To check in or not check in?
Feb 23, 2020, 1:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Malta
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 671
To check in or not check in?
We will be flying BA58 CPT-LHR tomorrow (boohoo). I was too late to get seats in J and the flight looks packed. There have been no offers of any POUGs. Just wondering If an online check in will scupper any remaining chance of an upgrade - what do the team think?
Feb 23, 2020, 1:59 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: BAEC Silver, Volare Executive / Skyteam Elite+
Posts: 672
I almost always check in as early as I can; I've never had an op-up but I think resigning yourself to flying in the cabin you booked and 'securing' a reasonable seat is generally the right approach. If there was no J available and no sign of POUG I'd guess upgrade chance is pretty low anyway, I'm fairly certain they can still sell you an AUP at bag drop/in the lounge (assuming there's one at CPT, don't know the airport myself)
Feb 23, 2020, 2:00 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,387
Best to check in but not to save or print the boarding pass. That way you can still change your seat if a better one becomes available.
By checking in you are making it clear to BA that you intend to travel, so if anything an opup is more likely.
By checking in you are making it clear to BA that you intend to travel, so if anything an opup is more likely.
Feb 23, 2020, 2:00 am
#5
Join Date: May 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, AF/KL Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 830
I do not think there is any difference in checking in or not (in terms of getting an upgrade), however what you could do, is when you get to the airport (with OLCI or not) head to a desk and ask if they have any upgrades that you can buy - you never know, they might offer you a price which is acceptable to you.
Feb 23, 2020, 2:05 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 457
There is one seat for sale in F if one of you is prepared to consider leap-frogging J!
Feb 23, 2020, 3:35 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: 63,803
It is slightly positive. Generally BA prefer to do involuntary upgrades at the gate, when they know for sure what the situation is. But CPT is one of those often overbooked locations where they will do invols well before departure, often 20 hours out, and these will go to those who did OLCI. Checking in late, particularly if without seat assignment, has the opposite effect and should be avoided. Generally, however, people get what they pay for. If UuA appears on the day of travel then you would need to get offloaded before the UuA could be completed, that's the only downside I can think of now that POUGs (like AUPs) can be done after check-in.
