If you don't give me an upgrade, I'll...
Join Date: Nov 2004
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easiest upgrade
get a job with an airline
make as many freinds with crew as possible
so when you travel they know who you are
and on your staff tickets bypass business class and
go straight to first
get very drunk thank the crew for there hospitality
so they will upgrade you again
its also important to befreind dispatchers as they are usually
good for this as well.
marry a pilot / cabin crew
i must stress i dont condone such abuse of the staff travel
system or condone being drunk on an aircraft
get a job with an airline
make as many freinds with crew as possible
so when you travel they know who you are
and on your staff tickets bypass business class and
go straight to first
get very drunk thank the crew for there hospitality
so they will upgrade you again
its also important to befreind dispatchers as they are usually
good for this as well.
marry a pilot / cabin crew
i must stress i dont condone such abuse of the staff travel
system or condone being drunk on an aircraft
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Upgrade ?
As a travel agent, it seems that every other "10 Bob" ticket purchaser insists that we request upgrades, exit row seats or extra leg room...... "because of my bad leg ( "er, no I don't want to complete a mediform" ).... or....I'm nearly 6ft tall you know....or.... "tell 'them' I fly with 'them' every year ......etc' etc'.
Whenever they are troublesome and seat pre-assignment is possible, after pleasantly asking whether they would prefer aisle or window, it's always a relief when we can place them as near to the bog as possible so they have a constant queue of knee crossers pinning them in, attempting to dislodge their elbows from their armrests whilst they're reading Heat magazine and they can learn to appreciate that "farts smell so that deaf people can still enjoy them" !!!
Whenever they are troublesome and seat pre-assignment is possible, after pleasantly asking whether they would prefer aisle or window, it's always a relief when we can place them as near to the bog as possible so they have a constant queue of knee crossers pinning them in, attempting to dislodge their elbows from their armrests whilst they're reading Heat magazine and they can learn to appreciate that "farts smell so that deaf people can still enjoy them" !!!
Last edited by DarkDog; 7th Jan 2005 at 23:22.
I was upgraded once last year from LHR to JFK. I hold a BA exec card and fly frequently but always sit down back (I pay for my own tickets). I think the check in ladies & gents do a great job and would just like to say thanks for the service and also for that one upgrade, even if it turns out to be the only one I ever get. It really made my day. Everyone likes to be made to feel special every now and again.
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The card-holders that do treat crew with the respect that they expect themselves , will probably stand a better chance than most.
However... at BA ...
Any staff member who upgrades a passenger without permission is liable to suspension and disciplinary action.
In todays 'cut-back' world, if there are 49 passengers, there WILL be 49 meals, so you;ll probably go hungry.
The airline, thanks to Rod Eddington, has a zero tolerance policy on aggresion/intimidation , so you could find yourself offloaded/cardless/arrested if you want to play Mr Big Guy...
You may be asked to pay, there is a facility for accepting full payment onboard, and this is subject to seats/catering.
Probably the best chance you stand is , as someone says above if they need to accomodate other customers in a full 'Y' cabin and will move a cardholder to accomodate this.
There is a disturbing and growing trend for parents on a leisure trip to book 'C' for themselves and then demand that their young children be upgraded as they may be in 'danger' on their own.
Well, there is a new policy in place to stop this as it has caused many delays, and you may find you are buying yourself an automatic downgrade, as you will be swapped with a cardholder to look after your kids / or offloaded in extreme cases of non-compliance !
The best way to get an upgrade is pay for it.
You don't buy a Timex watch from a jewellers and then ask if they will swap it for a Rolex , do you ?
The best ones are the ones that wait to board the plane last, and then plonk themselves down in club as they go through - - we ALWAYS check the figures correspond, so spare yourselves the embarassment, please........
However... at BA ...
Any staff member who upgrades a passenger without permission is liable to suspension and disciplinary action.
In todays 'cut-back' world, if there are 49 passengers, there WILL be 49 meals, so you;ll probably go hungry.
The airline, thanks to Rod Eddington, has a zero tolerance policy on aggresion/intimidation , so you could find yourself offloaded/cardless/arrested if you want to play Mr Big Guy...
You may be asked to pay, there is a facility for accepting full payment onboard, and this is subject to seats/catering.
Probably the best chance you stand is , as someone says above if they need to accomodate other customers in a full 'Y' cabin and will move a cardholder to accomodate this.
There is a disturbing and growing trend for parents on a leisure trip to book 'C' for themselves and then demand that their young children be upgraded as they may be in 'danger' on their own.
Well, there is a new policy in place to stop this as it has caused many delays, and you may find you are buying yourself an automatic downgrade, as you will be swapped with a cardholder to look after your kids / or offloaded in extreme cases of non-compliance !
The best way to get an upgrade is pay for it.
You don't buy a Timex watch from a jewellers and then ask if they will swap it for a Rolex , do you ?
The best ones are the ones that wait to board the plane last, and then plonk themselves down in club as they go through - - we ALWAYS check the figures correspond, so spare yourselves the embarassment, please........
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WOW, you guys/girls over UK/Europe etc seem to have lots of problems with passengers. We get the occasional one, but nothing like that, very lucky!!!!! Different culture/personalities etc i guess?
Oz
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Personally I find this a disturbing thread. I fly quite regulary (about twice a month) bussinessclass and as a paying customer I sometimes (often!) get disturbed by people demanding an upgrade.
I pay more because I enjoy the service and I am happy to give more because you get more, but hearing about all those people getting the service which I pay for free gets me angry. It makes you feel like a fool... you are the idiot who pays for something that other people get for half (or even less) the price.
More, it makes me think that I am paying for those who didn't. I know the marginal cost of someone more in C class isn't big, but still, I find it unfair for the paying customers.
For me it is the same if you would give a pax a free flight just because he is polite/ff/...
Frequent flyers are already rewarded, they can get free flights/upgrades with their miles, but why give them totally free upgrades?
It would be like, you buy two Fords and when you buy a third car you would get a Jaguar, just because you are loyal and friendly...
(Don't want to offend someone, just wanna express how some people feel...)
I pay more because I enjoy the service and I am happy to give more because you get more, but hearing about all those people getting the service which I pay for free gets me angry. It makes you feel like a fool... you are the idiot who pays for something that other people get for half (or even less) the price.
More, it makes me think that I am paying for those who didn't. I know the marginal cost of someone more in C class isn't big, but still, I find it unfair for the paying customers.
For me it is the same if you would give a pax a free flight just because he is polite/ff/...
Frequent flyers are already rewarded, they can get free flights/upgrades with their miles, but why give them totally free upgrades?
It would be like, you buy two Fords and when you buy a third car you would get a Jaguar, just because you are loyal and friendly...
(Don't want to offend someone, just wanna express how some people feel...)
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Upgrades can work against you though. I was once upgraded shortly after being seated for a transatlantic flight. Great I thought. Then the (male) cabin crew member kept giving me slightly more attention than strictly necessary on the flight and found the time for a quick chat now and again. By the end of the flight he was casually enquiring which hotel I was staying at. Aaarrrrgh !! Luckily, I gave him the name of a different hotel.
airsmiles
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airsmiles
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Reasons
For medical or commercial reasons I will upgrade someone ...Frequent fliers are first cab off the rank.I usually ask the crew who the nicest FF is and discretely move them.Have actually had pax go to bat for me when I have had a difficult time with some thug who wants my name (not happy with his own name?)Most are full of bluster particularly those who run a $30 million company but for some reason choose to travel in economy.
All part of the fun really...keeping calm, smiling firmly but politely declining.Gets up their nose when you don`t crack.
Remember one blonde yank who flashed the newly installed boobs and requested an upgrade and screamed faggot when I didn`t....most amusing.My wife`s breasts are much better and real.Which reminds me...........back in a coupla hours.
All part of the fun really...keeping calm, smiling firmly but politely declining.Gets up their nose when you don`t crack.
Remember one blonde yank who flashed the newly installed boobs and requested an upgrade and screamed faggot when I didn`t....most amusing.My wife`s breasts are much better and real.Which reminds me...........back in a coupla hours.
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Just following on from something DEFCOM said, I'll never forget the story about Liz Hurley DEMANDING an upgrade for her rich Indian boyfriend (not quite sure what he did but he was a multi-millionaire). It does beg the question, if you're that rich why not buy the seat in the first place?!? That sort of thing really angers me. Not sure I feel too much sympathy for passengers already in business class who see serf's from coach getting the free upgrade. I wonder just how many First and Business Class passengers have paid for their own ticket from their own pocket? Not many I bet! Most of the tabs being picked up by rich businesses.
I myself (as an ATCO) discreetly and politely ask if there's any chance of an upgrade. It worked once going from MAN-JFK. The girl was really nice and upgraded my wife and I to World Traveller + which was most appreciated! I tried in JFK coming back, again very polite and very discreet, and not only was I knocked back but the miserable old girl on the desk, even told me that the aircraft didn't even have any superior seating, was all economy! I didn't push it however.
Flying to Canada on honeymoon, the wife and I flew World Traveller + (paid for this time!
) Again I asked at LHR, answer again was no, however we did get some champagne before take-off which was nice 
Personally thinking (in conclusion i promise!) unless you're flying a long haul charter and your packed in like sardines for 8hrs or so, the established long haulers economy seating is more than comfortable. You have enough leg room, your own TV, free booze.....jobs a good 'un!
I myself (as an ATCO) discreetly and politely ask if there's any chance of an upgrade. It worked once going from MAN-JFK. The girl was really nice and upgraded my wife and I to World Traveller + which was most appreciated! I tried in JFK coming back, again very polite and very discreet, and not only was I knocked back but the miserable old girl on the desk, even told me that the aircraft didn't even have any superior seating, was all economy! I didn't push it however.
Flying to Canada on honeymoon, the wife and I flew World Traveller + (paid for this time!
) Again I asked at LHR, answer again was no, however we did get some champagne before take-off which was nice Personally thinking (in conclusion i promise!) unless you're flying a long haul charter and your packed in like sardines for 8hrs or so, the established long haulers economy seating is more than comfortable. You have enough leg room, your own TV, free booze.....jobs a good 'un!
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Work in aerospace, travel 150+ sectors/yr and hold gold cards with BA/LH/OK.
Rarely upgraded in Europe other than on OK which has policy of giving gold cards and partners an automatic upgrade if seats available in J/C-class. Check-in staff actually ask if you would like a free upgrade. Appreciate OK a smaller operation with less golod card holders but excellent approach all the same.
Travelled frequent;y LHR-RIO recently and every other flight seemed to be an upgrade from J-F class. Fluffy duffet and pillow certainly better that wafer-thin blanket in club but who (6' or under) can grumble about flat-beds in BA club these days? Apart from bed-width not a huge amount of difference.
Never asked for or been offered upgrade on LH.
Agree with previous postings. For most gold card holders priority check-in, security clearance, lounge access and on some (not often BA) priority bagage delivery are excellent benefits.
Upgrades a nice-to-have as and when they come along, but give the check-in staff and cabin crew a break. If you are a real frequent flyer they know who you are and where you are. If there is a need to upgrade they will more often than not find you or someone of similar status.
PS: Those BA pizzas in European Y class often better than the salad and ???
option served up front. Especially if you travel on Central/Eastern European routes
.....ok, so I had a slight problem hitting the right keys, but it is Saturday and I did have a few beers last night. Just to settle my nerves after a choppy approach into LHR you understand.
Rarely upgraded in Europe other than on OK which has policy of giving gold cards and partners an automatic upgrade if seats available in J/C-class. Check-in staff actually ask if you would like a free upgrade. Appreciate OK a smaller operation with less golod card holders but excellent approach all the same.
Travelled frequent;y LHR-RIO recently and every other flight seemed to be an upgrade from J-F class. Fluffy duffet and pillow certainly better that wafer-thin blanket in club but who (6' or under) can grumble about flat-beds in BA club these days? Apart from bed-width not a huge amount of difference.
Never asked for or been offered upgrade on LH.
Agree with previous postings. For most gold card holders priority check-in, security clearance, lounge access and on some (not often BA) priority bagage delivery are excellent benefits.
Upgrades a nice-to-have as and when they come along, but give the check-in staff and cabin crew a break. If you are a real frequent flyer they know who you are and where you are. If there is a need to upgrade they will more often than not find you or someone of similar status.
PS: Those BA pizzas in European Y class often better than the salad and ???
option served up front. Especially if you travel on Central/Eastern European routes.....ok, so I had a slight problem hitting the right keys, but it is Saturday and I did have a few beers last night. Just to settle my nerves after a choppy approach into LHR you understand.
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Upgrades a nice-to-have as and when they come along, but give the check-in staff and cabin crew a break. If you are a real frequent flyer they know who you are and where you are. If there is a need to upgrade they will more often than not find you or someone of similar status.
I know my regular travellers and if needs be up they go, don't ask as a refusual always offends.
As for ff cards being given (thrown) at you when a pax doesn't get their own way, that is just par for the course. Certain routes thow more of these at you than others (anything into out of LHR on a company ticket). Ahhh, the joys of working for an airline!
Posting from a pax perspective...
We've never begged for an upgrade, ever. Got one from United on a long trip because we were frequent fliers, and the cheap seats were oversold. They moved us to first class so they could get some stand by passengers on board. We were quite happy to oblige. (We were also dressed nicely enough that we could fit in with the other first class pax...)
My husband is 6 foot 2 inches, and really appreciates getting an aisle seat, or better yet, the emergency exit aisle, especially on the long flights he sometimes has to take.
He's never asked for an upgrade, but I will thank all of you who've ever had a chance to put a tall person in an aisle seat, or any place with extra leg room. It does help.
We've never begged for an upgrade, ever. Got one from United on a long trip because we were frequent fliers, and the cheap seats were oversold. They moved us to first class so they could get some stand by passengers on board. We were quite happy to oblige. (We were also dressed nicely enough that we could fit in with the other first class pax...)
My husband is 6 foot 2 inches, and really appreciates getting an aisle seat, or better yet, the emergency exit aisle, especially on the long flights he sometimes has to take.
He's never asked for an upgrade, but I will thank all of you who've ever had a chance to put a tall person in an aisle seat, or any place with extra leg room. It does help.
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It's a strange one this issue of upgrades.
I have to say all of the posters on here have the right attitude to it for a pax point of view and I do agree with all the crew as well.
From my own point of view as a PSR flying for BA to Europe from LGW I don't see what all the fuss is about for an upgrade to club from Euro Trav. The seat is wider and you get a meal on a big tray with china that is of pretty good quality, oh...and champagne, but that's it really. No real benefit.
Now on Longhaul it's a different gravy. Flat seats make all the difference, but even the seat pitch and leg room in WT+ is a pretty good bonus.
My own policy on upgrades is pretty simple, I look for BA staff (or friends or family that I may have begging letters for), then other airline/airport staff. This is only if I have the catering and of course as long as it does not in any way disturb or cramp the booked club pax.
I have upgraded Gold card holders before as well and if there is a seating problem in the back that can be sorted by upgrade I will look to upgrade Gold MVCC's (Most Valued Corp Customers) first, then go down list accordingly before bumping bucket and spaders into Club.
As ahs been said before attitude gets you nowhere with crew. Neither do tricks like I bought a club ticket etc etc but am in the wrong class - we can all read tickets and know the cabin codes. Automatically sitting in Club will ensure humilliation in front of a whole cabin of passengers as well when you are asked to move so that's a no no too. suggesting that you had no time to upgrade your ticket to Club at check in and that you were quite happy to pay "the usual £15" on board is also not acceptable. We have an on-board upgrade pack and I can assure you the minimum is £100 or there abouts.
To be honest why bother. Sit, enjoy the free booze in ET and be happy. Why cause stress over something so trivial. If it hasn't happened at check-in, chances are it isn't going to happen.
I think this issue may become a little more prevailant if BA comes into line with it's other One World Alliance partners in relation to economy. Rumblings are that a "possible change" is on the way and free alcohol may become a thing of the past on Euro routes and meals will become just snacks, leaving Club as a pure premium product with everything gratis and of very high standard. This wouldn't suprise me at all and has been on the cards for a while.
Guess we'll just wait and see but will make for a more interesting day I guess.
I have to say all of the posters on here have the right attitude to it for a pax point of view and I do agree with all the crew as well.
From my own point of view as a PSR flying for BA to Europe from LGW I don't see what all the fuss is about for an upgrade to club from Euro Trav. The seat is wider and you get a meal on a big tray with china that is of pretty good quality, oh...and champagne, but that's it really. No real benefit.
Now on Longhaul it's a different gravy. Flat seats make all the difference, but even the seat pitch and leg room in WT+ is a pretty good bonus.
My own policy on upgrades is pretty simple, I look for BA staff (or friends or family that I may have begging letters for), then other airline/airport staff. This is only if I have the catering and of course as long as it does not in any way disturb or cramp the booked club pax.
I have upgraded Gold card holders before as well and if there is a seating problem in the back that can be sorted by upgrade I will look to upgrade Gold MVCC's (Most Valued Corp Customers) first, then go down list accordingly before bumping bucket and spaders into Club.
As ahs been said before attitude gets you nowhere with crew. Neither do tricks like I bought a club ticket etc etc but am in the wrong class - we can all read tickets and know the cabin codes. Automatically sitting in Club will ensure humilliation in front of a whole cabin of passengers as well when you are asked to move so that's a no no too. suggesting that you had no time to upgrade your ticket to Club at check in and that you were quite happy to pay "the usual £15" on board is also not acceptable. We have an on-board upgrade pack and I can assure you the minimum is £100 or there abouts.
To be honest why bother. Sit, enjoy the free booze in ET and be happy. Why cause stress over something so trivial. If it hasn't happened at check-in, chances are it isn't going to happen.
I think this issue may become a little more prevailant if BA comes into line with it's other One World Alliance partners in relation to economy. Rumblings are that a "possible change" is on the way and free alcohol may become a thing of the past on Euro routes and meals will become just snacks, leaving Club as a pure premium product with everything gratis and of very high standard. This wouldn't suprise me at all and has been on the cards for a while.
Guess we'll just wait and see but will make for a more interesting day I guess.
Quote "I think this issue may become a little more prevailant if BA comes into line with it's other One World Alliance partners in relation to economy. Rumblings are that a "possible change" is on the way and free alcohol may become a thing of the past on Euro routes and meals will become just snacks, leaving Club as a pure premium product with everything gratis and of very high standard. This wouldn't suprise me at all and has been on the cards for a while."
Don't want to stray too far off topic, but if that's true, BA would be throwing away one of it's USP's. IMO, a serious error to do away with one of the BA product components which - until recently - has even been heavily plugged on in tv & print press advertising. Isn't hiding the booze in the trolley under the fruit juice and water and forcing bods like me to play 'who'll be the first to ask for a beer then' enough?
Don't want to stray too far off topic, but if that's true, BA would be throwing away one of it's USP's. IMO, a serious error to do away with one of the BA product components which - until recently - has even been heavily plugged on in tv & print press advertising. Isn't hiding the booze in the trolley under the fruit juice and water and forcing bods like me to play 'who'll be the first to ask for a beer then' enough?
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In an incident similar to FlyUk's, my first UG was courtesy of someone else being exceedingly arrogant. In those days, I was somewhat more imposing than now, 
and I asked him whether he might reconsider wasting peoples' time somewhere else. Result! J to Hanover on a snowy night.
Best UG was FRA-SIN, I was going J but they sent me via MNL in F (two PAX on upper deck, jumpseat for takeoff and landing) and paid me for the inconvenience.
2nd best UG, no smoking seats left in J (those were the days ) , banged up to F with no smoking, jumpseat for TO, tried chatting up the extremely beautiful 1D pax, who turned out to be the skipper's wife, and I had been at Uni with her daughter!
Since then, it has been hit or miss. Your best chance is to buy a national lottery ticket, win, and use that to pay for the UG. The only other time I was bumped from Y was when they needed a doctor - none aboard, but I was into my second year of medicine. Thankfully, it was not serious.
I would like to point out that I have had to make three sudden mercy flights back to Australia, and on each occasion, the BA/QF people have been fantastic - letting me use the lounge in HK (flight had been fubared, 11 hr stopover), giving me an exit row next to a psychiatrist, giving me an entire row in Y. All these were recognised by letters to the CEOs.
The take-home message here is, I think, that these repulsive proles you have to sit next to for interminable periods of time on longhaul, these sneezing, wheezing, whining, drunken, awful people whom you wish to exterminate and somehow escape from by going forward of the wing? These are the people to whom the CC have to be nice, all the time. You finish your journey and (hopefully) have something to look forward to. The CC get the same bunch of fools when they return to work. Day in, day out.
There was one time when I asked for a downgrade. The J compartment was full of children, so down I went to Y smoking (even though I wasn't at the time). Bliss.
BOFH
and I asked him whether he might reconsider wasting peoples' time somewhere else. Result! J to Hanover on a snowy night.Best UG was FRA-SIN, I was going J but they sent me via MNL in F (two PAX on upper deck, jumpseat for takeoff and landing) and paid me for the inconvenience.
2nd best UG, no smoking seats left in J (those were the days
) , banged up to F with no smoking, jumpseat for TO, tried chatting up the extremely beautiful 1D pax, who turned out to be the skipper's wife, and I had been at Uni with her daughter!Since then, it has been hit or miss. Your best chance is to buy a national lottery ticket, win, and use that to pay for the UG. The only other time I was bumped from Y was when they needed a doctor - none aboard, but I was into my second year of medicine. Thankfully, it was not serious.
I would like to point out that I have had to make three sudden mercy flights back to Australia, and on each occasion, the BA/QF people have been fantastic - letting me use the lounge in HK (flight had been fubared, 11 hr stopover), giving me an exit row next to a psychiatrist, giving me an entire row in Y. All these were recognised by letters to the CEOs.
The take-home message here is, I think, that these repulsive proles you have to sit next to for interminable periods of time on longhaul, these sneezing, wheezing, whining, drunken, awful people whom you wish to exterminate and somehow escape from by going forward of the wing? These are the people to whom the CC have to be nice, all the time. You finish your journey and (hopefully) have something to look forward to. The CC get the same bunch of fools when they return to work. Day in, day out.
There was one time when I asked for a downgrade. The J compartment was full of children, so down I went to Y smoking (even though I wasn't at the time). Bliss.
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Dreams come true...
It was Christmastime in Lagos and the world and his wife were travelling...
I was sat there minding my own business preparatory to boarding Sabena, a 747-300 instead of the usual Hairbrush. All around me the natives were restless and all I had was an ID50 economy class ticket. I was a prime candidate for being bumped.
As boarding commenced I looked up from my book to see four large Lagosians all trying to go though the door to the jetway at once, a struggling, sweating knot of humanity and not a pretty sight unless you are a fan of rugby football. Then I noticed that I had attracted the attention of the tall, mean-looking Sabena gate agent, Roland. Oops! I quickly dropped my gaze back to my book but too late.
Roland marched over and said, 'Let me see your boarding card.'
I meekly handed over my card and then he said, 'Come with me.'
'Rats! Xmas in Lagos,' thought I, 'with the wife and kids in Germany. I am toast!'
Roland marched me to the check-in desk at the gate, did some ju-ju with his computer console and then handed me a boarding card that was upgraded to business class, a seat on the upper deck. It was heaven. Faint sounds of struggle came up from cattle class below now and then but I was serenely ensconced above it all, drinking champers and feeling like a prince, at least.
After that I always paid for an upgrade until Sabena went bust and vanished from the Lagos scene. Such is life.
Roland, wherever you are, I hope things are going well for you.
Generally I agree that there is something to do with flying that makes the average human brain short out so that unreasonable expectations about what one can get for what one has paid arise. I have no idea why this is so.
I love some of the weird interactions that come to pass.
So far, the best was a young man of about 25 years who came up to the little document hatch on the Dornier 328 to say, 'That was a really bad landing that you just made.'
Resisting a temptation to beckon him closer and then suddenly and unprovoked stick two fingers in his eyes Three Stooges-style I simply replied, 'I see...'
It was unclear just how I was expected to atone for this alleged deed. Perhaps I should stop writing in the tech log, deplane and prostrate myself? Actually, I think it had been the co-pilot's landing anyway, but why bother telling him that? It had been a pretty normal landing by any standard since you aren't supposed to do 'greasers' in a 328.
Since he was still stood there I said, 'You must be new here.'
'Why is that?'
'Otherwise you would know that was one of my better landings. When I make a bad one I break lightbulbs in the airport café.'
He was still stood there looking at me through the little hatch so that I went back to filling out the tech log. When I had finished I looked up but he was gone. I assume that he always tries to get a free upgrade when he flies with a proper airline.
I was sat there minding my own business preparatory to boarding Sabena, a 747-300 instead of the usual Hairbrush. All around me the natives were restless and all I had was an ID50 economy class ticket. I was a prime candidate for being bumped.
As boarding commenced I looked up from my book to see four large Lagosians all trying to go though the door to the jetway at once, a struggling, sweating knot of humanity and not a pretty sight unless you are a fan of rugby football. Then I noticed that I had attracted the attention of the tall, mean-looking Sabena gate agent, Roland. Oops! I quickly dropped my gaze back to my book but too late.
Roland marched over and said, 'Let me see your boarding card.'
I meekly handed over my card and then he said, 'Come with me.'
'Rats! Xmas in Lagos,' thought I, 'with the wife and kids in Germany. I am toast!'
Roland marched me to the check-in desk at the gate, did some ju-ju with his computer console and then handed me a boarding card that was upgraded to business class, a seat on the upper deck. It was heaven. Faint sounds of struggle came up from cattle class below now and then but I was serenely ensconced above it all, drinking champers and feeling like a prince, at least.
After that I always paid for an upgrade until Sabena went bust and vanished from the Lagos scene. Such is life.
Roland, wherever you are, I hope things are going well for you.
Generally I agree that there is something to do with flying that makes the average human brain short out so that unreasonable expectations about what one can get for what one has paid arise. I have no idea why this is so.
I love some of the weird interactions that come to pass.
So far, the best was a young man of about 25 years who came up to the little document hatch on the Dornier 328 to say, 'That was a really bad landing that you just made.'
Resisting a temptation to beckon him closer and then suddenly and unprovoked stick two fingers in his eyes Three Stooges-style I simply replied, 'I see...'
It was unclear just how I was expected to atone for this alleged deed. Perhaps I should stop writing in the tech log, deplane and prostrate myself? Actually, I think it had been the co-pilot's landing anyway, but why bother telling him that? It had been a pretty normal landing by any standard since you aren't supposed to do 'greasers' in a 328.
Since he was still stood there I said, 'You must be new here.'
'Why is that?'
'Otherwise you would know that was one of my better landings. When I make a bad one I break lightbulbs in the airport café.'
He was still stood there looking at me through the little hatch so that I went back to filling out the tech log. When I had finished I looked up but he was gone. I assume that he always tries to get a free upgrade when he flies with a proper airline.
Rebel PPRuNer
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Have been upgraded by BA three times in about 14 sectors since moving to YYZ. I am FF blue with not a point to my name and 1/4 miles coz M class ticket is all I can afford.
Never asked for it (2 x WTs from the Aer Lingus check-in in Cork, CC from the BA check-in in Toronto). If I never got one again, I would still fly BA as first choice - although AC's lack of winter LHR codeshares into Irish ports does mitigate against them anyway.
The one thing I have noticed is that while I have booked on expedia and ebookers, all my upgrades were on ba.com tickets.
Make of that what you will!
Never asked for it (2 x WTs from the Aer Lingus check-in in Cork, CC from the BA check-in in Toronto). If I never got one again, I would still fly BA as first choice - although AC's lack of winter LHR codeshares into Irish ports does mitigate against them anyway.
The one thing I have noticed is that while I have booked on expedia and ebookers, all my upgrades were on ba.com tickets.
Make of that what you will!
Join Date: Oct 2004
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"Do you know who I am?"
I was checking in for a CX flight (as a paying pax, I am not CC) out of Perth quite sometime ago and was next in line for check-in when this clown arrives direct to the front of the queue. Being the sensitive diplomatic person I am I enquired what he thought he was doing. The response was (yep you guessed it) "Do you know who I am". I replied "No mate and you see the guy at the end I don't know who he is either but you are after him" Now at 6'2" and 180lbs I don't flinch at evil glares and are not fussed at being stared down so from smirks and nodding heads from the rest of the waiting queue he shuffled to the rear and was made to wait his turn.
I am happy to say that this was observed by the service supervisor at check when I had in my Economy Ticket and was very pleasantly surprised to receive a First class boarding pass. During the flight I ventured back into economy and found the so called VIP pusher in sitting in the last row next to the loos. SO THERE IS JUSTICE.
I was checking in for a CX flight (as a paying pax, I am not CC) out of Perth quite sometime ago and was next in line for check-in when this clown arrives direct to the front of the queue. Being the sensitive diplomatic person I am I enquired what he thought he was doing. The response was (yep you guessed it) "Do you know who I am". I replied "No mate and you see the guy at the end I don't know who he is either but you are after him" Now at 6'2" and 180lbs I don't flinch at evil glares and are not fussed at being stared down so from smirks and nodding heads from the rest of the waiting queue he shuffled to the rear and was made to wait his turn.
I am happy to say that this was observed by the service supervisor at check when I had in my Economy Ticket and was very pleasantly surprised to receive a First class boarding pass. During the flight I ventured back into economy and found the so called VIP pusher in sitting in the last row next to the loos. SO THERE IS JUSTICE.