Operational Upgrades
#16
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Somewhere between LAX, LHR, GVA
Posts: 196
Ch-Usa, Airoli -
Just curious on what routes you were getting these high frequency upgrades and what day(s) of the week ...
Thanks,
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Just curious on what routes you were getting these high frequency upgrades and what day(s) of the week ...
Thanks,
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

#17
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: CH, D, USA
Posts: 1,704
ZRH-ORD, ZRH-JFK, GVA-JFK.
All summer season.
Days: Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon and Tue.
What might have helped is that I got to know JFK the JFK lounge ladies by chatting a few times. Although I remember most upgrades were already processed when I got the airport.
See
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum40/HTML/000800.html
for information on why it is not wise to use the e-checkin machine on overbooked longhauls - at least if you want to sit in C-class.
All summer season.
Days: Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon and Tue.
What might have helped is that I got to know JFK the JFK lounge ladies by chatting a few times. Although I remember most upgrades were already processed when I got the airport.
See
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum40/HTML/000800.html
for information on why it is not wise to use the e-checkin machine on overbooked longhauls - at least if you want to sit in C-class.

#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,360
Yes, it's really on Summer high-season routes to the US where free upgrades are doled out.
I'm really curious now. Does chatting the lounge ladies up give us more chance of an upgrade? Someone needs to sweeten those Zurich lounge ladies.
I'm really curious now. Does chatting the lounge ladies up give us more chance of an upgrade? Someone needs to sweeten those Zurich lounge ladies.

#19
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, AFKL, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 7,221
Back in ZRH now, but no luck this time.
kzoom, I got operational upgrades on ZRH-JFK and ZRH-EWR (or return) flights in May and October, on Mon, Sat, Thu.
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airOli, the Swiss Air Line.
kzoom, I got operational upgrades on ZRH-JFK and ZRH-EWR (or return) flights in May and October, on Mon, Sat, Thu.
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airOli, the Swiss Air Line.


#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,360
Well, I got an operational upgrade from HKG to ZRH on the Sunday night flight, most welcome it was too. I actually arrived in Switzerland feeling pretty good, despite the time difference, whereas in economy I would have felt pretty grotty. The flight was fairly heavily oversold, and I checked in quite early with absolutely no expectations, resigned to an economy flight. The upgrade was done at the gate when I was called to the gate agent. By the way, the Plaza lounge we share with several other airlines at HKG isn't up to much.

#21
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Posts: 149
I was hoping for an operational upgrade on last saturday's JFK-GVA, but the plane wasn't full at all. But when asking at the check in, the woman told me that she could upgrade me for $333 from Y to C. Since it was a very cheap ticket I got, and was feeling very tired of Y, I decided to buy it, even though the flight is not so long. It was the first time I ve been told I could upgrade for $300, which I think can be a very good deal, especially if flying from ORD or LAX or other long-haul destination. Has anyone other experience with this ? Is JFK the only place where they do it ? Thanks in advance.

#22
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 674
333.-$ is the right price I think for an upgrade from Y to C.
Arround 8 months ago I was told that an upgrade from C to F (ZRH to LAX) cost 1200.- CHF. So I think the price you were offered is the correct one.
Hope you will also get the C class club miles..
kooks. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
Arround 8 months ago I was told that an upgrade from C to F (ZRH to LAX) cost 1200.- CHF. So I think the price you were offered is the correct one.
Hope you will also get the C class club miles..
kooks. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

#23
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Posts: 149
I did get the C class club miles, which were nice also because of the double miles promo. But I do not know were went the youth bonus miles (only a few weeks left for me in the "youth"...) ? I read on this forum that the youth bonus doesn't exist in the new FFP, is it true ? Any info about that ?

#24
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, AFKL, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 7,221
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by swiss traveler:
I read on this forum that the youth bonus doesn't exist in the new FFP, is it true ? Any info about that ?</font>
I read on this forum that the youth bonus doesn't exist in the new FFP, is it true ? Any info about that ?</font>
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airOli, the Swiss Air Line.


#25
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 674
I don t know if the YouthBonuses are still allowed, maybe Oli knows about it. For me I passed already the age limit for the bonuses.. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.
What you should do is call SwissTravelClub or write an email and ask to be credited for it.
This should be the best way to get the miles.
kooks.
What you should do is call SwissTravelClub or write an email and ask to be credited for it.
This should be the best way to get the miles.
kooks.

#26
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Posts: 149
Ok thanx for the info ! Not any good thing about this programm. I feel there is a big gap between trying to be the best airline and such a not-so-attractive FFP.
Destination excellence is far...
Let's hope they will do other promo like the swissair last year 240k.
Destination excellence is far...
Let's hope they will do other promo like the swissair last year 240k.

#27
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 674
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by swiss traveler:
Let's hope they will do other promo like the swissair last year 240k. </font>
Let's hope they will do other promo like the swissair last year 240k. </font>
kooks.

#28
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Here there everywhere
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, BA Silver, Aegean Gold, Aeroplan 25k, AA EXP
Posts: 2,797
Hi,
from swissair times I actually got upgraded a couple of times, at baggage check-in in Montreal I asked if there was anyway to get a C class ticket and the lady replied "you are already in business sir". The only time I have actually gotten upgraded at the gate was in Dubai with Emirates, otherwise some other times when I was directly put into business. The fact is on the two occasions with swissair I was flying on to Geneva, (SFO-ZRH-GVA, YUL-ZRH-GVA) and both times for the zrh-gva i was put in economy. May I add that I have always been a normal qualiflyer member. The other day flying to EZE i saw a lot of operational upgrades being done at the gate, where people were called and given new boarding cards (they had Y than passed to C) I think this was done to about 20 people.
hope it helps.
from swissair times I actually got upgraded a couple of times, at baggage check-in in Montreal I asked if there was anyway to get a C class ticket and the lady replied "you are already in business sir". The only time I have actually gotten upgraded at the gate was in Dubai with Emirates, otherwise some other times when I was directly put into business. The fact is on the two occasions with swissair I was flying on to Geneva, (SFO-ZRH-GVA, YUL-ZRH-GVA) and both times for the zrh-gva i was put in economy. May I add that I have always been a normal qualiflyer member. The other day flying to EZE i saw a lot of operational upgrades being done at the gate, where people were called and given new boarding cards (they had Y than passed to C) I think this was done to about 20 people.
hope it helps.

#29
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 522
GVA,
People called to the gate in ZRH and given new boarding cards are Non Revs 99% of the time. Ah those were the days.
Jeremiah
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The other day flying to EZE i saw a lot of operational upgrades being done at the gate, where people were called and given new boarding cards (they had Y than passed to C) I think this was done to about 20 people. </font>
Jeremiah

#30
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, AFKL, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 7,221
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kooks:
I don t know if the YouthBonuses are still allowed, maybe Oli knows about it.</font>
I don t know if the YouthBonuses are still allowed, maybe Oli knows about it.</font>
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airOli, the Swiss Air Line. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
[This message has been edited by airoli (edited 01-22-2003).]
