Can I Haggle over a PE upgrade?

Hi all,

Due to fly out to St Lucia from Manchester on new years day in economy.

Economy is at least 50% empty and according to Expertflyer around 75% of PE looks to be empty with all of UC empty! I have booked with VH via a high street agent who has already enquired as to the price of an upgrade to PE which is coming back at 530 per person, RTN.

Given that the flight seems pretty empty, will VS be open to a touch of 'haggling' on the price? Has anyone done this before?
Any advice will be gladly and gratefully received[:D]

NOC

quote:Originally posted by nowt ont clock
Hi all,

Due to fly out to St Lucia from Manchester on new years day in economy.

Economy is at least 50% empty and according to Expertflyer around 75% of PE looks to be empty with all of UC empty! I have booked with VH via a high street agent who has already enquired as to the price of an upgrade to PE which is coming back at £530 per person, RTN.

Given that the flight seems pretty empty, will VS be open to a touch of 'haggling' on the price? Has anyone done this before?
Any advice will be gladly and gratefully received[:D]

NOC


I doubt it very much. If the loads were heavy in Economy and P Economy and they wanted to shift some Econ to P Econ then maybe but as the loads are so light it is not in there interest to give you a bargain upgrade and on the day the price may well be higher than you have been quoted today.

Hackneyguy

[HighFlyer]

The upgrade price is pretty standard; £265 each way. You may get a better price on the day but that is what I'd expect to see from VHOLS to upgrade to PE.

Thanks,
Sarah

To be honest, if Economy is that empty, I'd be quite content sitting back there. Don't waste your money on an upgrade, and just sit in the back and stretch yourself out over a few seats.

A recent flight from LHR to EWR I took I was planning on upgrading at the airport from economy to premium, but when I asked, the plane was half empty, so I stayed in the back, and had a whole row of 4 seats to stretch out over. You can't do that in premium, the centre armrests don't go up.

[HighFlyer]

Good call, aft1981. [y] On a night flight I'd prefer a row of 4 in Economy to a seat in PE. All I want is some sleep and to get there safely.

Why not upgrade on the way out and slum it on the way back?

Thanks,
Sarah

[mitchja]

I was offered an upgrade to PE on my recent fight home from ORD. It was about ~£200 I think (that was also from a VH booked N fare). All cabins had light loads.

I'd already bagged an economy bulk head row so I really didn't think it was worth £200 for a slightly wider seat, less leg room (not counting a PE bulk head seat which had all gone anyway) and the same food but served on a china dish? Not worth it IMHO.

OK a few more miles and TP's but still not worth it. Even with it been an over-night flight didn't sway me - after all, I was actually asleep for about 5 hours or so.

Regards

Thanks very much for the replies. A valid point made about stretching out in economy which I guess we will do although there is just something I really like about going upstairs on the MAN/ LGW 744's and settling down into those nice wide comfy seats[y]

I will probably wait 'till check-in to see what, if anything is on offer to maybe tempt the credit card out of my wallet[}:)]

Thanks again,

NOC