K-Fare Upgrade

Hi everyone,

I have a K-fare to Shanghai booked for end of March. I have spoken to F.C about using miles to upgrade from P.E to U.C, they have said that they won't entertain a mileage upgrade to U.C. However they have told me to check with the ticket desk at T3 on the day. F.C say that the ticket desk has the discression to use Miles only on the day subject to loadings.... Is this realistic???? Has anyone done this previously???

[HighFlyer]

Hiya

Yes, while officially, a K class fare cannot use miles to upgrade thisccannot be upgraded (like an S or W for example) you can often as on the day at the airport and they are willing to either upgrade you, or as you to pay the difference between the K fare and the S fare, then pay to upgrade, or use miles.

I have done this before in the US - and it seems a lot easier to do it out there than over here

I would say, dont count on it but certainly try it!!

Originally posted by HighFlyer
I have done this before in the US - and it seems a lot easier to do it out there than over here

Funny you say that as my experience is the same. Maybe we have stumbled across another unwritten rule.

Paul

[mitchja]

Your other oprion to to upgrade your K to a PE S fare with cash then VS will be happy to upgrade this to Upper with miles (space permitting). This can be done at any time before you fly.

When I upgraded a K to S with cash last year (LHR>IAD>LHR) it cost me an extra £250 which included the £50 K fare change fee.

Regards

On the PVG flight, yes it is realistic. Often I found the flights to be very full at the back, and indeed got a few OPUPs as a result. So as the loadings are pretty good, which in your case gives you more chance, yes I would say it is realistic, but far from certain.

Thanks for you feedback, I will have a chat at the ticket desk and try and find out what their criteria is for either a yes or a no.....

Suspect it could be dependent on how helpful an agent feels at the time???

HF - Maybe this is why you have had more luck previously in the states??? Customer service standards over here just don't seem to be the same as our friends across the pond..... [:(]

It will regards everytime for me thanks Sailor!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your help........[y]

You'd have to pay £100 to upgrade to an S class then the 20,000 miles.

LHR is on a revenue drive at the moment so they'll be no letting you off that £100.

But what's £100 over 12 hours for the UCS?

Originally posted by Lipstick
You'd have to pay £100 to upgrade to an S class then the 20,000 miles.

LHR is on a revenue drive at the moment so they'll be no letting you off that £100.

But what's £100 over 12 hours for the UCS?

I have managed to duck this in the past, but that was a few month back. But you are right - £100 for UC is a bargain, but only so long as it is UCS - check this first guys before you part with money.

Does anyone know what it would cost to upgrade a Q ticket to an upgradable ticket? My father is travelling to Capetown on VS603 22nd Jan, and would like to use some of his 60k airmiles to upgrade to PE. He tried at the time of booking in Sept but was told all qualifying tickets had been sold. I know he is a little upset as he can never seem to use his miles!

In my experience this can be a very busy flight, so I am hoping they might be looking to 'up' a few pax on the day. I don't know what availability in PE or UC is though.

Also he is elderly (76) with mild Parkinsons and although physically fit he can be a little forgetful... I've spoken to VS who are going to escort him to the plane, I was wondering if I could buy him a Clubhouse invite in advance so he can be found easliy!

^ There are loads of seats in Y, but premium is oversold, and J is tight.

If you bought your tickets throught virgin holidays you can buy a CH ticket. Otherwise I'm afraid its No-go, unless your dad is a gold card holder. Sorry.
You can buy other lounge access from Holidayextras.com if that helps (It would at least get him away from the crowds)

[preiffer]

Originally posted by sailor99
If you bought your tickets throught virgin holidays you can buy a CH ticket. Otherwise I'm afraid its No-go, unless your dad is a gold card holder. Sorry.
You can buy other lounge access from Holidayextras.com if that helps (It would at least get him away from the crowds)

You can actually buy CH access outside of a Virgin Holidays booking - Click here to do it.

It costs 60 quid per person, and you need to book quite a bit in advance.

Thanks for the heads up on the seats, looks like the old boy will be in Y. Will still try on the day, you never know...

Just tried to purchase him a CH invite via Virgin Holidays, but seems they are only taking bookings from Feb 2006 onwards, damn really should have thought about this earier!

Thanks for all the help anyway.

£54 if you have a FC, you get the 10% discount on it. [}:)]

[HighFlyer]

Paul

Is says on that page "Please note: to book a Virgin Clubhouse lounge you must have purchased your travel with Virgin Holidays

Is there a loophole im missing as i always thought you needed a VH booing ref to buy CH passes as well?

[preiffer]

Oooh - That wasn't there before... [?]

You could buy them on their own last year, subject to them having some allocation left. I guess they tightened things up since the New CH launch?

[HighFlyer]

Whoops!

I do recall that they trialled a 'buy entry' scheme, i know at Gatwick especially they touted the CH to a lot of PE pax, myself included when i was Ag. But yep, would seem that paid entry is a no-goer unless you have a VH booking.

That sounds right.

The lounge is still half the size it should be so access will be restricted. Even when J gets a little bit busy it quickly becomes standing room only.

If your dad requests MAAS he'll be asked to come back to check in at a certain time where he'll be taken striaght to the gate.