Hi everyone.

Just wondering, generally speaking, who has ever paid for an upgrade at check-in? I'm just curious as to approximate costs. Would they generally be almost as much as a full priced Business fare, or are they often drastically reduced?

Just curious (hoping it doesn't kill the cat...)

Depends on the airline.

UA (fr'instance) seem to regularly offer "Upgrade for Cash"... which from SYD-SFO lately has apparently been a bit over $1000.. (there is a long thread about this in the UA forum..and yes, that is a lot less than the fare difference to a full Biz fare)

Other airlines apparently will ONLY sell a new ticket... at full price.

Totally depends on the airline and what route you're flying on. Are you talking domestic or international? Give us more specifics and we can provide better answers.

Best person to ask would be the check-in agent. But I can guarantee the price will be between $0 and $10000.

At times you can upgrade a TATL on AA, from Y-J, for $500.

I upgraded a flight on BA from Y-Y+ flying from LHR-JNB for about 200 pounds, IIRC. That was money well spent!

Last May I flew AC from YVR -> LHR (in steerage). At online check-in, AC offered to upsell me to Executive First for $800. The upgrade wasn't worth $100 per hour to me, so I passed...

Back in 2000, when I was a young engineer just out of university (and somewhat naive), I was on an AA overnight flight JFK-LHR in economy. At that time I'd never flown business class, and didn't know how much it cost. As I stood in the check-in queue, I decided to ask how much it would cost to upgrade. I was guessing somewhere between $500 and $1000, which would have been too much, but I was curious and asked anyway. The conversation with the check-in agent was:

Me: "Just out of interest, how much would it cost to upgrade to business class?"
Agent: "That would be twenty five, sir."
Me: "Twenty five dollars! That's a bargain. I'll take it."
Agent: "No sir, twenty five HUNDRED dollars."
Me: "Um, I see. Maybe not then!"

i've uged to ua e+ for $13 & 35 1 way [guc-den & den-dfw & vv] a few times.....

its the only rt i fly on ua....

DL recently offered upgrade for $250, LAX/KOA.

although top F/R are more like $25K+ arent they? so maybe more than $10K.

I have seen AA offers Kiosk upgrades to non-elites for $50 per 500 miles if they look like they are going out with many available seats upfront.

No doubt the system has been 'fine tuned' but, in general, before the days of UDU, the carriers would sell 4 upgrade coupons for app $250 to non-elites. Each coupon was good for 500 miles and the agent would take the coupon(s) if you were upgraded. The check-in machines offer roughly the same deal. So a flight of app 500 miles would be app $60-62 - which is close to your $50.

Today BA offered Y to Y+ SFO to LHR for $300.

I guess it's a very decent deal, but since I had my favourite seats (2 Seat Row in the back of the plane) in Y and was further away from all the babys and small children than I would have been in Y+, it wasn't worth it for me.

Thanks for all of your stories and info.

I was asking for experiences with paid upgrades. I'm not so much interested in myself being upgraded, as I'm flying from SYD to LAX via AKL on Air New Zealand's premium economy product (their new "Spaceseat"). It looks fair decent, so I am not bothered myself if I can get an upgrade. I'm going to be curious and ask at check in, but I doubt it would be a figure worth going ahead with.

I just had no idea what to expect, but now I'm gathering the $1000+ mark (one way)...

Cheers!

Good choice of airline I must say....

..although in my travels with NZ I have not seen cash upgrades offered..

....then again I have never ASKED so I'll be interested to hear what happens.

I'm booked in the new Y+ too.. in February.... I have put in for upgrades to BP ...but for the first time in ages am not so fussed about whether they clear... as you say the new Y+ looks pretty good...

We'll see!

Have also put in for a Y>Y+ upgrade for a friend on the same flight.. So hopefully I'll move up to BP.. she will move up to Y+.. and we'll hear what she thought of it!