Paid airport upgrades on AI
May 28, 2015, 7:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,470
Paid airport upgrades on AI
AI seems to have an official scheme of selling space available upgrades at the airport. Does anyone know, whether mileage accrual (on partner airlines like LH, UA etc) is based on the original ticketed booking class or on some higher class if the purchased upgrade is applied?
May 28, 2015, 10:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seoul, Korea
Programs: UA Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 36
Paid airport upgrades on AI
Saw this today at ICN. Was 160,000 KRW (~$145) to HKG or 250,000 KRW (~$225) to DEL. These were economy to biz upgrades. Was told HKG to DEL was now full in biz though. I believe the T&C said you only get mileage credit for your originally ticketed class.
May 29, 2015, 1:20 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
May 29, 2015, 2:16 am
#4
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,184
The airport schemes just get you a better seat in the DCS, no change to the underlying ticket. The nice thing is the rates are fixed and known upfront:
For domestic flights it really only works on the former IC operated routes, not the AI international domestic flights
http://www.airindia.com/domestic-airport-upgrades.htm
For international flights you can even get an EMD in advance:
http://www.airindia.com/airport_upgrades.htm
What really reissues your ticket in a higher booking class is Optiontowns UTo, which AI participates in.
For domestic flights it really only works on the former IC operated routes, not the AI international domestic flights
http://www.airindia.com/domestic-airport-upgrades.htm
For international flights you can even get an EMD in advance:
http://www.airindia.com/airport_upgrades.htm
What really reissues your ticket in a higher booking class is Optiontowns UTo, which AI participates in.
May 29, 2015, 9:42 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Delhi, India
Programs: Air India Silver Edge, Jet Airways Silver
Posts: 271
Heres what you do: at check-in ask the counter lady for an upgrade. If she denies a regular free upgrade, ask for a paid upgrade. Rates are fixed and listed on a website. But she doesnt process the upgrade. She will direct you to the ticket counter where you have to go and process the upgrade by paying the fee, then trot back to do the check in!
The problem is that the counter doesnt always process the upgrade! It all depends on the whims and fancies of the people at the counter. The ones at DEL T3 are possibly the worst, followed by the CCU terminal. At times I have been told Business is sold out on the flight (only to find 6 out 8 seats vacant on boarding). Atleast twice was told paid upgrades are possible only if tickets are booked on V class and above!
Only had this last problem (fare class) at DEL T3. Have managed to pay and upgrade a dozen times at other stations including BLR, MAA, VGA etc.
The problem is that the counter doesnt always process the upgrade! It all depends on the whims and fancies of the people at the counter. The ones at DEL T3 are possibly the worst, followed by the CCU terminal. At times I have been told Business is sold out on the flight (only to find 6 out 8 seats vacant on boarding). Atleast twice was told paid upgrades are possible only if tickets are booked on V class and above!
Only had this last problem (fare class) at DEL T3. Have managed to pay and upgrade a dozen times at other stations including BLR, MAA, VGA etc.
May 31, 2015, 6:53 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
I once did an upgrade on AI international domestic flight JED-HYD-BOM. I upgraded the HYD-BOM sector at airport for 2 pax, flight was operated by a 747.