Birthday Upgrade?
May 22, 2013, 10:34 am
#316
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
There was a link many years ago. I recalled someone said "V" is for "Voluntary", as opposed to "I" (Involuntary) when CX is forced to op-up a passenger. In the end, it is just a letter so that they know why the passenger is there.
May 22, 2013, 11:15 pm
#317
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
I know for data gathering and internal purposes it's good to keep a good record of these occurrences with V or I or X or whatever. However, for the sake of service on flight, can these codes be invisible to the cabin crew? There are a few times that I was treated poorly specifically because the crew knew I was just an upgraded pax (SL/GO days, but service has been perfect since DM. Which is another reason why if I can't maintain DM, I'm most likely jumping to AA)
May 22, 2013, 11:17 pm
#318
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Here there and everywhere
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,648
Haha good luck.
Same here, booked a flight for 3 to Europe in economy class but as a MPC GO member. However, seems like that recently, GO member is less important somehow as shown from http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...x-flights.html ?
Same here, booked a flight for 3 to Europe in economy class but as a MPC GO member. However, seems like that recently, GO member is less important somehow as shown from http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...x-flights.html ?
May 22, 2013, 11:20 pm
#319
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,171
Got my Bday upgrade Tokyo flight. Loading (to KVS) was wide open in Economy, with J6C6D5I5 type of load. All seatmaps were taken seat. Stats: BN 12, Silver, booked on "N" class. I saw my online check-in already show bizzo prior to getting to airport.
This was a well coordinated plan forcing myself to fly on Bday. Worked out well.
addendum:
when I checked in at airport, the checkin staff especially said happy birthday to me and that upgrade was a happy birthday gift. so i think it's semi unofficial benefit.
I also had the sign "V" next to boarding pass as opposed to "I" I have so often seen. One thing though, when I used on departure upgrade once, I never had "V" so i wonder what differentiates a "V" to other sorts of voluntary miles upgrade. I guess it's like if you were denied boarding and offered another flight in Business class, you get "V"...
This was a well coordinated plan forcing myself to fly on Bday. Worked out well.
addendum:
when I checked in at airport, the checkin staff especially said happy birthday to me and that upgrade was a happy birthday gift. so i think it's semi unofficial benefit.
I also had the sign "V" next to boarding pass as opposed to "I" I have so often seen. One thing though, when I used on departure upgrade once, I never had "V" so i wonder what differentiates a "V" to other sorts of voluntary miles upgrade. I guess it's like if you were denied boarding and offered another flight in Business class, you get "V"...
Last edited by fakecd; May 23, 2013 at 1:32 am Reason: addendum
May 22, 2013, 11:46 pm
#320
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Here there and everywhere
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,648
I know for data gathering and internal purposes it's good to keep a good record of these occurrences with V or I or X or whatever. However, for the sake of service on flight, can these codes be invisible to the cabin crew? There are a few times that I was treated poorly specifically because the crew knew I was just an upgraded pax (SL/GO days, but service has been perfect since DM. Which is another reason why if I can't maintain DM, I'm most likely jumping to AA)
May 23, 2013, 1:06 am
#321
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
I really could not imagine any crew treating a passenger badly because they were upgraded, its simply not in the nature of the crews I have met and the culture of the teams that work on board. I only once saw a bad crew member and she was a ISM of Filipino descent and she really was very bad. I had no problem with her but I do know some passengers who did and she paid the price for her awful attitude. She no longer works for CX.
During the meal service after the starter, the crew started to offer the main course to every passenger in J class except the both of us, though we were sitting on the first row of J class in B773. It was after a long while when they started to serve the dessert that we had to politely asked for the main course and the crew just remarked that they had only left with a particular dish which we did not really fancy. We politely declined the offer and she just gave us the "cannot be bothered - okay" look. I was pretty taken aback by such altitude and really hope that I was in Y class where I can have a choice of a decent meal.
On the other occasion, I was in J class as a paying passenger. I was not feeling hungry and when it comes to the main course, I decline the meal. The crew was genuinely concerned and asked if there is anything she can help to prepare (e.g. light meal). That indeed was a pleasant gesture, though it is not any fault of her that I decline the main course meal.
May 23, 2013, 1:29 am
#322
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,171
May 23, 2013, 6:11 am
#323
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
May 23, 2013, 7:47 am
#324
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,171
i mean meal is minor thing. id take business seat pver economy anytime without meal for sing flight....
May 25, 2013, 10:05 am
#326
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
SQ however still provides a free cake to Y lass passengers though have no idea about the size of the cake!
May 25, 2013, 10:36 am
#327
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
I am still trying to figure out what "M" means when upgraded. I've been upgraded a few times J to F and "M" prints on the BP, and so far I don't know what it is. All I can tell is that it isn't an op-up.
May 25, 2013, 10:59 am
#328
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Here there and everywhere
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,648
Strange twice I have flown on my birthday and been offered a cake which I duly gave to the crew
May 25, 2013, 1:10 pm
#329
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,377
Always been $200.....never was a published benefit.
May 25, 2013, 6:16 pm
#330
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
Also sometimes they don't do any annotation. So it appears it may be a manual thing the control team flag rather than an automatic flag?