Define operational upgrade
Jun 7, 2005 | 5:57 pm
#2
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Originally Posted by LucWise
Can someone please define for me what an operational upgrade is?
Jun 7, 2005 | 6:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Next Question - Roll Forward??
I had to do that. You defined the word in question then used another technical term as your reasoning.
Op-Up is as you state .. as a courtesy you are moved from class of service XX to YY. This move could be ecomony to ecomony+ or E+ to Business or Business to First (or in the olden days First to Concorde) or one class up from where you purchased your ticket. The move from one cabin/class to the next higher for nothing ($$ or miles) would be an op-up. Double op-up would be two classed/cabin (very rare).
Op-Up would not be the correct word in cases for example on American where Executive Platinium are moved up one class as a 'tier courtesy' however. These are within the rules of the frequent flyer program.
What can cause an op-up?
As the other poster stated, normally this occurs when a cabin is rolled over (or rolled). This means that in one cabin (lets assume coach with no ecomony plus) there are 185 physical seats. But there are 190 passengers confirmed and actually checked in and at the gate for the flight (if they have not checked in or arrived due to connection the airline HOPES they will not show). This is called over-booking. They book more seats than they actually have on the plane .. assuming a percentage will not show/connect.
When 190 people are at the gate and trying to fit into 185 seats, then a roll-over can occur. People from economy cabin are rolled over into Business class (provided seats there are open).
Lets take a worst case scenario. 36 of 36 Buiness Class seats are all full and 8 of 12 First class seats are also full. And there are 5 ecomony passengers without seats. Four people seated in Business would(should) be rolled over to First class filling that cabin. Then four people in coach would be rolled over to Business. The LAST (fifth) person could not be accomodated in any case .. and probably denied boarding (based on last checkin times etc). These 8 people (4 Business to First and 4 Coach to Business) would be considered an op-up from a roll-over.
OK . the next question . . HOW do they determine who is rolled? In theory it is by frequent flyer tier (top tier would be first) then possibly by fare (highest fare would be first). This is subject to some gate agent judgement (and GREAT debate on forums) .. and very difficult to predict. For example, a top tier on a high ticket flying with wife and kids on freebie tickets .. probably would not be upgraded since ALL would need to be moved. Then they might grouse on the forum ...
Why do I say Op-Up and rollover is 'in theory'. Lets say coach has 20 seats open, but a super-VIP flyer makes the same trip every week. Gate agents are not supposed to play favorites (I know they can get called on the carpet for op-ups when not warranted) but this CAN happen. I have seen the case of one or two op-ups when no roll-over truly was needed (it was close but not over) .. the person asked for a window seat and flashed their top-tier card .. and got an op-up. Again VERY VERY RARE.
I know long winded explanation. BUT since op-up is such a common topic on forums it is good to understand.
There is no SURE way to get an op-up. Everyone has experiences and their own theories. Let me tell you from 4million miles of experience .. it has happened to me once. If your experience varies.. wonderful. But don't expect it.
BTW . using the term op-up to a gate agent is not correct. ASK if there is going to be a roll-over! That is the term that they know you know from experience!
Op-Up is as you state .. as a courtesy you are moved from class of service XX to YY. This move could be ecomony to ecomony+ or E+ to Business or Business to First (or in the olden days First to Concorde) or one class up from where you purchased your ticket. The move from one cabin/class to the next higher for nothing ($$ or miles) would be an op-up. Double op-up would be two classed/cabin (very rare).
Op-Up would not be the correct word in cases for example on American where Executive Platinium are moved up one class as a 'tier courtesy' however. These are within the rules of the frequent flyer program.
What can cause an op-up?
As the other poster stated, normally this occurs when a cabin is rolled over (or rolled). This means that in one cabin (lets assume coach with no ecomony plus) there are 185 physical seats. But there are 190 passengers confirmed and actually checked in and at the gate for the flight (if they have not checked in or arrived due to connection the airline HOPES they will not show). This is called over-booking. They book more seats than they actually have on the plane .. assuming a percentage will not show/connect.
When 190 people are at the gate and trying to fit into 185 seats, then a roll-over can occur. People from economy cabin are rolled over into Business class (provided seats there are open).
Lets take a worst case scenario. 36 of 36 Buiness Class seats are all full and 8 of 12 First class seats are also full. And there are 5 ecomony passengers without seats. Four people seated in Business would(should) be rolled over to First class filling that cabin. Then four people in coach would be rolled over to Business. The LAST (fifth) person could not be accomodated in any case .. and probably denied boarding (based on last checkin times etc). These 8 people (4 Business to First and 4 Coach to Business) would be considered an op-up from a roll-over.
OK . the next question . . HOW do they determine who is rolled? In theory it is by frequent flyer tier (top tier would be first) then possibly by fare (highest fare would be first). This is subject to some gate agent judgement (and GREAT debate on forums) .. and very difficult to predict. For example, a top tier on a high ticket flying with wife and kids on freebie tickets .. probably would not be upgraded since ALL would need to be moved. Then they might grouse on the forum ...
Why do I say Op-Up and rollover is 'in theory'. Lets say coach has 20 seats open, but a super-VIP flyer makes the same trip every week. Gate agents are not supposed to play favorites (I know they can get called on the carpet for op-ups when not warranted) but this CAN happen. I have seen the case of one or two op-ups when no roll-over truly was needed (it was close but not over) .. the person asked for a window seat and flashed their top-tier card .. and got an op-up. Again VERY VERY RARE.
I know long winded explanation. BUT since op-up is such a common topic on forums it is good to understand.
There is no SURE way to get an op-up. Everyone has experiences and their own theories. Let me tell you from 4million miles of experience .. it has happened to me once. If your experience varies.. wonderful. But don't expect it.
BTW . using the term op-up to a gate agent is not correct. ASK if there is going to be a roll-over! That is the term that they know you know from experience!
Jun 7, 2005 | 6:58 pm
#6
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Before I was a 1k I got several double upgrades--from coach to first on a three class plane. Since I have been a 1k I haven't gotten any operational upgrades. Of course now we always manage to get in first or biz, usually at the time we book. It would be nice, however, to get an op-up from biz to first occassionally.
Since I have been a 1k, I was once reseated in first on a 767 because I wanted to watch the movie and couldn't view if from my assigned seat 5A, so they moved me to 1C.
Since I have been a 1k, I was once reseated in first on a 767 because I wanted to watch the movie and couldn't view if from my assigned seat 5A, so they moved me to 1C.