Upgrades from Premium Economy

Hi, I am currently booked in Premium Economy (K) on the LHR-HKG route. I have checked and the Premium Economy cabin is now totally sold out (likely to be oversold). If I wanted an upgrade to Upper Class what are my best options? (a) Check in later with the aim that all the Premium Economy seats have gone (b) ask to be upgraded for free (c) ask to pay for an upgrade?

[Pete]

Hi Flyer, welcome to the site.

If you are a Gold card holder, option (b) is likely to kick in automatically. Option (a) - check in later - is not a good idea, since they'll have sorted out all the cabin moves they need to do early and you'll end up with an undesirable seat in PE (center, for instance, on the Airbus). Option (c) - pay for it - would be your best way to get an upgrade, if there's space up front. Your K class ticket is the deep-discount type, so carries some restrictions; but with the PE cabin oversold they can be more flexible.

My advice, get to the airport early and work out all your options. You may want to go straight to the ticket desk rather than check in and explain you're interested in upgrading. They'll know whether you're 'pre-selected' for an operational upgrade, and if not will at least be able to explain other options (miles or cash).

Pix

Hi, Thanks very much for the advice.

I am not a Gold flyer - and to complicate the matter a little further I have a connecting flight to Heathrow from Leeds with British Midland, which would only arrive at Heathrow around 1.5 hours before VS200 took off. However, as BMI are codeshare partners, could I ask them for the upgrade at Leeds? Or else should I avoid BMI giving me my boarding pass at Leeds and simply go to the Virgin connections desk at Heathrow for that when I arrive there?

Cheers, Thanks a lot.

[Pete]

BMI should be able to check you through, although I doubt they'll be able to help with the upgrade.

First priority should be making you get on the flight; so check in with BMI and get your luggage checked through to HKG. When you get to LHR, see what the situation looks like there. You may still be able to buy an upgrade, although I have to say the limited time you have to check in makes your options a little less flexible.

Do you have any type of Flying Club card? Without one your chances of an operational are next to nothing. How about a BMI Gold? If you have BMI Gold (or an Amex Centurion) you could go to the clubhouse and ask there. I've found them to have more time and flexibility to discuss upgrade options in the Clubhouse than at check in.

Pix

Thanks very much for your very useful advice again. I do have the basic Virgin Flying Club card and an AMEX Gold. However, I now notice that there is also only 1 seat in left in Upper Class so I guess my best bet is getting the best seat I can in Premium. Since I'll be checking in (and can get the boarding pass at Leeds for Virgin as well) around 4 hours before the VS200 takes off, I could go for some of the seats in row 18. Do you know if there's much leg room in 18A as I thought I might be able to get some sleep in this one, if the legroom's decent.

Cheers.

Hi

Row 18 is about the best row in PE on the new Airbuses, you have about 3 feet of space before the bulkhead. Also if you have a sturdy bag such as a laptop case you can place it against the bulkhead and sleep quite comfortably with your feet up. They may be held back for FC passengers with status though, so I dont know if BMI could allocate it (even the guy at PE check in had to phone up to request it)