Use ASIC for upgrade?
 

I've heard rumours that flashing your ASIC at check in on a commercial flight might get you an upgrade of some sort.

I'm a PPL (so not employed by an airline if that makes any difference to the answer) who's planning to go overseas in a few weeks. Is it worth shoving my ASIC in my handbag and pulling it out at check in (and then putting it away again, I'm not planning to wear it around the airport)? Or is this all just a rumour?

Always wear your ASIC when in an airport. You never know where it may lead... :)

(just food and beverage discounts for me so far)

I figured I'd pull it out if I was buying food and stuff but not planning on wearing it as I'm just walking around with my wheely suitcase, seems a bit too much like "Hey look, I fly aeroplanes when I'm not wandering around YMML looking grumpy" :}

Nah, the only people that know what it is are the ones that work there and use theirs for the same purpose on their own travels. :D

You wouldn't get much of a discount anyway with the prices at the airport.."bottle of coke please, that's $4.50 sir *flashes ASIC* oh sorry that's $4.20 sir" :}

Like baswell said "", I got into a Jetstar A330 cockpit :)

Seems to work for Alan Joyce...........

Who on earth would give you an upgrade for "flashing" your ASIC?

I really don't think the person on the check-in counter of Virgin Blue would give a toss that you fly a 1964 Cessna 150 on your weekends.

If you are lucky you might get a discount on your coffee and waive the foreign currency fee at Travelex.

These days at Qantas, you are unlikely to even see a check-in worker. I flew tonight and there were none to be seen, I actually had to get a ticket to get in line to see one (but didn't need to in the end).

My mate was wearing his ASIC around at melbourne international when he was approached by two airport security officers and asked why he was wearing it.. he said because he wanted to get a discount in the duty free shop and they told him they'd "let it go" but to take it off immediately because it looks suspicious. Mind you my mate is an arab... not implying anything :oh:

I've had an upgrade on Qantas International after using my ASIC as ID on check-in.

Upgrade to what?

Business class?

They gave you a $6k airfare because you showed your ASIC card?

It's not going to work on Domestic as you don't see anyone at check-in any more.

Give it a go, but don't expect miracles. Upgrades aren't nearly as common as they once were. :sad: There are a lot of ASICs around, too. Whichever airport you are flying out of will have several thousand on issue.
You have a reasonable chance of scoring discount coffee, though I've noticed that the local pirate port f&b staff now ask non uniformed, ASIC wearing people if they're actually on duty, which suggests that they're onto this particular racket. :hmm:

Make the most of it
 

There is a real groundswell around the airports to face down OTS over ASICs and get rid of the damn things. Unpoliceable, unenforceable, meaningless, pointless, expensive and a lot of other adjectives.

I got the fee for currency exchange waived with mine, also was able to stick around and have a chat with the blokes in the cockpit after other passengers had disembarked.


...Then got grilled hardcore by security as to what I was doing there and was seemingly lucky to get off without a fine. Don't get too flashy with it.

Every pimple-faced 16 years old behind the counter at Maccas at the aiport wears one.

I am not sure how it is of any benefit to anyone based on that.:ugh::ugh:

Few, if any, check in staff would have the authority to just give someone an upgrade for no good reason.

Except if there is an operational reason, i.e.: economy is over booked and they need to move some people up. Of course, they will choose the more deserving people, like those with a high status, young women traveling solo or with female friends only (seriously, it is the best way to get an upgrade) and those in the industry.

So it would not surprise me if you increase your chances of an operational upgrade by casually wearing your ASIC. (Don't rub it in or act like you are entitled to it.)

Flashing your tits would probably work a lot better!

Have been upgraded domestic once previously however as Baswell said, assumedly there was already an operational reason such as overbooking and the ASIC only 'helped'. This was also in the days when there were actual check-in staff rather than an LCD monitor to talk to.

The upgrade I received was a few years ago, but I can't remember if it was to New York or Los Angeles.

Got bumped from Economy to Business. I've flown a lot over the years and had a few free upgrades with various airlines.

I think it helps if you are well dressed and pleasant. Timing seems to be the thing, not too early, not too late. Guess they were full in economy and looking for people to upgrade.

There are different types of ASIC and AVID cards. Retail staff at airports seem to have different types.

Pilot ASIC cards are different because they include your ARN.

Wish they'd make the stupid things five or ten years, not two years.

Also got a 30% discount on my Seringetti sunglasses at the sunglasses shop at DFO Moorabbin when they I was wearing an ASIC (pilot discount).

You don't need a ASIC to get a look at the flight deck of an airliner, all you have to do is ask. Most pilots would be happy (time permitting) to show you the flight deck after landing at your destination.
I doubt it would help much in getting you an upgrade, check in would have a list of people on each flight they would like to upgrade (frequent flyers, government employees, company reps).
As for wearing it around the airport :rolleyes: Keep it in your bag and pull it out at the duty free for a discount, other than that its of no use.

I've never heard of them being used for an upgrade before. More likely you'll be laughed at. People pull a lot of stunts to try and get an upgrade and an ASIC is probably a pretty lame one.

However, I've used mine (that said, it's got a big QANTAS across the bottom) to get exit rows on both Jetstar and Virgin when I've been forced to fly them. A police badge would probably work just as well too. :}

Could be wrong, but I was of the understanding it is illegal to display your asic unless you are on duty and it is required for your duty. If it isn't illegal, poncing around the airport with your asic swinging from your neck trying to get 2 bucks off your coffee certainly should be!

. There are 2 types/colours. The grey coloured ASIC is for landside only. The Red ASIC is for Airside. Pilots would have the red card. They are not "different". It is the same card with the same authority as OPs staff, refuelers, engineers and anyone else with a VALID reason to be airside. Retail staff would not have a valid reason to be airside and would be issued with the grey cards.

I have never been upgraded when checking in and using my ASIC as ID. I have been upgraded a few time when self checking in (and once got bumped up to the jumpseat of a 76. It was not as fun as it sounds).

and yes, grrowler, is correct. It is actually illegal to use your ASIC for a purpose other then what its intended to be used for. If you happen to be wearing one in uniform at the airport while on duty and the nice lady at Dome gives you a discount, then thats your fortune.

As far as I am aware you are only allowed to wear it when you have a 'legal' reason to be in that area for the requirement to have an ASIC. IE you don't have to wear one in the terminal if your not operational crew, so you don't need it. To get the discount in the terminal simply show it out of your pocket before ordering, I would not be wearing it around in customs controlled areas without a valid reason! Duty free in BN at least has a 10% discount for the ASIC, but gives 20% if 'operational crew', used to give the latter to everyone but obviously was impacting too much when everyone with an ASIC was using it!

The airlines consider them 'valid' ID in terms of identification, so certainly does not hurt in showing it to ID yourself for checkin, and may help with getting an emerg exit. Keg esp if you were in uniform, Virgin does seem to like to put especially Cabin and Tech Crew in emergency exits, simply for the basis of their EP training and backgrounds, which makes sense from a safety perspective.

The reason they give the cabin and tech crew the exit rows isn't because they're being nice. It's their lame way of "looking after" you for fatigue, as you will usually be operating the next sector. And rest assured, if the flight is full, and the paying customers have all booked and paid for blue zone seats, then the crew miss out.

Hmmmmm
I get annoyed when I have to do written test for ASICs.
Looking at some of the comments here shows a few people might need to re sit those exams before they lose their ASICs and probably their jobs.

Porch, Puff, there's no way I'm travelling DJ or J* in uniform. It certainly wasn't duty travel. It was 'leisure' travel (of sorts) and I specifically asked for the exit row on the basis that it makes sense to have someone there who has half a clue as opposed to a half tanked began with no idea.

I know a few nurses and ambos who often get exit row seats on request for the same reason.

I used my ASIC 10 minutes ago on checkin at Jetstar Hobart and instead of golden service I got a golden shower. Too early for check-in and was told that the Qantas club now closes in Hobart at 5pm or when the last QANTAS flight leaves. Sucked in when I read in the conditions that I can use the Qantas club when flying on Jetstar, after all I booked through the Qantas website. To add to that rant, last night I flew on Qantas specifically because they were serving dinner on the 7:55 pm flight, we were then 50 minutes late and they served a stale sandwich for "supper." LAME Qantas and I'm not talking about your mechanics. :mad:

On the positive side I just got a discount of $1.34 on my Chicken Parma burger and 5 fruits Goulburn Valley juice totalling $12.06 from 1848 Espresso Bar Hobart Airport, thanks guys :ok:

My point wasn't about what people got when they are out of uniform. It was adressing the post that surmised VA crew "got looked after". Generally, the only way you'd know they were crew is that they would be in uniform. So I can see where the assumption comes from. Simply correcting a misconception, nothing more.

P.S Have to say Keg, you used "makes sense", and aviation in the same post. I have to ask, how long have you been flying? :ooh: (It's a rhetorical question mate, I know the answer!)

So you payed Jetstar and you're pissed off that QF didn't provide a full lounge service. Perhaps we need to rewind back several years and review the threads about Jetstar offloading costs to QF?? :ok:

Yeah, that's gold right there really........:ugh:

I'm all for freedom of choice, Porch. But if you want QF Lounge, book QANTAS. You know the deal.

Must say that QF need to more clearly 'announce' when they are feeding people dinner.

As I see it now, they don't serve anyone dinner unless in Business

They serve some random combination of Carrot and egg between small slices of bread, and call it dinner. Wonder if the head of catering eats that for dinner when he gets home :E

If QF serve that, that's fine - but don't call it dinner. Call it a 'snack' at best

Jetstar, peanuts, monkeys.....:cool:
Not referring to non-cadet flight crew either.

Sorry PAF, I was referring to the paid for jetcrap expected QF lounge comment. Wasn't having a dig at your observation......

As a Jetstar customer you are entitled to use the lounge. I booked a Qantas flight through the Qantas website which was on a Jetstar aircraft and some $70 more for the same flight.

Hobart specifically now closes their lounge at 5pm, presumably as a cost-cutting measure.

What also happened recently was my Qantas flight was cancelled and intended up on a Jetstar flight that cost half as much, but alas the lounge was open late in Devonport.

It's all in the terms and conditions. Interestingly Qantas mainline only fly to Honolulu once a week, however they still open the lounge for the more regular Jetstar flights.

They still serve a hot dinner in economy particularly on city-flyer flights. The flight was levelled with 'dinner' but they served 'supper' plus they charged for alcohol. I've never had a cold sandwich before, but then again this wasn't a city-flyer flight.

XXX
 

Maybe it's the late night, but could you explain that one a bit further please XXX?

J* don't fly into DPO; only Qlink (I've got no idea when the regional lounge is open at DPO)

DIVOSH!

Good spot there sorry Divosh, it was Launceston. The regionals are all starting to look the same!

Launny has a nice little lounge with swipe card access. Nicely stocked fridge and a big TV and wireless Internet - all you need really.

:ok:

12345676788909

I had mine attached to my handbag ans security told me to put it away. it fell out again as I was boarding QF for an interstate flight and I got a business class upgrade... Ya just Neva know

Kaz

So let me get this straight, we have a bunch of female lawyers wanting to or flashing their ASIC cards trying to or successfully getting free upgrades?

I've tried flashing my ASIC a total of 6 times since this thread started and only got 10% off my sandwich. Go figure.

Are you sure it's your ASIC's that you are flashing?