SK Op-ups?
 

flying on SK926 on monday (26 Jul) to CPH on an H fare. looks like it's Y0. not sure how the SK booking codes are since i'm used to UA's. two questions. does SK do op ups and how low of a fare code do they do them? second, if a VDB is available, would they push you over to UA? my final destination is BRU, and i'd prefer to not wait until the next day.

thanks!

Hi haddon90,

Most likely SAS is going to upgrade their own FF's with status first as would UA do with theirs. I would not get my hopes up too high tbh, but wonders do happen once in a blue moon :)

A while ago, the internal upgrade priority list was posted here. I think other *A FF golds were 5th or something on that list, after EB status holders.
(AFAIK, fare codes are officially not a deciding factor)

If you exclude booking classes, the upgrade priority list would be:
1. SK Pandion
2. SK Gold
3. *A Gold
4. SK Silver
5. *A Silver
6. SK Basic

I'm pretty sure that booking class is a factor (I know it is on i.e. LH). Economy seems to be completely sold out on your date, so they will have to upgrade pax (either op-up or through Optiontown). Since H-class (if booked with SK prefix) is a pretty decent booking class, I would say that you have good chances for an upgrade - at least to Economy Extra.

that's what i figured. im not holding out hope, i was just curious. if there was a VDB opportunity, they wouldn't put me on UA for a flight out that night would they?

also seems like my return flight to ORD (SK943) is sold out in economy on 7/30.

It depends. I have had some experience with VDB's and usually they offer you a hotel night and a seat on next day's departure. But if you ask them, they might put you on the next available flight if there are any free seats.

I don't often praise SK these days, but as UA *G, they are by far the *A partner that has been most generous to me with operational upgrades. Usually from M all the way to C.

i don't wanna spend the night...stinks there's only one flight a day.

what do they normally offer? cause i don't fly SK hardly at all. so a credit won't do me any good anyway hah if they offered me C on the next flight, that could be tempting!

I don't think you could hope for that (I've tried a couple of times to get a guaranteed C seat the next day without success ;)). IME, they offer an Eco seat if that's what you have, and then process op-ups for the next day's flight "as usual". Actually, the chance/risk of VDB are rather small to begin with, and since you have a connection in CPH, you will not be in the top of the list.

But please report back if your trip turns out differently!

Getting VDB's at all has been very difficults the last few years, but it seems flight loads are picking up this year. SK's IC flights seem to be running at more or less full capacity during the summer months now, i think the cabin factor is over 85% according to the latest company reports.

If was different back in the 90's when i was flying the now defunct SEA-CPH route regularly. It was more often than not that they wanted VDB candidates at the gate back then. Let me just say i financed a lot of leisure trips that way ;)
But the load forecast systems has propably developed a lot since then, so i think the chances are more slim nowadays. During the last 4-5 years of (sporadic) flying, i have never even heard a call for VDBs.

At that time, the standard offer was $600 in flight cupons (redeemable for 1/2 value in cash). I believe it has increased now to 600-800e. They prefer you to be put on another SK flight, for cost reasons i presume.
And i never got anything else than the same service class, so don't hope for upgrades.
And if you have checked luggage, ask already at the check-in if there might be an overbooking situation and if so, let them know you are a VDB candidate so they can load your luggage last. This way, you will be on top of the gate agents list if they know they don't have to dig though the entire cargo hold to unload your bags. This used to be my routine and it worked well.

Actually, in June it was above 90%

i'll report what happens when i get back. two years ago i was flying CPH-IAD and it was oversold. i believe they were offering 400 euros.

i know UA puts you in C on the next flight if you're in Y. almost tempting to ask for C and no $. we'll see though. can't wait to get over there. i miss CPH's lounge!

OK. flight was heavily overbooked. they gave my friend and i 150 euros each...change of flight IAD-FRA-BRU. so we took it. still trying to figure out how to cash in these vouchers they gave us.

and now it seems the flight on friday (30 july) CPH-ORD is zeroed out. so i might try and do the same thing. i will say though, LH Y in the 744 is not that great, and i'm not impressed in FRA in general.

i'll give another update when i get back to SFO.

150 EUR? On IAD-Europe on an EU-carrier? That seems way too low. I thought it was a minimum of 400 EUR (EU rules)? I would never have left a SK-flight for a LH 744 for 150 EUR, unless they would seat me in C-class.