Upgrade bumps?
Jan 30, 2012, 10:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: BA Gold, Hyatt Glob, MR Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Amb
Posts: 443
Upgrade bumps?
What are the general rules for getting an unsolicited upgrade to F/C class? Does it happen when the coach is oversold and they need to free up space? I've gotten the upgrade bump a few of times in the past, once with no status at all, so just wondering..
Jan 31, 2012, 1:03 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA Plat, Marriott PP
Posts: 95
Coach being oversold is the normal reason it would happen. If time is available, GA's would generally try to give the operational upgrade (op-up) to elites by status level.
If the GA doesn't have as much time, he or she might be more likely to give the upgrade to someone who hasn't boarded yet regardless of status, rather than deal with going down to the plane and moving people around.
If the GA doesn't have as much time, he or she might be more likely to give the upgrade to someone who hasn't boarded yet regardless of status, rather than deal with going down to the plane and moving people around.
Jan 31, 2012, 10:12 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: BA Gold, Hyatt Glob, MR Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Amb
Posts: 443
One time I was flying LHR-SFO on BA, went to check in at the kiosk and found out I was bumped to business class (without a status). Guess sometimes it just happens behind the scenes..
Jan 31, 2012, 4:59 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
i doubt that more than 1 in a thousand ft ers have been bumped from Y to C on a transatlantic.
Jan 31, 2012, 8:25 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,098
I was once bumped Y to C on a transpac. On an airline that I had 0 status with. Qantas, LAX-SYD. Flight was oversold, and I was one of the last to check in. Nice for the 14 hours!
Feb 1, 2012, 2:14 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 634
It may be more common than you think. From 1999 to 2004 I was an engineer for a IBM partner, and did transatlantic trips at least once a month, often more. IBM policy was to fly AA whenever possible, so that's what the majority of my flights were. By the time I got status, I'd already been bumped from Y to C three or four times on transatlantic flights. At time I was in my early to mid twenties, and travelled in t-shirts and chinos - I never wore a suit. I almost always travelled alone, and on a full fare flexible economy ticket.