Free upgrade from Club World to First on reward ticket
Mar 17, 2024, 9:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 14
Free upgrade from Club World to First on reward ticket
Something rather unexpected happened on my recent flight from Tokyo HND to London LHR. My wife and I were booked in Club World. These were Avios reward flights purchased with an AMEX Premium Plus 2-4-1 voucher. Just before boarding, after checking our passports, the boarding agent handed us two new First boarding passes. I had never flown First before and to experience it on a 15 hour flight was amazing. Also, this was the first time I was upgraded?
I recently moved up from BA Silver to Gold, but my wife doesn't hold status. I just wanted to share it here - mainly to process this fantastic surprise.
I recently moved up from BA Silver to Gold, but my wife doesn't hold status. I just wanted to share it here - mainly to process this fantastic surprise.
Mar 17, 2024, 9:31 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 11
My best upgrade(s) was also a long distance one, upgraded to First from ICN to LHR travelling home from work for Christmas. Two weeks later I received notification that I had been upgraded on the return too, by coincidence it was the same seat on the same plane both times 1A on YMMN, happy days. Just over 10 years ago now.
Mar 17, 2024, 10:01 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 632
Much is written about the woeful state of BA’s IT. But they have cracked the upgrade algorithm. If you suspect, expect, hope, pray, or dare peek at the seat map for a higher cabin than you are ticketed in, your chances are zero.
OpUps only seem to happen when they come as a complete surprise. Congrats on yours!
OpUps only seem to happen when they come as a complete surprise. Congrats on yours!
Mar 17, 2024, 11:48 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,570
Tobias-UK It seems you've had an upgrade as well 
(On my last flight, I had UUA'd from WTP to CW, and then got an opup to F at the gate, so the gods do occasionally smile on us...)
(On my last flight, I had UUA'd from WTP to CW, and then got an opup to F at the gate, so the gods do occasionally smile on us...)
Last edited by ratechaser; Mar 17, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Mar 17, 2024, 11:48 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 11, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 4,236
This is really like hen’s teeth but it does happen on Avios tickets.
Happened to us on returning from a holiday in St. Lucia a few years ago.
Got the beep right at the last minute… boarding agent says, we have changed your seats… SWMBO starts to protest… I ask to look at the new BPs… SWMBO continues to protest… I (at high personal risk) suggest to SWMBO that all is fine and she should stay shtum… then we walk across the tarmac to the a/c and I explain that new seats are in F. SWMBO backs down from calling the divorce lawyer… and the rest of the trip was fabulous.
ENJOY!
PS Like you we were on Avios, on a 241 and IIRC recently up to Silver.
Happened to us on returning from a holiday in St. Lucia a few years ago.
Got the beep right at the last minute… boarding agent says, we have changed your seats… SWMBO starts to protest… I ask to look at the new BPs… SWMBO continues to protest… I (at high personal risk) suggest to SWMBO that all is fine and she should stay shtum… then we walk across the tarmac to the a/c and I explain that new seats are in F. SWMBO backs down from calling the divorce lawyer… and the rest of the trip was fabulous.
ENJOY!
PS Like you we were on Avios, on a 241 and IIRC recently up to Silver.
Last edited by BA or bust; Mar 17, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Mar 18, 2024, 4:14 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 64
Same thing happened to me back in Feb, same route too!
And just like BA or bust I was on Avios, 241, and it was my first new flight after hitting silver for the first time.
And just like BA or bust I was on Avios, 241, and it was my first new flight after hitting silver for the first time.
Mar 18, 2024, 6:37 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ireland
Programs: BA: GOLD, MARRIOTT: TITANIUM, IHG: PLAT, HILTON: GOLD
Posts: 491
Something rather unexpected happened on my recent flight from Tokyo HND to London LHR. My wife and I were booked in Club World. These were Avios reward flights purchased with an AMEX Premium Plus 2-4-1 voucher. Just before boarding, after checking our passports, the boarding agent handed us two new First boarding passes. I had never flown First before and to experience it on a 15 hour flight was amazing. Also, this was the first time I was upgraded?
I recently moved up from BA Silver to Gold, but my wife doesn't hold status. I just wanted to share it here - mainly to process this fantastic surprise.
I recently moved up from BA Silver to Gold, but my wife doesn't hold status. I just wanted to share it here - mainly to process this fantastic surprise.
Mar 18, 2024, 6:51 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 11, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 4,236
I remember our first upgrade, on VS from Prem to Upper Class, must be 20 years ago now. Got the beep at the gate and to be told we'd been upgraded, but the seats weren't together, they were behind each other. Turned out we'd been upgraded to the new (at the time) Upper Class Suite. Think it worked in their favour though......we've only travelled long haul in the back of the plane once since then.
Mar 18, 2024, 7:46 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
In our case we'd had a terrible outbound experience, with a spot cancellation, revised travel day, much chaos, etc. so wondered if we'd earned a system flag as distressed passengers and a shot at an apology upgrade.
Mar 18, 2024, 8:30 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 328
I also had an op-up CW to F on the LHR-HND route a few years ago, it happened both on the outbound and return, and coincidentally also to my girlfriend on the return despite being on separate bookings. It's the only time I've ever been upgraded out of many, many flights!
Mar 18, 2024, 9:04 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ord/bkk based
Posts: 204
i had a LAX-LHR flight that must have had a plane swapped at some point, you could not buy first class on it, but it had 3 cabins and some people (6?) were upgraded before boarding. i'm oneworld ruby and was on cash business, didn't make the cut though.
Mar 18, 2024, 12:39 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: London
Posts: 102
Same thing happened to me today on BA8 HND-LHR; had a reward ticket in CW and at the gate they pinged my name and gave me a new boarding pass in F.
Such a treat especially on such a long flight; the crew were incredible. No wifi and the IFE packed up with 5 hours left to go, but otherwise 5*.
Such a treat especially on such a long flight; the crew were incredible. No wifi and the IFE packed up with 5 hours left to go, but otherwise 5*.
Mar 18, 2024, 1:07 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,822
Something rather unexpected happened on my recent flight from Tokyo HND to London LHR. My wife and I were booked in Club World. These were Avios reward flights purchased with an AMEX Premium Plus 2-4-1 voucher. Just before boarding, after checking our passports, the boarding agent handed us two new First boarding passes. I had never flown First before and to experience it on a 15 hour flight was amazing. Also, this was the first time I was upgraded?
I recently moved up from BA Silver to Gold, but my wife doesn't hold status. I just wanted to share it here - mainly to process this fantastic surprise.
I recently moved up from BA Silver to Gold, but my wife doesn't hold status. I just wanted to share it here - mainly to process this fantastic surprise.
So - who got a free upgrade this week?
Hopefully the first of many you will receive in the future.