Upgrading a Reward Flight?
Feb 18, 2023, 2:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Somewhere between SFO and LAX...FYI aka FAT
Programs: BAEC - back to lowly blue. Marriott - Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 466
The only 2 ways I know of is finding reward availability in club and upgrading that way or to buy an AUP if available when you check in.
If there's a third way, hopefully someone will share...
Good luck!
If there's a third way, hopefully someone will share...
Good luck!
Feb 18, 2023, 3:07 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 75
As above - there has to be reward availability in the class you want, then it’s just a case of ringing the executive club phone line and paying the extra avios, the extra taxes and fees and the £35 admin fee per person.
if there’s none currently available, join seatspy and set an alert to email you if and when one comes up - I’ve done this twice now, on outbound and inbound legs on a Malidives flight, in club both ways.
if there’s none currently available, join seatspy and set an alert to email you if and when one comes up - I’ve done this twice now, on outbound and inbound legs on a Malidives flight, in club both ways.
Feb 18, 2023, 3:20 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 7
As above - there has to be reward availability in the class you want, then it’s just a case of ringing the executive club phone line and paying the extra avios, the extra taxes and fees and the £35 admin fee per person.
if there’s none currently available, join seatspy and set an alert to email you if and when one comes up - I’ve done this twice now, on outbound and inbound legs on a Malidives flight, in club both ways.
if there’s none currently available, join seatspy and set an alert to email you if and when one comes up - I’ve done this twice now, on outbound and inbound legs on a Malidives flight, in club both ways.
Otherwise I will just have to try what JayeJ said and go for an AUP.
Feb 18, 2023, 3:26 pm
#5
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: 63,870
POUGs do very occasionally show up on redemptions, I get the impression BA is getting fairly desperate when it promotes them on Avios bookings. It would need to be a simple one way or return booking with no connections, normally, and you won't get any Avios or TPs for the POUG (or AUP), which would happen with an underlying cash booking.
Feb 18, 2023, 3:32 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 7
POUGs do very occasionally show up on redemptions, I get the impression BA is getting fairly desperate when it promotes them on Avios bookings. It would need to be a simple one way or return booking with no connections, normally, and you won't get any Avios or TPs for the POUG (or AUP), which would happen with an underlying cash booking.
Feb 18, 2023, 5:19 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 1,115
I did have to call, twice, to book it though. It popped up on MMB, I tried to click through and it said it wasn't available. I then called and was told I couldn't do a POUG as it was a redemption booking. I then posted on here, CWS very helpfully told me that I could get a POUG, so I called back and used the magic words "special upgrade offer" and the lady let me upgrade.
Jun 16, 2023, 12:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 3
I am in a similar position to Hawk2000. I booked Club return using Avios + a companion voucher (for 50% reduction in Avios as I am flying alone) to China and I am hoping to upgrade one or both of the legs to First.
From above is my understanding correct that this could be done with either cash or Avios, only if a reward seat opens up in F?
And what is meant by AUP and POUG (I presume Avios upgrade and paid upgrade?)
Thank you so much in advance for your replies.
From above is my understanding correct that this could be done with either cash or Avios, only if a reward seat opens up in F?
And what is meant by AUP and POUG (I presume Avios upgrade and paid upgrade?)
Thank you so much in advance for your replies.
Jun 16, 2023, 1:03 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,826
I am in a similar position to Hawk2000. I booked Club return using Avios + a companion voucher (for 50% reduction in Avios as I am flying alone) to China and I am hoping to upgrade one or both of the legs to First.
From above is my understanding correct that this could be done with either cash or Avios, only if a reward seat opens up in F?
And what is meant by AUP and POUG (I presume Avios upgrade and paid upgrade?)
Thank you so much in advance for your replies.
From above is my understanding correct that this could be done with either cash or Avios, only if a reward seat opens up in F?
And what is meant by AUP and POUG (I presume Avios upgrade and paid upgrade?)
Thank you so much in advance for your replies.
Airport Upgrades (AUP) promotion 2021/22 thread
POUG = Proactive Online Upgrade Promotion. This is a cash upgrade offer that is sometimes available thru MMB
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...22-thread.html
UuA = Upgrade using Avios. This is an upgrade of a cash fare using avios, which is not relevant to your present situation.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32910040-post7.html
Also see the BA Forum Glossary for help with the terms and acronyms that are used in this forum:
BA Forum Glossary
To change your flight from CW to F using avios you will need to find F reward availability and call. You really aren't upgrading with avios as you are essentially cancelling your CW avios booking and rebooking in F.