Ridiculous airport upgrade pricing
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), Marriott Tit
Posts: 1,038
Ridiculous airport upgrade pricing
I'm flying BA192 tonight, apparently in my purchased WT+ seat (21J with a blocked seat next to me). Call me crazy, but I simply can't imagine anyone paying $1100 for a WT+ to Club upgrade (more than the fare difference when I booked).
This seems like a serious lack of revenue maximization, particularly on a flight that's showing J9.
What am I missing?
This seems like a serious lack of revenue maximization, particularly on a flight that's showing J9.
What am I missing?
#2
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SYD, GOT
Programs: BA GGL; SK EBG; QF LTG; Hilton Diamond, A-Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,724
Would it be that you were denied the AUP offer and just quoted the fare difference? (IIRC BA will deny AUP offers to people who have utilised them too often on the past?)
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), Marriott Tit
Posts: 1,038
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
I'm flying BA192 tonight, apparently in my purchased WT+ seat (21J with a blocked seat next to me). Call me crazy, but I simply can't imagine anyone paying $1100 for a WT+ to Club upgrade (more than the fare difference when I booked).
This seems like a serious lack of revenue maximization, particularly on a flight that's showing J9.
What am I missing?
This seems like a serious lack of revenue maximization, particularly on a flight that's showing J9.
What am I missing?
The airline isn't going to always be offering discounted upgrades
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
If your flight shows J9 and the airport upgrade price is 1100 then something is going on that makes them do this. How are the C/D/R/I buckets?
#6
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US/UK - and elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,559
That price seems about right. I've often be offered a 'special price upgrade' (WT+-CW) which given my farcical expression even the agent has then noted, was not 'special'. However, a bargain compared with a $5500 upgrade being offered for one of my WT+-CW flights (although it is only $5400 if I upgrade both ways!). As others have noted before, BA don't want passengers knowing that they can take advantage of last minute 'cheap' upgrades since they probably wouldn't buy more expense fares in the first place.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
I'm flying BA192 tonight, apparently in my purchased WT+ seat (21J with a blocked seat next to me). Call me crazy, but I simply can't imagine anyone paying $1100 for a WT+ to Club upgrade (more than the fare difference when I booked).
This seems like a serious lack of revenue maximization, particularly on a flight that's showing J9.
What am I missing?
This seems like a serious lack of revenue maximization, particularly on a flight that's showing J9.
What am I missing?
I have numerous trips where the I've tried for an Avios upgrade Several times in the run up to recent trips to be told k ow availability only for the cabin I was trying to get in to be half empty once onboard.
#9
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Wouldn't it be refreshing if once or twice a year they just gave upgrades becuase a seat in the next cabin was available, obviously not every time but just the odd one as a thankyou.
I have numerous trips where the I've tried for an Avios upgrade Several times in the run up to recent trips to be told k ow availability only for the cabin I was trying to get in to be half empty once onboard.
I have numerous trips where the I've tried for an Avios upgrade Several times in the run up to recent trips to be told k ow availability only for the cabin I was trying to get in to be half empty once onboard.
#10
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,967
Wouldn't it be refreshing if once or twice a year they just gave upgrades becuase a seat in the next cabin was available, obviously not every time but just the odd one as a thankyou.
I have numerous trips where the I've tried for an Avios upgrade Several times in the run up to recent trips to be told k ow availability only for the cabin I was trying to get in to be half empty once onboard.
I have numerous trips where the I've tried for an Avios upgrade Several times in the run up to recent trips to be told k ow availability only for the cabin I was trying to get in to be half empty once onboard.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
Wouldn't it be refreshing if once or twice a year they just gave upgrades becuase a seat in the next cabin was available, obviously not every time but just the odd one as a thankyou.
I have numerous trips where the I've tried for an Avios upgrade Several times in the run up to recent trips to be told k ow availability only for the cabin I was trying to get in to be half empty once onboard.
I have numerous trips where the I've tried for an Avios upgrade Several times in the run up to recent trips to be told k ow availability only for the cabin I was trying to get in to be half empty once onboard.
#14
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: 63,811
The usual East Coast to LHR AUP rate is around USD800 to USD1200, perhaps a bit less on a BOS service where they are really keen to move people, a bit more on a less than full DFW service. AUPs are calibrated so that they are always higher than the lowest differential possible between WTP and CW, however at the time of purchase it is possible that the AUP rate will be the most effective way into CW, for example if there isn't a Saturday night away. The entire logic here being that BA preserve overall revenue management over tactical short term monetary gain. So what happened here is that BA didn't need to create WTP space, and if they were offering CW it would be on the basis of about the same cost as the initial purchase cost. Want CW? Pay CW. Crazy it is not. Almost certainly the most cost effective route into CW would be Upgrade using Avios, where a different set of logic comes into play. Still there would have been USD 500 cash to pay on top of the Avios.
More information on AUP rates in the BA Forum Dashboard.
#15
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