I know that CPH has always been hit or miss with regard to when and where op-ups or point upgrades are processed.

I have always been told by both check-in agents and lounge agents that I must proceed to the gate to request an upgrade, either on points or op-up. However, many report here that they've had success at check-in and/or the lounge. Obviously, I'd like to enjoy lounge time as long as possible and not rush to the gate.

This week, my husband and I are flying CPH-EWR, and we both are EBS, and I'm *G.

According to expertflyer.com, flight availability is:
A4 D4 Z4 R4 Y0 H0 K0 N0 B0 O0 V0 U0 Q0 I0 S0 W0 T0 X0 L0

According to the seating chart, there are two unassigned seats in Y-, 12 unassigned in Y+, and 24 unassigned seats in C.

It looks to me like an excellent op-up situation, but I'm even willing to use 10,000 points each for E+. How should I best ask, starting at check-in, for the upgrade? Do I let them know immediately I'm willing to use points, which might make them more amenable to giving the op-up if they need to move anyone up? In the past, it seems whenever I mention points, they immediately tell me to go to the gate as that's the only place it can be done.

Our preassigned seats are a window/aisle in the forward economy cabin, so they are desireable should they be in need of two seats together to assist a couple who would like to sit together.

Susan

My experience is this;

- Let them know at check-in you want to upgrade for points, make sure they actually make a note of it in the system
- Get the lounge folks to check that your request is in the system, and check the current likely hood of the upgrade
- If it looks like it will happen, get to the gate to confirm the upgrade
- If it comes to an op-up situation, I have no idea what the official rule is, but it seems hit and miss as to if they will try and take your points before giving the op-up.

I have experienced both receiving an op-up after inquiring about upgrading for points, as well as upgrading for points and seeing others get an op-up.

Summary; You can request the upgrade, and be put on a list of people wanting to upgrade at check-in/lounge/gate, processing of the upgrade if it clears can only be done at the gate. There is a list of people who have requested upgrades, and initially at least, they will follow this list, however if they want to close the flight, It seems to become first-in gets it.

Definitely ask them to put a note into your record so that the gate knows you want to do a point upgrade. Ask them to put in a FQTU note.

Then at the lounge, ask if the upgrade has cleared. They will look into your notes and check. Last time I had this in CPH they told me the upgrade was already done by the gate as op-up and showed me the note which said 'IRR UPG CCC'.

If they upgrade you for points and you notice the are doing op-ups, you can complain to SK later. Some have reported a refund of miles if SK can verify that no elite pax were op-upped.

Good luck!

Actually, you can monitor your upgrade online..... At IAD I went to the gate to get my lounge pass (for the NW lounge) and asked about an upgrade. She took my BP and said that it shouldn't be a problem.

In the lounge I went to check my reservation for some reason and I could then see my new seat assignment in Y+ for this particular flight......

I guess the problem at CPH is that there is passport control and a long walk between lounge and gate.

p.s. I think your availability tool is a bit messed up there. If it's the 16th then Y and M are zeroed out C has C9D9. When things are zeroed out in economy then it's grossly oversold on SAS for transatlantic. I know form past expereince in cross-referencing "proprietary" data with Amadeus.

I could be a tactical mistake to go for Y+ in this circumstance, but I am not sure. Of course your op-upgrade chances are not as good, not being EBG.

Some great tips here, thanks everyone.

gnaget - It's Wednesday, the 20th we are flying, not the 16th. (Oh, I see my error. I wrote "this week" and should have said "next week.")

Susan

It looks like a very good op-up opportunity The only question is how many EBGs will get the upgrade before you. If you are willing to use points, you get ahead of all those EBGs, but there's always a risk of wasting your hard earned points when you put in a "willing to upgrade on points" message at check in. They might screw you out of your points and op-up others for free

If I were you, I would go to the gate an hour and 20 minutes before the flight and ask for the op-up. If they won't give it to you, use points.

After, just head back to the lounge, it only takes 5 minutes to walk back to the lounge.

BTW, I'm in Florida again his weekend. I can't resist going down here from Chicago when the tickets are 118 USD round trip pr. person!!

LOTS of rain yesterday, but quite nice today in Key West. Temp. 25 C partly cloudy, no rain

Think of me sitting in ORD for 4+h doing nada tomorrow while you are sipping mojitos...

Glad you're enjoying Florida. The weather forecast looks great for our trip and a bit of rain is never a problem. It sure beats Denmark at this time of year.

Thanks for the upgrade tips.

Susan

We were upgraded to C, and at check-in no less!

I asked nicely if there was any chance of an upgrade and she replied "with points?" I said I could do with points if necessary, but understood they were oversold in Y and would need to move some people. She said they would first process the 'paid' upgrades and there would likely not be anything left after that.

So I said I would use points and she told me I'd have to go to the gate. I asked if she could put a note on the record. She said if she put a note on that I wanted a voluntary upgrade, it would lessen our chances, and I explained that I meant I'd like an FQTU note that I was willing to upgrade with points, stating that I'd like to do the 10,000 point upgrade to Y+ if available.

She was clicking away on the keyboard and called someone on the phone about some other note that was in the record. Another agent came over and they talked a bit.

Suddenly she hands us our boarding cards and says, "I've gone ahead and given you a complementary upgrade to our business class today."

Wow, Merry Christmas. It was nice to be able to relax in the lounge without rushing to the gate to try our chances there, particularly as the flight was delayed over an hour and we saw that information on the monitor in the lounge.

Nice flight, and as an extra bonus we were upgraded on CO to FC on our connection from EWR-MCO.

Susan

Great success!!

Love it when things work out. This is the way it should be done. If Y is oversold, why make a big stink and p*** off good customers.

Aren't you glad you didn't do DL??

Merry Christmas and enjoy your holiday!

You remembered.

Yes, I made the right choice this trip. Although I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised by Delta. We used them in September via ATL for a SkySaver reward trip in BusinessElite.

I went with low expectations and we were quite impressed with the entire experience. We had a wonderful meal and the Delta FAs were incredible, friendly, called us by name and gave a lot of personal attention through the flight. Haven't been on Delta Y in 10 years though.

Merry Christmas!

Susan

[QUOTE=SusanDK;6886386]We were upgraded to C, and at check-in no less!

even CPH can sometimes be a pleasant surprise. On Dec 20., both me and my wife (both *G) got upgraded to Economy + at check-in fro CPH-EWR, and when I asked for an upgrade to Biz at the gate, we got that for free as well. On the return trip, we had to spend points, but still I reckon we did well all in all.

We were on the same flight then! We were in 6A & 6B. Too bad I didn't know there was another FT'er on board or I'd have said hello.

We fly back from EWR-CPH on Saturday and are prepared to use points if necessary to upgrade, so just hope we can get up front somehow. Of course, op-up is always a pleasant surprise.

Susan

Wow. Things have certainly changed since I flew SK trans-Atlantic last (2002). Back then, asking in CPH at check-in was never a success; things were different at the US stations though.

Still, I did manage to get upgraded on SK metal about 80% of my flights that summer. :-: