Complimentary Upgrade Stories
Jan 2, 2017, 12:21 pm
#76
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
A few times on domestic flights on US Airways (when you had to use 500-mile upgrade coupons to upgrade) and now on AA, due to coach being oversold.
AA has always deducted 500-mile upgrades from my account even when it is a pure operational upgrade that I did not request, though!
I was also given a free "upgrade" by a fellow passenger. He wanted to sit in coach with his wife, and I was in an exit row, so he traded and got the exit row seat and I got the FC seat. When he first asked to trade, I probably wasn't too friendly (figuring that he wanted my exit row seat in exchange for a regular coach seat), so I've learned my lesson always to be friendly. I let a couple of regular coach passengers into the airline lounge the next day, trying to help others, just as I was helped.
AA has always deducted 500-mile upgrades from my account even when it is a pure operational upgrade that I did not request, though!
I was also given a free "upgrade" by a fellow passenger. He wanted to sit in coach with his wife, and I was in an exit row, so he traded and got the exit row seat and I got the FC seat. When he first asked to trade, I probably wasn't too friendly (figuring that he wanted my exit row seat in exchange for a regular coach seat), so I've learned my lesson always to be friendly. I let a couple of regular coach passengers into the airline lounge the next day, trying to help others, just as I was helped.
Jan 2, 2017, 12:24 pm
#77
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
When I was in university, I got one free upgrade to business class. It was a 2.5 hour flight, so nothing too special (better seat and a hot meal), but it seemed pretty cool at the time. Unfortunately, that was over 20 years ago and I'm still waiting for a repeat 
Jan 2, 2017, 3:41 pm
#78
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: UA AA MR HH B6
Posts: 1,419
this is cheating a bit ... when I was about to graduate from college I interviewed for a job with Northwest in Minneapolis, and they informed me after I arrived in Minneapolis that I am entitled to first class...so I flew first class back to college in upstate New York
Jan 3, 2017, 6:01 pm
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Years ago at BRU, Delta had so badly oversold Y to JFK that instead of upgrade names being read, the announcement was "All elites to the podium NOW!"
Jan 3, 2017, 9:59 pm
#80
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Central Florida
Programs: AA Exec. Plat
Posts: 3
Got delayed in DUB recently and missed my connect in LHR to MCO. The rebook was on AA metal so I called and asked to use a SWU, person on the phone said no, that it was impossible.
Had a bit of a layover so went to the lounge and on a whim asked the person at the desk, who took a look at my situation, said there were loads of seats and that it would be no problem. I assumed that I would be charged the SWU, but they never took it out of my acct.
I don't know if was complimentary on her part, or just a system snafu, but I choose to believe it's the former.
Had a bit of a layover so went to the lounge and on a whim asked the person at the desk, who took a look at my situation, said there were loads of seats and that it would be no problem. I assumed that I would be charged the SWU, but they never took it out of my acct.
I don't know if was complimentary on her part, or just a system snafu, but I choose to believe it's the former.
Jan 4, 2017, 7:20 am
#81
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 314
I have two.
First was on Delta a few years ago. My original flight was cancelled due to weather, and Delta rebooked me into a combination of first and Businesselite to LHR.
And the second was on BA and it was an op-up from premium economy to first from LHR to ORD. While that flight was fantastic, it did confirm for me that I wouldn't ever pay for international first. Because while the service was great I didn't think the hard product was that much better than many business cabins (with lay flat seats) I've flown in. However, I'll happily take a free upgrade!
First was on Delta a few years ago. My original flight was cancelled due to weather, and Delta rebooked me into a combination of first and Businesselite to LHR.
And the second was on BA and it was an op-up from premium economy to first from LHR to ORD. While that flight was fantastic, it did confirm for me that I wouldn't ever pay for international first. Because while the service was great I didn't think the hard product was that much better than many business cabins (with lay flat seats) I've flown in. However, I'll happily take a free upgrade!
Jan 4, 2017, 3:34 pm
#82
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 100
Summer 2000 I was SFO-YVR-HKG on AC in J, get to the airport and the check-in agent lets me know the flight to Vancouver would be delayed and I'd miss my connection. Before I could even ask what they'd do for me she informed me that they put me on the Singapore Air flight in J, so upgrade to a better airline, just had to wait at SFO for 4-6 extra hours.
Jan 7, 2017, 8:33 pm
#83
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I think I got one (along with my mother and sister) on flying PDX-ONT on AS back in the '90s when I was but a wee lad and my dad was an MVP Gold. Finally had it happen again just yesterday, though. I had a PDX-BUR/LAX-PDX trip scheduled for today but had to postpone it given the weather here in Portland. Even though I'd selected new Y seats on the phone with the reservation agent, though, I got my new confirmation email and saw that I'd already been upgraded for both flights.
Jan 8, 2017, 3:39 am
#84
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: EMA (how boring) but BHX is more convenient.
Posts: 2,373
I've never been upgraded a class. However, twice in the last few weeks I was given what was clearly a premium economy seat (LOADS of legroom while most other seats were sardine mode) without asking nor paying for it.
Jan 9, 2017, 7:52 am
#85
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 105
When my sons were about 16 and 17, probably flying home from camp counseling, my 16 yr old had broken his foot. The painful foot was wrapped up and he was on crutches.
I got a call from them as they got to their seat- "MOM YOU ROCK! You got us first class seats you are amazing!!!" While I enjoyed being a heroine in their eyes, I told them that my younger son's injury, some empty seats, and a very kind boarding agent combined to get these two boys their first First Class experience. I told them be polite and just thank everyone!
I got a call from them as they got to their seat- "MOM YOU ROCK! You got us first class seats you are amazing!!!" While I enjoyed being a heroine in their eyes, I told them that my younger son's injury, some empty seats, and a very kind boarding agent combined to get these two boys their first First Class experience. I told them be polite and just thank everyone!
Mar 18, 2017, 5:39 pm
#86
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 154
My one and only freebie was a UA flight from DEN to MSP. The gate agent called me to the podium and asked to see my boarding pass. This was in days before I flew regularly, so frankly I was concerned that I'd done something wrong. The agent said "I'm going to have to change your seat". Again, at the time I wasn't an experienced flyer so I didn't think to question anything. Next thing I knew, the GA says " I put you in FC - hope that's okay!" Okay? I thought I'd hit the lottery! I did ask why I got picked - turns out that they needed to seat two people together (mother and child?) in coach and the easiest way to make that work was to move a solo flier to First. It isn't often that single people gets perks, so I was glad to take advantage when the opportunity presented itself!
Last edited by DarcyMae; Mar 21, 2017 at 9:42 am
Mar 22, 2017, 9:18 pm
#88
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Tokyo
Programs: SPG LT Plat ANA Plat
Posts: 596
My first op-up was back in February 1999 on a China Airlines flight, which was operated by a Mandarin Airlines aircraft, from Amsterdam to Bangkok. I had booked a Y-C upgrade using a voucher earned after accumulating a certain number of miles, then was further upgraded to F at the gate. The aircraft, MD11 B150, crash landed at Hong Kong six months later.
My second was a bit of a strange one, as I was upgraded many hours before the flight concerned. Itinerary BKK-DXB-LGW with Emirates in July 2004, and I was just a lowly Skywards Blue. On checking in at Bangkok my seat allocation for the DXB-LGW sector was in row 8, a low number for what was a three class 332. A quick check of the seat plan in the EK timetable showed row 8 to be business, and that’s what I got. I always travel smartly dressed, am sure the agent inputted me as suitable for upgrade, and the system told her to do just that.
Who says appearance doesn’t matter? It did with these. In July 2005 I switched to Qatar. I was about 10m from the gate for my flight to Bangkok when the lady who was staffing the lane I was approaching prodded her male colleague. He, who must have been the senior of the two, looked up, nodded and the rest is history. Just three months later I was on the same flight, this time I had passed through the gate and was standing near to it when a member of Qatar’s staff, who by appearance was of supervisory status, asked to see my boarding pass. On seeing it he told me to wait there as he would put me in business class. On both occasions I was again smartly dressed, and was picked out for upgrade for that alone.
Since then I have had a bucket load of op-ups with Qatar. Some on overbooked flights at peak periods such as Christmas and New Year, but others were accommodating passengers who had missed connections at Doha, resulting an what was an under-booked flight becoming oversubscribed in Y to cater for them.
My second was a bit of a strange one, as I was upgraded many hours before the flight concerned. Itinerary BKK-DXB-LGW with Emirates in July 2004, and I was just a lowly Skywards Blue. On checking in at Bangkok my seat allocation for the DXB-LGW sector was in row 8, a low number for what was a three class 332. A quick check of the seat plan in the EK timetable showed row 8 to be business, and that’s what I got. I always travel smartly dressed, am sure the agent inputted me as suitable for upgrade, and the system told her to do just that.
Who says appearance doesn’t matter? It did with these. In July 2005 I switched to Qatar. I was about 10m from the gate for my flight to Bangkok when the lady who was staffing the lane I was approaching prodded her male colleague. He, who must have been the senior of the two, looked up, nodded and the rest is history. Just three months later I was on the same flight, this time I had passed through the gate and was standing near to it when a member of Qatar’s staff, who by appearance was of supervisory status, asked to see my boarding pass. On seeing it he told me to wait there as he would put me in business class. On both occasions I was again smartly dressed, and was picked out for upgrade for that alone.
Since then I have had a bucket load of op-ups with Qatar. Some on overbooked flights at peak periods such as Christmas and New Year, but others were accommodating passengers who had missed connections at Doha, resulting an what was an under-booked flight becoming oversubscribed in Y to cater for them.
Mar 23, 2017, 2:22 pm
#89
formerly ltabi
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 202
Was upgraded once in 2014 flying OZ ICN - NRT from business to first at the gate. I used united miles to book this segment (no airline status). The upper deck (747) where I was suppose to sit was empty! To this day, I have no idea why I was upgrade.