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#257318 by jcnev
20 Dec 2008, 18:43
I am a Flying Club gold member and fly with work in Upper and use my miles to upgrade when travelling for pleasure. Due to the current economic situation I am being prudent with my miles and for my next trip on Jan 1st I am flying in PE to SFO and returning on Jan 8th. What are the chances of being upgraded to Upper either at the airport on when on the plane. Does my gold memebership help. Your opinions on my chances are welcomed.
#462733 by ukcobra
20 Dec 2008, 18:48
I regularly fly to SFO in PE for the last 2 years while being a Gold member and never got upgraded, although colleagues of mine have been luckier than me.

Rarely would you be upgraded on the plane as the FSM has much limited power according to conversations I've had with FSMs and crew.

Apparently the Ground Crew make the decision, and my experience is that if you happen to be in the right place at the right time you may strike it lucky.

In 42 flights I only got 1 complimentary upgrade to Upper, and that was on an oversold PE flight to Boston. With the SFO flight it is my experience that Virgin Oversell Economy and sell upgrades into PE.

Mark
#462734 by Guest
20 Dec 2008, 18:59
Given the reading of the recent TR's of Gold card holders over the recent few months flying to various destinations in the USA- I would say your chances are well above 50% of getting an upgrade at the gate if not before.

Regards,

HG
#462736 by ukcobra
20 Dec 2008, 19:34
Oh rats, I must be doing something wrong. 36 flights to and from the US in the last 2 years, 1 Op up.
#462739 by slinky09
20 Dec 2008, 22:31
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
Given the reading of the recent TR's of Gold card holders over the recent few months flying to various destinations in the USA- I would say your chances are well above 50% of getting an upgrade at the gate if not before.

Regards,

HG


Really? I'd advise that it is extremely unlikely unless you are either a) well connected or b) PE is full and VS need to move some people up (in which case your Au status should help).
#462740 by Guest
20 Dec 2008, 22:41
quote:Originally posted by slinky09
[quote][i]

Really?

Well I can only base my comments on the TRs I have read on here (as I said above) as I fly UC - e.g. Decker's recent trip to New York, Highflyer's to SFO and her one other trip to the USA with her fiance - all PE and all Gold and all got op ups. I am sure there are many others that didn't but these stick in my mind.

Sorry if you feel I have given any false hopes to the OP.

Regards,

Hackneyguy
#462741 by Kraken
20 Dec 2008, 23:10
I think (or am fairly certain) that it depends on the loads on the flight. If the aircraft is half full in all 3 classes, then there will be no Op-Ups.

However, if they are oversold in either Y or PE, then they will start to look for people to move forward in each class. Clearly, the first people they are going to look for are FC Gold card holders, followed by Silver card holders.

James
#462742 by ukcobra
20 Dec 2008, 23:26
Yes, the AU status does have it's perks, unless, you on a flight with friends of staff, and then you go from Y to UC, bypassing PE and annoying a few AUs in PE who observe such behaviour !
#462743 by jcnev
20 Dec 2008, 23:30
quote:Originally posted by Kraken
I think (or am fairly certain) that it depends on the loads on the flight. If the aircraft is half full in all 3 classes, then there will be no Op-Ups.

However, if they are oversold in either Y or PE, then they will start to look for people to move forward in each class. Clearly, the first people they are going to look for are FC Gold card holders, followed by Silver card holders.

James


Can anyone advise if they are near to sell out in either Y or PE.

Thanks
#462744 by honey lamb
20 Dec 2008, 23:48
quote:Originally posted by jcnev
[quote]Originally posted by Kraken
I think (or am fairly certain) that it depends on the loads on the flight. If the aircraft is half full in all 3 classes, then there will be no Op-Ups.

However, if they are oversold in either Y or PE, then they will start to look for people to move forward in each class. Clearly, the first people they are going to look for are FC Gold card holders, followed by Silver card holders.

James


Can anyone advise if they are near to sell out in either Y or PE.

Thanks


Expert Flyer shows that economy is nearly sold out on Jan 1 (but not oversold) but UC and PE are wide open. The return flight is wide open in all classes
#462768 by gameswolverine
21 Dec 2008, 17:59
If you are travelling on a full-fare (W) class and a Gold member, I'd say the chances are pretty good. I've been upgraded 3 out of 5 PE flights travelling out of LHR to the US in the last year or so (SFO and LAX), sometimes at check-in or often at the gate.

I usually try and use miles to upgrade on the return leg so I know I have the bed, and it seems less likely to get an upgrade out of a US airport.
#462977 by manymiles
25 Dec 2008, 05:39
I have given up waiting for op upgrades as it's such a long time since I got one and now always use miles to upgrade at time of booking or before departure.
#463145 by jcnev
30 Dec 2008, 10:51
I am flying with my Gold card on Jan 1st to SFO in PE. What do you think the chances are of being upgraded to Upper are.
#463123 by Nottingham Nick
30 Dec 2008, 11:00
It looks sold out down the back, but wide open up front, so I would say there may be a chance.

J7 D7 R7Z7 W4S4 K3 Y0 B0 L0 M0 Q0 X0 N0

I think the secret is never to go to the airport expecting an op-up. That can only lead to disappointment.

If you go to the gate happy to sit at your purchased seat, and get the magic beep (or are even get op-upped at check in), then look upon it as a MAJOR plus, and enjoy the moment.

Have a great time in the clubhouse and enjoy your flight.

Nick
#463125 by ukcobra
30 Dec 2008, 12:15
It also depends on the ticket class. My colleagues who regularly fly in PE on full flexible tickets have a better upgrade chance than me, mainly due to the fact I always book K class, cheap PE tickets.
#463142 by DragonLady
30 Dec 2008, 19:13
quote:Originally posted by jcnev
I am flying with my Gold card on Jan 1st to SFO in PE. What do you think the chances are of being upgraded to Upper are.



Haven't you already asked (and been answered) this already in a similar post?
#463146 by Nottingham Nick
30 Dec 2008, 19:23
Great spot, DragonLady. [y]

I had missed that, but have now merged the two threads.

Nick
#463284 by jcnev
01 Jan 2009, 08:56
No Luck with upgrade at check-in. I asked in the Lounge and the concierge now have my boarding pass, I am just waiting for that announcement and praying for a fantastic start to the new year.
#463305 by ofarvoo
01 Jan 2009, 18:31
Just to add an extra note here, that most of the upgrade opp is acutally worked out well before most of us even step in the airport. The front line desk staff will have a specific load sheet and if Y or W is oversold will already know roughly who they are moving, and what extra revenue they may be able to drive through paid upgrades. Also the gold status has various levels associated with it as well
#463307 by mitchja
01 Jan 2009, 19:21
I've had 3 upgrades once on board due to double-booked seats. It's happened at IAD and at twice at LHR.

At IAD, Y had been very over-booked (I was booked in Y but received an op-up to W in the lounge). I sat down and then another pax arrived at my seat with the same seat number on their boarding card. The other person (who had also been op-up'ed in the lounge got a double op-up to J).

We where both AU but the other person was on a higher economy fare than me. About 12 other pax had double-booked seats too both in Y and W, all of which was left to the crew to sort the mess out. Ground staff where no where to be seen!!

At LHR in both cases, I was booked in W and again someone else turned up with the same seat number as me. I got the op-up to J being AU in both cases.

So even when you don't get a beep as you board, there's still a slim chance of an op-up.

Not that I'm complaining, but how can a check-in system double book pax in the same seats?

Regards
#463385 by McMaddog
02 Jan 2009, 21:25
quote:Originally posted by mitchja
Not that I'm complaining, but how can a check-in system double book pax in the same seats?

Surely in this respect you got your boarding pass before you were op upped - that then left your seat free for someone else to be allocated. The only double booking would be on printed boarding passes.
#463399 by Darren Wheeler
02 Jan 2009, 22:08
I suppose it is possible if the same seat is allocated at exactly the same time.
#463413 by mitchja
02 Jan 2009, 23:51
[quote]Originally posted by McMaddog
[quote]Originally posted by mitchja
Not that I'm complaining, but how can a check-in system double book pax in the same seats?

Surely in this respect you got your boarding pass before you were op upped - that then left your seat free for someone else to be allocated. The only double booking would be on printed boarding passes.


OK then, but why was I not informed before reaching my seat and why did the boarding pass scanner not beep as I boarded? If your seat number in your PNR and the boarding pass seat number don't match, you get the beep and the red light as you board.

Regards
Virgin Atlantic

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