Availability on Varig - op-up chances?
Jun 17, 2006 | 5:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Finland (TKU)
Programs: SK*Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Melia Gold
Posts: 56
Availability on Varig - op-up chances?
A couple of questions, hopefully some of you guys or gals here can help.
a) How come that when checking availability on KVS, using Amadeus gives me 'zero' all through C and Apollo still shows some seats available? See below.
[KVS Availability Tool 2.1.0/Platinum - Amadeus: AUA]
[KVS Availability Tool 2.1.0/Platinum - Apollo: ITN/CWT]
b) I'm booked on RG 8741 FRA-GRU on 25 Jun in class H (my TA could not get any C seat that day, and I didn't want to leave Finland the day before and miss the midsummer bash 
). Since this flight seems to be fully booked/probably overbooked, can I hope for an op-up? Never needed one on long-haul, and never flew Varig before, so advice on the best way to go about it would be much appreciated.
c) If no op-up success, has anyone tried paid upgrades with Varig?
d) ... and this is a rhetorical question
Will there be a Varig flight at all, or will they have called it a day by then?? I'm both an optimist and a bit of a gambler, so no plan B at hand, and I must be in MVD on 26 afternoon ^
Thanks a million!
a) How come that when checking availability on KVS, using Amadeus gives me 'zero' all through C and Apollo still shows some seats available? See below.
[KVS Availability Tool 2.1.0/Platinum - Amadeus: AUA]
Code:
FRA Frankfurt Metro / Frankfurt Int'l DE = FRA HHN [EDDF] GRU Sao Paulo Guarulhos Int'l SP BR [SBGR] SUN 25 Jun 2006 Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- --------- ---- --------- ---- -- -------------------------------------- LH/RG 9686 FRA 22:05 GRU 05:00 +1 772 0 F0 A0 C0 D0 Z0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 RG 8741 FRA 22:05 GRU 05:00 +1 772 0 F5 A5 C0 D0 Z0 J0 Y0 K0 B0 M0 L0 H0 Q0 T0 V0 W0 S0 U0 LH 502 FRA 22:35 GRU 05:15 +1 744 0 F0 A0 C0 D0 Z0 Y1 B0 M0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 RG/LH 7173 FRA 22:35 GRU 05:15 +1 744 0 F0 A0 C0 D0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 W0
Code:
FRA Frankfurt Metro / Frankfurt Int'l DE = FRA HHN [EDDF] GRU Sao Paulo Guarulhos Int'l SP BR [SBGR] SUN 25 Jun 2006 Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- --------- ---- --------- ---- -- ----------------------------------------------- RG 8741 FRA 22:05 GRU 05:00 +1 772 0 F4 A4 J0 C4 D4 Z0 W0 S0 Y0 B0 H0 Q0 M0 K0 L0 V0 G0 U0 LH/RG 9686 FRA 22:05 GRU 05:00 +1 777 0 F0 A0 C0 D0 Z0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 RG/LH 7173 FRA 22:35 GRU 05:15 +1 744 0 F0 A0 C0 D0 W0 Y0 B0 H0 Q0 M0 L0 V0
). Since this flight seems to be fully booked/probably overbooked, can I hope for an op-up? Never needed one on long-haul, and never flew Varig before, so advice on the best way to go about it would be much appreciated.c) If no op-up success, has anyone tried paid upgrades with Varig?
d) ... and this is a rhetorical question
Will there be a Varig flight at all, or will they have called it a day by then?? I'm both an optimist and a bit of a gambler, so no plan B at hand, and I must be in MVD on 26 afternoon ^ Thanks a million!
Jun 17, 2006 | 5:39 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Finland (TKU)
Programs: SK*Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Melia Gold
Posts: 56
Originally Posted by NickB
Given the current state of uncertainty regarding the immediate future of Varig, op-ups would be pretty low in my list of concerns if I were in your shoes.
Then again, I just remembered that in Romania they have a saying somehting like 'The house is on fire but the old woman still needs to put comb her hair before running'. Let's just hope the RG roof won't fall on me 
Jun 17, 2006 | 6:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: GRU
Programs: *A Gold, OW Sapphire, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 3,367
Varig hasn't had over-booked flights lately, unless they cancel one and they move all pax to their immediate next flight Carefully expect upgrades IF you're Smiles Diamond on a nice day - They've been instructed to have pax deplete their mile accounts to relieve their mile burden. Positive spin is that you might get accepted a 25k upgrade award on a fare basis that would usually not be eligible for it at all.
Anyway, truth be told, RG has been cancelling flights in South America - but check-in (and Gate) positions are instructed to immediately have tranfer pax to other airlines and endorse tickets.
This week, twice, I was blown away when RG told me that their flight had been cancelled and whether I'd rather be protected on TAM or GOL within my expected window for departure.
I chose TAM - who by the way cancelled their flight as well and got transferred back to RG. No questions from RG, no hassle and politeness all the way.
Carefully expect upgrades IF you're Smiles Diamond on a nice day - They've been instructed to have pax deplete their mile accounts to relieve their mile burden. Positive spin is that you might get accepted a 25k upgrade award on a fare basis that would usually not be eligible for it at all.Anyway, truth be told, RG has been cancelling flights in South America - but check-in (and Gate) positions are instructed to immediately have tranfer pax to other airlines and endorse tickets.
This week, twice, I was blown away when RG told me that their flight had been cancelled and whether I'd rather be protected on TAM or GOL within my expected window for departure.
I chose TAM - who by the way cancelled their flight as well and got transferred back to RG. No questions from RG, no hassle and politeness all the way.