bost

Generally, because there are businesses (and some individuals) that will pay the $8500 but not if they know there is a cheaper way with a good chance of success.

Some airlines (e.g. United) occasionally offer discounted cash upgrades at check-in, but they are randomly selected so you can't plan on it. And this is very intentional on their part.

jdrtravel

Delta does this. I don't think it is random, I think the offers are made in a calculated manner. The specifics are proprietary, but for example some have speculated that the offers are targeted to those who don't frequently buy J but who might if they experience it.

MeanwhileBackAtFAI

Was just in the same boat, SEA-AMS, t-3 hours to departure, 7 D1 seats available. Quoted upgrade $8,127 from C+ (that's one way).

Yet another reason why I much prefer BA for the West Coast to EU flights, decent business class I fares and ability to upgrade for less than 1k in many (most?) cases when space is available.

xliioper

C+ is not a separate fare class on TATL routes, so technically you were upgrading from whatever coach fare you purchased (no credit is given for C+ purchases since they are just an add-on option, not an actual change in fare class).

If they were to make D1 upgrades consistently "reasonable", I suspect people like me who use GUC's to upgrade would find them considerably less valuable when waitlisting. I've used 6 out of 8 GUC's so far and all were waitlisted gate upgrades. I've missed on two seats so far (with companion on DTW-NRT flight).

TheLifeOfA_NKCM

With regards to a relaxed dress code, there is still one there.

As far as relaxing it goes, its pretty obvious actually. Because you'd be able to tell NRSAs from a mile away. I mean really, who else would wear a suit on a 7 hour redeye?

Even now, we're barred from wearing Pj's or anything else that could make us look like tools. But in that respect, ymmv.

As far as my dress goes, I'm fairly consistent. Just look for some awkward kid wearing a gray unzipped sweatshirt and mesh sweatpants
--chances are, it's me.

​​​​​​On another note, as far as non-rev upgrades go, just imagine every time you fly being at the dead bottom of the list and instead of fighting for a seat in F you're staking out a middle seat in the dead back.

It's insanely rare even without upgraders to get more than 3 nonrevs upgraded on most flights -let alone 30.

Truly flying standby.. It's something. Oh, well there is one perk. YBYL doesn't apply.

​​​​​​

davetravels

Once, I was flying to AMS on the upper deck of a KLM 747, and VERY close to landing time, I woke up and looked over at the guy sitting next to me (who was wearing sweatpants when when I dozed off) - - is NOW in his white briefs changing into slightly nicer attire.

Was that YOU?!?!?

TheLifeOfA_NKCM

LOL, no. Wait, let me make sure I'm reading this right.. Briefs as in underwear?.. Well, that had to be a rather um settling few minutes.

​​​​​

davetravels

Briefs, yupp, as in tighty whities! In KLM World Business Class!

Unsettling (I think you mean)??? Nah. That's nuthin' compared to some of the thingz I've seen around the world.

MeanwhileBackAtFAI

Just to close the loop on my previous comment; all D1 seats were occupied when the plane departed. At least that's some good news for those who had GUCs that there was some availability.

Psyduck1

Ouch!

-Awkward Kid in the PJS

SDQBound

So you are ok with couples celebrating their engagement on a paid D1 ticket but you are not happy with a couple celebrating the same on a buddy pas

Grand_Tour_18

Full paid? Tip o' the hat to a true one-percenter!

nonrevlife

All airlines give their employees upgrade privileges to premium or business/first - it's part of their benefit/compensation package. Otherwise they would have to pay them much more than they do and you would all be paying for a much higher ticket to cover that. It's the same way you get stock options or other entitlements or benefits in the corporate world. Premium seating is generally reserved for the wealthy or the business traveler - if you're not getting booked into a business class ticket as a corporate employee of your company than you should probably talk to your employer - it's not the fault of the airline that you're not sitting where you think you should.

flyerCO

No reread their post. If it was their own buddy pass I don't think they'd have issue. It's the ones that are basically buying buddy passes instead of paying the actual fare. Of course this has a lot to do with ethics/morals of the employee as well.

nonrevlife

The whole point of the higher ticket cost in business or first class is to keep it an elite product. If you can't afford it that doesn't mean it's priced incorrectly. There are plenty of companies and individuals who purchase full fare tickets all the time. Airlines are operating at record profits with loads higher than they have ever been - so the system of keeping their preferred passengers (i.e those who pay the full fare) and their employees happy at the same time seems to be working just fine.