Upgrade to Business Class
Apr 17, 2001, 1:21 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
1) Upgrades for no reason other than being a nice person will not happen with BA
2)Upgrades when you are travelling with an elite member on a (paid) ticket may happen is your ask for it
3)Buying an upgrade is possible, usually you pay the difference between your economy ticket and the business price...
4)Asking for an upgrade usually never works unless you are an elite member, most likely not when it is a free ticket (except for some people)
To make a long story short, if you are used to the US system then BA will probably let you down...
2)Upgrades when you are travelling with an elite member on a (paid) ticket may happen is your ask for it
3)Buying an upgrade is possible, usually you pay the difference between your economy ticket and the business price...
4)Asking for an upgrade usually never works unless you are an elite member, most likely not when it is a free ticket (except for some people)
To make a long story short, if you are used to the US system then BA will probably let you down...
Apr 18, 2001, 1:20 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Reading, Berks, UK, BD Gold, VS Silver, AA Plat
Posts: 88
My experience is that UK carriers will only upgrade for operational reasons i.e. full or overbooked in economy. Doesn't matter what level of frequent flyer you are. Only exceptions I have found is occasionally using my inside contacts in BA to try to get an upgrade when my wife & I go on vacation.
I once got upgraded after I'd boarded, but that was only because I knew the chief cabin steward
------------------
Chris Elvin
I once got upgraded after I'd boarded, but that was only because I knew the chief cabin steward
------------------
Chris Elvin
Apr 18, 2001, 6:07 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Great Britain
Posts: 1,442
ScottC, I have personal experience that your No 1 is not always applicable. However, the person in question needs to have either the authority, or have the authority vested in him or her (ie they have been told to look for operational upgrades). You are right in that they are a privilege and not a right unless you have the vouchers that Premiums get. Being strident does not help either.
Apr 18, 2001, 6:26 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
I'm not saying upgrades are not possible, when I fly Full Fare in club I usually get my fellow traveller upgraded as well, but even then they will NOT put us in the better part of the cabin, last week I was on a C ticket AMS-LHR and my girlfriend was on a cheapie traveller ticket, I had 3A, I got SFU put in the system and asked at the gate for an upgrade, we got it but were then both put in 12A and C, of course 3A and C were empty so I requested them on board, seemingly IF they are going to upgrade you then they somehow will make you "pay" for it
Apr 18, 2001, 7:00 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 3,065
Paul: I am not sure what you mean by your comment about vouchers for premiums??
As a general observation, I think BA are bring much more generous with upgrades at the moment - I think they are trying to encourage passengers to 'sample' some of their new products, but it could be just part of the current Customer Focus campaign.
However, I don't necessarily agree that upgrades are linked to FF status.
Nick
As a general observation, I think BA are bring much more generous with upgrades at the moment - I think they are trying to encourage passengers to 'sample' some of their new products, but it could be just part of the current Customer Focus campaign.
However, I don't necessarily agree that upgrades are linked to FF status.
Nick
Apr 18, 2001, 7:16 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London, Los Angeles, Dublin
Posts: 115
They certainly do upgrade on free tickets. When it comes to operational reasons they don't seem to care what you paid for your ticket or milage status. I have been upgraded twice on free tickets once from LHR to JFK, the other time O'Hare to LHR, with BA.
IMHO, Don't even bother asking - they will only upgrade if full, oversold etc or if they are trying to keep you sweet. They seem to prefer those who don't ask, the quieter your demeaner the better (again just my opinion). And they will follow a dress policy but smart casual will work.
BA seems to prefer an indirect approach and requests for a seat with good leg room will be perceived by European based staff as a polite request for an upgrade. If they say they are unable to help do not go any further with this.
I have another free ticket coming up to LAX (a BA goodwill " lets keep this out of the small claims court" gesture) and they vaguely promised to upgrade subject to space available (but they also mean that the check in agent perceives me as well behaved etc).
I would be interested in hearing how you get on.
IMHO, Don't even bother asking - they will only upgrade if full, oversold etc or if they are trying to keep you sweet. They seem to prefer those who don't ask, the quieter your demeaner the better (again just my opinion). And they will follow a dress policy but smart casual will work.
BA seems to prefer an indirect approach and requests for a seat with good leg room will be perceived by European based staff as a polite request for an upgrade. If they say they are unable to help do not go any further with this.
I have another free ticket coming up to LAX (a BA goodwill " lets keep this out of the small claims court" gesture) and they vaguely promised to upgrade subject to space available (but they also mean that the check in agent perceives me as well behaved etc).
I would be interested in hearing how you get on.
Apr 18, 2001, 7:46 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Boston, MA USA
Posts: 1
Absolutely not! I am AAdvantage Platinum on partner airlines American. On my last trip to the Middle East, BA cancelled my itinerary due to the "Easter Holiday" and I was involuntarily re-routed through another country on a later day. When politely inquiring about a possible upgrade clearly justified by my status and the forced inconvenience, BA flat out refused to consider the request. A BA top manager even intentionally misrepresented the facts by claiming that there were no Business Class seats left on the flight. I investigated and found that 8 of the 20 seats were empty. Good bye BA, our new company policy (including European employees) will be to avoid BA at all costs.
Apr 18, 2001, 8:33 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 3,065
es3ado: Sorry to hear of your bad experience, but for a company travel policy to change because of one individuals bad experience seems very strange and somewhat shortsighted.
I also can't reconcile your comment about your status being a inpart a justification for an upgrade - but that is a different story.
Nick
I also can't reconcile your comment about your status being a inpart a justification for an upgrade - but that is a different story.
Nick
Apr 19, 2001, 6:36 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Great Britain
Posts: 1,442
Nick, When I read your comments I chuckled to myself! The reason is that when I wrote the post, I just thought "Nick Merry will query this at once"!
What I meant was the confirmed upgrade that Gold card holders receive when they pass a certain number of miles. Bear with me, I cannot remember the exact amount. Sorry for any confusion - I hope that you and Sim enjoy Nassau!
es3ado.
"When politely inquiring about a possible upgrade clearly justified by my status"
Please be assured that although status is not the only qualification, your particular status as Platinum on American would be regarded as Silver on BA. Moreover, you do not state the fare that you paid, or the full nature of the inconvenience so one cannot judge. However, I find it strange that you should think that BA should give you a complimentary upgrade on the strength of your status with another airline. You as well as I know that American would never do such a thing. No amount of BA status would allow domestic US upgrades which are all earned or purchased.
Indeed, as you went to a top BA manager, it sounds as though you chose to complain that you had not been upgraded. That usually writes finis to any chance as BA regard them as a privelege graciously extended, not a right to be demanded. They would have no record of you or your business if you gave your AAdvantage number, and indeed you were possibly earning miles on American rather than BA?
I am sorry that you had a bad experience, but am sorry to say that to withdraw your business due to an involuntary re-routing and a denied upgrade sounds more like pique. I assure that whilst most of us would agree that BA is not perfect, it usually rewards those of us who give it their custom.
What I meant was the confirmed upgrade that Gold card holders receive when they pass a certain number of miles. Bear with me, I cannot remember the exact amount. Sorry for any confusion - I hope that you and Sim enjoy Nassau!
es3ado.
"When politely inquiring about a possible upgrade clearly justified by my status"
Please be assured that although status is not the only qualification, your particular status as Platinum on American would be regarded as Silver on BA. Moreover, you do not state the fare that you paid, or the full nature of the inconvenience so one cannot judge. However, I find it strange that you should think that BA should give you a complimentary upgrade on the strength of your status with another airline. You as well as I know that American would never do such a thing. No amount of BA status would allow domestic US upgrades which are all earned or purchased.
Indeed, as you went to a top BA manager, it sounds as though you chose to complain that you had not been upgraded. That usually writes finis to any chance as BA regard them as a privelege graciously extended, not a right to be demanded. They would have no record of you or your business if you gave your AAdvantage number, and indeed you were possibly earning miles on American rather than BA?
I am sorry that you had a bad experience, but am sorry to say that to withdraw your business due to an involuntary re-routing and a denied upgrade sounds more like pique. I assure that whilst most of us would agree that BA is not perfect, it usually rewards those of us who give it their custom.
Apr 19, 2001, 4:53 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: paris, france
Posts: 464
In my company many people fly monthly to the US ex Europe, and I have heard three times people being upgraded from CW to First without asking (they were all Gold). Also, on European routes, if you travel with someone who is SIlver or Gold and you are yourself Silver or Gold, you can ask, sometimes they dot it, sometimes they don't - one of the explanation I had once was that there were so many Gold and Silver members in Y that they couldn't afford to upgrade one instead of another (and I saw the passengers list and that was true, lkots of G and S in Y).