Anthonyd From Canada, joined Oct 2000, 34 posts, RR: 0 Posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 809 times:
I was on a Qantas flight from Bombay to Singapore recently and was given an upgrade. I boarded with an economy boarding pass and after about 5 minutes of settling into my seat one of the ground staff came up and asked me to move up to business class. Greatest feeling in the world (other than possibly being upgraded to first) but my question is why? I have an AAdvantage card from American Airlines (even though I have not flown with them very much) and that was printed on my boarding pass but how do airlines go about deciding who gets bumped up and who does not? Later in the flight I walked back into the economy section and noticed that every seat, including my original economy seat was full.
I had a great flight and was really greatful to Qantas for the upgrade but am just curious as to the procedure on who to upgrade in case of a full flight. Any theories?
The Ticketor From Norway, joined Oct 2000, 434 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 713 times:
No, it's not SK. I work for a foreign carrier in a rival alliance. Sometimes when economy is oversold, they have to upgrade pax to business. Usually you would go by frequent flyer status, but sometimes the purser just picks someone he likes (considering appearance and behavior). Again, Anthonyd, what level is your card?
N949WP From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2000, 1437 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 705 times:
Happened to me also this past October.
I was connecting in Tokyo for AA's flight to Seattle. I already have my Y-class boarding pass and was hanging out near the departure gate, when an AA rep. asked to see my boarding pass and said he could get me a better seat. Within minutes, he came back with a business class boarding pass. It was an aisle seat instead of a window seat, but hey, I'm not complaining!!
I suspect it was a case of the economy class cabin being overbooked while there were still seats available in Business, so they start looking for people to upgrade. I must admit though, that I was dressed less-casually than I normally do for long flights, so I wonder if that was a factor too.
The Ticketor From Norway, joined Oct 2000, 434 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 702 times:
Dressing properly is an absolute must (at least at the airline I work for, which as you know, is not SK) to be upgraded. Having a FF card in shiny colors is a big help too.
Wolfpacker From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 353 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 680 times:
AA has a flight, DFWRDU, which has First, Business, and coach. I purchased a coach seat but was able to preassign a business class seat. I believe the flight continued on to LGW but they dont sell business class on the domestic leg.
BostonBeau From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 668 times:
A friend of mine who is a customer service agent for "a major German airline" tells me that when she is overbooked and has to upgrade economy passengers, she chooses those who are neatly dressed and pleasant to her at check-in.
OH-LGA From Denmark, joined Oct 1999, 1428 posts, RR: 22 Reply 9, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 652 times:
The Ticketor:
Does that mean if I fly from your destination properly dressed and I have a frequent flyer account with an airline in the alliance that you are referring to, an airliners.net username, and the fact that we correspond regularly, that I will be upgraded?
Oh joy!
Moi,
Kai
Head in the clouds... yet feet planted firmly on the ground.
The Ticketor From Norway, joined Oct 2000, 434 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 641 times:
Hold your horses, Kai! First of all, in my airline, only Sales Directors (regional managers) or Airport/Station Managers can upgrade people "at will" (under the pretense of a "commercial reason", of course). Furthermore, they can only upgrade on "their" flights; If you're flying OSLHELSFO, the people in OSL can only upgrade you on the OSLHEL leg. A "surprise upgrade" would only happen if monkey class is full.
But I do have a very good relationship with our Airports Manager, so if you're in OSL, I'll se what I can do.
Anthonyd From Canada, joined Oct 2000, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 599 times:
Thanks for the replies......
To answer 'The Ticketors' question I have the lowest of the low AA cards. Just got it cause I was going to fly a really long trip on American, but since the trip was cancelled I have hardly any miles on it. Only about 8 or 9 thousansd miles would be my guess.
As regards full fare paying passengers, I was certainly not one of those. I bought a 3 month excursion fare ticket and as for the purser thinking I looked decent enough for the upgrade, it was a ground staff that approached me, not one of the flight crew. Lastly even though I was dressed fairly decently, the ground staff who approached me was certainly not the person who checked me in.
I figure since Y was full and I might have been one of the few passengers with a One world allaince membership they picked me off the list. Also I had requested an exit row seat for extra leg room and that might have played a part??!!??
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From Canada, joined Oct 2000, 34 posts, 
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