OPS Upgrade Hierarchy - Gold doesn't seem to count

As a frequent flyer I am well aware that Ops upgrades are never guaranteed and I consider it a wonderful bonus on the occasions it does occur.

The more I fly with VS the more I feel that the ops upgrades that occasionally happen seem to get more random. When I was a silver member I got upgraded several times - including twice from Prem to Upper when flying on a K class ticket :) - now that was really good. I have only been upgraded once since becoming a gold member (in about 10 flights) - maybe I don't need convincing anymore to become a loyal fan of VS.

One recent experience:
Flight is very full.
I arrive in good time - 3 hours before scheduled take off.
I am travelling alone on business.
I am smartly dressed.
I am a Virgin Gold Member
I have a full fare prem W ticket.
I don't get ops upgrade - no worries as I don't take for granted and I never ask for one and never comment when I don't get one.

At least two people (travelling together) did get upgraded from Prem to UC on the flight (there may have been more). At least one of these people was a silver member.

Maybe I am down on a list of 'he has had plenty of upgrades in his time so no need to do so'

I'm not hugely bothered but just now have no faith in the so called 'hierarchy' used for ops upgrades.

mcjock

Perhaps economy was overbooked, so they needed to move two people up to PE, and therefore two PE passengers up to UC? That way they get to carry on sitting next to each other, whereas moving just you up wouldn't help so much? Just an idea.

How did you find out those two people got upgraded? Did you know them?

Hi onionz,

thanks for reply - I guess that is a possibility. My guess is that they were not the only people upgraded - the flight had no availability in Prem or Econ all the time from 2 weeks before flight up to the day of the flight (although plenty of room in Upper according to the availability tools).

I didn't know the people - just casual chatting in the lounge:) I obviously didn't say anything regarding my situation - having experienced the ops uprade feeling many times I didn't wan't to spoil their enthusiasm!!!

I reckon I am just getting paranoid in my middle age - but I'm sure I'm on a list!!!!![:I]

mcjock

quote:Originally posted by mcjock

I reckon I am just getting paranoid in my middle age - but I'm sure I'm on a list!!!!![:I]

I hope they don't do lists like that! I've been op-upped once, and i'm silver. Hope that doesn't mean i won't get it again in the future! [8D]

maybe, there was one person overbooked in PE, and this couple had a full fare prem ticket each, and got upgraded as this staff member might prefer upgrading couples when there is the opportunity as the UC experience is a thing to be shared, and is thus appreciated more, or if you upgrade a couple, they might enjoy the experience so much that they will book UC together in the future.

they might have used the *wink wink nudge nudge* code at check in though.

I have spent many hours trying to work out why and when op upgrades occur.
I recently flew on a flight to LAX with a PE ticket. I checked in and was assigned a PE seat. Afterwards, just prior to boarding, my boarding pass was rejected by the machine and I was upgraded to UC. Nothing unusual so far - this has happened to me before and with a smile I boarded and took my seat.
After take-off (seatbelt sign still on) I looked back and noticed several empty seats in PE. Later in the flight I used the upstairs loo and noticed no-one sitting in the seat originally assigned to me.

To this day I can't understand why I was upgraded on that flight - but I know now that whether the flight is full or not - there always seems to be a chance of an upgrade.

Mike

quote:Originally posted by Blythy
this staff member might prefer upgrading couples when there is the opportunity as the UC experience is a thing to be shared, and is thus appreciated more, or if you upgrade a couple, they might enjoy the experience so much that they will book UC together in the future.

A nice thought, but carried through to its (il)logical conclusion, UC would be full on every flight with either UC ticketholders or opups. Now, if there is a policy of offering a stricly limited number of opups even when Econ and Prem cabins are less than full, in order to give pax that experience, then I could understand that those opups might NOT go to Gold cardholders. The balance is not to cheapen the UC product too much to the annoyance of full farepaying pax by filling the UC cabin with opups.

This much I can say from my experience - gold or not, if you aren't paying full fare then the odds are really stacked against you. I have been upgraded with no status whatsoever and with gold, the only constant was the full fare I paid.

quote:gold or not, if you aren't paying full fare then the odds are really stacked against you. I have been upgraded with no status whatsoever and with gold, the only constant was the full fare I paid

I have never paid full fare and have often been lucky enough to be upgraded.

In fact, on the flight I mentioned in an earlier post on this thread, I had payed for an L (Economy) class and used miles to upgrade to PE and was still upgraded to UC even though PE wasn't full.

Mike

As a side issue, flying on a BA flightlast week to GIG (Rio), on an Airmiles Economy ticket, (very little cash used), we happened to know one of the senior crew members, who discreetly put us in Business class for the duration of the flight, receiving the full service.

On the way back, on asking for seats near front of Economy, the check-in lady (rambling in Portuguese) spoke to a colleague on the phone (mentioning the word 'Silvero' or something similar - we are Silver card members with BA too) advised us we had been upgraded to PE equivalent - World Traveller Plus. Great news.

So for no effort and little cash we received 2 very welcome (especially first one) u/grades. Just goes to show how easy it can be and perhaps how fickle, especially from a 3rd parties point of view. Needless to say we were incredibly grateful to our friend, but it just goes to show how easy it is saving over £2000 on a business u/grade!

I have posted this before but it is of interest:)well i think so:Dwhen we were op up LGW to ANU from PE to UC and that was 6 of us on two different bookings and on miles + money tickets we just thought wow and carried on. as i have said before upon our return at check in and chillout in the morning we were allocated our PE seats and i said "no upgrade shame" the lady told me she had a list of upgrades before she started check in and sorry was not on list. The lady in front paid to up grade with money and i declined (six topay for)
At the airport they kept calling names to come forward and i watched and listened with interest, most people coming back were smiling so i guess upgraded. with about 1 min to go to boarding my name was called so up i went ( a hint of a smile ) yup upgraded me mrs and kids but not the in-laws[:I]:D:D:Ddidnt even have time to tell them untill we were on the tarmac.
At the boarding gate when we were uped i asked "why have we been upgraded" the reply was "gold silver red" in that order and we had silver, the lady said that even some red had been uped.
As we all know its a minefield and no one realy knows how it works, or as i have posted before it could be a cunning plan of VS devised by a cunning person with a degree in cunningness to get us all to turn left or go upstairs after tasting the forbiden UC and PE.

p.s. any chance of a spell checker on here as i am a bit dyslectic and dont even know when i do spell wrong KO:D

[HighFlyer]

I was upgraded for the first time with VS the other week. I wondered why we were lucky enough but i gathered that it was because we were silver members (or FF numbers are always on our tickets)

I have never had this before so i was thrilled, i have heard of so many on here getting upgrades that i thought there was something wrong with me!! LOL

Opups are so treasured that I am surprised that some employee hasn't devised a way to 'sell' them for the proverbial backhander. I did hear that a FA that gave an opup on board was caught out because the passenger in UC who thought he had an empty seat next to him, suddenly to find someone given it, complained. The FA was dismissed.
Sorry for poor syntax.

I was told by a VS manager abroad that op upgrades are often worked out in advance of check-in (sometimes the day before). Three factors come into play:
gold card;
how much one paid for the ticket;
if you had a disability.

The weightings associated with each I did not ask!

cheers
GO

Hmm

I have to say that I am agreement with soem of the observations above.

When I was silver and my wife was silver we were upgraded on 7 out of 8 sectors in a 4 month period, twice at check in. During the same period when I traveled alone I was moved once in 6 sectors.

Once I became a gold, and a pretty serious one, I have seen no patten at all to the upgrades, and have been upgraded far less. I do find on shorter distances JKF, BOS, I have been moved from PE even though it was half empty and told it was "to make me more comfortable" these were done in the club house without asking.

For longger HKG,SFO,LAX on a suites aircraft it happened once becasue of serious overbooking, and on J2000 twice in 2 sectors.

I have also noted even when on a W ticket, silver cards have been upgraded above me upgraded.

I don't think it is a mystery at all, VS is one of the best brand developers in the world and I am sure they can see all you bookings, when you start flying with them, then as a new and frequent customer i.e.as a silver I think you probably have a better chance of a move, they want you feel loyal to the brand, build up some miles and keep you interested.

Once you go gold, you are still very important, but be definition you fly a reasonable amount, probably on buisness or in a bracket that can afford premium cabins when required, you also start racking up plenty of miles to use, on upgrades if you wish or UC Reward, and you are rewarded in other ways, 25% extra miles as an example, Club House, Arrivals etc, so you will generally have your expectations met and stay loyal and return.......... You has been GOT!

Anyhow just my take, I am very very loyal, but miss the K fares and I am starting to enjoy the BA Lisbon First and NCW Fares(Still never ever been upgraded on BA - despite Gold and 30 sectors plus)

If it happens great, if I want it buy it!

Bluefish

Never got an opup on VS metal with an AG card in 5 years,but have done very well with AU membership.

Can you get opuped from UC;)

[quote]Originally posted by bluefish
Can you get opuped from UC;)


Only if you are a pilot and then you are as far forward as you can get:D

Op upgrade in UC?

I am going UC to BGI in Nov and the plane has suites apparently; perhaps I can get upgraded to a permanent seat the bar??[:p]

cheers
GO