couple, ie a double op-up from CW to F, in both cases Heathrow to Dubai, once on the way out and once on the way back.

The first time we had wtp tickets upgraded to CW using Avios. Both upgrades were in the lounge/at the gate.

Also twice we have had a double upgrade to FLUB which is slightly different as it's CW service with an F seat.