Passengers & SLF (Self Loading Freight) If you are regularly a passenger on any airline then why not post your questions here?

How to get that Free Upgrade

Old 17th Apr 2007, 10:08
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How to get that Free Upgrade

Many threads have asked how to get a free upgrade, well now we know there is a guaranteed way

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/a...des/article.do

Appears to be an unofficial currency in operation on BA

Culture Secretary - 1 class upgrade Economy to Premium Economy
Home Secretary - 1 Class Biz to First or 2 class Eco to Biz
Prime Minister and Wife, 3 class from economy to First
Leader of Opposition - 1 Class upgrade (Bet Cameron is disappointed he rates no higher than Alex Salmond)

Virgin appear to be far better. Their claim is they upgrade everyone in order to allow them to sample their excellent products. Must book Eco with them to Vegas next month and see what happens.
manintheback is offline  
Old 17th Apr 2007, 11:42
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: London
Age: 56
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Far be it for me to defend politicians, especially the current government , or BA, but...

...I suspect BA's policy is to put people who (directly or indirectly) spend a lot of money with them at the top of the list when upgrades are possible. Regardless of who they are. Whatever you say about BA, they are a commercial organisation, and are pretty focused on what might make them more profitable in future. Some politicians do have to travel a lot and if BA can make more of their (or our ) money go their way, it shouldn't be a surprise if they do. (Whether all those journeys need to be by air is another question).

I suspect BA's policy is also to upgrade anyone only when there are free seats and sufficient catering is available. So from the airline's perspective it probably isn't costing them extra, and someone else isn't being disadvantaged to accommodate them (in fact it may allow another economy passenger on the flight).

You could argue about whether politicians should benefit personally (via upgrades / lounge access) for flights on government business - but that's not really the airline's issue.

For the sake of balance, it would be interesting to see the list of government politicians' flights which HADN'T been subject to a free upgrade. Or about the number of upgrades given every day to complete nobodies who just happen to travel a lot on business.

Now if they are DEMANDING an upgrade from the airline, because of who they are, that's another matter entirely...

13Alpha
13Alpha is offline  
Old 17th Apr 2007, 12:13
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: London UK
Posts: 7,630
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 14 Posts
Originally Posted by 13Alpha
I suspect BA's policy is also to upgrade anyone only when ..... sufficient catering is available.
Unlike the USA where they upgrade their FFs and non-rev friends until the F cabin is stuffed, then work down through the cabin with the catering and by the time they get to any paying F pax (a rare event in the US but there are a few) at the end they may well say "Run out of everything except the lasagna".
WHBM is online now  
Old 17th Apr 2007, 13:57
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Doubt that somehow WHBM...I have not flown with a single purser who would dream of offering upgrades their meal choice first! Actually, now I think of it, I dont think I have ever seen lasagne on the menu for First either!!!!

But as for the Blairs, well I recently took them back from BGI and had them sitting opposite me in WT!!!! I was laughing as people waiting for the loos next to them kept having to second glance them to see if they were for real!
apaddyinuk is offline  
Old 17th Apr 2007, 17:00
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
WHBM: You've been flying Untied in the states, haven't you? They're notorious for using F as crew transport rather than elite upgrades. Seems like most other carriers use the middle seat in coach for that purpose...though I've never been used in such a way.
Middle Seat is offline  
Old 21st Apr 2007, 08:35
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Looking for a green tree
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Over 400,000 (self paid) miles on Emirates (Gold Card member from first year) and never even close to a free up-grade Obviously I am not in the 'right' job!!
Monkeytoo is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.