blagging an upgrade ???

any views/clues of blagging an upgrading from PE to UC ??
any stories out there i can work from ??
[8D]

Check out the Upgrade Guide.

Blagging your way to an Upgrade is not normally an option - in fact any attempt to do so normally puts you at the back of the queue.

Phil (Buffy)

wallet:D

The consented rule by all check-in agents is you don't give an upgrade to anyone who has asked for one!;)

I find that being polite, not asking, being presentable, informal, social and courteous often helps. All that being said, these days, its all being worked out before you even arrive at check-in. As they say at nightclubs - "if your name's not down, you're not coming in".

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by jaguarpig
wallet:D

The only way to guarantee one.

Foz xxx

Ahhh this thread reminds me of that print ad series for PE they ran a few years back...

"But my brother's Richard Branson..!"

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by anteo
Ahhh this thread reminds me of that print ad series for PE they ran a few years back...

"But my brother's Richard Branson..!"

Ahh yes - the classics I have that particular advert framed at home 'But I'm Richard's brother..'

'We're on our honeymoon'
'I'm in SClub 7'
'But I'm pregnant'

I have the JPG's somewhere, will post them up.

Thanks,
Richard

Yeah, it's true that a lot of the seat allocations are sorted out about 24 hours before the flight departs. When you arrive at check-in, a lot of the time, your seating class is already assigned, done and dusted, no turning back.

S0436, you seem to talk with heightened knowledge on this and other subjects, are you staff?

Paul

I've always noticed, when being fortunate to be op upped, that it seems to be noted somewhere in advance that I'm a suitable candidate and on a list. So if I checked in at a decent interval in advance I might be better placed?

In the old days there appeared to be a printed list at check-in, guess its now on the computer system.

Anyway, I've never asked 'cos I don't expect.

Originally posted by slinky09
I've always noticed, when being fortunate to be op upped, that it seems to be noted somewhere in advance that I'm a suitable candidate and on a list. So if I checked in at a decent interval in advance I might be better placed?

In the old days there appeared to be a printed list at check-in, guess its now on the computer system.

Anyway, I've never asked 'cos I don't expect.

In the US is still on a printed list usually, have often been op-up'd at BOS by the check-in supervisor who is wandering around the UC check-in and welcoming people. Also other times have seen my name on the list at the security desk I have been told by staff though that most of the time it is decided ~24 hours in advance by a computer sweep for people who meet the correct criteria (e.g. FC level, booking class/ticket price, number in party etc).

Being someone who travels a lot on S or W fares and being a Au/Ag member I've had a few op-up's, although not one since getting back to Au (that's 4 flights since going Au) despite being booked in S (although last flight was K so that's understandable). Its always down to VS needing to upgrade you! They will not upgrade for free unless they need to, and will always favour those who are prepared to pay (cash or miles)

I would be interested to know if anyone not previously singled out for op-up that managed to "blag" one

I've been lucky enough to have had quite a few Op Ups to UC in the past, and from what I have been told there's really only one way to get one without and act of God - know someone of influence at VS!

Unfortunately my 'person of influence' is no longer with VS, so I'm in PE Weds 14 September on VS007 with my girlfriend, praying for an act of God if she/he happens to be listening!

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
I would be interested to know if anyone not previously singled out for op-up that managed to "blag" one

Once but not for me and was Y to W. I was travelling with a friend back to BOS from LHR and I was in W and he was in Y on a CO ticket. I knew the flight was fairly full so after I had checked in I went to join him in the Y queue and when we got to the desk I asked if there was any chance they could upgrade him to the seat next to me. Suprisingly they rang through and was allowed to do this! It got more fun when we got to the gate though as I was singled out for an op-up to J so we still ended up sitting apart (suprisingly they did not want to upgrade my friend to J )

Apart from that I think I've been pre-selected over 90% of the time and they have only had to ring through a coupe of times to see if there are any available.

The only tip I have is to be dissapointed with your seat assignments - if there is good reason. On two occasions this has resulted in an upgrade. The last time was to MCO in April when the family were being seated apart and no skycot position was available.

If there is room its possible VS staff will move you if they feel you're worth the effort (being Au helps:)) - but (very important) don't complain about the seat, don't demand an upgrade etc. - just behave dissapointed and make it clear that anything else would be preferable.

They will upgrade even when not strictly necessary if there is good reason.

Phil (Buffy)