Off to the Maldives next month. Currently going world traveler plus, business upgrade is ridiculous. Has anyone ever upgraded at the check-in desk and can say what sort of money they asked for? Obviously will depend on the particular flight, but have heard stories of 500 quid upgrades on long hauls.
BA upgrades at check-in
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Soldato
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Every time i've enquired to Australia it's been the same if not more than difference of buying the upgrade when I booked 
Soldato
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Always ask politely and even try when onboard, you never know, I’ve got lucky a couple of times. Not often, always worth politely asking.
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Be happy you’re on a flight to Male - we went in Jan 2023 and used air miles to go Business with BA so we could spend a lot more on the resort.
It’s an amazing destination whichever resort you choose.
We did book to go back the same time in 2024, but the OH ended up pregnant and we had to cancel.
I’m still holding it against my 15 month old…
Ahah yeah this is our overdue honeymoon and first anniversary, curteousy of our toddler!!!
Definitely looking to spend a bit of money before the second circus comes into town, but 4kmore than economy hard to justify!
Will do, thanks. Defo not looking for a free upgrade (although wouldn't refuse!). Will have a bit of money aside and ask at check in just incase we can get a goood rate.
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Yeah it’s not worth that amount of money I agree - what resort are you going to?
Soldato
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The price difference between economy and business is sometimes enough for another two holidays, absolute madness and money wasted unless that amount of money is nothing to you!
Went to Maldives back in 2018 with Qatar Airlines and got email from them allowing me to bid for upgrade from economy to buisness class, I can't remember how much, but a lot cheaper than buying from start. Also got upgrades on way back to Heathrow.
Going back next year flying out with BA and returning with Qatar.
Going back next year flying out with BA and returning with Qatar.
I treat the upgrade as part of the holiday costs. The holiday for us starts at the hotel the night before the flight. The last thing I want is a fantastic holiday but the last few days thinking dang that flight home is going to be horrible...
The mrs is also really good at finding deals. Booking on tuesdays seems to be the winner for some destinations.. An insider said thats because all the rich folk get their PA's to book stuff when they get in on monday mornings....Might be true??
Virgin upper class from Heathrow a couple of years back was fantastic. Our own checkin desk, Felt like our own security too. Straight through and straight to the lounge. We remember that more than some of the holiday....
The mrs is also really good at finding deals. Booking on tuesdays seems to be the winner for some destinations.. An insider said thats because all the rich folk get their PA's to book stuff when they get in on monday mornings....Might be true??
Virgin upper class from Heathrow a couple of years back was fantastic. Our own checkin desk, Felt like our own security too. Straight through and straight to the lounge. We remember that more than some of the holiday....
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It depends. When I met my Mrs she was the PA for a group CFO. She'd get a message on the Sunday for flying on the Monday.. so booking was on the Sunday.. Wasn't his money so it didn't matter in his view..
Rich will go whenever they feel like it. Rich on a budget will get their PA to look for the cheapest flights in advance..
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My first business class flight was on a 747, and being BA it meant being upstairs which was a very different environment to a normal aircraft.
Glad I got that in before BA scrapped them all.
Glad I got that in before BA scrapped them all.
I doubt there's much rhyme or reason behind when business flights get booked but I'm sure 90% of economy/holiday flights get booked at the weekend so looking Sunday evening/Monday morning is probably a terrible idea.
A Virgin upper class departure from LHR is my gold standard and probably will be for a long while. I've been to LA quite a few times for work and I always wangled a Virgin flight for that very reason. Love getting a car to their own entrance, you're greeted by like 4 people (one to open the car door, one gets your luggage from the boot, one walks you to the door etc.). They stagger the arrivals so they greet you by name, and have everything ready for you at the one desk they have, with yes, another member of staff to hand over your ticket
Then the lounge itself is famously awesome. You can get a haircut, a massage etc. It's just a lovely experience and not stuffy at all.It's a shame BA are quite mobster-esque at stopping Virgin from getting any more routes out of LHR. I have a decent amount of miles with them now but nowhere to go. My other half is not interested in the Caribbean, we're definitely not interested in going to the USA.. there's not much choice really
WT+ is a pretty decent product to be fair, I flew back in that once from San Francisco on the A380 and found the hard product to be fine, decent food, legroom and recline.
How are you for Avios? Potentially an option to Upgrade using Avios? Worth keeping an eye on your booking.
I'm not really in the flying game these days so not too up to date but I think they might offer you a paid upgrade if you ask at check-in.
Best place to look into this might be on the BA Subforum on Flyertalk - they've probably got all that covered in one of their many stickies, if not you could always ask in there.
Never been one of the rare lucky ones who get the free upgrades. Know a number of friends who have though. We did manage to get a discount upgrade at the desk for premium economy on Virgin.
I was lucky enough to be treated to business on a return flight from NY this year from my wife - game changer but just not sure it was worth the money other than a one time special treat.
She does have the premium Amex BA card though and have been looking at using that to get business or first Avios flights. A business there/first back is £750 but 250k points - Bangkok. Now looking at ways to boost my Avios including buying points and getting a Barclaycard credit card (25k points if you spend £3k in the first three months). Anyone have Avios boosting pointers?
I was lucky enough to be treated to business on a return flight from NY this year from my wife - game changer but just not sure it was worth the money other than a one time special treat.
She does have the premium Amex BA card though and have been looking at using that to get business or first Avios flights. A business there/first back is £750 but 250k points - Bangkok. Now looking at ways to boost my Avios including buying points and getting a Barclaycard credit card (25k points if you spend £3k in the first three months). Anyone have Avios boosting pointers?
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