VS "X" Class: How To Upgrade ?

[Good Man In Africa]

Can anyone advise me how to get around this problem please ? The travel agent my employer uses always purchase X class (Economy Lowest) tickets for me. I have a large amount of Flying Club miles and would like to use them to upgrade to Upper Class, or at least PE, for the overnight flight I have to catch.

When I called VS they told me it is not possible to upgrade an X class ticket, I would have to pay to change it to an "upgradeable" class then upgrade from that. That costs over £ 100 one way.

Is there any way I can get around this at all ?

Any constructive advice appreciated.

[Mr Quite Happy]

At a policy level I think you are screwed.

At a practical level, I suggest you don't book your flights until a day or two (use your judgement) before flying, therefore your corporate agent will not be able to get you X class and have to get a higher class of economy thus allowing you to bump yourself up. When flying regularly to FRA from LON I would always book the evening before the departure and the corporate agent could never get Econ tickets so they'd have to buy me first class.

The same techniqie can be used if your corporate agent is always booking you on, say, KLM and you want to fly with SIN. Simply inform the agent that you cannot get to the airport until 4pm (where KLM departure is 4.30pm and SIN is 5.30pm) thus meaning the agent has no choice but to book you out-of-policy on SIN. Obviously if there is a 6pm KLM you need to say that you need to arrive for a meeting at a time that the 6pm flight can't get you there.. Needs a we bit of research but pays dividends.

[PAXboy]

The reply of Mr QH is spot on and VERY amusing. VS have a policy that a ticket must be of a certain 'height' in the class levels before upgrading. The same goes if you book online or any regular way. You have to pay some cash and THEN the FFMs. Nothing to be done and I dare say other carriers do the same. If not, they soon will. :hmm:

[Mr Quite Happy]

LH def do this too, thanks for the :)

[Oneil]

Ah Mr Quite Happy- your method is one I also tend to use.

Flying with work on BA the best option was to book the day before. If flying within the UK it used to at least guarantee me a trip in the club lounge for a nice relaxing drink and eats prior to my departure.

:D

I also meant to say that if your flying with VS then you may be better off going to this VS dedicated site- they should be able to help you further as a lot of VS staff seem to post on there also

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/