Snoopy

Maybe "Smart Upgrade" is not so smart.....

I bid EUR150 for an upgrade on VIE-ZRH (probably too much anyway) and was rejected. When I went to check-in online I was offered the same upgrade for EUR 149!!

Thought that was very funny....and opted to stay put.

hscottm

So my bid isn't smart?

I don't mind overpaying slightly to ensure in advance I am upgraded.?

Snoopy

Sorry hscottm, did you think I was referring to your post? I wasn't. My apologies if you thought I was.

I was referring to the name "Smart Upgrade" for rejecting my bid at EUR 150 and then offering me the same for 1 EUR less....

gum

But the idea is fine! Not bidding with a "9" at the end but with a bid which is slightly higher.

If the upgrade allocation would take place exactly in the order of the highest bid you would be the lucky one snatching the seat.

hscottm

no apology needed. just trying to make sure I don't bid myself out of an upgrade!

shady

I have updated the wiki with the latest reports of bidding.

hscottm

a follow up..

my flights are next week, IAD-VIE and return. Looking at the seat maps (I know, not a perfectly reliably indicator) there are currently 31 unassigned seats in C outbound and 21 inbound - both are 777s.

So my question is, of course, whether to drop my outbound bid a bit (currently $500). I guess I am balancing the "amount that is likely to be close enough but allow me to not sweat out a paid OLCI upgrade" versus overpaying so much. Likewise, $560 on inbound?

Btw, using the same imperfect indicator of the Y cabin, it looks to be 40% empty outbound and 60% empty inbound..

Thanks.

hscottm

Sorry to reply to myself, but when before the flight are bids accepted and rejected? My 72 hour time passed, and I got no email either way about my bid. I got the impression 72 hours was when they decided?

shady

Patience, you will receive it. If you are impatient, check your booking to see if you are rebooked in P.

hscottm

shady - thanks!!

I finally got my acceptance of the $500 bid (380 EUR) for IAD-VIE this morning. At about the 48 hour mark. Upon re-reading the smart upgrade FAQ it just promises a reply within 72 hours. Was confusing the 72 hour bid deadline with the decision deadline.

shady's point of looking for "P" was useful too - I saw last night before going to bed at 11pm that my booking class was updated to P, but hadn't received the acceptance email until about 5 hours later. Not sure how much earlier the booking was showing up as P cause I hadn't been checking impatiently ;-)

Anyway, can update the wiki for this one. Now hoping my $560 on the way home will get accepted too.

Last question - I assume I can't get a new seat assignment until check in at T-36. Is that right? I see seatguru recommendations - i.e., to avoid first and last rows due to galley - any thoughts other than that?

Update: my 560 used bid on 30.8 vie-iAd was accepted too. And Still can't select seat!

shady

Go to lh.com. There you will be able to select your seat.
Enjoy the experience.
To maximize it I suggest to complain if the onboard chef doesn't wear his hat.

hscottm

thanks for suggestion but even lufthansa.com cant do seat selection. I get the impression its too close to flight now. can wait til web check-in. no problem.

update: its now 24 hours from my IAD-VIE flight, but I cant get a seat assignment on that leg, since my initial PIT-IAD leg isn't serviced by OS. I called in, and they say the only way to get a seat is by going to the airport. Kinda bummed I won't even have a seat until right before take off. I guess I cant be too picky then.

This is a bummer in what was otherwise a nice, streamlined process.

muller72

I was flying from VIE to YYZ today.
My bid of €350 was accepted. ( was booked in Economy L, really cheap)

However, in the end the C cabin was overbooked and they asked my to downgrade for €750, but I declined.

shady

This is really a win-win situation.

lsed

That's an interesting turn of events! I would have kept my C upgrade as well.

Welcome to FT!