I have an "improve my trip" online upgrade offer of £45 for LHR-MAD on the A350 which I have been trying to purchase all day and just keeps getting an error.

What's interesting is I've already lost my seat selection in economy (which is now showing blocked in EF) and appear to have been allocated a seat in the business class cabin...

So it's in some sort of half-way state?

Hoping I can either complete the upgrade or get my original seat back at the airport check-in desks and I'm not going to find myself at the back of the bus!

Where does manage booking say you're sitting at the moment if at all? (And if you try on AY/MH? Do those sites allow you to select a different seat in either cabin?)

On a separate note, to fill in a data point from earlier this year: JFK-MAD 402,37€ Y (Avios redemption) to J, online

Upgrade from Eco to Business at check-in
 

Hello everyone! I rarely travel with Iberia and One World carriers but I was proposed a Business Upgrade ar 434€ at check-in for Iberia from MAD to CCS I've heard a lot of bad things about Iberia's Business so wantes to hear from you if you think this is a value deal? It'll be on their A333.

Thanks a lot in advance !

Where have you heard bad things about IB business class? I prefer it to any American carrier. 434€ is a bargain.

Iberia business is fine. 434 euros for a 9-hour flight is something I would pay.

If you don't immediately realise that 434 euros is a bargain you...

1. Have never flown Business Class for 9+ hours
2. Need those 434 euros for basic life expenses rather than to make life more enjoyable

Most of us wouldn't have wasted any time on FT asking questions and would have paid the money in case the offer disappeared...

Obviously there aren't too many business travellers to Venezuela these days... :D

OP, assuming you don't have to try IB (or any) business seat 'at least once in your life', then it's irrelevant how much of a bargain the upgrade offer is (measured against how much it would normally cost).


What matters is what you actually get:
1) Flat bed for a 9 hours day time flight. Will you be sleeping? Looks like CCS has no PE, so you're in Y. You can spend a much smaller sum in the front row economy for legroom. If you need the width...then...
2) Improved food & booze
https://www.iberia.com/es/on-board/o...eck-your-menu/
It's airplane food, the same 3 courses in town, freshly cooked and not reheated, would cost 30eur, same for the booze/snacks/breakfast.
3) Iberia lounge access, not much on offer before the 1155 flight.
4) Priority check in, security, boarding etc
5) Had you needed to pay for luggage anyway, then you can deduct it from the upgrade cost.
A bit more details here https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/iber...sses-more.html

That's an absolute steal. 434 Euros is not even a question

I was just looking at M&M reward flights. Transatlantic Business one way is 56,000 miles and $1000+

I was offered to upgrade from PE to C/J for EUR 375 or slightly more during OLCI for my MAD-BOG flight (the 11:55 PM departure) last week. BA Avios ticket.

436eur (from W) for P2's 6251 to jfk tomorrow, booked with 1/2 avios promo so 17500.

Guess I need the euros for basic life expenses rather than to make P2's life more enjoyable :)

Ib6252 tmr, both in W:

P2, no status, avios ticket, 401eur
Me, 335eur

The algorithm thinks pax on avios are willing to pay more because the flight "was free", and/or algorithm thinks oro/ows pax are known- cheapskates and willingness to pay is low (especially since they are about EP and this won't earn any extra)

Surely the algo knows that you are the cheapskate my friend. :D

I would assume that the algo doesn't expect the average Avios-spending passenger to pay for the upgrade, but expects to be able to extract more money from those who are willing to pay.

It may also make sense to charge less to a status passenger who would otherwise get the op-up for free. I've always assumed that these cheap upgrade offers are mostly available when cabins are oversold and the airline wants to extract some extra cash rather than just give away the upgrades.

​​​​​​Another pax in W, cash ticket, OWR, 730eur, and W has not oversold, a few open seats. We think algo takes into account age? Elderly more likely to pay up?

My wife and I were offered upgrades from W to J on the MAD - DFW flight last Friday for $360 per person, $720 in total. These were Avios bookings, using a Chase Companion Voucher. Needless to say I accepted the offer without hesitation.