upgrades with BA status on OneWorld airlines
Aug 4, 2023, 3:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AB BA Waterloo Mama Mia
Posts: 1,201
upgrades with BA status on OneWorld airlines
Does this occur very often? I will be heading to Gold shortly and together with Avios devaluation and for now arranging travel on AA and other OneWorld airlines unless that loophole has been eliminated, do OneWorld status members carry equal priority with each airline or do we find ourselves at the bottom of the list?
Last edited by testycal; Aug 4, 2023 at 3:44 pm
Aug 4, 2023, 3:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 510
Does this occur very often? I will be heading to Gold shortly and together with Avios devaluation and for now arranging travel on AA and other OneWorld airlines unless that loophole has been eliminated, do OneWorld status members carry equal priority with each airlines or do we find ourselves at the bottom of the list?
Aug 4, 2023, 3:11 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,439
Airlines typically upgrade their own status passengers ahead of other status passengers if required to do so due to overselling, but there are many variable factors.
Aug 4, 2023, 3:13 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 557
Does this occur very often? I will be heading to Gold shortly and together with Avios devaluation and for now arranging travel on AA and other OneWorld airlines unless that loophole has been eliminated, do OneWorld status members carry equal priority with each airlines or do we find ourselves at the bottom of the list?
Aug 4, 2023, 4:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,257
Speaking from personal experience I can say it's not very often! On AA it's been a total of five times for me. I have had four short-haul upgrades (FAT - PHX, PHX - FAT, LAX - FAT, LAS - LAX) and one long-haul (LHR - LAX). On CX it's been two: one was SIN - HKG and the other LAX - HKG. I would like to think that all airlines would favour their own elites over and above those from other airlines in the same alliance when it comes to upgrades. It's also important to emphasise that different airlines have different business models when it comes to upgrades. With AA you have a mix of complimentary upgrades based on status, as well as upgrades using miles and a copay. JAL allows you to bid for upgrades.
Aug 4, 2023, 4:22 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: London (née Melbourne)
Programs: Qantas Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)
Posts: 1,073
I've had op ups on Iberia (twice), and once on Cathay and Finnair, all times while I was a oneworld Emerald via Qantas, but I have no idea if the upgrades had anything to do with my status or not.
Aug 4, 2023, 4:31 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,253
upgrades with BA status on OneWorld airlines
Does this occur very often? I will be heading to Gold shortly and together with Avios devaluation and for now arranging travel on AA and other OneWorld airlines unless that loophole has been eliminated, do OneWorld status members carry equal priority with each airline or do we find ourselves at the bottom of the list?
AA & BA have an out of alliance upgrade scheme
AA & AS have an out of alliance upgrade scheme
BA -->BA<->AA Reciprocal Upgrades
AA-->AA Partner Airline Upgrade Award - BA, IB, including codeshares (master thd)
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Aug 4, 2023 at 11:57 pm Reason: added AA AS
Aug 4, 2023, 8:39 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: BAEC Bronze, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 497
Never. Main reason why I ditched BAEC status last year and jumped over to AS. I was getting fed up of seeing my colleagues- with MVP on AS (so Ruby)- being upgraded to F on AS ahead of me with Silver on BA since AS joined OW.
I had remained loyal to my BA status for 6 years, following my relocation to the US, because I wanted the domestic US lounge access on AA. Once I adopted 'American mode' in airports I realized quickly the lounge access was of zero real benefit given how late I leave it to arrive for domestic flights. I valued the upgrade to First Class much more hence switching.
I had remained loyal to my BA status for 6 years, following my relocation to the US, because I wanted the domestic US lounge access on AA. Once I adopted 'American mode' in airports I realized quickly the lounge access was of zero real benefit given how late I leave it to arrive for domestic flights. I valued the upgrade to First Class much more hence switching.
Aug 5, 2023, 4:07 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 20,211
First year as a BA Gold/OWE and zero upgrades on AA. No thank you or acknowledgment either. None on JL. Surprisingly, I was thanked for my business when flying MH earlier this year.
I got nothing as a BA Silver/OWS on AA, BA, and AY.
I got nothing as a BA Silver/OWS on AA, BA, and AY.
Aug 5, 2023, 5:38 am
#13
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Zurich
Programs: BA GGL, TK*G EL, KL P ELPL, ex AB P, ex LH/LX Sen, HHonors D4L, Bonvoy P
Posts: 1,651
Generally operational upgrades don’t happen very often, these days. International business is usually sold out a couple of days before departure - if not those bidding for upgrades (with money) are usually picking up the last remaining seats … and then come the own elites … and then other alliance elites ….
Aug 5, 2023, 6:20 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SYD, GOT
Programs: BA GGL; SK EBG; QF LTG; Hilton Diamond, A-Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,845
It is rare (used to be much more common), and usually after the pax on the home team airline of the same status, although I think CX plays it differently. Given the amount of revenue from upgrades it is even rarer, i.e. they will process paid upgrades, bid ups etc before operational upgrades.
That said, difficult day at the office with overbooked flights, needing to upgrade, move pax around, a status pa from another airline can be attentive supportive and get a better seat. So I would say it is more than the pax who know how the system works typically benefit at the last minute.
Over the years , I have smiled at the gate with QF, QR, CX, AA, and BA.
KF
That said, difficult day at the office with overbooked flights, needing to upgrade, move pax around, a status pa from another airline can be attentive supportive and get a better seat. So I would say it is more than the pax who know how the system works typically benefit at the last minute.
Over the years , I have smiled at the gate with QF, QR, CX, AA, and BA.
KF
Aug 5, 2023, 8:51 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2023
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 174
Don’t forget a BA Gold (OWE) flying in Y on AA gets free seat selection into Main Cabin Extra as standard. That includes extra leg room and a free drink and snack (pretzels/ Biscoff biscuits).