Planning out way ahead on this one, but we're headed to BKK from LAX in November on Evergreen Deluxe on EVA. Did the same route/class last year and when we arrived at LAX (and also when we left BKK to come back) EVA advertised on-site day-of upgrades from (presumably) coach and Evergreen to Business Class.

Has anyone done this before? For the life of me, I cannot remember how much they were advertising the upgrade for at LAX...I remember something in the $300/$400/$500 range.

Obviously, I know these upgrades are subject to availibility and are not guaranteed...but will definitely seize the opportunity should it arise this year. We'll be booking our tickets in Evergreen so wondering if anyone has paid a same-day upgrade to Business on that route and what it roughly cost.

Thanks for your help in advance!

How was it advertised? A sign at the check-in counter? I fly EVA all the time out of LAX and very often out of BKK too. I can't say I have ever seen them openly advertising upgrades like that. Not that I have ever asked, but if there was prominent advertising that was very unusual and is not the norm. My recent experience has been that most EVA flights out of LAX are very full lately anyway so if it worked that would be nice but I would not count on it.

I've heard a PAX request an upgrade on boarding (from Elite to Premium Laurel). The purser happily returned with a clipboard and credit card voucher for him to sign. When he saw the price he changed his mind - he was hoping for a discount but she could only offer it at a "standard" rate - which seemed to be the difference between what he paid and the full PL fare. I've known people to pay for upgrades at check-in at SGN and LHR - but again at a "standard" rate.

I've seen advertised cash offers at BKK check-in to downgrade or go with TG (this is London bound).

I've seen a sign at EVA's SGN office for upgrades on SGN-TPE-LAX routes on certain dates. Think it was US$75 for economy to deluxe (one way) - a real bargain. But not at the airport.

I used to get OP-UPed for free quite often from deluxe to business on the 747s between London and Taipei (especially on the BKK/TPE) leg. This happens less since the 777s were introduced, even though deluxe (now elite) is smaller and business is expanded.

So I can imagine if the flight is full and they are going to have to OP-UP some PAX, they might well take an offer of cash at a discounted rate... but advertising it is a different matter. Seems to me they risk incurring the wrath of the PAX who've obtained C class tickets at the normal price.

I've only been through LAX 4 times in my life. My suggestion to the OP is simply to make an offer based on what he thinks its worth. If the flight is full then they might take him up on it rather than give away an upgrade for free.

I can't ever recall this happening at check-in for BR at LAX and I fly them 4-6 times a year LAX-BKK-LAX. I have, though, called the LA office the day of departure to see if any op-ups or paid upgrades are available and for how much. If it's worth it to me, I tell them to hold the seat for me and I'll pay at check-in. Like I've said, never seen it done in the manner you described.

I have a ticket coming from in February ex-USA to SIN roundtrip on Eva and I am wondering how can I upgrade this Econ ticket?

If available, you can do it. They have a chart of x Airport to y airport. I have upgraded from Business to First a couple of times and it was $600 or $700. I've also had them hold the seat and pay at the airport. My husband looked at upgrading Elite to PL and they told him around $600 (he doesn't remember either).

I have heard that BR will be operating re-vamped 744s on the LHR-TPE via BKK route from December, this should enable better FF upgrades.
I have had difficulty in upgrading to PL using FF miles, the 777s are usually full on this route at this time of the year.
This rumour has come from more than one source, however in aviation things can change quickly.
The 747s would have avod, not sure about the config, presume PL upstairs, elite at the front etc.
Not sure if existing BR aircraft, I expect so.

I hope the rumour is true, it came up a while back..

I would love Elite in the nose - a return to the "deluxe" feel. But PL upstairs? They would only have room for 24 seats compared with 42 on the 777. Can't see them going for it - a 747 with only 24 in C (and no F of course). I think they are too proud of PL for that.

My guess is it would be, PL split - 24 upstairs and 16 (?18) downstairs in the nose giving 40 (?42). 104 Elite behind (63 on 777) and 220 Economy behind those (211 on the 777). Ie the config would be the same as the existing 747s with F in the nose - but with PL replacing SuperBusiness/First.

The nightmare would be Elite upstairs with PL in the nose, running back further. If they reduced seat pitch to 36" and had 2-3 config, they could get 50 up there... still an improvement on the existing 42 on the 777. But surely they wouldn't even think of that?

Looking at EVA's online booking, they are still showing 777s into next year...

Good thinking Jim.
My main source told me December for the 744s, I expect for the busy Christmas New Year period.

Looking at TPE-LAX, it looks like they are planning to switch at least four or five of their 747's to 777's throughout 2007. Which I assume would mean they will have four or five spare 747's they would want to do something with. Maybe they will send them to you.

I also see a "74W" on the schedule TPE-LAX beginning 29/05. I have never seen this before and they don�t have a seat map associated with it. When the 777's were first coming on-line they called them "77W" with no seat map and now they call them �B777-300�. Probably nothing, but I am wondering what the heck a "74W" is, and how is it different from a "B747-400" or a "B747-4E" so as to get it�s own designation.

Finally, I have learned that relying on the long term schedule to predict aircraft type is not much good. As the 777's were coming on-line LAX-TPE, I booked five different flights on 777's before I actually flew on a 777. Aircraft type subject to change.

I like the 777's but I would definitely like to see and upgraded 747 as well.

That does sound hopeful!

When the 777's were first introduced (ie on LHR) 77W appeared on EVA's booking engine correctly at least several months in advance. At the same time London's own staff new nothing about it...

Hacking at the booking engine does seem like a good way to find things out (subject to the risk of change as you say). They restarted (occasional) flights to Hanoi.... but even their own Saigon office didn't seem to know anything about them - and there is nothing in their paper timetable or other publicity. Taipei didn't know either. But of course if you get them to "try" then the flights appear.

Well, whatever the heck a "74W" is, it looks like LAX gains it on 29/5 and then looses it again to YVR on 18/8 for another "B777-300". 17/8 YVR looses it's "B747-400" and gains (presumably) LAX's "74W" on 22/8.

jimbo99's guess at seating sounds about right to me but this "74W" is still selling F C ED and Y.

74W?!? Not sure if there's any such thing. There's a whole bunch of other alphabets attached to a 74, for various types of 747, but not sure if there's a 74W at all. http://www.airlinecodes.co.uk/acrtypes.htm seems fairly comprehensive.

It's some sort of internal EVA naming. What I hold as significant about it is that it is not anything I have ever seen in the past from EVA.

Go to http://www.evaair.com
Go down to the "TIME TABLE". Middle bottom of the first page.
Put in
From: Taipei
To: Los Angeles
one way
Departure Date: Mo 5 Day 29
and click INQUIRY.

Notice BR12 is a 74W four days of the week, a B747-400 one day and a B777-300 two days of the week. Seemingly indicating 3 aircraft types.

Now click on "PREVIOUS WEEK"
Notice BR12 is either a B747-400 or a B777-300 depending on the day. No "74W" that week.

If you check again on
Departure Date: Mo 8 Day 18
You see BR12 still has 74W two days of the week. Hit NEXT week and BR12 is all B777-300's, the 74W is gone.

So where does the mystery plane go?

Try
From: Taipei
To: Vancouver
one way
Departure Date: Mo 8 Day 17
Notice BR10 is a B747-400 3 days a week
Click NEXT WEEK
Notice BR10 switched from a B747-400 to a 74W those days. Immediately after LAX switches to the B777-300. Thus probably it is the plane LAX is giving up.

What does all of this mean? It means, I spend think way to much time thinking about this stuff but really don't know what the heck it means at all.

Just that I can see.

74W (????????)

B747-4E (744 combi)

B747-400 (in the past used to indicate all configurations of 744's except combi's)

B777-300 (777-300ER)

And in the past EVA used 77W when the new 773's were introduced.