Welcome to FT RFCMod. We're not mean, just a little jaded at trying to "play" this game of airline travel.

While the OP was polite and acknowledged his being new to FT (FlyerTalk), his question really was naive.

He says he's a FF and uses miles to upgrade, so I'm slightly perplexed by his asking the question. You'd think he would ask about free upgrades before using his miles? You would also think he'd know that the persuit of ANY kind of upgrades are a major part of why communities such as FT exist.

We even have a term called "battlefield" upgrades on FT. It describes upgrades that do not clear prior to arriving at the airport, and usually only are given during the chaos of boarding/at the gate.

Again, not to demean the OP, but thinking of the many many battlefield situations I've seen, I just chuckle at his asking politely for a free upgrade while a zillion elites are hovering at the desk waiting for their "earned" or "deserved" or "waitlisted" upgrade to clear...

A more realistic question would be what airlines offer complementary upgrades to their eiltes and which ones charge, and what is the upgrade percentage.



p.s. - Please be a good FT'er and let us know if you are successful in asking for upgrades. We'll all want to know the airline and what your trick/tactic was.

Most generous airline
 

As an extra information I have just found out yesterday: Lan Airlines provides unlimited space-available free upgrades for their highest-level members (Commodore). As far as I understood, it is for their complete network, that means for example including the 16 hour - flight SCL-MAD-FRA. That seems to be the most generous policy of the business.

Well, sort of. AS gives free unlimited upgrades to their elite flyers (MVP and MVP Gold) on a space available basis, including flights to Mexico and Canada, their only international destinations.

Another welcome to FT
 

Yes, welcome to FT.

I had difficulty understanding your original post, as well.

To all readers, please take this in the right spirit...

I think hoping for an upgrade these days without a bit of travel seasoning, usually occurs because of books that are sold with the promise of insider secrets for upgrading, travel agents who advise outdated information or what they think they know about the subject, (no offense, I was in the industry, too, so don't be angry), or something they've heard thru the media or acquaintances. When it occurred while I was on duty, it usually resulted in the person being a bit put off because of the answer not being what was expected. I always wondered if they considered that possibility before asking.

I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming weekend!!!

Welcome to FT

One reason that this doesn't happen anymore is that the airlines have instituted policies of no favors/no waivers as the previous policy had been abused by some GAs. (ie friends, family, etc.)

You can still ask and the majority of the time the answer will be just like here - a polite no. Sometimes it will also be just like here an impolite no.

That's not entirely accurate as is true of most blanket statements. About two years ago, when UA still was flying aircraft with FC cabins to/from LAS, I asked the GA about the possibility of an upgrade for me and my wife on the LAS/ORD return leg. He was quite polite, gave me little hope of success, but did take our names. We had just completed the first half of our first rt on UA having bolted Delta via a status match (Prem Exec) with UA. Obviously, we hadn't earned any 500 milers or the like. Moments before boarding began, the GA called us to his post, gave us FC passes, and welcomed us to UA.

We have also landed complimentary upgrades on USAir and Delta over the past few years. All were obtained because we asked.

lex

Oh please. If the airline can charge me $800 dollars for my seat and the person sitting next to me $198, then I think it is completely reasonable to ask for an upgrade if no one was booked in that class anyway. It doesn't cost the airline anything and it makes for loyal customers.

True, but is anyone really getting these upgrades unless their own airline's program entitles them to the upgrade (i.e. AA will comp me upgrades due to status, but if I have no status and walk up to the counter and ask for a free upgrade I'll probably get a blank stare).

Looking through this thread, the only one that seems to report success walking up to the counter and asking for free upgrades is the OP, and one other poster. Most of the other posters are talking about upgrades they are entitled to based on elite status or type of fare paid, which they're rightfully entitled to. As most of us on FT do have status, we're probably an unlikely group to be asking for free upgrades, as we know what the rules are.

Back in the early 90's when I flew YYZ-AMS-SVO frequently, I could get an upgrade on KL about one time in three simply by dressing well, being pleasant, and asking nicely. It helped flying on busy days when coach was heavily overbooked and they were bumping people anyway.

Times (read: airline economics) have changed, and airlines have realized they can sell the upgrades or capture frequent flyers with those seats, so it's difficult or possible to do these days unless one is lucky and on a flight heavily overbooked in coach.

There's nothing unreasonable about asking if something can be done, particularly when the airlines have been willing in the past to do it.

Upgrades
 

The only airline that is still reasonably ethical regarding upgrades is AA.

US Airways is actually practicing consumer fraud. They say they have "unlimited" first class upgrades for their Chairman's Preferred flyers at 7 days prior to flight. But, they are capacity controlled, and now it is their policy to withold whatever seats have not sold, up to the number 9 until day of departure (and usually, time of departure so that they can sell the upgrades. What this means is that at 7 days prior to flight, if 10 first class seats are unsold, only 1 will be given to a single Chairman's flyer.

It is very important that US Airways go our of business because of the 34 ways in which they have disconnected completely from their customers, including their top 2% of frequent flyers.

Emirates is one of the better airlines now-a-days that offer upgrades to Business even though you are not even a member of their elite program. About two years back Emirates upgraded us to Business from LHR to DXB when they found out that we were on our honeymoon to Mauritius.
I have ever since flown with them for almost all of my international flights - excellent airline and extraordinary service.

I have been a Platinum Elite plus with NWA for several years. Their upgrade policy is exceptional for elites. PE, GE, and SE elites are all eligible for domestic upgrades in ranking of their elite status. PE elites are automatically upgraded 5 days in advance of departure if seats are availabe. I'm upgraded 95% of the time. It's automatic and i receive an email from NWA confirming the upgrade and my new seat assignment. GE are eligible 3 days in advance and SE 1 day in advance. All upgrades of course are usually taken by PE's and GE's before SE's are eligible. It's very rare to see an empty seat in FC domestic flights. NWA appreciates their elites.

International upgrades are available and issued at the gate automatically if coach is oversold and FC or BC seats are empty up front. PE level is accommodated first, then GE and SE.

Usually it does no good to ask for an upgrade to BC or FC on international flights even if there are seats empty at departure.

United gives their top-tier (1K) elites six System-Wide Upgrades per year, and you can earn more as well depending on how much you fly.

Tim

I find this very hard to believe! Maybe your boss was pulling your chain. :p Was your boss a top-tier flyer with CX?

Ahem. Cathay Pacific's business class product is a bit more than $600 over their economy class. Try about 5 times as expensive.
It is ridiculous to expect to get something you didn't pay for. But alot of people expect something for nothing nowadays, huh?
Why the tired old "oh, please" comment? Very boring and unimaginative!