A few from me… all BA. 1. LHR to MIA - PE to CW £550 at check-in desk - May 2022 2. MIA to LHR - PE to CW $625 at check-in desk - May 2022 3. LHR to PRG & PRG to LHR, I travelled in CE and wife travelled Economy as I had a flight voucher which would mean ‘losing’ part of the vouchers value if I travelled in Economy. Spare seat next to me on both legs, asked cabin manager nicely and we sat together both ways AND they even offered the business service - August 2024.
Last year I flew on a BA flight from London to Toronto. Last year was my big birthday (40) and in 2019 I was very unwell. I thought I was going to die. So, I decided to go and see everything on my bucket list (nice present to myself also for my birthday). I was so happy to see Niagara Falls and to go on holiday away from all the stresses, I decided to give the cabin crew some chocolates with a note. It wasn't alot but I just wanted to say thankyou for taking me to tick off a bucket list item. 4hrs into the flight, I was watching Sex and the city. There was some nude scenes and the two men next to me (who I wasn't travelling with), were laughing. So I was laughing too out of shere embarrassment. Then the cabin crew manager came over to me and asked me to bring my belongings. I was thinking I was in trouble for laughing a little louder than normal. She told me to go with her to the front of the plane. So I walked with her, worried I was in trouble. The cabin crew manager sat me in a business class seat, put my bags in the over head locker and apologised to me for not moving me sooner. She had been busy. Again I was confused..she proceeded to tell me that they were really touched by my note and the chocolates and wanted to do something nice for me and that was moving me into a business class seat for the remainder of the flight (which was another 4hrs). In that time....every member of crew came over to me to thank me for the Chocolates and had a lovely chat with me. They kept bringing me so much food, drinks, an amenity kit, BA branded chocolate etc. I was so overwhelmed. I wasn't expecting it. One crew member said they also moved me because not once did I ask to be upgraded (paid or for free) and they liked that i was a genuine person. I was very happy in my economy seat and was so relaxed, but the BA crew made me feel so special. They even gave me a thankyou card where everyone signed it, even the captain. I spent 3 days in Toronto, 3 days in Niagara Falls and 4 days in New York. This was at Christmas time, so was so magical and special.
Thank you for taking time and writing this lovely story. Thank you for your kindness. Wish more people were as grateful as you. I hope all is better for you. Best wishes.
@@brianpour292 No, thankyou for this lovely message. I honestly didn't think anyone would read it but it's lovely to get such a kind response. So thankyou xxx I'm still ticking off bucket list items now. However because I went away last year...I'm still paying for it this year. So been rather broke. Fingers crossed I'll get to tick more off next year...then if I die, I'll be happy.
Bless your heart for being so kind to the cabin crew. They probably needed your kind words at the time. I hope you are doing so much better now both in health and in life! Wishing all the strength in the world!!
Me and my mum were randomly upgraded from economy to business class when we checked in online from London to Doha and Doha to London on a reward flight with BA. Such a lovely treat!
Great video. About 5 years back was flying in Economy back from Las Vegas with BA and the IFE didn't work. I complained in a very nice way. After about 20 minutes the lovely flight attendant had sorted the only seat left on the plane.....in First. I've since been lucky enough to fly First 4 times
I would have been sick on purpose at the very least or even shat my pants and walked around the cabin telling everybody about the IFE failure. I'd expect upgrading to First.
We recently had seats booked in premium economy to JFK from NCL Via LHR. When boarding at T5 we got the beep and both of us were upgraded to business class absolutely free. I absolutely agree that this would have to give us a taste of the upgraded cabin so that in future we book business. Booking at the point of sale is very expensive. Thanks Matt.
Hey Matt - Love the humor! Love the suit! And, yes, I immediately wondered if the neckwear was pre-tied or one of those impossibles. Thanks for answering that. I am, however, still waiting for you to have some fun by repositioning that hat between takes…it could evolve into an ongoing “feature.”
I was upgraded by Qatar once at Doha just before boarding economy to business That was a good move for them because since then i only fly with Qatar and in business class I have no complaints with Qatar and always find the service great and flights that actually run on time
Back in the day I got a lot of counter upgrades with Cathay. I was JAL sapphire status holder then. Good times. Nowadays Singapore Gold is getting me quite a few upgrades in LH or LX business class.
Really love your videos, Matt! This is my first comment - so thanks for all you do. I don't think I'll ever get an upgrade because I can't justify paying for anything more than economy. I run my own business, so it's me who is paying! But I do know a friend who was upgraded from Premium to Business on BA a few years ago and we are pretty sure it was because they were tempting him. And it worked. He's always flown business ever since! The BA algorithm is crafty!
I remember seeing a fly-on-the-wall documentary series about BA in the 1980s. They had an overbooked flight and were looking for passengers to upgrade. One passenger they’d considered was rejected because they spotted he was wearing shorts on the CCTV! As you say, no doubt times have changed.
@@MattsPlanet Excatly. I wear suit and tie in economy. I see trash in business class and first class, expecially in influencer videos. Those doays are long gone. These days, dressing nice encourages the check-in agent to offer a full-fee upgrade.
Very dapper! Working in aviation industry, we occasionally get free upgrades, although not regularly. I’m going to look into those BA upgrades, we frequently travel economy plus for work!
I did get an upgrade from Economy to Business when travelling from Manila to Kuwait with Kuwait Airlines. I checked in as normal and had passed the gate and was about to step on the plane when a mamber of the airline called me over and informed that my seat had been changed and I was travelling in Business Class. It was a great experience although from Kuwait to London it was back in Economy again.
Breakfast and a Daddy Matt video, what a treat! I use that post-booking upcharge strategy a lot with American Airlines, which is quite beneficial for tier point running onto my BAEC account. What's special about AA is that on domestic routes, you can upgrade from Basic Economy straight into First Class usually for just 50 quid. So that can mean the difference between earning 5 and earning 60 tp on a segment. This sort of direct upgrade is not available on Delta nor United (don't know about Alaska or Hawaiian), where you have to be booked in Main Economy before you can browse any upgrade offers. However with United's Basic, you can still ala carte other perks such as a lounge pass (all-day at all their lounges at all the airports you're visiting!), priority access, baggage allowance, etc.
I got the wonderful beep at the gate travelling from Dubai to Sydney on the airbusA380 (economy to business). I was very very low status as I had only flown from Dublin to Dubai and back about 6 months before. What a flight!!! Felt like the luckiest passenger on board :D
I've flown Club Europe twice over 2023-4, once with an Avios promotion and once by upgrading after booking using the emailed offer as mentioned. I also got upgraded on a flight to New York, I asked and was told as there had been a cancellation so the flight was full and there was free space futher forwards. This was special as it was Christmas just before COVID, and on a 747, sadly BA don't fly these anymore.
My best upgrade was on BA from BKK-SYD. I was QF platinum (OW Emerald) and was booked in Y. At check in I was given a seat in PE, then at the gate my boarding pass failed and got an upstairs J seat on the 747. A very nice flight.
Wow Matt looking very dapper today ! Excellent content from you as always. Indeed status matters , I was VS gold for many years and the magic beep at the gate to upper class happened regularly when company used to pay for PE.
Only ever had one upgrade. Flight was full and BA asked for volunteers to possibly be bumped. There was a no show & they fitted me in at the last minute - mind you it did mean I literally had to run to the gate, escorted by a member of the BA ground crew and when I got on the plane everyone have me the death stare for holding up the flight.
Great video Matt. I flew Business class with Iberia to Costa Rica last year 1 way.. on the route back I was in Economy and as I sat down I got a text saying I've been upgraded to seat XX in business please gather my belongings and find a cabin crew member. Within 2 mins I moved, gave up my aisle seat in economy to a family sitting apart.. found a cabin crew member and she told me it was an error and no seats are available... ended up walking back and sitting in a worse seat than I started with as I weren't going to move the family. Out of principle I'll never fly with them again!
Ouch... That's a terrible story - thanks for sharing... Overnight flight too... The emotional journey you must have gone on would have been exhausting!
Top tips Matt!! Thank you. Did I stumble upon a hack, or just get lucky? The only time I've been upgraded is from economy to business when I bought Business Lounge Access before the flight with Finnair.
Me & my mum got upgraded between Qatar and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from economy to business free of charge - we got the magic beep and thought it was going to be a bad thing but were pleasantly surprised! 😁
Another great video! I've had some success with upgrading at the check in desk a few years ago with Virgin Atlantic flying back to Manchester from New York, was only booked on a basic economy ticket and was able to upgrade to premium economy for only £150. Also on a Cathay Pacific trip to Hong Kong last year, I was booked in premium economy and had the magical special beep at the departures and was upgraded to Business Class as they had overbooked the cabin. I think my Oneworld Emerald at the time probably helped too.
Contingent liabilities love it! Great video as always, managed an upgrade with emirates DXB - MAN and with American JFK - MAN but that was in the 1990’s travelling alone dressing smart and speaking nicely at check in worked on those occasions think it was “SFU” on your file , suitable for upgrade no chance now different era my business class travel now is 1c on EZ or FR!
On Emirates I was approached by staff at LGW to ask if I wanted a seat with leg room, being the tallest in the queue. I was given an exit seat out of LGW, but upgraded at the gate at DUB. Maybe coincidence, but I don't think so. The only other upgrade was on BA from premium economy to business at BKK to Sydney. I was late checking in and dressed like a slob. That got me hooked and I flew business whenever I could after.
That's an interesting point - its probably discrimination but someone 6 foot 7 has a very different experience in economy than someone 5 foot 3, so even a mini-upgrade to an exit row can make all the difference...
Went to check in at T5 flight to Abu Dhabi travelling WT+ with partner. Discovered pre booked seats (window aisle pair) had not stuck. Asked very nicely if there were any other options to sit together. Agent made a phone call. Told flight was full. (Heard the word oversold) so accepted our fate with grace.. at the gate received the magic beep.. both upgraded to Club window /aisle (old club)... don't think thus would have happened had we not asked nicely about options...
My Uncle used to get bumped forward, usualy from 1st to the Jump seat lol. All his clients and many friends were Cathay pilots. It meant his employer was paying a hefty chunk for a 1st class seat that he didn't use. The good old days when mere mortals were allowed on the flight deck in the air.
What’s a check-in agent? The days of asking for any “bumps” seem long gone, as you mention, but yes, many years ago I have was moved up to be with a Gold card member who … and this give how long ago … was allowed to sit in the jump seat for the takeoff out of LHR 😮 Received the magic beep once, coming back from SIN with my wife. We were in Club, but on going to board received the beep to discover we’d been moves to First. I was Gold at the time which undoubtedly helped 🙂
I was "threatened" with having to use the jump seat once, many, many years ago.... Back when computers seemed to send people to planes randomly and more passengers would get boarding passes than there were seats..... But someone else didn't turn up so they found a seat for me....
Informative and entertaining video. I travel annually in economy to Ghana (6 hours) which I think is mainly carrying Ghanaian leisure travellers - lots of them have UK connections. I sometimes see that premium economy is available at the time of booking for very little extra. Last year I paid only £25 extra per person for 7 people for premium on the homeward leg. I have even seen premium priced below economy when speculatively looking at flights. I have also seen business class for around £1000 return. So, don’t assume you can’t afford a better seat - take a glance at all options.
BA silver, has never happened to me. Only upgrade I ever got was heading ORD to LAX, on UA booked in Y via SFO because the fare was lower than the non-stop to LAX. Got to the gate and the SFO flight was oversold and looking for volunteers. I promptly did so and told her I really wanted LAX anyway and business would be nice. She said 'How about first?' This was a trans-Atlantic plane so F was not the usual domestic rubbish. Great channel. I always use a fake bowtie.
Back when I was flying back and forth every month between Asia and Europe at my own expense (so in economy), I still did enough miles to get gold status. And when I did I got an upgrade voucher which I used to upgrade to business (no premium economy on that airline). They then upgraded me to first at check-in - so paid for economy and got to fly in first... I remember it was Sevruga caviar.
Me and the wife got upgraded from PE from Singapore to Sydney on the overnight flight on the new BA club seat. We only had bronze status. It got us hooked, and our next trip from Syd to LHR was in club,
I’ve been upgraded many times on Virgin Atlantic because of the cheaper cabins being overbooked, it’s always happened at check in. Once, travelling back from the US I got the beep at the gate you talked about.
Great video as always, Matt! In July, I flew BA LHR-RUH for business. I was originally booked on the cheapest ticket-economy without checked baggage-but I'm a Gold status holder. A couple of days before the flight, I received a message saying I'd been upgraded from WT to WTP-great news! On the day of the flight, as I made my way through First Wing, the lady checking my boarding pass told me I'd been upgraded. 'Yeah, I know, it’s my first time flying premium economy on BA,' I said. But she responded, 'Well, you were WTP, but I see you've been upgraded to CW!' Two upgrades on one flight-can’t complain, right?
Fascinating! I don't fly very often & the only upgrades I have been offered is the Exit Row with extra legroom for free. On one airline I was one of the first to check in & was offered the exit row seat as I checked in. I guess the agents are told to offer the exit row seats to the first passengers who look somewhat able bodied. Another time I was called up just before boarding and was offered the exit row seat. They have to look for a suitable person. If it is a long haul flight the best economy upgrade you can get is an aisle seat even if you have to pay for it.
On my last three flights of choosing exit row. (I am a tall and athletic man who works out at the gym every day.) my seat mates were all skiny short females, short morbidly obese men, and veiled non-english-speaking grandmothers from the old country. That supposed rule of able-bodied english speakers in the exit row is a sad joke. I've never seen an FA remove the ubiuuitous old week woman from an exit row seat. Never.
In 2019 I was booked into World Traveller to JFK with a friend and while on our way to the C gates at T5, we noticed our seats had moved from row 48 to row 21 on our respective BA apps. No explanation until we got to the gate where the beep sounded and the agent mentioned we had been upgraded to Club World. No idea why and we certainly did not argue. I can only assume it was because we were flying on a high density Club World 747 with only the rear cabin as World Traveller but an extremely pleasant surprise and flight to NY!
12:45 - it's actually a Subject Access Request. Freedom of Information requests apply mostly to the public sector when we want to know things such as how much our local police force spent on Christmas parties etc. Sorry, I am a data protection consultant. Meanwhile, I was BA Bronze for many years (since Bronze status came out) and never got an upgrade. As soon as I got to Silver, I started seeing upgrades from WTP to CW and also my first on Bronze when I dropped back down (I am on my way back to Silver though).
@@MattsPlanet I suppose technically you could make the SAR with the cabin crew onboard (and someone geeky on data protection law like me probably would) at which point they should either tell you there and then (depending on their internal policies and procedures), or forward it onto their DPO in which they have up to one month to comply with the request
Too add to what you say about dressing smart,I flew with etihad last week Abu Dhabi to London in business, got the the gate had the magic beep and was upgraded to first and it was fantastic. I'm gold with etihad
Interesting video Matt. I remember in the mid 80's as a teenager coming back from Orlando with my parents and the guy from the family we'd met over there flying back on the same 747 BA flight asking if they'd give us a complimentary upgrade for 8 people from economy to business. I believe he travelled a lot with BA in business. They did upgrade us all so we could sit upstairs behind the pilots in the 747's 'hump'. I believe there was only like 16 seats up there. I do remember my father saying this is the way to travel as a family going to the US a lot for holidays but changing his mind after seeing the cost to upgrade a family of 4 to business!! 😁
Wow - an upgrade for 8 people is quite special!!! And upstairs on a 747 too - what an amazing experience. That would have been really expensive to pay for!
I had a free upgrade on a PE flight to IAD due to the lower cabins being oversubscribed. I was in DC for one day of meetings and was returning on the next days return flight 25hrs later. Figuring it'd be the same crew (after their rest day) I asked cheekily on the way out if there was any chance of getting a lie flat bed for the return as I'd be working all day and just wanted to sleep. A bit of friendliness went a long way (plus a near empty flight) and I was ecstatic when the purser tapped me on the shoulder on the way onboard and directed me to the middle club seat at the rear of the A380 upper deck cabin (so direct aisle access both sides). It really helped the cabin was 20% sold, I had no neighbours in the centre row of 3 and snored all the way home!
Upgraded Econ to Business Claas on an EK A310 DXB-BKK-HKG in 1996 - forerunner to your recent A380 flight! Then that was it until May this year when I booked a Avios redemption in WTP LHR-LAS and was upgraded to Club Suite about five hours prior to departure. Boarding pass changed on App and I was in centre seat but persuaded T3 agent to move me to a window at checkin! Video on my site although I’d planned to do a WTP review but struggled to decline and my seat had been given away anyway!!!
Thanks a lot for your very informative and entertaining video. On KLM/AF prices for upgrades vary according to status. As a Flying Blue platinum member unfortunately this means usually double or triple the price compared to a passenger with lower or without status. I guess their tactic is give these passengers a sampler, as you mentioned in your video.
I’m BA silver (OneWorld sapphire status) and anytime I’ve taken a Qatar airways flight from DOH to the sub-continent, they have always upgraded me to business cabin (from my original economy class seat) when I get to the gate. This has happened 4 times over the last 12 months!
I was once upgraded on Emirates from Business to First flying from LHR to DXB when my seat wouldn’t recline after take off. They couldn’t fix it so upgraded me, I couldn’t believe my luck and just HAD to try the shower!!!
Had an BA upgrade offer from London to Istanbul into club Europe for £49 at the online check in when I was Bronze. The next month I had another from Economy into Premium Economy on a flight from London to Dulles, also for £49, and also at the point of online check in, which actually took me to Silver for the first time. My Dad used to get a LOT of upgrades on BA to First when he was a Qantas top tier statusholder called Platinum plus or something similar, equivalent of GGL. I suppose because Qantas and BA compete on that route Sydney to London. Never got upgrades on Qantas which he actually had the status with.
My husband and I got upgraded at the gate at Toronto because they merged a cancelled flight into ours and premium economy was overbooked. BA called us forward and I thought we were going to be bumped. I saw the gate agents were stressed so I smiled and said my husband and I were happy to wait til the morning (we didn’t have anywhere to be). This landed us both an upgrade to CW. We only had BA Blue and were infrequent flyers, so it definitely wasn’t status or value. And it spoiled us for life. Never done a transatlantic at the back ever since 😂
I got upgraded 3 times out of 4 on BA while still a lowly Blue (once from WT to WTP and twice from WTP to Club World). The only reason I can think of is that my spending looked like that of a person who might be tempted to spend a little bit more. (And to be fair, they were absolutely right about that)
Nice tux! I agree with your assessment. I've had one of those "try it out" upgrades from BA and one from Virgin Atlantic. Other than that, Delta, which I mainly fly, has given me a ton of domestic (U.S.) upgrades based on status.
Always ask for the cost of an upgrade at check in or bag drop - you could be horrified & need to lie down on the sofa with a tea towel over the lampshade but I’ve found with BA there are definitely some times when it’s absolutely worth it.
Watched this twice, because I wanted to imprint the information into my grey matter. The strategy I'm most likely to use is the upgrade with Avios. And I'm always ready with an 'Is there anything I can do to help?' when a check-in agent mentions how full the aircraft is. P.S. Just back from Tivat. No Changi!
Nice heads up Matt. I have never had the luxury of being offered an upgrade. Even back in the day when looking smart (not like penguin smart. lol) was the way to get offered it on United, but I have family, albeit seniors who did get the offer on more than 1 occasion. As for BA I think I have just blasted through the tiers so quickly since 'the you know what' that they have been more than happy just to take my cash. That said paying for Club & using the countless gold vouchers to upgrade has been the way to go for me. Now getting close to 'Gold for life' in only 4 yrs. Maybe the upgrades might start coming as i start using Avios to make bookings once I reach that milestone. Nice outfit Matt. (the Rode mic sets it off nicely. lol). Stay lucky
That's a lot of travel.... I don't have any data on whether GFLs get any better treatment - you'd hope the lifetime loyalty would be rewarded but who knows with BA!!! Someone described my Mic as a shaving brush which was quite funny....
I got the "magic beep" twice in a row two years ago when I'd reached A3 Silver. Both the gate agent and I were very surprised on the first one, but I got notified of #2 while pre boarding was going on for the second. Very cool!
I've had two upgrades to first from P economy. The first was seat 1A from LHR to Sing, I think I was silver at the time but the key factor was that I was a sole traveller. I was also upgraded from P economy to F on a 747 from Joburg to LHR - this time I think it was the gold status as well as a sole traveller (sad life this travelling for work!). What impressed me the most was that although the original 747 broke down and we were rescheduled for the following day, BA honoured the original upgrade. I appreciate that the original flight may have been chocka so BA had little choice, I'd like to think that it was a deliberate choice though! Both were great experiences - I don't think I would pay full fare though!!
@@MattsPlanet It was some time ago now but yes, both were great trips. The first one had a worrying moment where I knew I'd been upgraded to business but as I went through the gate I heard the beep and assumed I'd been downgraded. Very relieved when the lady asked me if seat 1A would be ok! Flying a booked BA 1st to Chicago tomorrow so it will be interesting to see if much has changed over the past 10 years or so?
I was a British Airways Cabin Service Director. I would rarely upgrade onboard unless there was a specific reason, such as a broken seat in another cabin and there were no other seats in the same class. There have been cases of passengers doing this deliberately. But every upgrade is recorded and the airline catches up with these people and bans them. The problem with onboard upgrading is that the aircraft is catered for the actual number of passengers. Rarely are there spare meals. Also, you cannot pay to upgrade onboard. There is no way to take the money. The passenger most likely to be upgraded before boarding would be Gold card holders. Airlines like to recognise and reward their most loyal customers.
Thanks for that - I sensed BA wasn't a "hotbed" of this sort of thing happening.... I have heard of scenarios where the food from the boarding cabin were served in business for the reasons you mention....
Deffo agree re the 'empty seats are a revenue generating opportunity till the last min' which has been pushed to the extreme in recent years not just via online upgrade offers, but I've seen people in economy take their seat & then request an upgrade before take off. Seen it twice on Emirates, although I always got the vibe they were brits who worked in UAE thus had employers pay their base fare, hence the incentive to treat yourself to an upgrade. Seen the same thing with train travel now, you can bid for a allocation of 1st class tickets which are usually cheaper. Would love if airlines did that but they never will imo. Keep the masses & hoi polloi out...hence premium economy.
Once that seat flies empty, they'll never get money out of it again.... Disappearing inventory, I've heard it called and creativity is probably to be welcomed, if it ends up giving us value!
Last year we had an upgrade on BA to Prague into Business. I had not realised that I was silver status but probably was the reason for the upgrade. When I checked the tier points a couple of weeks later, they had not been added for that flight so I contacted BA and they duly added the tier points at business level 🎉 So doubly happy 😃
I used to get upgraded at the gate often on Etihad. I was a Gold Card member and flew maybe 8 times per year (return). Far from being a rare treat, there was a spell when I was actually genuinely disappointed that the gate went green and let me through rather than beeping on red. I am single, so that maybe helped a bit, and often paid for an extra legroom seat. I don't know if that helped. I also used to go to the gate at the last minute, and I don't know if that helped or was just coincidence. I nearly missed a Qatar flight I was so late, and got a gate upgrade as the last passenger on. I've had a few unexpected long haul BA upgrades too (once being among the last to board). My most random fluke was an upgrade on Air Sri Lanka long haul. I had never flown with them before, nor since.
Shout out for Cathay. Our daughter was returning to Auckland from London last year and had to check in in person owing to 40+kg of excess baggage. The Cathay gentleman wished her "happy birthday for yesterday", didnt charge the excess luggage, and she then got the magic beep at the gate, to Premium Economy. She loved every minute of it !!
@@MattsPlanet Final thought: I always look presentable in a cream linen jacket and always learn the name of the FA looking after me. Someone's got to get the best flight service and it might as well be me!
I do remember very nearly getting picked for an upgrade (because I went straight from work, so was in a suit), until they realised I didn't have even a base frequent flyer account with them... But it was 20 years ago. I don't think a suit will get you upgraded nowadays. However, I do think a football top (for example), will ensure you don't get the upgrade if economy is overbooked and they're looking for someone to push up and it's between you and the other guy with silver status. The best I've had was getting an upgrade at check-in on a flight from Bangkok to London (I had Gold with the airline at the time), but when I pointed out I wasn't travelling on my own, they upgraded the person I was travelling with as well.
I had an interesting experience getting a free upgrade with TUI last year. Myself and my parents were queuing for economy check-in for the return leg home from Florida. We were directed to the next available desk which was a premium desk and given tickets for row 1. Flash forward almost a year to the day later (last Thursday) and I arrive at the gate for my Virgin flight home from Atlanta to be told I’ve been downgraded from Premium to Economy
@@MattsPlanet According to the gate agent, quite a few people on my flight got downgraded in some form. Wasn’t too happy as I was rebooked onto this flight after Virgin cancelled my original flight from Miami. Was hoping they would’ve protected my reservation after already inconveniencing me.
I have been upgraded on Dubai route on 4 occasion (all back to London) - once with my wife from premium economy to club (I knew when I couldnt online check in - I deliberately chose the A380 service home hoping for this and was gold status). I have also been upgraded 3 times from club to First - again I was gold exec club and flying on business. I have also purchased upgrades at check in a lot from ECO to CLub Europe when travelling on business to ensure I got the status I wanted (silver or gold).
The only times I've ever found a good deal for upgrading at the check-in desk were on Virgin Atlantic exiting Boston. At least at the time, you could upgrade to J for some crazy small amount of points (25k?), and a small co-pay. Never had such luck with BA etc.
I think "bidding for upgrades" will be part of BA's revenue-generating tactic soon as IAG invested in a Tech start-up named SeatBoost. Fantastic video as usual Matt! thank you
@@MattsPlanet like most of the airlines that have integrated with PlusGrade (which has the "wheel" you describe with Aegean) I suspect it will work mostly independently from the main BA booking system. Can't see them touching that with a bargepole lest it breaks!
I've had a number of operational upgrades recently with BA. Most notable being business (old Club World) to first (with buddy dining) when travelling with a friend on the A380! But I suspect being GGL - albeit "bucket and spade" BA Holidays type - helps with that.
@@MattsPlanet thank you! It's still a relative rarity for me, I've had 3 in the last 140 flights. Ok, some of those would have been in the highest cabin available anyway but i goes to show that even GGLs will only be occasionally op-up'd.
You must have been giddy with power! Giddy I say!!!! But seriously, was there ever any comeback if you upgraded (or SFU'd) someone who went on to "misbehave" in the premium cabin???
So true Matt with #6. Around 1995 I was J class upper deck with TG BKK-LHR. There were a number of vacant seats and i was pleased that i would have an empty adjacent seat for the long flight ahead. Howver after the dinner service concluded the female purser came upstairs snd announced to everyone that could we find space for a lower deck family who wanted to get away from the snoke on the lower deck. (The time when TG allowed smoking on board). Before anyine could say 'no' the entire family (two adults plus a couple of teenagers) appeared and grabbed the vacant seats ! I never did find out the real reason for their change of sests.
I got upgraded from LHR to ORD a couple months back. Was in the new Club Suites too. I couldn't get my boarding pass and was worried I was going to get the dreaded SSSS at the airport and was pleasantly surprised. Security was almost out of the door at T5 and I was starving so I was very happy about this upgrade. I'm fairly sure this is Method 5, although I am only BA Blue (so no real status) though I have flown with BA 15 times over the last 18 months, so maybe that was part of the CIV weighting ? Economy was also rammed so by some magic metric I was a lucky one to be chosen.
Think I’ve been moved up about six times so far, a few times at check-in and a few with that lovely beep at the gate. Best one was with Eithad about 15 years ago from JNB-AUH when I scored an upgrade from business to first at boarding time. Turned out the seat wouldn’t recline properly and the entertainment system was on the blink. One email to the airline later they agreed to deposit the equivalent miles for the trip in F into my account which I used on a return economy flight to Australia to watch the 2010/11 Ashes. Better to be lucky than good…
I got the Beep last week at the boarding gate with BA from JTR to LGW,I’d purchased BAs cheapest hand baggage only fare though i have Silver Status. Back in the day a friend worked check-in at Heathrow for Qantas and twice I got upgraded into business from economy all the way down to Sydney.A few weeks before travel SFU was put against my name.
Normally travelling solo usuallly has higher chances. If only one seat is available, it will go to a solo traveller, but oddly my only airport upgrade at check in was when I was travelling with family (4 of us).
Very amusing, Matt, though was hoping to see you in a wedding dress. Intrigued to know what sum of the paid upgrade is for Air France La Premiere. Even though its new J product seems very worthwhile. I've only ever paid for an UG once, many years ago, on CX. Back when seats weren't lie flat, just deep recline. It didn't help when the agent swiping my card (she had to bring the old school credit card machine, which had carbons on board) and then cheerfully told me I likely would've been upgraded anyway.
I was looking to get a redemption seat in business on AF through Virgin and upgrade to La Prem from there.... I was braced for perhaps as much as £1,500 but it would still have been a huge discount
On our recent first gold status flight LHR economy to Dublin we were hoping to get a bump up to club, didn’t happen but the family/friends/crew definitely did work as said the wheels had literally had just left the ground the plane was still climbing & seat belt sign on when a hand popped through the business curtains & beckoned someone from the very back fowards within seconds two men ran straight past us & into club, I did feel like sticking a leg out to trip them & bag the seats for myself & my wife 😂. I was surprised that they were called forward so early surely breaking the safety rules but hey ho it’s who you know what not you know that gets you up the ladder. Hopefully we’ll get upgraded on a more rewarding translantic flight next time.
I kind of have... Because First isn't covered by the reward flight saver, the avios costs is similar (or could be lower) than club but the cash element shoots up
I had the magic beep coming home from Vegas. Me and my friend were upgraded from WTP to CW. Unexpected and was a brilliant experience as had never flown long haul in CW before.
Yes I’ve had the sampler upgrade from Sydney to Singapore, and yes it has resulted in me upgrading to CW more frequently. I’ve been successful getting AUP twice on our most recently flights to and from Vancouver. Thanks for the info about upgrades using Avios from PE. I wasn’t aware this was a good use of my Avios.
@@MattsPlanet It definitely sold me on the benefits of flying in Club World. It has been a while since I have flown long haul. If BA was running a premium cabin sale I would aim for CW without a doubt.
Was Gold for two years not to long ago & currently Silver. Twice upgraded from economy to Club Europe, once when I checked in via the App and once on Hogmanay when the flight was near empty and the senior cabin crew member invited me.
Great stuff. Interesting comments from fellow Followers too. On from my last comment about supportering VS moving to LHR, here is an opposite experience. Never mind an upgrade, in the 90's BA didnt like my support for opening up LHR for customer competition so - whilst being given a tour of the control tower at JFK, awaiting my BA flight home, I was told "we would normally like to upgrade our visitors but there appesrs to be a note in your booking stating "do not up-grade under any circumstances'! Hey ho. The things I did to help the consumer get better fares 😂
Here's another one: being a nice, friendly person when something goes wrong on the flight. Back when I was a kid, I remember noticing some kind of commotion in the row ahead of me. Some guy was being an absolute jerk about something- I think it was because he was seated next to a baby. It didn't get to the level where he would have to be kicked off the plane, but something had to be done because he was making everyone uncomfortable. A little old lady from further back offered her seat to the guy, and was so nice and polite to him and everyone else that everyone calmed down. A few minutes after she had settled in, an F/A came by and said as a way to say thank you for helping them sort the situation, they were offering her a seat in First Class. Obviously you shouldn't be nice just out of expectation of a reward (or god forbid demand one after helping out), but F/As have been known to help out those that help them out.
Being nice can help.... I didn't mention it in the video but I once got on a United plane - years back - and I'd been given a seat that someone else was already occupied - it had been double booked.... I was polite to the attendant as she tried to sort it out and she asked the other person to move so I could have the seat.... Then she took the other person forward into the business cabin.... Being nice may not always work!!!
There seems to be another way of getting upgraded even though this is hardly useful for anyone but business travelers. I had several occasions on which I bought tickets for colleagues traveling with me on the same flight. This ranged from two to six seats on a flight in different bookings, paid for with the same credit card. It then happend regularly (maybe 40% of the flights) that I was called up by the gate agent and handed a business class ticket before boarding even started. I guess the logic behind this drills down to spending a lot of money with the airline or as a benefit for attracting new potential customers. Happend to me on LH (frequently) and Swiss (once). I don't get "the beep" very often outside of the main vacation season but within it, again with LH, it happens regularly (mayby 10% - 15%), when traveling to one of their hubs or from one of their hubs to a smaller german airport. Also short note: Aegean gives out 4 upgrade vouchers for gold members not 2. Silver members get 2.
Thanks for that - great info on a scheme I don't know too much about.... And I did make a mistake about Aegean - I only had 2 in my account and didn't remember I'd originally gotten 4 as I'd only used 2 of them
Have been BAEC Silver since April and haven't seen an upgrade. However when booked Business on Iberia on an A350 from Madrid, the plane had to be substituted for a smaller A330-200. Loads of people were downgraded to Economy. I wasn't however and suspect my Silver status may have been a reason why.
Once got to Heathrow early with the family. We were booked in Premium on a flight to JFK and got upgraded to Club because the flight after us was cancelled and they had a lot of people to rebook
Managed to get the magic beep BA Singapore to Sydney due to 102% load factor, Club to First on an Amex 2fer redemption. What a shame we don't operate like the Americans, far more routine to reward status holders with upgrades when business has space even when economy isn't oversold. Still keeps you going back for more as you need to maintain your status which is even more likely given the feeling of being valued with the upgrades.
Delta has upgrade certificates, unlimited upgrades due to status, and the ability to purchase an upgrade after to initial buy. I am a Diamond Medallion - I have screen shots of HUNDREDS of times when I was the next person to get upgraded, but there were not seats available. I do still get upgraded, but the rate at which I am the next person is quite annoying. Fortunately, I always get Delta Comfort and typically need to be content with that.
1 upgraded from PE to business LHR-SNG-SYD about 20 years ago - was only silver so no idea how 2 SYD-AUK upgraded on plane as was in exit seat and some other passenger was whining about legroom so was asked if I would swap by attendant - as I was amenable she then just told me to go to business 3 BKK-DOH plane change I think so moved from business to 1st gold at the time 4 OSL-LHR economy to business pre boarding at gate- guess plane full - gold card 5 one time I ran into my cousin on a flight business was full so she couldn’t move me 😂 thankful only AMS-LHR
I got one of those peeps a few months ago. Saldy, it was on my inter European flight to Helsinki to catch my long hault flight from there. Would have preferred the other way around. :D Ended up as the only one bumped up, although they had 4 more free business class seats. Given that my tier is just silver with Finnair, I wonder if it it was due to my connection flight being premium economy. Unless nobody else on the flight was signed up to Finnair Plus. At least I didn't have to put up with any seat neighbour and scored a free meal and drinks. So can't complain too much. :D
Another way to get upgraded on a BA flight ( Heathrow/Gatwick to TFS on A320) is to board last and as you walk through Business ,if you see a free seat , just sit down. Since Covid, BA operate a no middle seat person in Business Class on the A320 on certain routes, so you need to make sure that at least two seats are empty, I lost my Silver Status in March and have upgraded myself twice and no one has said anything..
Not something I would ever condone!!!! I've seen self-upgraders a few times (on BA and others) and the crew usually checks the manifest as the doors are being closed and evict anyone they find who shouldn't be there.... I think you may have been lucky!!!
Been upgraded 3 times in my life. First time was a Hawaiian Airlines flight from PHX-HNL. Upgrade for wife and me from economy to business due to overbooking. Second time was American Airlines from PHX-JFK. Wife and I were upgraded to first class. Not sure of the reason. Third time, I flew solo from LHR-LAX on British Airways was upgraded from premium economy to business class. I had a bulkhead seat, and a family had a baby and wanted to use the crib attachment. So, I was moved.
We got upgraded TWICE from normal to business flying from Melbourne to Doha with Qatar just with a simple "any chance of an upgrade" and it was granted!! Qatar had just started flying to MEL so maybe a goodwill gesture.
Thanks Matt. Looking smart👌. Got the beep regularly with SAA domestically. Guees because of my high status. Never had one on an international flight. I ask routinely very nicely and again works about 50% of the time on domestic flights for me😎🇿🇦👍
@@MattsPlanet It really is😊 We have our challenges like any other place has theirs. However there is just so much to enjoy, something for every taste👌🇿🇦
I’ve never had a beep. On a recent trip from AUS - LHR all our family were in business but husband booked himself in PE. At check in I asked if there were spare seats to pay to upgrade him but was told to ask on boarding which I thought was strange. The couple next to us also asked to pay to upgrade but was told Business was full. Once boarded there were so many empty seats in Business I couldn’t understand why we hadn’t been permitted to upgrade. I have Gold and so do other members of the family. The suite next to me was empty so I spoke to the lead Cabin agent and explained what had happened at the gate - was told I’ll see what I can do. 5 minutes later my husband appeared. I was so grateful but why they left so many seats empty is strange particularly when people were requesting to pay. I also have only been offered a paid upgrade between purchase and flight once.
I assume that was BA?? I have a vague bell ringing that some of the lesser-used outstations don't have the same revenue collecting capabilities as other airports.... But if they don't, they should have as they're leaving money on the table!!! Good outcome though
I am GGL and was upgraded to 1st coming back from Singapore. I declined it to sit with my wife. I wont again 😂 Only other upgrade was from prem economy when Silver to business coming back from Lima when BA flew there. My first time in business.
I find that the best way to be seated in a premium cabin is to pay for it, works for me every time. You're welcome.
Spot on!
facts
I have been doing it for a while with £££. Got upgraded every time!!
Wow that’s smart, I tried it, do you know how to get around the “card declined” screen when purchasing emirates business class?
Years ago when you checked in at the desk the old fashioned way, the cheeky as is there an upgrade available used to work. Hasn’t worked in decades :(
A few from me… all BA.
1. LHR to MIA - PE to CW £550 at check-in desk - May 2022
2. MIA to LHR - PE to CW $625 at check-in desk - May 2022
3. LHR to PRG & PRG to LHR, I travelled in CE and wife travelled Economy as I had a flight voucher which would mean ‘losing’ part of the vouchers value if I travelled in Economy. Spare seat next to me on both legs, asked cabin manager nicely and we sat together both ways AND they even offered the business service - August 2024.
Thanks for that - those cash upgrades look like decent value actually! And asking nicely pays off!!!! Good work
Last year I flew on a BA flight from London to Toronto. Last year was my big birthday (40) and in 2019 I was very unwell. I thought I was going to die. So, I decided to go and see everything on my bucket list (nice present to myself also for my birthday).
I was so happy to see Niagara Falls and to go on holiday away from all the stresses, I decided to give the cabin crew some chocolates with a note. It wasn't alot but I just wanted to say thankyou for taking me to tick off a bucket list item.
4hrs into the flight, I was watching Sex and the city. There was some nude scenes and the two men next to me (who I wasn't travelling with), were laughing. So I was laughing too out of shere embarrassment.
Then the cabin crew manager came over to me and asked me to bring my belongings. I was thinking I was in trouble for laughing a little louder than normal.
She told me to go with her to the front of the plane. So I walked with her, worried I was in trouble.
The cabin crew manager sat me in a business class seat, put my bags in the over head locker and apologised to me for not moving me sooner. She had been busy. Again I was confused..she proceeded to tell me that they were really touched by my note and the chocolates and wanted to do something nice for me and that was moving me into a business class seat for the remainder of the flight (which was another 4hrs). In that time....every member of crew came over to me to thank me for the Chocolates and had a lovely chat with me. They kept bringing me so much food, drinks, an amenity kit, BA branded chocolate etc. I was so overwhelmed. I wasn't expecting it. One crew member said they also moved me because not once did I ask to be upgraded (paid or for free) and they liked that i was a genuine person.
I was very happy in my economy seat and was so relaxed, but the BA crew made me feel so special. They even gave me a thankyou card where everyone signed it, even the captain.
I spent 3 days in Toronto, 3 days in Niagara Falls and 4 days in New York. This was at Christmas time, so was so magical and special.
Thank you for taking time and writing this lovely story. Thank you for your kindness. Wish more people were as grateful as you. I hope all is better for you. Best wishes.
@@brianpour292 No, thankyou for this lovely message. I honestly didn't think anyone would read it but it's lovely to get such a kind response. So thankyou xxx I'm still ticking off bucket list items now. However because I went away last year...I'm still paying for it this year. So been rather broke. Fingers crossed I'll get to tick more off next year...then if I die, I'll be happy.
Bless your heart for being so kind to the cabin crew. They probably needed your kind words at the time. I hope you are doing so much better now both in health and in life! Wishing all the strength in the world!!
Thanks for that - great memories! I hope you get plenty more trips in
@@MattsPlanet Thankyou so much xxx
Me and my mum were randomly upgraded from economy to business class when we checked in online from London to Doha and Doha to London on a reward flight with BA. Such a lovely treat!
A reward flight too - that is a treat!
Great video. About 5 years back was flying in Economy back from Las Vegas with BA and the IFE didn't work. I complained in a very nice way. After about 20 minutes the lovely flight attendant had sorted the only seat left on the plane.....in First. I've since been lucky enough to fly First 4 times
A few people have reported the benefits of being nice, which is a good rule in life anyway!!!
I would have been sick on purpose at the very least or even shat my pants and walked around the cabin telling everybody about the IFE failure. I'd expect upgrading to First.
We recently had seats booked in premium economy to JFK from NCL Via LHR. When boarding at T5 we got the beep and both of us were upgraded to business class absolutely free. I absolutely agree that this would have to give us a taste of the upgraded cabin so that in future we book business. Booking at the point of sale is very expensive. Thanks Matt.
Nice upgrade - thanks for sharing
Hey Matt - Love the humor! Love the suit! And, yes, I immediately wondered if the neckwear was pre-tied or one of those impossibles. Thanks for answering that. I am, however, still waiting for you to have some fun by repositioning that hat between takes…it could evolve into an ongoing “feature.”
Interesting.... Let me see what I can do!!
I was upgraded by Qatar once at Doha just before boarding economy to business
That was a good move for them because since then i only fly with Qatar and in business class
I have no complaints with Qatar and always find the service great and flights that actually run on time
That was indeed a shrewd decision by Qatar! They are a good airline....
Back in the day I got a lot of counter upgrades with Cathay. I was JAL sapphire status holder then. Good times. Nowadays Singapore Gold is getting me quite a few upgrades in LH or LX business class.
Interesting the SG status carries such a weight....
Really love your videos, Matt! This is my first comment - so thanks for all you do. I don't think I'll ever get an upgrade because I can't justify paying for anything more than economy. I run my own business, so it's me who is paying!
But I do know a friend who was upgraded from Premium to Business on BA a few years ago and we are pretty sure it was because they were tempting him. And it worked. He's always flown business ever since! The BA algorithm is crafty!
Perhaps you'll get a crafty upgrade one day yourself! Thanks for watching!
I did get a beep on a flight from LHR to SFO, straight from economy to business , useful info as always
That's a super magic beep!!! I'm sure you enjoyed it - nice long flight too!
I remember seeing a fly-on-the-wall documentary series about BA in the 1980s. They had an overbooked flight and were looking for passengers to upgrade. One passenger they’d considered was rejected because they spotted he was wearing shorts on the CCTV! As you say, no doubt times have changed.
@@TarrelScot I remember this!!! Not suitable for upgrade !!
Happy days!!!! Judging by the appalling outfits some reviewers wear in premium cabins, those days are long gone!!!
@@MattsPlanet Black tie is definitely the way forward. You could set a new trend!
@@MattsPlanet Excatly. I wear suit and tie in economy. I see trash in business class and first class, expecially in influencer videos. Those doays are long gone. These days, dressing nice encourages the check-in agent to offer a full-fee upgrade.
Very dapper! Working in aviation industry, we occasionally get free upgrades, although not regularly. I’m going to look into those BA upgrades, we frequently travel economy plus for work!
Thanks - worth taking a look!
I did get an upgrade from Economy to Business when travelling from Manila to Kuwait with Kuwait Airlines. I checked in as normal and had passed the gate and was about to step on the plane when a mamber of the airline called me over and informed that my seat had been changed and I was travelling in Business Class. It was a great experience although from Kuwait to London it was back in Economy again.
It's fantastic when that happens... Kuwait is dry I think? No not perhaps as good as it could have been but still good
Breakfast and a Daddy Matt video, what a treat! I use that post-booking upcharge strategy a lot with American Airlines, which is quite beneficial for tier point running onto my BAEC account. What's special about AA is that on domestic routes, you can upgrade from Basic Economy straight into First Class usually for just 50 quid. So that can mean the difference between earning 5 and earning 60 tp on a segment. This sort of direct upgrade is not available on Delta nor United (don't know about Alaska or Hawaiian), where you have to be booked in Main Economy before you can browse any upgrade offers. However with United's Basic, you can still ala carte other perks such as a lounge pass (all-day at all their lounges at all the airports you're visiting!), priority access, baggage allowance, etc.
That AA upgrade tip is a good one - very cheap tier points!
Absolutely. Had an AA flight last Summer where the upgrade to first from Main Cabin Plus was $40. $40 well spent IMO.
The hat doesn't really fit anywhere else, but I'm sure I can be creative!
I got the wonderful beep at the gate travelling from Dubai to Sydney on the airbusA380 (economy to business). I was very very low status as I had only flown from Dublin to Dubai and back about 6 months before. What a flight!!! Felt like the luckiest passenger on board :D
Wow - that's a huge score - 14 hours to Sydney??? Hope you made the most of it!!!
I've flown Club Europe twice over 2023-4, once with an Avios promotion and once by upgrading after booking using the emailed offer as mentioned. I also got upgraded on a flight to New York, I asked and was told as there had been a cancellation so the flight was full and there was free space futher forwards. This was special as it was Christmas just before COVID, and on a 747, sadly BA don't fly these anymore.
Good experiences!
I got a minimum bid upgrade for two people in January this year with Virgin. £400pp to move from PE to Upper. Which was EXCELLENT value in my maths.
Interesting data point - I think Virgin planes can be quite empty off peak so why wouldn't they accept the minimum???
My best upgrade was on BA from BKK-SYD. I was QF platinum (OW Emerald) and was booked in Y. At check in I was given a seat in PE, then at the gate my boarding pass failed and got an upstairs J seat on the 747. A very nice flight.
Double bubble! Excellent
Wow Matt looking very dapper today ! Excellent content from you as always. Indeed status matters , I was VS gold for many years and the magic beep at the gate to upper class happened regularly when company used to pay for PE.
Good to hear. I think PE can get overbooked on Virgin as it is a sweetspot for business travellers with less friendly company policies...
Only ever had one upgrade. Flight was full and BA asked for volunteers to possibly be bumped. There was a no show & they fitted me in at the last minute - mind you it did mean I literally had to run to the gate, escorted by a member of the BA ground crew and when I got on the plane everyone have me the death stare for holding up the flight.
I'm sure you were over any embarrassment by your second glass of champagne!!!
Great video Matt.
I flew Business class with Iberia to Costa Rica last year 1 way.. on the route back I was in Economy and as I sat down I got a text saying I've been upgraded to seat XX in business please gather my belongings and find a cabin crew member.
Within 2 mins I moved, gave up my aisle seat in economy to a family sitting apart.. found a cabin crew member and she told me it was an error and no seats are available... ended up walking back and sitting in a worse seat than I started with as I weren't going to move the family.
Out of principle I'll never fly with them again!
Ouch... That's a terrible story - thanks for sharing... Overnight flight too... The emotional journey you must have gone on would have been exhausting!
@@MattsPlanet Yeah needless to say I was not happy
Top tips Matt!! Thank you. Did I stumble upon a hack, or just get lucky? The only time I've been upgraded is from economy to business when I bought Business Lounge Access before the flight with Finnair.
Interesting! I suspect you were lucky but you never know!!
@@MattsPlanet Seeing your post, I suspect they were treating me to a taste of what I've been missing out on. Mission successful!!
Great video! If you use avios to upgrade from premium to club do you get any tier points and if so for which class?
You're supposed to get the tier points of the original cabin, but BA often gives the points for the higher cabin
Me & my mum got upgraded between Qatar and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from economy to business free of charge - we got the magic beep and thought it was going to be a bad thing but were pleasantly surprised! 😁
Beeps are rarely bad - hope you made the most of it!
Another great video!
I've had some success with upgrading at the check in desk a few years ago with Virgin Atlantic flying back to Manchester from New York, was only booked on a basic economy ticket and was able to upgrade to premium economy for only £150.
Also on a Cathay Pacific trip to Hong Kong last year, I was booked in premium economy and had the magical special beep at the departures and was upgraded to Business Class as they had overbooked the cabin. I think my Oneworld Emerald at the time probably helped too.
£150 sounds like very good value - especially overnight
Contingent liabilities love it! Great video as always, managed an upgrade with emirates DXB - MAN and with American JFK - MAN but that was in the 1990’s travelling alone dressing smart and speaking nicely at check in worked on those occasions think it was “SFU” on your file , suitable for upgrade no chance now different era my business class travel now is 1c on EZ or FR!
Sound like you would have been SFU with that attitude! Don't think Michael O'Leary trains his check-in agents quite the same way...
Thanks for the info + video!
Cheers Jimmy
On Emirates I was approached by staff at LGW to ask if I wanted a seat with leg room, being the tallest in the queue. I was given an exit seat out of LGW, but upgraded at the gate at DUB. Maybe coincidence, but I don't think so.
The only other upgrade was on BA from premium economy to business at BKK to Sydney. I was late checking in and dressed like a slob. That got me hooked and I flew business whenever I could after.
That's an interesting point - its probably discrimination but someone 6 foot 7 has a very different experience in economy than someone 5 foot 3, so even a mini-upgrade to an exit row can make all the difference...
I was also once upgraded from PE to Club on BA LHR to YYZ for free because of an equipment change from a plane without first to a plane with!
Always nice - equipment changes aren't always a bad thing!
Went to check in at T5 flight to Abu Dhabi travelling WT+ with partner. Discovered pre booked seats (window aisle pair) had not stuck. Asked very nicely if there were any other options to sit together. Agent made a phone call. Told flight was full. (Heard the word oversold) so accepted our fate with grace.. at the gate received the magic beep.. both upgraded to Club window /aisle (old club)... don't think thus would have happened had we not asked nicely about options...
Good to know. Dressing up may no longer work, but being nice and polite is always a good strategy!
My Uncle used to get bumped forward, usualy from 1st to the Jump seat lol. All his clients and many friends were Cathay pilots. It meant his employer was paying a hefty chunk for a 1st class seat that he didn't use. The good old days when mere mortals were allowed on the flight deck in the air.
That must have been cool.... A little tricky to get stuck into the booze if you're sitting on the flight deck, but still!!!
What’s a check-in agent? The days of asking for any “bumps” seem long gone, as you mention, but yes, many years ago I have was moved up to be with a Gold card member who … and this give how long ago … was allowed to sit in the jump seat for the takeoff out of LHR 😮 Received the magic beep once, coming back from SIN with my wife. We were in Club, but on going to board received the beep to discover we’d been moves to First. I was Gold at the time which undoubtedly helped 🙂
I was "threatened" with having to use the jump seat once, many, many years ago.... Back when computers seemed to send people to planes randomly and more passengers would get boarding passes than there were seats..... But someone else didn't turn up so they found a seat for me....
@@MattsPlanet .. 😲
Informative and entertaining video. I travel annually in economy to Ghana (6 hours) which I think is mainly carrying Ghanaian leisure travellers - lots of them have UK connections. I sometimes see that premium economy is available at the time of booking for very little extra. Last year I paid only £25 extra per person for 7 people for premium on the homeward leg. I have even seen premium priced below economy when speculatively looking at flights. I have also seen business class for around £1000 return. So, don’t assume you can’t afford a better seat - take a glance at all options.
Good advice - business can price lower than premium economy which is bonkers and shows how terrible BA's systems are!!!
BA silver, has never happened to me. Only upgrade I ever got was heading ORD to LAX, on UA booked in Y via SFO because the fare was lower than the non-stop to LAX. Got to the gate and the SFO flight was oversold and looking for volunteers. I promptly did so and told her I really wanted LAX anyway and business would be nice. She said 'How about first?' This was a trans-Atlantic plane so F was not the usual domestic rubbish. Great channel. I always use a fake bowtie.
Nothing like a real bowtie.... Sounds like a result when you did get bumped!
Back when I was flying back and forth every month between Asia and Europe at my own expense (so in economy), I still did enough miles to get gold status.
And when I did I got an upgrade voucher which I used to upgrade to business (no premium economy on that airline).
They then upgraded me to first at check-in - so paid for economy and got to fly in first...
I remember it was Sevruga caviar.
Happy days eh? Bet you remember every detail....
Me and the wife got upgraded from PE from Singapore to Sydney on the overnight flight on the new BA club seat. We only had bronze status. It got us hooked, and our next trip from Syd to LHR was in club,
It worked for BA then - excellent for both of you!
I’ve been upgraded many times on Virgin Atlantic because of the cheaper cabins being overbooked, it’s always happened at check in. Once, travelling back from the US I got the beep at the gate you talked about.
Interesting - I assume you had highish status with them?
@@MattsPlanet, only silver so nothing particularly special.
Great video as always, Matt! In July, I flew BA LHR-RUH for business. I was originally booked on the cheapest ticket-economy without checked baggage-but I'm a Gold status holder. A couple of days before the flight, I received a message saying I'd been upgraded from WT to WTP-great news!
On the day of the flight, as I made my way through First Wing, the lady checking my boarding pass told me I'd been upgraded. 'Yeah, I know, it’s my first time flying premium economy on BA,' I said. But she responded, 'Well, you were WTP, but I see you've been upgraded to CW!'
Two upgrades on one flight-can’t complain, right?
I hope you bought a lottery ticket as it was certainly your lucky day! Perhaps not in Riyadh though....
@@MattsPlanet I stayed there for about five or six days and had to endure temperatures of up to 46 C. So yeeeeah... 🤷♂
Fascinating! I don't fly very often & the only upgrades I have been offered is the Exit Row with extra legroom for free. On one airline I was one of the first to check in & was offered the exit row seat as I checked in. I guess the agents are told to offer the exit row seats to the first passengers who look somewhat able bodied. Another time I was called up just before boarding and was offered the exit row seat. They have to look for a suitable person. If it is a long haul flight the best economy upgrade you can get is an aisle seat even if you have to pay for it.
Indeed on BA the exit row in economy can be a better seat than any in their business cabin!
On my last three flights of choosing exit row. (I am a tall and athletic man who works out at the gym every day.) my seat mates were all skiny short females, short morbidly obese men, and veiled non-english-speaking grandmothers from the old country. That supposed rule of able-bodied english speakers in the exit row is a sad joke. I've never seen an FA remove the ubiuuitous old week woman from an exit row seat. Never.
In 2019 I was booked into World Traveller to JFK with a friend and while on our way to the C gates at T5, we noticed our seats had moved from row 48 to row 21 on our respective BA apps. No explanation until we got to the gate where the beep sounded and the agent mentioned we had been upgraded to Club World. No idea why and we certainly did not argue. I can only assume it was because we were flying on a high density Club World 747 with only the rear cabin as World Traveller but an extremely pleasant surprise and flight to NY!
Fantastic! Definitely not something to argue about!
12:45 - it's actually a Subject Access Request. Freedom of Information requests apply mostly to the public sector when we want to know things such as how much our local police force spent on Christmas parties etc. Sorry, I am a data protection consultant. Meanwhile, I was BA Bronze for many years (since Bronze status came out) and never got an upgrade. As soon as I got to Silver, I started seeing upgrades from WTP to CW and also my first on Bronze when I dropped back down (I am on my way back to Silver though).
Thanks for the correction and education!
@@MattsPlanet I suppose technically you could make the SAR with the cabin crew onboard (and someone geeky on data protection law like me probably would) at which point they should either tell you there and then (depending on their internal policies and procedures), or forward it onto their DPO in which they have up to one month to comply with the request
@@P8REN I'm nervous enough of what BA thinks of me given what I do, so "sticking my head over the parapet" with a SAR may be unwise!!!!
Too add to what you say about dressing smart,I flew with etihad last week Abu Dhabi to London in business, got the the gate had the magic beep and was upgraded to first and it was fantastic. I'm gold with etihad
I get the feeling that the ME3 do look after their senior loyalty members quite well....
What’s the magic beep
Interesting video Matt. I remember in the mid 80's as a teenager coming back from Orlando with my parents and the guy from the family we'd met over there flying back on the same 747 BA flight asking if they'd give us a complimentary upgrade for 8 people from economy to business. I believe he travelled a lot with BA in business. They did upgrade us all so we could sit upstairs behind the pilots in the 747's 'hump'. I believe there was only like 16 seats up there. I do remember my father saying this is the way to travel as a family going to the US a lot for holidays but changing his mind after seeing the cost to upgrade a family of 4 to business!! 😁
Wow - an upgrade for 8 people is quite special!!! And upstairs on a 747 too - what an amazing experience. That would have been really expensive to pay for!
I had a free upgrade on a PE flight to IAD due to the lower cabins being oversubscribed. I was in DC for one day of meetings and was returning on the next days return flight 25hrs later. Figuring it'd be the same crew (after their rest day) I asked cheekily on the way out if there was any chance of getting a lie flat bed for the return as I'd be working all day and just wanted to sleep. A bit of friendliness went a long way (plus a near empty flight) and I was ecstatic when the purser tapped me on the shoulder on the way onboard and directed me to the middle club seat at the rear of the A380 upper deck cabin (so direct aisle access both sides). It really helped the cabin was 20% sold, I had no neighbours in the centre row of 3 and snored all the way home!
Good story - they probably figured you as a cheap date - you'd sleep all the way and not drink all the champagne!!!!
Upgraded Econ to Business Claas on an EK A310 DXB-BKK-HKG in 1996 - forerunner to your recent A380 flight! Then that was it until May this year when I booked a Avios redemption in WTP LHR-LAS and was upgraded to Club Suite about five hours prior to departure. Boarding pass changed on App and I was in centre seat but persuaded T3 agent to move me to a window at checkin!
Video on my site although I’d planned to do a WTP review but struggled to decline and my seat had been given away anyway!!!
2 in nearly 30 years isn't brilliant, but I suspect its quite typical!!!
Thanks a lot for your very informative and entertaining video. On KLM/AF prices for upgrades vary according to status. As a Flying Blue platinum member unfortunately this means usually double or triple the price compared to a passenger with lower or without status. I guess their tactic is give these passengers a sampler, as you mentioned in your video.
That's an interesting strategy - punish your most loyal customers!
Yes, unfortunately the case. Since they are most likely to pay higher prices since they are already used to it, is the rationale😢
I’m BA silver (OneWorld sapphire status) and anytime I’ve taken a Qatar airways flight from DOH to the sub-continent, they have always upgraded me to business cabin (from my original economy class seat) when I get to the gate. This has happened 4 times over the last 12 months!
Fantastic!!! Long may it continue
@@MattsPlanet amen :)
I was once upgraded on Emirates from Business to First flying from LHR to DXB when my seat wouldn’t recline after take off. They couldn’t fix it so upgraded me, I couldn’t believe my luck and just HAD to try the shower!!!
And you're sure it was working when you boarded??? Tee hee....
Had an BA upgrade offer from London to Istanbul into club Europe for £49 at the online check in when I was Bronze. The next month I had another from Economy into Premium Economy on a flight from London to Dulles, also for £49, and also at the point of online check in, which actually took me to Silver for the first time.
My Dad used to get a LOT of upgrades on BA to First when he was a Qantas top tier statusholder called Platinum plus or something similar, equivalent of GGL. I suppose because Qantas and BA compete on that route Sydney to London. Never got upgrades on Qantas which he actually had the status with.
£49 to IST would be one to take I think - an extra 70 tier points for a start!
My husband and I got upgraded at the gate at Toronto because they merged a cancelled flight into ours and premium economy was overbooked. BA called us forward and I thought we were going to be bumped. I saw the gate agents were stressed so I smiled and said my husband and I were happy to wait til the morning (we didn’t have anywhere to be). This landed us both an upgrade to CW. We only had BA Blue and were infrequent flyers, so it definitely wasn’t status or value. And it spoiled us for life. Never done a transatlantic at the back ever since 😂
Being nice is never a bad strategy!!!
I got upgraded 3 times out of 4 on BA while still a lowly Blue (once from WT to WTP and twice from WTP to Club World). The only reason I can think of is that my spending looked like that of a person who might be tempted to spend a little bit more. (And to be fair, they were absolutely right about that)
A few comments suggesting the "sampler" upgrade strategy actually works for BA!
Nice tux! I agree with your assessment. I've had one of those "try it out" upgrades from BA and one from Virgin Atlantic. Other than that, Delta, which I mainly fly, has given me a ton of domestic (U.S.) upgrades based on status.
Thanks - US airlines certainly do things differently!
Always ask for the cost of an upgrade at check in or bag drop - you could be horrified & need to lie down on the sofa with a tea towel over the lampshade but I’ve found with BA there are definitely some times when it’s absolutely worth it.
Indeed - asking isn't a commitment!
Watched this twice, because I wanted to imprint the information into my grey matter.
The strategy I'm most likely to use is the upgrade with Avios. And I'm always ready with an 'Is there anything I can do to help?' when a check-in agent mentions how full the aircraft is.
P.S. Just back from Tivat. No Changi!
You'd think dressing smart would play to your strengths!!!
Nice heads up Matt. I have never had the luxury of being offered an upgrade. Even back in the day when looking smart (not like penguin smart. lol) was the way to get offered it on United, but I have family, albeit seniors who did get the offer on more than 1 occasion. As for BA I think I have just blasted through the tiers so quickly since 'the you know what' that they have been more than happy just to take my cash. That said paying for Club & using the countless gold vouchers to upgrade has been the way to go for me. Now getting close to 'Gold for life' in only 4 yrs. Maybe the upgrades might start coming as i start using Avios to make bookings once I reach that milestone. Nice outfit Matt. (the Rode mic sets it off nicely. lol). Stay lucky
That's a lot of travel.... I don't have any data on whether GFLs get any better treatment - you'd hope the lifetime loyalty would be rewarded but who knows with BA!!! Someone described my Mic as a shaving brush which was quite funny....
I got the "magic beep" twice in a row two years ago when I'd reached A3 Silver. Both the gate agent and I were very surprised on the first one, but I got notified of #2 while pre boarding was going on for the second. Very cool!
It is a delight when it happens!!!
I've had two upgrades to first from P economy. The first was seat 1A from LHR to Sing, I think I was silver at the time but the key factor was that I was a sole traveller. I was also upgraded from P economy to F on a 747 from Joburg to LHR - this time I think it was the gold status as well as a sole traveller (sad life this travelling for work!). What impressed me the most was that although the original 747 broke down and we were rescheduled for the following day, BA honoured the original upgrade. I appreciate that the original flight may have been chocka so BA had little choice, I'd like to think that it was a deliberate choice though! Both were great experiences - I don't think I would pay full fare though!!
Two into first! That's pretty good - sounds like you remember them both fondly!
@@MattsPlanet It was some time ago now but yes, both were great trips. The first one had a worrying moment where I knew I'd been upgraded to business but as I went through the gate I heard the beep and assumed I'd been downgraded. Very relieved when the lady asked me if seat 1A would be ok! Flying a booked BA 1st to Chicago tomorrow so it will be interesting to see if much has changed over the past 10 years or so?
I was a British Airways Cabin Service Director. I would rarely upgrade onboard unless there was a specific reason, such as a broken seat in another cabin and there were no other seats in the same class. There have been cases of passengers doing this deliberately. But every upgrade is recorded and the airline catches up with these people and bans them. The problem with onboard upgrading is that the aircraft is catered for the actual number of passengers. Rarely are there spare meals. Also, you cannot pay to upgrade onboard. There is no way to take the money.
The passenger most likely to be upgraded before boarding would be Gold card holders. Airlines like to recognise and reward their most loyal customers.
Thanks for that - I sensed BA wasn't a "hotbed" of this sort of thing happening.... I have heard of scenarios where the food from the boarding cabin were served in business for the reasons you mention....
Deffo agree re the 'empty seats are a revenue generating opportunity till the last min' which has been pushed to the extreme in recent years not just via online upgrade offers, but I've seen people in economy take their seat & then request an upgrade before take off. Seen it twice on Emirates, although I always got the vibe they were brits who worked in UAE thus had employers pay their base fare, hence the incentive to treat yourself to an upgrade. Seen the same thing with train travel now, you can bid for a allocation of 1st class tickets which are usually cheaper. Would love if airlines did that but they never will imo. Keep the masses & hoi polloi out...hence premium economy.
Once that seat flies empty, they'll never get money out of it again.... Disappearing inventory, I've heard it called and creativity is probably to be welcomed, if it ends up giving us value!
Last year we had an upgrade on BA to Prague into Business. I had not realised that I was silver status but probably was the reason for the upgrade. When I checked the tier points a couple of weeks later, they had not been added for that flight so I contacted BA and they duly added the tier points at business level 🎉 So doubly happy 😃
Lucky then lucky again!!! Congrats
I used to get upgraded at the gate often on Etihad. I was a Gold Card member and flew maybe 8 times per year (return). Far from being a rare treat, there was a spell when I was actually genuinely disappointed that the gate went green and let me through rather than beeping on red. I am single, so that maybe helped a bit, and often paid for an extra legroom seat. I don't know if that helped. I also used to go to the gate at the last minute, and I don't know if that helped or was just coincidence. I nearly missed a Qatar flight I was so late, and got a gate upgrade as the last passenger on. I've had a few unexpected long haul BA upgrades too (once being among the last to board). My most random fluke was an upgrade on Air Sri Lanka long haul. I had never flown with them before, nor since.
That's a pretty good track record - congrats! The Etihad ones would make sense but the others do sound a bit random!
Shout out for Cathay. Our daughter was returning to Auckland from London last year and had to check in in person owing to 40+kg of excess baggage. The Cathay gentleman wished her "happy birthday for yesterday", didnt charge the excess luggage, and she then got the magic beep at the gate, to Premium Economy. She loved every minute of it !!
Wowser - well done Cathay and well done to your daughter! Can't get a longer upgrade either!
@@MattsPlanet Final thought: I always look presentable in a cream linen jacket and always learn the name of the FA looking after me. Someone's got to get the best flight service and it might as well be me!
@@charlescampion9898 Its nice to be nice!
I do remember very nearly getting picked for an upgrade (because I went straight from work, so was in a suit), until they realised I didn't have even a base frequent flyer account with them... But it was 20 years ago.
I don't think a suit will get you upgraded nowadays. However, I do think a football top (for example), will ensure you don't get the upgrade if economy is overbooked and they're looking for someone to push up and it's between you and the other guy with silver status.
The best I've had was getting an upgrade at check-in on a flight from Bangkok to London (I had Gold with the airline at the time), but when I pointed out I wasn't travelling on my own, they upgraded the person I was travelling with as well.
Football strips will probably be a disqualifier!!!
I had an interesting experience getting a free upgrade with TUI last year. Myself and my parents were queuing for economy check-in for the return leg home from Florida. We were directed to the next available desk which was a premium desk and given tickets for row 1.
Flash forward almost a year to the day later (last Thursday) and I arrive at the gate for my Virgin flight home from Atlanta to be told I’ve been downgraded from Premium to Economy
You win some, you lose some, eh??? Virgin does like to downgrade people though...
@@MattsPlanet According to the gate agent, quite a few people on my flight got downgraded in some form. Wasn’t too happy as I was rebooked onto this flight after Virgin cancelled my original flight from Miami. Was hoping they would’ve protected my reservation after already inconveniencing me.
I have been upgraded on Dubai route on 4 occasion (all back to London) - once with my wife from premium economy to club (I knew when I couldnt online check in - I deliberately chose the A380 service home hoping for this and was gold status). I have also been upgraded 3 times from club to First - again I was gold exec club and flying on business. I have also purchased upgrades at check in a lot from ECO to CLub Europe when travelling on business to ensure I got the status I wanted (silver or gold).
Thanks for that. Dubai to London is definitely a sweet spot for those upgrades....
The only times I've ever found a good deal for upgrading at the check-in desk were on Virgin Atlantic exiting Boston. At least at the time, you could upgrade to J for some crazy small amount of points (25k?), and a small co-pay. Never had such luck with BA etc.
Interesting.... I get the feeling that at certain times of year, Virgin flies with a lot of empty seats in some cabins....
I think "bidding for upgrades" will be part of BA's revenue-generating tactic soon as IAG invested in a Tech start-up named SeatBoost. Fantastic video as usual Matt! thank you
Thanks - hard to imagine BA's IT coping with something that complex, but they are working on it so you never know!!!
@@MattsPlanet like most of the airlines that have integrated with PlusGrade (which has the "wheel" you describe with Aegean) I suspect it will work mostly independently from the main BA booking system. Can't see them touching that with a bargepole lest it breaks!
I've had a number of operational upgrades recently with BA. Most notable being business (old Club World) to first (with buddy dining) when travelling with a friend on the A380! But I suspect being GGL - albeit "bucket and spade" BA Holidays type - helps with that.
There won't be many with a CIV score higher than a GGL!!! Congrats - you deserve it!!
@@MattsPlanet thank you! It's still a relative rarity for me, I've had 3 in the last 140 flights. Ok, some of those would have been in the highest cabin available anyway but i goes to show that even GGLs will only be occasionally op-up'd.
I get upgraded on Delta because I hold an Amex Platinum Skymiles card. Works more often than it doesn’t
US airlines do things differently!! The significance of credit cards is much greater over there....
Years ago when you checked in at the desk the old fashioned way, the cheeky as is there an upgrade available used to work. Hasn’t worked in decades :(
Being nice can help but directly asking probably won't...
Matt in a tux, what a lucky day
You're welcome!!!
When i first started on check in, the SFU comment was king! Also the NSFU too! Those days are long gone!
You must have been giddy with power! Giddy I say!!!! But seriously, was there ever any comeback if you upgraded (or SFU'd) someone who went on to "misbehave" in the premium cabin???
So true Matt with #6. Around 1995 I was J class upper deck with TG BKK-LHR. There were a number of vacant seats and i was pleased that i would have an empty adjacent seat for the long flight ahead.
Howver after the dinner service concluded the female purser came upstairs snd announced to everyone that could we find space for a lower deck family who wanted to get away from the snoke on the lower deck. (The time when TG allowed smoking on board). Before anyine could say 'no' the entire family (two adults plus a couple of teenagers) appeared and grabbed the vacant seats ! I never did find out the real reason for their change of sests.
That sounds like a decent reason to facilitate a change of seats - getting kids away from smokers...
I got upgraded from LHR to ORD a couple months back. Was in the new Club Suites too. I couldn't get my boarding pass and was worried I was going to get the dreaded SSSS at the airport and was pleasantly surprised. Security was almost out of the door at T5 and I was starving so I was very happy about this upgrade. I'm fairly sure this is Method 5, although I am only BA Blue (so no real status) though I have flown with BA 15 times over the last 18 months, so maybe that was part of the CIV weighting ? Economy was also rammed so by some magic metric I was a lucky one to be chosen.
It is all somewhat opaque but congratulations for being "the one" on that occasion!
Think I’ve been moved up about six times so far, a few times at check-in and a few with that lovely beep at the gate. Best one was with Eithad about 15 years ago from JNB-AUH when I scored an upgrade from business to first at boarding time. Turned out the seat wouldn’t recline properly and the entertainment system was on the blink. One email to the airline later they agreed to deposit the equivalent miles for the trip in F into my account which I used on a return economy flight to Australia to watch the 2010/11 Ashes. Better to be lucky than good…
Double bubble - seat and points... I'd imagine you still remember that flight very clearly even after 15 years
I got the Beep last week at the boarding gate with BA from JTR to LGW,I’d purchased BAs cheapest hand baggage only fare though i have Silver Status.
Back in the day a friend worked check-in at Heathrow for Qantas and twice I got upgraded into business from economy all the way down to Sydney.A few weeks before travel SFU was put against my name.
Sometimes it's not what you know, eh???
Normally travelling solo usuallly has higher chances. If only one seat is available, it will go to a solo traveller, but oddly my only airport upgrade at check in was when I was travelling with family (4 of us).
Upgrading a group of 4 is a big win!
Great vid Matt, you can't beat a good dinner suit!
Especially when you make one look that good.....
Very amusing, Matt, though was hoping to see you in a wedding dress. Intrigued to know what sum of the paid upgrade is for Air France La Premiere. Even though its new J product seems very worthwhile. I've only ever paid for an UG once, many years ago, on CX. Back when seats weren't lie flat, just deep recline. It didn't help when the agent swiping my card (she had to bring the old school credit card machine, which had carbons on board) and then cheerfully told me I likely would've been upgraded anyway.
I was looking to get a redemption seat in business on AF through Virgin and upgrade to La Prem from there.... I was braced for perhaps as much as £1,500 but it would still have been a huge discount
On our recent first gold status flight LHR economy to Dublin we were hoping to get a bump up to club, didn’t happen but the family/friends/crew definitely did work as said the wheels had literally had just left the ground the plane was still climbing & seat belt sign on when a hand popped through the business curtains & beckoned someone from the very back fowards within seconds two men ran straight past us & into club, I did feel like sticking a leg out to trip them & bag the seats for myself & my wife 😂. I was surprised that they were called forward so early surely breaking the safety rules but hey ho it’s who you know what not you know that gets you up the ladder. Hopefully we’ll get upgraded on a more rewarding translantic flight next time.
Indeed - annoying when that happens!
Hi Matt- you managed there is a complication in taxes fees when upgrading cw to F, do you cover this in another video?
I kind of have... Because First isn't covered by the reward flight saver, the avios costs is similar (or could be lower) than club but the cash element shoots up
I had the magic beep coming home from Vegas. Me and my friend were upgraded from WTP to CW. Unexpected and was a brilliant experience as had never flown long haul in CW before.
Perhaps this was a sampler beep.... Did it convert you to only flying business from then on???
Yes I’ve had the sampler upgrade from Sydney to Singapore, and yes it has resulted in me upgrading to CW more frequently. I’ve been successful getting AUP twice on our most recently flights to and from Vancouver. Thanks for the info about upgrades using Avios from PE. I wasn’t aware this was a good use of my Avios.
@@MattsPlanet It definitely sold me on the benefits of flying in Club World. It has been a while since I have flown long haul. If BA was running a premium cabin sale I would aim for CW without a doubt.
Was Gold for two years not to long ago & currently Silver. Twice upgraded from economy to Club Europe, once when I checked in via the App and once on Hogmanay when the flight was near empty and the senior cabin crew member invited me.
The crew probably wanted some company!!!
Great stuff. Interesting comments from fellow Followers too.
On from my last comment about supportering VS moving to LHR, here is an opposite experience.
Never mind an upgrade, in the 90's BA didnt like my support for opening up LHR for customer competition so - whilst being given a tour of the control tower at JFK, awaiting my BA flight home, I was told "we would normally like to upgrade our visitors but there appesrs to be a note in your booking stating "do not up-grade under any circumstances'!
Hey ho. The things I did to help the consumer get better fares 😂
That's hilarious.... Although you sense Starmer getting an upgrade would make the front pages right now if it happened....
Here's another one: being a nice, friendly person when something goes wrong on the flight. Back when I was a kid, I remember noticing some kind of commotion in the row ahead of me. Some guy was being an absolute jerk about something- I think it was because he was seated next to a baby. It didn't get to the level where he would have to be kicked off the plane, but something had to be done because he was making everyone uncomfortable. A little old lady from further back offered her seat to the guy, and was so nice and polite to him and everyone else that everyone calmed down. A few minutes after she had settled in, an F/A came by and said as a way to say thank you for helping them sort the situation, they were offering her a seat in First Class. Obviously you shouldn't be nice just out of expectation of a reward (or god forbid demand one after helping out), but F/As have been known to help out those that help them out.
Being nice can help.... I didn't mention it in the video but I once got on a United plane - years back - and I'd been given a seat that someone else was already occupied - it had been double booked.... I was polite to the attendant as she tried to sort it out and she asked the other person to move so I could have the seat.... Then she took the other person forward into the business cabin.... Being nice may not always work!!!
There seems to be another way of getting upgraded even though this is hardly useful for anyone but business travelers. I had several occasions on which I bought tickets for colleagues traveling with me on the same flight. This ranged from two to six seats on a flight in different bookings, paid for with the same credit card. It then happend regularly (maybe 40% of the flights) that I was called up by the gate agent and handed a business class ticket before boarding even started. I guess the logic behind this drills down to spending a lot of money with the airline or as a benefit for attracting new potential customers. Happend to me on LH (frequently) and Swiss (once).
I don't get "the beep" very often outside of the main vacation season but within it, again with LH, it happens regularly (mayby 10% - 15%), when traveling to one of their hubs or from one of their hubs to a smaller german airport.
Also short note: Aegean gives out 4 upgrade vouchers for gold members not 2. Silver members get 2.
Thanks for that - great info on a scheme I don't know too much about.... And I did make a mistake about Aegean - I only had 2 in my account and didn't remember I'd originally gotten 4 as I'd only used 2 of them
Have been BAEC Silver since April and haven't seen an upgrade. However when booked Business on Iberia on an A350 from Madrid, the plane had to be substituted for a smaller A330-200. Loads of people were downgraded to Economy. I wasn't however and suspect my Silver status may have been a reason why.
Feels like an upgrade I suppose!!! Fingers crossed for more....
@@MattsPlanet Maybe a back handed non downgrade 😆
I'd have thought you'd be all over the "dressing smart" angle!!!
Once got to Heathrow early with the family. We were booked in Premium on a flight to JFK and got upgraded to Club because the flight after us was cancelled and they had a lot of people to rebook
All of you upgraded? That's really rare... Great, but rare!
Yep amazing
Managed to get the magic beep BA Singapore to Sydney due to 102% load factor, Club to First on an Amex 2fer redemption. What a shame we don't operate like the Americans, far more routine to reward status holders with upgrades when business has space even when economy isn't oversold. Still keeps you going back for more as you need to maintain your status which is even more likely given the feeling of being valued with the upgrades.
One of the many ways American flying is different from European....
Delta has upgrade certificates, unlimited upgrades due to status, and the ability to purchase an upgrade after to initial buy. I am a Diamond Medallion - I have screen shots of HUNDREDS of times when I was the next person to get upgraded, but there were not seats available. I do still get upgraded, but the rate at which I am the next person is quite annoying. Fortunately, I always get Delta Comfort and typically need to be content with that.
Perhaps its like the crew themselves - they've been there so long its 30 years before the benefits of seniority start to kick in!!!
1 upgraded from PE to business LHR-SNG-SYD about 20 years ago - was only silver so no idea how
2 SYD-AUK upgraded on plane as was in exit seat and some other passenger was whining about legroom so was asked if I would swap by attendant - as I was amenable she then just told me to go to business
3 BKK-DOH plane change I think so moved from business to 1st gold at the time
4 OSL-LHR economy to business pre boarding at gate- guess plane full - gold card
5 one time I ran into my cousin on a flight business was full so she couldn’t move me 😂 thankful only AMS-LHR
Its fantastic that you can remember them all in such detail!
@@MattsPlanetwell 3 & 4 were this year and number 1 was pretty amazing given the journey length
I got one of those peeps a few months ago. Saldy, it was on my inter European flight to Helsinki to catch my long hault flight from there. Would have preferred the other way around. :D
Ended up as the only one bumped up, although they had 4 more free business class seats. Given that my tier is just silver with Finnair, I wonder if it it was due to my connection flight being premium economy. Unless nobody else on the flight was signed up to Finnair Plus. At least I didn't have to put up with any seat neighbour and scored a free meal and drinks. So can't complain too much. :D
Aby upgrade is a good upgrade in my book!
Another way to get upgraded on a BA flight ( Heathrow/Gatwick to TFS on A320) is to board last and as you walk through Business ,if you see a free seat , just sit down. Since Covid, BA operate a no middle seat person in Business Class on the A320 on certain routes, so you need to make sure that at least two seats are empty, I lost my Silver Status in March and have upgraded myself twice and no one has said anything..
Not something I would ever condone!!!! I've seen self-upgraders a few times (on BA and others) and the crew usually checks the manifest as the doors are being closed and evict anyone they find who shouldn't be there.... I think you may have been lucky!!!
Been upgraded 3 times in my life. First time was a Hawaiian Airlines flight from PHX-HNL. Upgrade for wife and me from economy to business due to overbooking. Second time was American Airlines from PHX-JFK. Wife and I were upgraded to first class. Not sure of the reason. Third time, I flew solo from LHR-LAX on British Airways was upgraded from premium economy to business class. I had a bulkhead seat, and a family had a baby and wanted to use the crib attachment. So, I was moved.
3 times to remember! That bulkhead upgrade is a good point - PE to club is good, but PE bulkhead to club is even more likely!
We got upgraded TWICE from normal to business flying from Melbourne to Doha with Qatar just with a simple "any chance of an upgrade" and it was granted!! Qatar had just started flying to MEL so maybe a goodwill gesture.
That is very rare these days
A while back I suspect?
@@MattsPlanet yeah about 14 years ago.
Thanks Matt. Looking smart👌. Got the beep regularly with SAA domestically. Guees because of my high status. Never had one on an international flight. I ask routinely very nicely and again works about 50% of the time on domestic flights for me😎🇿🇦👍
South Africa is a great place - you tell so me every week!!!
@@MattsPlanet It really is😊 We have our challenges like any other place has theirs. However there is just so much to enjoy, something for every taste👌🇿🇦
My upgrade record is only one. 😢. I had a standby seat from Kyiv to Minsk, and got upgraded to the front cabin.
Not the longest flight ever!!! Hard to imagine those countries were ever friends....
I’ve never had a beep. On a recent trip from AUS - LHR all our family were in business but husband booked himself in PE. At check in I asked if there were spare seats to pay to upgrade him but was told to ask on boarding which I thought was strange. The couple next to us also asked to pay to upgrade but was told Business was full. Once boarded there were so many empty seats in Business I couldn’t understand why we hadn’t been permitted to upgrade. I have Gold and so do other members of the family. The suite next to me was empty so I spoke to the lead Cabin agent and explained what had happened at the gate - was told I’ll see what I can do. 5 minutes later my husband appeared. I was so grateful but why they left so many seats empty is strange particularly when people were requesting to pay. I also have only been offered a paid upgrade between purchase and flight once.
I assume that was BA?? I have a vague bell ringing that some of the lesser-used outstations don't have the same revenue collecting capabilities as other airports.... But if they don't, they should have as they're leaving money on the table!!! Good outcome though
I am GGL and was upgraded to 1st coming back from Singapore. I declined it to sit with my wife. I wont again 😂
Only other upgrade was from prem economy when Silver to business coming back from Lima when BA flew there. My first time in business.
You're a good husband! Lima is a nice long flight too!