First time flying as Elevate Gold in Main Cabin - how does upgrade process work
 

I understand that if there is a MCS at T-24, I can upgrade to MCS for free.

Is this a manual process?

I heard there is some "check box" at booking that, if checked , would allow that to happen automatically at T-24, but I dont remember if i checked that box.

And nothing online on my record indicates whether this was an option for me.

Will the system offer me the chance to purchase a seat in F?

If you didn't check the box, you will need to call reservations and have them add you to the list. If there is any availability in MCS between 24 hours and 1 hours in advance of the flight, you could be upgraded to MCS. Ask at the gate if you are on the list, know there are still seats available, and haven't been moved up. You will need to check in again on your phone to get the updated boarding pass if you already checked in for your regular economy seat. If F is available you should be offered F for the paid upgrade. If you haven't already been upgraded to MCS the fee will be the higher one from regular coach to F.

Things used to work smoothly but I rarely get any automatic upgrades these days but people at the airport can be helpful if there are still seats available.

thk u!

In my experience as a Gold, if you call the Gold line and ask politely, they will give you the MCS-to-F upgrade price even if you have not been upgraded from MC to MCS.

I would also call the Gold line rather than the regular reservations line to see if you checked the box and make sure you are put on the list in the first place.

So "after" OLCI, call the Gold desk to see about upgrade to F?

Doesn't matter before or after IME

just called. have to wait until T-24 regardless

$240 for O/W upgrade to F

I gotta tell you this is pretty crappy :(

Just checked in online; not only did i NOT get an MCS seat (even though there are at least 8 available), the upgrade to F is not $240 as I heard, but something like $400

So , there are plenty of seats available in MCS and in F, but an Elevate Gold doesnt get access to those I guess.

And I thought UAL had a crappy upgrade process,

Per the advice above, you have to 'opt-in' to upgrade when booking, if not call up after and be asked to opt-in. At t-24 you can call to enquire, and if upgraded to MCS you can then pay the MCS to FC upgrade fee if F avail.

i did opt in at booking , but no MCS available to "opt in" to even though there are 6 of 12 MCS available

Call the Gold line again. If the next agent tells you he/she can't upgrade you, then ask for a supervisor. The only explanation I can come up with is that this is an error/mistaken understanding on their end.

They capitulated but only after a lot of back and forth. Finally put me in MCS because of my Gold status but said it was only a one time deal

My main concern was 1 they said there wasn't an upgrade list so once I missed the upgrade window I was done and 2 they said all the complimentary seats were already used up which was just odd IMO given I could see 6 of 12 open

The elevate gold line reps did not know what I was referring to about the opt in option.

I just called the gold line asking to opt in for the upgrade list for MCS, and they told me I had to call 24 hours before my flight to be put on there. From what the agent was saying, it sounded like she was trying to automatically upgrade me into MCS and realized that's not possible until T-24 so that's when she told me to call back. Not sure if her information is correct.

The new call center agents are completely clueless. Don't know who is training them or if they are just not trained and make things up as they go. They have been terrible lately. You can be put on the list from the time of booking.

Thanks I'll call back then.

Edit:: Just called back, and this other agent knew exactly what I was talking about with the opt-in option. She said she put me onto the upgrade list, and then to check at OLCI. Woohoo!!

yes, it took 3 calls from them to upgrade me as Elevate Gold from MC to MCS, but they said it was a "one time" courtesy upgrade in appreciation of my business

Some of this still just doesnt make sense, and the other posters are correct, the folks at the Gold desk dont seem to know what the rules are, policies, or how they work

And, if anyone can tell me where the "Opt In" check box is when booking a ticket, I would love to see it.

i have done sample bookings and I just dont see one. Anywhere.

It is the very last step. There is a small box on the bottom right under I believe the insurance section.

VX Comp Upgrades
 

Virgin America Gold and Silver elevate members are eligible for comp upgrades from Main Cabin(MC) to Main Cabin Select (MCS) subject to space availability.

There are two ways to get an upgrade.

The first is through the "Auto Upgrade" tool. When you book your ticket at virginamerica.com you can select to auto upgrade. If you do this, at 24 hours prior to departure the system may or may not select you for the upgrade (the algorithms the system uses are unknown). A word of caution: The system may put you into a middle seat. If you would prefer to keep your window/aisle seat in the MC rather than a middle seat in MCS, do not check the box for the auto upgrade, go to the airport instead.

The second, traditional, way to get the comp upgrade is to speak with a teammate at the airport ticket counter or gate. They will put you on the list for the comp upgrade and you can advise them at this time if you do/do not want a middle MCS seat. This standby list is assigned 30 minutes prior to departure, if there are still open seats. If you don't auto upgrade, you won't know until 30 minutes prior as VX tries to sell the upgrades first.

Hope this helps!

The above is not completely accurate. While you may end up in a middle seat the system does not assign the seat. You have to choose the seat from those remaining in MCS. The sooner you check on the upgrade, the more likely you will not end up in a middle seat. Getting it assigned at the airport almost guarantees a middle seat unless the flight is very empty.

If you wait until the airport to get on the list, the chance of an upgrade would be greatly diminished. Many people are being given gold/silver status through matches. All the gold and silvers already on the list may have been upgraded. Add in those that paid for an upgrade during online check in process, and the chances for an upgrade go down even more.

I guess you don't get upgrade to MCS if you use your points to book.

Some phone agents will list you if you call in

I called in and that's how I learned about it. Any tips on convincing?

I'd like to know this too. I only called once to the Gold line, but they reiterated several times that since I'm using award points to fly, they wouldn't let me upgrade to MCS. I also asked to speak to a supervisor who echoed those same thoughts. I didn't try again so it might be the luck of the draw. Still, i hope there's someone who was upgraded and purchased tix via award points.

I've called on award tickets and have been offered an upgrade to MCS, but without a seat assignment. Since there are few things I dread more than a middle seat, I declined.

Yesterday I checked in on the phone app to see if there were first class seats available for upgrade purchase exactly 24 hours before the flight. It offered MCS for $179 but F wasn't available. Just to make sure I called in the gold line to "upgrade to F." The rep apologized and said all the F seats were taken, but that since I'm Gold, I get MCS for free, and asked me which seat I wanted (without any suggestions from me - the rep just said it). I was ready to shell out the $179 so really lucked out by calling in to see.