Upgrade Policy??

Hi There everyone!!

I am flying to orlando from gatwick at the begining of August (it will be my 3rd time flying with virgin) I am traveling with my 83 year old Grandma. Now she is convinced that if we get there early enough and the flight isn't full, if we ask we could get an upgrade to premium or business class.
Now I am more sceptical and belive you never get something for nothing!
I was wondering if you knew of any upgrade policy virgin may have?? Is it possible they will take pitty on my grandma??!!!

Thanks
Emmylou:):)

Hi Emmylou & welcome to the forums

You're probably best off having a read through the Upgrade Guide first

Cheers

Michael

Sorry, I didn't see that!!
And thanks, it gives me hope (even if only she gets upgraded it will be a godsend, bless her!!)

I will look forward to posting again (and letting you know if we got the upgrade or not!!!)

Emmylou:D

Emmylou

Np, hope your luck holds out

Cheers

Michael

[RichardMannion]

Hi Emmylou,

First of all welcome to V-Flyer!

Unless Virgin really have to they will not do operational upgrades, but saying that MCO is avery busy route especially in August - hence why so many flights per day. But I will be upfront and say your upgrade opportunities for either you opr grandma are very slim to none. Upgrades are likely to occur, but they will be as per the Upgrade guide first and foremost offered to the top tier (Gold) frequent flyers, and then down to the Silver tier members - trust me there will be a number of Silvers on your flight.

The other thing to bear in mind is that an upgrade to Premium would mean quite a tight set of stairs to navigate as Premium Economy is located on the upper deck on the LGW planes. And if you are very lucky to get upgraded, it will be to Premium Economy as they will fill up Upper Class with PE passengers first, and not do a 2 class as such. Not to be rude in the slightest, but why would they take pity? They get lots of elderly passengers everyday.

Another thing to bear in mind, it doesn't matter how early you check-in - people will have checked in the night before as part of the LGW Twilight check-in service, and VS will have a good idea of who's flying and would have done most of the moves (upgrades) already.

Thanks,
Richard

Well thanks for the advice!

At the end of the day it doesn't matter to me so much about being upgraded (as long as I get there safe and sound!!) although obviously it would be nice!

But you see Grandma is a bit of a master when it comes to getting something for nothing, and she would take it as a personal failure if she did not get her way!!!!

Regardless I am just pleased to be flying with a nice airline for a change, I have been to MCO 3 times this year already, all 3 times with holiday companys (Thomson/mytravel etc) and they really haven't compared to the service I have previously experianced with Virgin, its kinda like you are already on upper class when you fly economy with Virgin. They have such a flair for customer service in my opinion!!

Thank you all for the info, I shall surely pass it on to Grandma and see what she does with it, to be honest I could do with out the embarrassment at check in!!!!!!

quote:Originally posted by emmylou
Thank you all for the info, I shall surely pass it on to Grandma and see what she does with it, to be honest I could do with out the embarrassment at check in!!!!!!

Please encourage your grandmother to do herself, you and the check-in agent a favour and not (a) ask for an upgrade or (b) make any kind of scene if she does ask and doesn't get.

Check-in agents have heard it all on this topic and do get thoroughly fed up with people asking. If you do happen to get upgraded then treat it as a wonderful surprise, but people should not expect to get something for nothing. After all, plenty of people are prepared to pay the extra for PE or UC classes.

BC

Oh, I wouldn't worry too much, she is a very sweet natured old dear, who never causes bad feeling! I doubt very much that she would make the check in staff or other customers uncomfortable. She just comes from a generation that believes, if you don't ask you don't get!
Whatever happens when she leaves check in, she will leave everyone feeling uplifted!! I just happen to find it mortifying when she asks for free stuff (last time we flew virgin she managed to get 6 free upper class "goodie bags"!!) and as most grandchildren would, I found it awfully embarrassing!!

But thanks for your concern!

My advice is register for flying club online then call reservations and add your number to the booking.

If on the day you want to ask for an upgrade go find a Virgin agent, normally found at the front of the Q and floor walking and ask them if you could be considered for any over sale upgrades.

There really is no point asking the agent at the check in desk as although they wear the virgin uniform u will c from there name badge they actually work for a handling agent named groundstar.

Bear in mind that these days though PE is soooo popular it may be full but if you dont ask you dont get!!!!

Thanks, thats great advice, I will definately do that!:D

At MCO I was told that there are three factors that bring one to the front of the upgrade list when operational upgrades are required: FC AU, on the medical database and how much you paid for the ticket. I was not advised the weightings of each factor. Age was not mentioned [:(]
cheers
GO

What is the medical database ?
I suffer from a bad back having had surgery a few years ago it still plays up now and then. I nearly had to change my ticket home a couple of weeks ago as I was in agony. I managed to fly but wasn't very comfortable (PE OK, but not UC!!) my daughter on my return told me that her VS cabin crew friend told her that if I had a letter from a Dr stating that my back was bad I might have got a seat in UC.
Is this true [?] Mind you one of the UC crew recognised me and kept me amused throughout the flight,.....lots of champagne seemed to help the pain as well...!!

At check in is too late.

The nest thing to do is call the special assistance line then a note will be put in your booking,

When the airport do the pre flight they will c this info and maybe if flight is full then upgrade u.

However if the flight is not then dont expect anything.