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.

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 :rolleyes: ) 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... :mad:

13Alpha

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".

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!

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.

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!!