ISTFlyer

For IST, it usually happens after seated in your seat unless the flight is significantly overbooked or if you're already at standby for a mileage upgrade.
For outstations it might differ.

Also, standby passengers for a mileage upgrade would go on the top of the list before Elite Plus members seeking for an op-up.

gr8pirate

ISTFlyer

This was somewhere on the TK website, but it's either removed or I can't find it.
Obviously, they wouldn't write on their website that standby crew members and their family would be on top of the list. Most airlines upgrade their crew or their employees first before their high tier pax.

aircommodore

Romanianflyer

I understand - and share - much of your thoughts. That said I don't necessarily agree/think that an airline should be more transparent with this. There are many more factors which might play a role in upgrading people. Many airlines are for example reluctant to upgrade frequent business class travellers too many times when they fly in Y. This is because they fear these passengers might get used a bit too much to bagging a free upgrade - and thus might very well decide the next time to buy a ticket in Y if they think a flight will be overbooked, instead of buying a full-fare J ticket!

In the same way, an airline might very well hand out an upgrade more easily to a person with status who solely flies Y in the hope to lure him into buying a business class ticket outright the next time he needs to fly if the pax in question likes the service level and extra comfort - and wants more of it.

The only factor where I do think airlines need to be more transparent - and strict - is when it comes to the upgrading of friends/family/mistresses/the neighbour of the aunt of their old university mate etc. etc. This is not solely a problem on TK - almost all airlines do this unfortunately - but I think it sets a lousy example and is potentially even harming business, especially when those paying full J-fare see those on a free upgrade getting much better care and attention in-flight.

hfly

Personally I have grown tired of seeing the wife of the captain in the first row of whatever TK business flight that I am on. Great, let the Captain's wife fly.............even in J, but she should take whatever seat is left, not the best one. Also, tired of seeing off-duty TK pilots transporting loud animals (like purring cats or yapping small dogs) in the cabin, it makes me nuts.

max_kolesne

RobOnLI

Got upgraded last week IST-BUD. The flight seat map showed full in coach and my BP was issued without a problem. Got to the gate and she took my BP and passport to the computer to check on something. No idea what as I was given the same BP back along with my passport (note: I saw quite a few people have to do this). Naturally the flight was delayed (I've never once had an on-time departure from IST). When my BP was scanned during boarding it beeped and showed red. She hand-wrote a seat assignment on it.

I'm *G through United. The queue for boarding business/fast track/*G was only 10 people deep and I was about #5 . No one before me got a hand written seat assignment and no one who boarded after me from that queue sat in business class.

I have a hard time believing I would have ranked #1 for an OpUp on this flight. I was on a "Q" fare FYI.

I did see someone sitting in my original coach seat but I did not walk back through the plane to see if every seat was occupied for the flight or if there were no-shows. There were empty seats In business.

-RM

Romanianflyer

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: TK1844 Athens (ATH) – Istanbul (IST)
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 1
Miles&Smiles level: Elite
Booking class: X

Always nice to receive an upgrade on a widebody, even if the route is short. Especially considering it is on an award ticket in Y.

ahopkins767

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: TK1967 Istanbul (IST) - Birmingham (BHX)
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 1
Miles&Smiles level: Elite
Booking class: U

fvn1312

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: TK1594 Frankfurt (FRA) - Istanbul (IST)
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 2
Miles&Smiles level: Elite Plus / Classic
Booking class: L

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: TK1593 Istanbul (IST) - Frankfurt (FRA)
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 2
Miles&Smiles level: Elite Plus / Classic
Booking class: P

PVDtoDEL

2 OpUps last month for myself and another TK E+ on the same reservation.

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: IKA-IST
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 2
Miles&Smiles level: Elite Plus
Booking class: E

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: IST-LED
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 2
Miles&Smiles level: Elite Plus
Booking class: E

dromack

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: IST-TBS
Date: 11/10/19
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 1
Miles&Smiles level: Elite Plus
Booking class: Q

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: TBS-IST
Date: 14/10/19
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 1
Miles&Smiles level: Elite Plus
Booking class: Q

Lostlife93

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: IST-ZRH
Date: 20/10/19
Airplane: A321 Neo
Booked cabin: Economy Class (Promotion Ticket with Miles)
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 1
Miles&Smiles level: Elite
Booking class: X (Promotion Ticket)

Romanianflyer

Airline: Turkish Airlines
Route: TK1041 Istanbul (IST) - Bucharest (OTP)
Booked cabin: Economy Class
Upgraded cabin: Business Class
Number of passengers: 1
Miles&Smiles level: Elite
Booking class: Q

TK and the upgrade Gods are continuing to be kind