Jan 22, 2015, 6:28 pm
Last edit by: wandering_fred
'Upgrade' (or 'Get Upgraded' or 'Upgrade Yourself') is UL's implementation of Plusgrade's bid on an upgrade platform.
{29 Mar 2017}
I ended up with an UL itinerary where the first flight was sold out. Seemingly as a result I did not receive an email suggesting I bid for an upgrade, even though the other flight was "open". I received a link from UL reservations which is a variation on the FAQ link (above), but allows you to enter the PNR and your name and it will bring up the bid-to-upgrade option.
Link to the PNR bid to upgrade option
Note: If you are using cut & paste - the upgrade page does NOT like leading or trailing blanks in the PNR.
- You can check if your itinerary is eligible for bidding on an upgrade (most are) on UL's website here, but it typically takes 24-48 hours after the ticket is issued for the itinerary to be in Plusgrade's system
- You cannot bid for flights departing within 72 hours
- Minimum bids are dynamically set based on various factors, and don't appear to change as you get closer to flight departure
- Tip: If you're bidding the minimum, you should always make the bid in USD unless bidding in your home currency avoids credit card costs that are higher than the difference in pricing (see this post)
- Bid amounts can be changed or withdrawn up to 72 hours from flight departure. It does not appear that you can update the credit card number
- Accepted bids will be processed within the 72 hours window, generally prior to 40-48 hours to departure
- If your bid is accepted:
- The credit card will be charged
- You will be rebooked in "I" class
- You will receive an email notification from Plusgrade
- You will receive an email with your new eTicket from the airline
- Currently, your mileage accrual is based on the class you've been rebooked into, not the one from your original ticket
- Please read UL's FAQs
{29 Mar 2017}
I ended up with an UL itinerary where the first flight was sold out. Seemingly as a result I did not receive an email suggesting I bid for an upgrade, even though the other flight was "open". I received a link from UL reservations which is a variation on the FAQ link (above), but allows you to enter the PNR and your name and it will bring up the bid-to-upgrade option.
Link to the PNR bid to upgrade option
Note: If you are using cut & paste - the upgrade page does NOT like leading or trailing blanks in the PNR.
Sri Lankan Airlines - upgrade yourself
Sep 18, 2017, 7:26 pm
#166
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
Just wandering
Fred
Oct 1, 2017, 11:53 pm
#168
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K, Amex Plat, NEXUS, Aman-user (not really a -junkie)
Posts: 1,721
DOH-CMB $230 and CMB-BKK $130 were both accepted... these were both about $10 more than minimum bid and both on A330 which is worth it IMO.
I was happy as the Y fare DOH-CMB-BKK-SGN was only $375 last minute...
I was happy as the Y fare DOH-CMB-BKK-SGN was only $375 last minute...
Oct 2, 2017, 12:07 am
#169
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K, Amex Plat, NEXUS, Aman-user (not really a -junkie)
Posts: 1,721
Hi
Wondering if anyone can tell me about timing and re-bids on the upgrades.
I have searched quite a bit for this specific detail but unable to find anything so far -
1) Is there an optimal time to place the bid (besides the "bid by" and 'get accepted / confirmed by' cutoffs detailed on the Srilankan and other sites)?
e.g. If flying in Nov SIN-CMB-xxx R/T (south east asia) is there a better success rate now(Sep) or a specific time later?
2) Can you re-bid if your bid gets rejected at first? If so is there a limit on # of attempts?
Trying to figure out what makes sense - buying economy and bidding or paying outright for business!
Wondering if anyone can tell me about timing and re-bids on the upgrades.
I have searched quite a bit for this specific detail but unable to find anything so far -
1) Is there an optimal time to place the bid (besides the "bid by" and 'get accepted / confirmed by' cutoffs detailed on the Srilankan and other sites)?
e.g. If flying in Nov SIN-CMB-xxx R/T (south east asia) is there a better success rate now(Sep) or a specific time later?
2) Can you re-bid if your bid gets rejected at first? If so is there a limit on # of attempts?
Trying to figure out what makes sense - buying economy and bidding or paying outright for business!
Oct 2, 2017, 12:10 am
#170
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K, Amex Plat, NEXUS, Aman-user (not really a -junkie)
Posts: 1,721
As min bid for this was $125, I think I would be buying Business if I were you...
Nov 15, 2017, 5:29 pm
#171
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: QR-G, TK-E , WY-G
Posts: 142
I get in the Serendib lounge around 10 am, it was packed until 12:30-1 pm, almost no seats available.
Nov 16, 2017, 12:28 pm
#172
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ANR, BELGIUM
Programs: DIAMANTAIRE EXTRAORDINAIRE
Posts: 453
Thought not the best trip or airline.
Nov 29, 2017, 8:08 am
#173
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: BA | Marriott
Posts: 19
Thanks for the contribution to the thread, appreciated.
I have a tricky issue here for the upgrade option. I have a company business trip oncoming and my flight was book with a coworker (under same PNR/book ref. no.).
I clearly can access to the PBR bid to upgrade page and make a bid for my flight, however it would be a bid for both ppl in the PNR (me and my coworker in the case).
Is there anything I can do to get it down for myself sneakily?
Thanks in advance.
I have a tricky issue here for the upgrade option. I have a company business trip oncoming and my flight was book with a coworker (under same PNR/book ref. no.).
I clearly can access to the PBR bid to upgrade page and make a bid for my flight, however it would be a bid for both ppl in the PNR (me and my coworker in the case).
Is there anything I can do to get it down for myself sneakily?
Thanks in advance.
Dec 3, 2017, 10:52 pm
#174
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 55
Hi all,
My friend, who will be flying with Sri Lankan for the first time, wants to skip bidding the offer of first sector but want to bid the offer of second sector so how does that work? Should he put 'No offer' on the first sector and then bid $$$ for the second sector? Or should he wait until few days before the departure date of the second sector and then bid for the business upgrade? Please let me know so that I can let him know about it.
Thanks in advance. Your help is hugely appreciated!
My friend, who will be flying with Sri Lankan for the first time, wants to skip bidding the offer of first sector but want to bid the offer of second sector so how does that work? Should he put 'No offer' on the first sector and then bid $$$ for the second sector? Or should he wait until few days before the departure date of the second sector and then bid for the business upgrade? Please let me know so that I can let him know about it.
Thanks in advance. Your help is hugely appreciated!
Dec 9, 2017, 5:36 pm
#175
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 66
Has anyone tried to upgrade on the new CMB-MEL route? Looks like it's the old A330-200, not 300, but still a long flight in coach so I'm considering bidding v. purchasing business outright. If someone has tried is there a better day of the week to target for the flight? My travel dates are flexible, looking to fly the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 4. Right now the coach seats are about $550 and business is about double at $1100. Thanks in advance.
Dec 9, 2017, 5:45 pm
#176
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
Expert flyer is showing the I and D class fare buckets during that period as CLOSED. This is normally considered as a bad sign for upgrades. Obviously, things may change over the next 6+ weeks.
Happy wandering
Fred
Happy wandering
Fred
Dec 11, 2017, 9:34 pm
#177
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AA,DL,BA,UA,SPG, and any other free trip!
Posts: 1,803
Booked cheap flight HKG-BKK for 2 people early November and bid US100 each to upgrade to business class. Upgrade came through and there were still around 8 seats vacant.
I have only flown Sri Lankan airlines twice and both times in business class on this sector. Upgrade to business class for US100 is good value for money.
I have only flown Sri Lankan airlines twice and both times in business class on this sector. Upgrade to business class for US100 is good value for money.
Dec 12, 2017, 7:17 am
#178
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
If on UL it would be two flight segments.
Just wandering
Fred
Dec 12, 2017, 9:00 am
#179
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AA,DL,BA,UA,SPG, and any other free trip!
Posts: 1,803
thats exactly right...the segment is from KUL - CMB - MLE.....I was going to bid for the KUL-CMB which is like over 3 hrs.
Dec 12, 2017, 9:01 pm
#180
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
UL seems to be getting a bit more selective on the shorter routes (BKK/KUL/SIN).
A check of your favorite availability display (ie ExpertFlyer etc) to judge the status of the flight would be a good start. The flight in the morning is likely to have fewer business seats available when compared to the mid-afternoon flight.
It also depends on whether crediting an I class UL flight (to your frequent flyer program of choice) will benefit the (re)qualification effort or not.
It is still un-proven whether the fare class of your economy ticket makes a difference in evaluating the upgrade bids. But then I fly R class on UL when I have a choice since that guarantees full credit to MPC/Asia Miles. I class (ie upgraded) would preferentially credit to QF.
Happy wandering
Fred
A check of your favorite availability display (ie ExpertFlyer etc) to judge the status of the flight would be a good start. The flight in the morning is likely to have fewer business seats available when compared to the mid-afternoon flight.
It also depends on whether crediting an I class UL flight (to your frequent flyer program of choice) will benefit the (re)qualification effort or not.
It is still un-proven whether the fare class of your economy ticket makes a difference in evaluating the upgrade bids. But then I fly R class on UL when I have a choice since that guarantees full credit to MPC/Asia Miles. I class (ie upgraded) would preferentially credit to QF.
Happy wandering
Fred