I was returning to YYZ from YVR on Canadian Airlines. I stumbled upon a guy who is Executive Platinum like me, usually, Executive Platinum's should have no problem upgrading unless the flight is really full which is never the case on CP, otherwise they won't be in trouble now! I was waiting for boading announcement when I noticed that he is sitting in economy.

I couldn't resist myself but ask him why is he not going for an upgrade as he is not travelling with a family. He told me that he nevers ask for upgrades unless he is flying international. I found this extremely weird because he would rather get 0.5 points instead of full points on a domestic flight(He's travelling on a discount fare). He would rather sit in Y class than J class for 5 hours. I didn't bother asking him for his reason. The only reasoning I could come up with is that he gets 2 seat to himself for sure in Y class.

Just wondering anyone of you out there does the same thing. This is the first one I ever heard of! Just how far would you go to get an upgrade?

Regards,
Empress

I always ask for the upgrade (100 hours). When I check in I ask how full the flight is. If there is an "F and E" or an "A and B" where I can get the window seat with the middle block I will go back into coach. I do not get re-imbursed for stickers and I think that the window seat with the middle open is more comfortable, especially if the first class is in Super 80 or F-100. I lean against the window and put my feet under the middle seat.

I really like sitting in the back of the plane. If it is packed I rather sit up front, but I hardly ever get flights that are packed. My reason for liking the back is the more room, very little people, and window seat even if I didn't purchase one.
Sometimes I purchase a seat where there's a whole bunch of passengers around me and I'll walk to the back where it's empty, I guess I just don't like people breathing on me...

FlyBabe
~~~~~~

Do you only want the "legal" tactics?

Empress, I guess we've been spoiled, particularly on CP widebodies. Given that 2 Y seats aren't much bigger than 1 J seat (especially an "A" seat on a 767) I can't really see any reason to not upgrade. Perhaps he's saving his stickers for his own travel, but the end result is the same. Say you have 1 sticker, and have 2 flights -- 1 business, and 1 personal. Do you upgrade on the business trip or the personal trip? Does it matter?

I could see not using an SW/A sticker on a really short flight, to save it for a more worthwhile trip, but at 2000+ miles, YVR-YYZ seems like a pretty good canidate. 'Course, maybe he's saving his limited SW/A stickers for international trips.

Sounds like a David Letterman top 10 list -- the 10 best reasons not to upgrade.

I always go for the upgrade!

. . . but this week my daughter was flying back from New Orleans via Toronto to Calgary on Air Canada's Executive Class. Her friend was in Econo so my daughter went to the person sitting next to her friend in Econo and asked if she wanted to move up to Executive Class. The person accepted in a flash!

That's a true test of friendship--willing to give up Executive Class to sit with your friend!

[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-18-2000).]

Here's one. What do you do if you're travelling with your wife (or husband) and you can only get one seat up front. Do you make the spouse sit in the back, or do the gallant thing and give he or she the chair? I observe this action with some regularity, finding somewhat mixed results. Along those lines, what do you do with the last minute upgrade couple who come on board with seats not together, who then ask you to give up that nice aisle you've been holding for several days, so you can take their window in the last row of the front cabin (or bulkhead)? If you don't, you have one of them with you for the whole trip.

[This message has been edited by deelmakur (edited 01-18-2000).]

One of my main reasons for keeping with CO is their liberal (for Platinum) upgrade policy. On CO it doesn't cost "points, coupons, fare basis" etc to upgrade. Thus, it is a pretty simple phone call (abit 3 days in advance) to guarantee that FC seat . That, as well as their great service and area they cover fit into my travel plans.
Deelmakur- as far as giving up a seat to accomodate a couple, I will do it if the switched seat is agreeable to me. If not, I will say "sorry, no". Remember they have two choices--and perhaps the other person will move.
If I am traveling with a friend, or my husband (who doesn't travel much) and there is only one seat in FC (which hasn't happend to me yet), I will give it to them. Hey, I get to go First just about all the time---

There was one time when I was offered an upgrade but my wife wasn't. I simply didn't take the upgrade and sat in the back with my wife. Not a big deal since we had three seats in coach.

Picking up on the suggestion:

10. Tired of explaining "the sticker deal" to the clients who bought your ticket when they pass you as they walk to the back.

9. Did you see that woman in 28D!!!

I can't imagine anyone whose wife wouldn't KILL them for taking a F seat and leaving them back in coach. I know mine would!

I usually go for the upgrade. I once got an upgrade and relinquished it (stupidly) to sit with my friend in coach. The reason this was stupid was because, as my companion, my friend should have been upgraded with me. Unfortunately, they screwed up and instead of insisting that they upgrade my friend, I just went and sat in the back. The flight was packed to the max and I ended up in a middle seat on this red-eye.

If the plane is a wide-body and its empty on a long-haul I'd rather have 4 seats to sleep on in coach than any up except if there are sleeper beds.I'm 6'2 so 767's are no good in coach.Since I fly alot int'l where the flights are bet. 9-12 hrs nothing beats being able to sleep lying down.I found even TWA's trans-one 1st seats doesn't let one get a good night sleep.So sleeper-beds or give me those 4 coach seats,now if either of those aren't aviable then for sure any up will do!

Here's my 2 cents... I don't really like being asked to give up my seat so another couple can sit together. I fly 3 times a week, so I know which seats I like and I request them. But I will switch if the request is genuinely nice and the alternative seat isn't too bad - i.e, not next to the galley or the lav! Recently in Biz Class I politely declined to move; the husband of the couple pitched a big fit and demanded the F/A put them in 1st class, which was mostly empty. Instead, she apologized to me and sweetly asked if I would prefer a 1st class seat to the one I had. Of course the angry husband was livid, but I thought it was the perfect solution! My biggest pet peeve, which has happened more than a few times: you get on the plane and someone's sitting in your seat. When you ask about their seat assignment, they say "Oh, my seat's over there - would you switch with me?" To me, that's just rude and they get an automatic no from me.

On the subject of leaving your significant other/spouse/friend in coach while you take the upgrade - or vice versa - that's never even occurred to me. When I travel with my spouse, we're either both up front or both in the back. Call us sappy, but we'd rather sit together in the back of the bus than sit apart.

I am usually quite happy to move to accomodate two people traveling together that have been separated, that is if they ask FIRST. I am amazed at the attitude when I arrive to someone already in my seat and acting as if it is a fait acompli (excuse the spelling)that I will move....in those cases I say no, though I am skeptical that the person involved will take the lesson being offered.

sometimes the spouse seating thing gets to me also. i had a guy get upset with me because i wouldn't move so he could sit with his wife on a flight that was 20 min long!!!

i think think anyone can survive a 20 min separation from their spouse. i know plenty of folks that would gladly ask for a separation MUCH longer

[This message has been edited by lonman (edited 01-18-2000).]