Feb 1, 2015, 6:29 am
Last edit by: Prospero
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Prospero
Moderator: BA forum
This thread was archived for posterity on 01 February 2015.
Prospero
Moderator: BA forum
ULTIMATE BA Upgrade Discussion/Experiences Thread
Aug 21, 2008, 5:14 am
#256
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,500
In related news:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ght/article.do
Aug 21, 2008, 5:18 am
#257
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, HHonours Diamond, BA AMEX PremPlus
Posts: 5,140
Good to hear that BA are saving the upgrades for the real heroes:
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Olympic-he...ons.4409580.jp 
[Bradley] Wiggins flew back to Britain on Wednesday as planned and was upgraded to first class by the airline in recognition of his gold medal success.
Aug 21, 2008, 5:21 am
#258
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,368
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has given us his tips for a free upgrade on his weekly newsletter
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tra...a-free-upgrade
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tra...a-free-upgrade
Not sure whether (i) shoes or (ii) "I know Richard" is still making me chuckle more.
Aug 25, 2008, 3:47 am
#259
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 5
Hi Guys, what does F-Lounge mean? Also is there a Lounge in T5 for a lowly Blue Member flying WT+ LHR to PKK?
Aug 25, 2008, 4:37 am
#260
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: Lord OPebble - Mucci of the Hour. Diamond Class MUCCI.Chevalier du Circle Intime de Pucci
Posts: 7,088
At the South End of T5 there is the Concorde Room - only open to anyone flying in First; the First Lounge (F-Lounge) open to anyone flying First and Gold card holders; Club Lounge open to anyone flying Club and Silver card holders.
Sep 23, 2008, 5:07 am
#262
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 232
When it's getting near flight closure time and most people have checked in then Flight Control start looking at upgrades. At LGW this is done in order - Prems, Golds, Silvers and Blues and then anyone commented appropriately. (These can be very quickly identified through the system.) If they still need any then at LGW it's usually just random.
Sep 23, 2008, 5:59 am
#263
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: LGW.
Programs: Cunard WorldClub-Gold,Silverseas Venetian society,Alitalia Mille miglia,SPG,Fairmont,IHG.
Posts: 733
All sorts of stuff Cayman- when I was at LGW lost baggage with BA, I used to comment the return trips of pax whos bags we had lost inbound to UK, just as a sort of "we're sorry" type thing. Didn't always happen, but nice if it did...stuff like honeymoons, anniversaries,"big" birthdays etc..and sometimes, for folk who were just plain nice at chk in.........
Oct 16, 2008, 1:48 pm
#264
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 150
Upgrade etiquette
A pilot friend is kind enough to put me forward for the odd upgrade now and again. He asks that if I do upgraded that I politely decline the washbag, sleeping suit (PJ's!) on board. Happy to do so as no big deal to me and happy to oblige, but just curious if that is something that crew notice and why.
TIA
TIA
Oct 16, 2008, 1:51 pm
#265
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,736
A pilot friend is kind enough to put me forward for the odd upgrade now and again. He asks that if I do upgraded that I politely decline the washbag, sleeping suit (PJ's!) on board. Happy to do so as no big deal to me and happy to oblige, but just curious if that is something that crew notice and why.
She had to do the same, ie. refuse the freebies, and not get wasted on champers.
Cheers,
Rick
Oct 16, 2008, 2:07 pm
#266
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,334
A pilot friend is kind enough to put me forward for the odd upgrade now and again. He asks that if I do upgraded that I politely decline the washbag, sleeping suit (PJ's!) on board. Happy to do so as no big deal to me and happy to oblige, but just curious if that is something that crew notice and why.
TIA
TIA
However you should be aware that the crew know about ALL upgrades and may have you refuse you your first choice of meat etc.
All staff are asked to refuse "give aways" to save costs.
CIHY
Oct 16, 2008, 3:07 pm
#267
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum
Posts: 327
I was recently upgraded from J to F coming back from HKG. Apparently the cabin was empty and HKG ground staff sprung a few of us on the crew as they were'nt expecting any pax.
I must admit I smiled when my bp was spat out and the gate attendent advised me that I had a 'better seat' 62a to 4a, my colleague however was left upstairs in J.
This was my first flight on getting silver status, thats a good welcome!
I must admit I smiled when my bp was spat out and the gate attendent advised me that I had a 'better seat' 62a to 4a, my colleague however was left upstairs in J.
This was my first flight on getting silver status, thats a good welcome!
Oct 16, 2008, 3:17 pm
#268
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 540
I declined various things on Qantas when I got an upgrade-for-unknown-reason (I do not think economy was full, and I did not put in for points upgrade, and I did not know the crew or check-in staff), because I genuinely did not want them anyway and also felt that I did not really want to be a bother, but cabin crew said, "Please, take them!" so I did so out of politeness.
Oct 16, 2008, 3:20 pm
#269
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 648
Got upgraded from WT+ (sale WT ticket with a separate paid for WT+ upgrade) to Club World on Tuesday flying from SFO - LHR on flight 284 which was overbooked
Had used OLCI the day before and was able to choose my WT+ seat. My airport check in desk issued boarding pass was also for my WT+ seat, didn't find out about my upgrade until final boarding pass check at the gate where the lady took longer than usual and did some scanning of her monitor, then scored out my seat number and gave me 18G instead
Mind you, I did hear two couples airing thoughts on the "mess" as there seemed to have been confusion over seat availability as it was overbooked
Now, i'm not in the slightest bit ungrateful for the gift. But I did find that the heating was turned up too high at times, far too much to be comfy to sleep
Had used OLCI the day before and was able to choose my WT+ seat. My airport check in desk issued boarding pass was also for my WT+ seat, didn't find out about my upgrade until final boarding pass check at the gate where the lady took longer than usual and did some scanning of her monitor, then scored out my seat number and gave me 18G instead
Mind you, I did hear two couples airing thoughts on the "mess" as there seemed to have been confusion over seat availability as it was overbooked
Now, i'm not in the slightest bit ungrateful for the gift. But I did find that the heating was turned up too high at times, far too much to be comfy to sleep
Oct 27, 2008, 9:09 am
#270
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,459
OP UP surprise
Ok, so its with a certain amount of trepidation that I approach terminal 5 for the first time, I know the famous vanishing luggage trick, the fact that there are loads of shops to tempt the unsuspecting and that I have to find my way to the Galleries and then out to the gate for my bus trip to the stand a reminder of times gone by in T4
goodbye to my husband with a reminder to feed the cats and my son, I check what I have written on my hand, zone H, I wish someone had mended the wheel on my other case,I have perfectly nice 4 wheeled luggage at home, except for the one with 3 wheels and duct tape that is.
No queues, down this end so I wander straight up to a desk, the check in lady goes through the formalities and then says oh, oh I thought, my first guess is that I have been moved to the later flight, she tells me my seat has moved and it begins to dawn on me, you have been moved to first class, wow, thank you , I cant believe it, people like me dont get this , I express concern that my shoes, bag and clothes in general arent up to the standard required but she is having none of it, that I am a MFU from WT+ and surely cant deserve it, she can see that I am delighted and never expected anything like this, she tells me there is a door after security to avoid the shops and that yes. This sort of thing can happen even to teachers from Swindon who only fly TATL half a dozen times a year,
I tell her I will check out the galleries lounge but she says no, try out everything, the Concorde room, the lot, she is right of course, there will be other times to get the lie of the land and now is the time to take advantage of all that the first class trip has to offer ,I ask if there are extra miles associated with the upgrade and she tells me, no, there is a limit and that exceeds it!
A noisy phone call later to make sure that my son and HB are aware that I am now one of the great and the good, a quick smoke and I am too excited to stand about outside any longer..
Security was straight forward, as long as you collect the correct tray and pick your stuff up quickly the other side of the scanner, they dont seem all that well organized but at least they must be happy in their work as they are not shouting at anyone
Inside the Concorde lounge, its glamorous all right but I feel awkward, like I dont deserve to be there, stay for a cup of coffee and a quick read of the Times , the coffee is good,but I am like a fish out of water and disorientated, I stumble out near the entrance to the Galleries, I want to have a look so that I know what I will see next time, The dragon well a very sweet young lady about 18 asks me if I am aware I can use the first lounges and I tell her I have come to see the Galleries as I felt out of place in the Concorde lounge, she agrees, its too quiet and that I will like it here.If I had been expecting to travel first I could have looked up the guidelines for maximizing the first experience but since it was never going to be me, (I have never won so much as a raffle prize) I have never read them.
No announcements in the lounge but I decide its time to go as there is the bus trip to look forward to yet, its a route march down to gate A10, I pass a sign for the Galleries south so I must have been in the North complex, its a bit of a zoo, people looking fed up, people sitting everywhere, it is the first day of the school half term and everyone is headed off for the week. I make my way down to the bus, crammed in we eventually leave for the plane and having driven half way round Terminal 4 we arrive and climb aboard,
quick as a flash, the FA spots my ticket and escorts me to my seat, champagne, wash kit handed out, one thing I hadnt reckoned was the topping up of the champagne glass, I only drink alcohol on planes, and after 2 and a half glasses I am seriously trolleyed by the time we are due for takeoff, sleep says the setting on the IPod, its good advice I should sleep this off as we have already been warned of a long and bumpy journey. I go to select a track to alleviate the boredom of yet another tour of the taxiways of LHR by the time Warren Zevon is back in the high life , the plane is taxiing for takeoff, I have flown in 1A before in CW on a 767 and I remember the noise is different so I am quite relaxed,the seat is a long way from the window and not quite the same for us nose pressed against the window types.
Before the food service even starts, the turbulence does, I have ordered, coffee, and my lunch but its all in the lap of the gods if I get to eat it as the bumpy ride continues, at least I took the precaution of confessing to one of the FAs that I was new up here and he showed me all the seat and controls before we took off so I have a seat to fiddle with and goodies to explore in the wash bag, I had declined the pajamas at first but seeing the bloke in 1A coming back from changing into his it dawned on me that they would make a nice pair of PJs at home and my son will probably never forgive me if I dont bring them home for him.
Getting on I had noticed that either way I would have hit the jackpot in flight terms, the 777 is one of the 9 fitted with NGCW and I can see the screens being moved up and down, so still no trip in NGCW
Canaps were a new treat, perhaps it said in the menu what they were but by the time I had one of them in my mouth and decided it was goats cheese and I didnt like it, I had almost finished it so it seemed polite to swallow it, coffee to drink as I was well and truly sozzled by then, I had a salad, the same rolls as CW and then a fillet of beef in spicy sauce, , the Lemon pudding was lovely, a little sharp In the sauce department but still very nice, I wasnt able to avail myself of the Chocolates offered from the box or the lovely selection of cheeses, for the same reason that I cant have fresh orange juice, they all give me headaches
Went to settle down and one of the FAs got my pillow out and I slumbered on the seat not quite flat for a few hours, woke parched and uncomfortable ,pretty much the same as CW then, except by now I was feeling a little exposed, I always choose the A seat in CW for a couple of reasons, I like to look out of the window when there is something to see, pressed right against it camera in hand, and I like to be cozy tucked away out of the aisle, so back in the aisle is a little drafty and I can hear other people chatter which I am not used to,
I dont know what the usual offering for entertainment is, touch screen AVOD, the same as in WT+ on a 767 but with a larger screen, I only ever look at the moving map and today the map, like the plane, is bouncing about all over the place, the only thing I wanted to see is out of action, still as I never use the thing it would be unfair, not to mention ungrateful to complain, I could have been sitting in the seat with the broken screen for the last 10 trips and never know it.
The chap opposite is eating his way across the Atlantic and has yet another bowl of nuts, he hasnt asked for them warmed so I dont know if he is English or American, he is still munching them when afternoon tea arrives and I tuck into the sandwiches and both scones, it makes me chuckle when I remember a lady in CW once who spread the jam on her little lemon tart and then ate her scone dry.
A bit of a jumpy landing would be the best way of describing it, the munching man and his wife are holding on to each other with their eyes closed, I think they are over playing their part, it wasnt actually scary just bumpy.
I am amongst the first off the plane, having thanked the FA that looked after me so well, then its on to the deal or no deal of PHL immigration, there have been a lot of delays, including us delayed by an hour and a half and grumpy people push past me to get in the queue, I think the immigration officer can see his afternoon going downhill from here and he deals with me quickly for a change, they can see from their records that I always go back home but they like to give me a hard time anyway
I am the sole person standing to collect my luggage at carousel 8, beginning to think I have made a mistake as there is a huge throng around the other carousels, my faith is rewarded and the belt starts up with the emergency on starship enterprise siren, the priority stickers have worked and my bag is one of the first 20 off, it made it from T5,
After the half marathon to the exits, I am out like a mole blinking in the light, and the rain and the chaos of flashing lights and tooting horns that is PHL on a Saturday afternoon when the Phillies and the Eagles are playing.
goodbye to my husband with a reminder to feed the cats and my son, I check what I have written on my hand, zone H, I wish someone had mended the wheel on my other case,I have perfectly nice 4 wheeled luggage at home, except for the one with 3 wheels and duct tape that is.
No queues, down this end so I wander straight up to a desk, the check in lady goes through the formalities and then says oh, oh I thought, my first guess is that I have been moved to the later flight, she tells me my seat has moved and it begins to dawn on me, you have been moved to first class, wow, thank you , I cant believe it, people like me dont get this , I express concern that my shoes, bag and clothes in general arent up to the standard required but she is having none of it, that I am a MFU from WT+ and surely cant deserve it, she can see that I am delighted and never expected anything like this, she tells me there is a door after security to avoid the shops and that yes. This sort of thing can happen even to teachers from Swindon who only fly TATL half a dozen times a year,
I tell her I will check out the galleries lounge but she says no, try out everything, the Concorde room, the lot, she is right of course, there will be other times to get the lie of the land and now is the time to take advantage of all that the first class trip has to offer ,I ask if there are extra miles associated with the upgrade and she tells me, no, there is a limit and that exceeds it!
A noisy phone call later to make sure that my son and HB are aware that I am now one of the great and the good, a quick smoke and I am too excited to stand about outside any longer..
Security was straight forward, as long as you collect the correct tray and pick your stuff up quickly the other side of the scanner, they dont seem all that well organized but at least they must be happy in their work as they are not shouting at anyone
Inside the Concorde lounge, its glamorous all right but I feel awkward, like I dont deserve to be there, stay for a cup of coffee and a quick read of the Times , the coffee is good,but I am like a fish out of water and disorientated, I stumble out near the entrance to the Galleries, I want to have a look so that I know what I will see next time, The dragon well a very sweet young lady about 18 asks me if I am aware I can use the first lounges and I tell her I have come to see the Galleries as I felt out of place in the Concorde lounge, she agrees, its too quiet and that I will like it here.If I had been expecting to travel first I could have looked up the guidelines for maximizing the first experience but since it was never going to be me, (I have never won so much as a raffle prize) I have never read them.
No announcements in the lounge but I decide its time to go as there is the bus trip to look forward to yet, its a route march down to gate A10, I pass a sign for the Galleries south so I must have been in the North complex, its a bit of a zoo, people looking fed up, people sitting everywhere, it is the first day of the school half term and everyone is headed off for the week. I make my way down to the bus, crammed in we eventually leave for the plane and having driven half way round Terminal 4 we arrive and climb aboard,
quick as a flash, the FA spots my ticket and escorts me to my seat, champagne, wash kit handed out, one thing I hadnt reckoned was the topping up of the champagne glass, I only drink alcohol on planes, and after 2 and a half glasses I am seriously trolleyed by the time we are due for takeoff, sleep says the setting on the IPod, its good advice I should sleep this off as we have already been warned of a long and bumpy journey. I go to select a track to alleviate the boredom of yet another tour of the taxiways of LHR by the time Warren Zevon is back in the high life , the plane is taxiing for takeoff, I have flown in 1A before in CW on a 767 and I remember the noise is different so I am quite relaxed,the seat is a long way from the window and not quite the same for us nose pressed against the window types.
Before the food service even starts, the turbulence does, I have ordered, coffee, and my lunch but its all in the lap of the gods if I get to eat it as the bumpy ride continues, at least I took the precaution of confessing to one of the FAs that I was new up here and he showed me all the seat and controls before we took off so I have a seat to fiddle with and goodies to explore in the wash bag, I had declined the pajamas at first but seeing the bloke in 1A coming back from changing into his it dawned on me that they would make a nice pair of PJs at home and my son will probably never forgive me if I dont bring them home for him.
Getting on I had noticed that either way I would have hit the jackpot in flight terms, the 777 is one of the 9 fitted with NGCW and I can see the screens being moved up and down, so still no trip in NGCW
Canaps were a new treat, perhaps it said in the menu what they were but by the time I had one of them in my mouth and decided it was goats cheese and I didnt like it, I had almost finished it so it seemed polite to swallow it, coffee to drink as I was well and truly sozzled by then, I had a salad, the same rolls as CW and then a fillet of beef in spicy sauce, , the Lemon pudding was lovely, a little sharp In the sauce department but still very nice, I wasnt able to avail myself of the Chocolates offered from the box or the lovely selection of cheeses, for the same reason that I cant have fresh orange juice, they all give me headaches
Went to settle down and one of the FAs got my pillow out and I slumbered on the seat not quite flat for a few hours, woke parched and uncomfortable ,pretty much the same as CW then, except by now I was feeling a little exposed, I always choose the A seat in CW for a couple of reasons, I like to look out of the window when there is something to see, pressed right against it camera in hand, and I like to be cozy tucked away out of the aisle, so back in the aisle is a little drafty and I can hear other people chatter which I am not used to,
I dont know what the usual offering for entertainment is, touch screen AVOD, the same as in WT+ on a 767 but with a larger screen, I only ever look at the moving map and today the map, like the plane, is bouncing about all over the place, the only thing I wanted to see is out of action, still as I never use the thing it would be unfair, not to mention ungrateful to complain, I could have been sitting in the seat with the broken screen for the last 10 trips and never know it.
The chap opposite is eating his way across the Atlantic and has yet another bowl of nuts, he hasnt asked for them warmed so I dont know if he is English or American, he is still munching them when afternoon tea arrives and I tuck into the sandwiches and both scones, it makes me chuckle when I remember a lady in CW once who spread the jam on her little lemon tart and then ate her scone dry.
A bit of a jumpy landing would be the best way of describing it, the munching man and his wife are holding on to each other with their eyes closed, I think they are over playing their part, it wasnt actually scary just bumpy.
I am amongst the first off the plane, having thanked the FA that looked after me so well, then its on to the deal or no deal of PHL immigration, there have been a lot of delays, including us delayed by an hour and a half and grumpy people push past me to get in the queue, I think the immigration officer can see his afternoon going downhill from here and he deals with me quickly for a change, they can see from their records that I always go back home but they like to give me a hard time anyway
I am the sole person standing to collect my luggage at carousel 8, beginning to think I have made a mistake as there is a huge throng around the other carousels, my faith is rewarded and the belt starts up with the emergency on starship enterprise siren, the priority stickers have worked and my bag is one of the first 20 off, it made it from T5,
After the half marathon to the exits, I am out like a mole blinking in the light, and the rain and the chaos of flashing lights and tooting horns that is PHL on a Saturday afternoon when the Phillies and the Eagles are playing.
Last edited by pinkcat; Oct 27, 2008 at 10:20 am Reason: complaints! I'm not an English teacher by the way!