V-Flyer

Hi all,
This is my first post, however I have been an active watcher/reader of posts for quite some time [:)]

I have a question to ask, and I was just hoping somebody may be able to answer it for me?

If a person/persons have confirmed seats in economy but have also been put on an upgrade waitlist by a friend who works for Virgin for either pe or upper would they know if the upgrade had been successful if they were to use the twilight check in service?

Many thanks for your help.

Regards

John

No, you can check, but the last time I used this I was told at the gate.

If the flight was to be completely empty, then there is a small chance that you would know at twilight check-in/online check-in. Other than that, you have to hope for the magic beep at the boarding gate [^]

... and my rate of this staff and friends upgrade actually paying off is ... 100% failure!

I got lucky with an upgrade courtesy of a friend at VS a couple of years ago. The first inkling I had was when OLCI would not show me a seat map & told me to check-in at the airport. Checked in at the airport no probs for the booked class of travel (Y). Got the magic beep at the boarding gate and an upgrade (to PE).

James

Thanks for your replies.

Thats's good, at least I have some idea now on how it all works. So presumably we can still use the twilight checkin the night before but we wont know until we go to the gate the following day if we have been lucky or not? (fingers crossed).

I wish I had a friend who worked for Virgin as I have always had to pay for my upgrades. I wasn't even aware that this happened TBH & don't know how I feel about it. Do you still have to pay something for your upgrade or is it a freebie??

Katie

There have been many, many discussions about this in the past, some of them quite heated.

It is a well established fact, and has been for years, that there are people within all spheres of the travel industry that are able to look after their 'friends'.

Whether this is journalists getting freebies, or crew making sure other crew get a nicer seat, there are thousands of examples. The problem is that urban legends have grown up about freebie upgrades and their availability, to the extent that no one really knows (outside the airline) who can, and who can't arrange them.

It is the easiest thing in the world for someone to make a friend a promise to 'see what I can do[;)] ' when they have no power at all.

If people are in a position to give freebies, they usually ask recipients to be discreet about receiving them. This is not a response to the OP, but a general observation.

In these current times, I would suggest that op-ups are going to be even harder to get, especially for non-frequent fliers. But, who knows?

Who you know, is better than what you know any day. [8D]

Nick

And let's also remember that if Upper and Premium are full, then no one's getting upgraded no matter who they are.

Originally posted by katie666
I wish I had a friend who worked for Virgin as I have always had to pay for my upgrades. I wasn't even aware that this happened TBH & don't know how I feel about it. Do you still have to pay something for your upgrade or is it a freebie??

Katie

The one we're talking about was explained to me as, you get put on the suitable for upgrade list. That means that when upgrades are being considered your name will be somewhere on the list with Au's, Ag's etc It does not guarantee you an upgrade and in my experience it never has worked either. If I want an upgrade I still pay for one despite have a friend who works for VS. If I'm happy with Y then sure I ask to be put on the list but I arrive at the gate with full expectations of a journey at the back.

Even if they do shout DYKWIA!

On our last trip there where 4 people upgraded to Upper Class, they all had very big smiles on their faces. x

Originally posted by McMaddog

Originally posted by katie666
I wish I had a friend who worked for Virgin as I have always had to pay for my upgrades. I wasn't even aware that this happened TBH & don't know how I feel about it. Do you still have to pay something for your upgrade or is it a freebie??

Katie

The one we're talking about was explained to me as, you get put on the suitable for upgrade list. That means that when upgrades are being considered your name will be somewhere on the list with Au's, Ag's etc It does not guarantee you an upgrade and in my experience it never has worked either. If I want an upgrade I still pay for one despite have a friend who works for VS. If I'm happy with Y then sure I ask to be put on the list but I arrive at the gate with full expectations of a journey at the back.

Thanks for the explanation - I just didn't know how it worked.

Katie

We have flown with VS at least 10 times over the last 6 years both Y. PE. and never been bumped up.

I am a very regular long haul flyer with both BA and Virgin, holding AU cards with both. My preference is normally to fly VS mainly because of the superb club houses and friendly staff. However I am suprised at how tight VS are with upgrades, in the past 3 years (40 return flights to the US and several to Asia) I have enjoyed only 2 upgrades, however with BA you can almost bank on an upgrade if seats are available. This policy is the only disappointment with an otherwise superb service.

Welcome to V-Flyer, upupandaway [y]

I'd welcome comments from our other BA Golds but my thinking around your statement is that VS Gold is more aligned to BA Silver and may account for why you feel you get more with BA. I'm quite happy that VS upgrades are scarce. I wouldnt want to see the UC cabin filled with upgraded Gold card holders a-la some American carriers (and this comes from a Gold card holder!). It makes you very greatful for recieving one when you do and doesnt dilute the experience for those paying a hefty ticket price to sit up the front.

Just my $0.02 ...

Thanks,
Sarah

I do not disagree and fully support the argument if you want to turn left at the door pay for the turn left tickets.
Company policy dictates over 8hr flights warrant the UC seat whilst anything less (most of my East coast flights) we travel rear gunner. I would not expect a regular upgrade, my point is that I assume I tick most of the boxes, AU card, PAMS membership, travelling alone, normally dressed in a suit, 1 piece of hand luggage, try to smile and be polite at all times etc etc but this approach has a success rate of approx 3% for upgrades. VS would IMHO do better to reward frequent flyers OCCASIONALLY with a little thankyou upgrade.
BA upgrades especially on a red eye home after a long week away do tend to stick in the mind and offer a compelling reason to give them more business.

Sorry - what is PAMS? Searching for PAMS on google didn't help. Searching for PAMS VIRGIN was illuminating but not relevant (I Assume!)


Dom

PAMS is the VS Personal Account Management Service, not sure of the entry criteria but I received a nice letter from Steve Ridgeway in 2006 stating I had become a member of the PAMS scheme. You get a dedicated help desk number staffed by 3 great ladies who have the ability to sort any issues. Has to be said you get a great gift on entry (Links of London Clock when I started) and a not too shabby box at Xmas to, it is all part of the superb customer experience that I cherish with VS which is only let down by upgrades !!.

Hi there upupandaway and welcome. We tend to keep PAMS a little quiet here but you're right and HighFlyer is also right, VS does not give away upgrades willy nilly like many other airlines do and this can have an adverse effect on company flyers (who all talk with each other about which airline gives the best service and try to influence their corporate policies). But nor do I want to buy a UC ticket then see the cabin full of free upgrades a la US airlines ... there are plenty of threads about the benefits of VS offering two upgrade vouchers to frequent fliers in the top tier instead of the companion ticket, perhaps this will address some of the comments? We'll see if this happens with the new tier that might replace PAMS ...

Upgrades are always very nice and appreciated when offered. As a leisure traveller (never had long-haul business travel) when if I was to pay for UC (all be it a Z fare) I would find it rather annoying to see the cabin loaded with freebie upgrades, particularly if this meant that I didn't get a meal choice as a bunch had decided to insist on the 'first meal choice' offered by to top tier members.

It is a very hard one to balance, loyalty and reward without devaluing the the product.

I loved the line a fellow V-Flyer told me when she flew South African First. Talking to a member of crew she was told they have a policy of never offering a free upgrade to F. Quite right too!

BA upgrades especially on a red eye home after a long week away do tend to stick in the mind and offer a compelling reason to give them more business.

We received quite a few upgrades when we held VS Au status,in the 4 years of BA gold membership not one upgrade.

I think it depends a lot on what ticket you book. PE seems to be over booked much more regularly that Economy these days (at least on the VS19/20 route I fly every 3 weeks) so there is much more chance of getting an upgrade from PE->UC than from Econ->PE.


Dom

Since the new PE on the VS19, and traveling on it a lot last year. In 26 flights, I got 1 upgrade from PE to UC due to overselling.
Despite being in a full PE cabin, being Gold and being on a full fare PE ticket, never got an upgrade on the SFO route, as Virgin appear to be very successful at selling their upgrades into PE instead of bumping people.

Interesting. I've always been of the opinion that the upgrades on VS19 (outbound from LHR) seem a lot better managed than on the return trip...