asking for a free upgrade on flights.
- Thread starter utajoker
- Start date
Never had a free upgrade, but when I flew London to HK they offered me an upgrade to premium economy for £10. Naturally I said yes just expecting some extra leg room. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised and definitely think I got my moneys worth
Associate
Generally speaking it doesn't happen.
If you're lucky enough to get an op up (operational upgrade) then this'll usually go on status (e.g. for United this'd be GS -> 1K -> Premier Exec -> Premier -> General member in order of priority) / fare basis (e.g. a Y/B economy fare will beat a bargain basement fare) first.
Doesn't hurt to ask but I wouldn't bother wearing a suit etc if you're flying long haul! That'd be my idea of hell even in C!
Who are you flying? Virgin/United/KLM allow you to buy extra leg room seats for a nominal fee. Think maybe some other carriers are starting it too.
Check out Flyertalk too. Good forum full of road warriors that you can learn a fair bit from.
If you're lucky enough to get an op up (operational upgrade) then this'll usually go on status (e.g. for United this'd be GS -> 1K -> Premier Exec -> Premier -> General member in order of priority) / fare basis (e.g. a Y/B economy fare will beat a bargain basement fare) first.
Doesn't hurt to ask but I wouldn't bother wearing a suit etc if you're flying long haul! That'd be my idea of hell even in C!
Who are you flying? Virgin/United/KLM allow you to buy extra leg room seats for a nominal fee. Think maybe some other carriers are starting it too.
Check out Flyertalk too. Good forum full of road warriors that you can learn a fair bit from.
Man of Honour
Asking only helps if they're overbooked and are op-upping which is usually computer-done but it's all about people ie they won't upgrade a rude person (and can even mark your file as a no-op-up 
).
Never asked, but have had two op-ups due to overbooking, one from economy to premium economy and the other premium economy to business. My jammy sis has had an op-up from business to First!
).Never asked, but have had two op-ups due to overbooking, one from economy to premium economy and the other premium economy to business. My jammy sis has had an op-up from business to First!
Associate
It's unlikely you'll be moved up a class (as stated, frequent flyers get first dibs), however asking for a bulkhead/legroom seat is more likely to get a result, as long as you follow these points:
I've been across the pond twice a year for the past 5 years and following the rules above haven't failed yet
- Check-in early.
- Dress smartly.
- Be polite and friendly. Airport staff see the worst of people day-in, day out so asking them how they are and just being pleasant works wonders.
- Accept it gracefully when they say no. Nobody likes a whiner...
I've been across the pond twice a year for the past 5 years and following the rules above haven't failed yet
Soldato
They offered me and an ex near £200 each when they'd overbooked our flight to the US. Much better than any upgrade!
Soldato
I've been upgraded to business class once. Didn't ask and practically had the plane to myself. I reckon it was a shorter walk for the cabin crew if I moved.
When I flew to Singapore in 2007 from Manchester due to overbooking I was offered a different flight to Singapore via Frankfurt, given 100 euros to spend in Frankfurt during my 6 hour wait for my connection and upgraded on the Frankfurt to Singapore leg of the journey to business class.
Good times
Good times
Associate
6 years ago for a return flight from Cuba to Heathrow Thomas Cooke cocked up and overbooked normal seats and because my family's name was the top of the list we were given business class seats for free.
Fair enough! This also gave us the luxury of free food and drink (alcohol).
Fair enough!
This also gave us the luxury of free food and drink (alcohol).
I got a free upgrade in a 4 star London hotel last month.. Upgraded me from a standard room to an executive room for two nights!
Never had one on a flight through.. Don't go on them enough!
Yeah, I've had that. I turned up to the Hilton Docklands in London to find the manager waiting for me. He told me they'd overbooked and I'd have to stay in a tiny room. In return for one night in a tiny room I got as much food & drink as I wanted, an upgrade to the best room in the hotel for the rest of my stay (3 more nights) and a free weekend in the same room. Gave the free stay to my parents and booked a show for them as a birthday present.
I think I only got that because I was booked via work and there were several other people from the company staying as well.
Caporegime
Doesn't happen often to me, but flying on your own, being polite (sometimes to a point of being cheeky (gotta pick the right desk)) and looking smart are key.
You gotta ask though, dont be shy
You gotta ask though, dont be shy
I fly a heck of a lot and have never been upgraded further than Premium Economy.
If you are not travelling alone and do not hold status with the airline, and the flight is not full, forget it. You can ask and be charming if you want but your chances are almost zero.
Even holding FF status does not get you anywhere 95% of the time.
If they are going to upgrade anyone, the upgrades are normally done automatically, and I don't think most check- in crew even have the power to give out upgrades to you for being charming fella. Heck a lot don't even work for the airlines themselves these days!
If you are not travelling alone and do not hold status with the airline, and the flight is not full, forget it. You can ask and be charming if you want but your chances are almost zero.
Even holding FF status does not get you anywhere 95% of the time.
If they are going to upgrade anyone, the upgrades are normally done automatically, and I don't think most check- in crew even have the power to give out upgrades to you for being charming fella. Heck a lot don't even work for the airlines themselves these days!
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Soldato
every time i've checked in early and politely asked they alway say premium/upper is fully booked... i think upgrades are done on an automatic basis 
i have been told there is a good chance if you ask the stewardess on boarding so maybe try that too.
i have been told there is a good chance if you ask the stewardess on boarding so maybe try that too.
What he said. I fly back and forth over the Atlantic very often and hold reasonably high frequent flyer statuses with various airlines (United Premier Exec, bmi Diamond Club Gold, Delta Skymiles Gold) and the only frequent upgrade I get is with United. They routinely upgrade me to economy plus on the long haul leg and upgrade to first on the domestic leg. Only once have I been upgraded to Business on the international leg with them and that was an operational upgrade based on frequent flyer status and fare class of my ticket.
You may get lucky but the chances are pretty low. The airlines frequent flyers will always be ahead of you and even then if you're on a cheap ticket, you stand even less chance.
What airline and route are you flying and what fare basis is your ticket?
Oh, and don't worry about the dressing smartly thing. Most frequent flyers in business and first cabins dress for comfort. I look like I've just come out of solitary confinement when I fly
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just seeing you mention the passport thing, haven't some countries stopped stamping passports?
Deleted member 651465
D
Deleted member 651465
The mrs and I were upgraded on the return leg of our honeymoon flight.
Asked at the airport, and the next thing we know we're getting told to "turn left"
Business class mind you, but still! It was an 11hr flight.
Asked at the airport, and the next thing we know we're getting told to "turn left"
Business class mind you, but still! It was an 11hr flight.
Yeah a few I think, but that happened then too. He was used to be a buyer for an military electronics manufacturer in South Africa, but he used his british passport. As a lot of countries would not deal with SA then, you could ask that your passport wasn't stamped in SA. You got a removable sticker with a stamp instead. Same with israel.