Tips for blagging 'upgrades'

Tips for blagging 'upgrades'

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raceboy

Original Poster:

13,082 posts

279 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Read some utter tosh the other day about a 'premium' watch opening doors to the executive washroom and having ladies throw themselves at you.
But it got me thinking, are there any little things that can make that hotel stay a little better, that flight a little less 'cattle like', etc, without actually paying for the premium. wink
I'm not a regular traveller, maybe half a dozen weekends away in this country, an annual extended weekend city break abroad with the Mrs once a year, maybe another 'family' holiday.
Had a few 'upgrades/freebees' due to issues of complaint, got a cupcake in my room when it was my birthday, two would have been nice, I don't share cake. hehe
Is there a limit to how many times you can try and pull off honeymoon/anniversary/birthday when checking in, without it actually being the truth. paperbag Smart suit instead of jeans and trainers? Premium luggage instead of a Nike holdall?
What's worked and what's been your best 'upgrade'. scratchchin
Getting a room upgrade in the Radison Blu in Rome was nice, I think they realised their idea of 'child' wasn't the same as ours as we stood at reception with a 12 year old, the 'family' room got upgraded to a nice suite. smile

Puggit

48,355 posts

247 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Hotel upgrades and airplane upgrades are very different things.

I travel a lot compared to most. I held a gold card for 2 years once and was never upgraded in that time. I've flown on honeymoon and anniversaries and my birthday - no upgrade.

The chances of 'average Joe' getting an upgrade are tiny. There's been plenty of threads, but it all comes down to premium cabins having capacity, economy being over-capacity, you having a tonne of status with the airline and typically flying alone - preferably on an expensive ticket like a fully-flexible one.

Hotels can be easier - as per your experiences. They'll look after their frequent customers first though, again.

Edited by Puggit on Thursday 29th September 15:46

Soov535

35,829 posts

270 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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These days it is impossible to be upgraded on a plane, unless :

1. You are a platinum or equivalent member
2. You fly A LOT, and I mean A LOT

On any given flight there will be a few people like this, and they get the upgrades.

Normal customers will not even make the shortlist.


MrBarry123

6,025 posts

120 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Outside of upgrades obtained as a result of benefits offered by a card/account, I've never been upgraded for anything. Ever.

Although a lady at Waitrose opened a new till for me yesterday. That was nice.

I get why you have a much higher chance of being upgraded FOC whilst flying if you're alone though. One person on business - therefore presumably dressed well and less likely to be noisy - is a much better option than a family of scruffbags.

Puggit

48,355 posts

247 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
MrBarry123 said:
I get why you have a much higher chance of being upgraded FOC whilst flying if you're alone though. One person on business - therefore presumably dressed well and less likely to be noisy - is a much better option than a family of scruffbags.
Simple reason here is that margins are so tight these days that the number of upgrade opportunities is tiny - also if a group is upgraded as there are multiple chances, then they would likely be spread around the premium cabin which doesn't suit anyone.

MrBarry123

6,025 posts

120 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
Puggit said:
Simple reason here is that margins are so tight these days that the number of upgrade opportunities is tiny - also if a group is upgraded as there are multiple chances, then they would likely be spread around the premium cabin which doesn't suit anyone.
I think you may think I said "I don't get why"...

biggrin

But thanks anyway!

raceboy

Original Poster:

13,082 posts

279 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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I was thinking more Hotel blags than Airline blags, if I turn left on most of the planes I find myself in I'd be flying the thing. eek

Dejay1788

1,311 posts

128 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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On the return from a package holiday in Gran Caneria about 7-8 years ago, we got delayed at the airport for 6 hours. If I recall I think the plane we were scheduled to fly on had some sort of issue, so plane got swapped and we ended up in premium economy sets on the way back, which was nice. smile

MrBarry123

6,025 posts

120 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
Specifically for hotels, the best way is to get a card/account that offers upgrades as a perk and/or join a hotel chain's priority/privilege scheme and concentrate your spending with this company.

The problem you have otherwise is that those who have access to such a perk and/or are part of a scheme will ALWAYS be upgraded before you are (and normally in that order).

//j17

4,471 posts

222 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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MrBarry123 said:
I get why you have a much higher chance of being upgraded FOC whilst flying if you're alone though. One person on business - therefore presumably dressed well and less likely to be noisy - is a much better option than a family of scruffbags.
More a case of seat need than dress. Free upgrades are usually only offered when the airline need to move people around the cabin, possibly to balance weight back/front but more often because one class is over-booked. Usually this only means moving one or two people and it's a lot less hastle to move two solo passengers than a couple, let alone part of a group.

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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In cultures where tipping is popular eg. USA then I believe slipping the desk clerk $20 when enquiring about upgrades does the world of good.

raceboy

Original Poster:

13,082 posts

279 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
Truckosaurus said:
In cultures where tipping is popular eg. USA then I believe slipping the desk clerk $20 when enquiring about upgrades does the world of good.
Got NYC booked for next March..... scratchchin
Not sure it'll have any effect in the Leeds Marriott next month though. hehe

Kermit power

28,634 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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I'm very glad I don't fly regularly on business any more! smile

Until about 10 years ago, I had a BA Gold card and Starwood Platinum card for 6 years running. Company policy at the time was business class except when flying to the US (for reasons of odd internal politics).

I used to get upgraded from World Traveller + to Club more trips than not going to the States and back, but the best result was an upgrade from Club to First going to Cairo. smile

The hotel upgrades were a perk of the Platinum card, and when they said they'd upgrade you to the best available room, they really didn't hold back! The Presidential suite in the Trianon Palace in Versailles is pretty nice, with its own private entrance from the lift, and a baby grand piano in it, although ironically would've been the servants' quarters originally. The really nice and unexpected bit was that they even provided the upgrade when I rocked up in scruffy shorts and a T shirt, using up some of my loyalty points...

I imagine the hotel upgrades would still happen, but even towards the end of my frequent travelling, the flight upgrades were dropping off. I think the main change is that the airlines have got a lot better at setting the right levels of over-selling to ensure they get maximum occupancy without actually going over in any given class.

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
Soov535 said:
These days it is impossible to be upgraded on a plane, unless :

1. You are a platinum or equivalent member
2. You fly A LOT, and I mean A LOT

On any given flight there will be a few people like this, and they get the upgrades.

Normal customers will not even make the shortlist.
This

In the "old" days, frequent flyer clubs, etc were a lot more basic as a result of the more basic booking systems used.

Now, the airline can instantly see the flying history for everyone on the plane, with that airline. They then target available upgrades accordingly.

Wearing nice clothes and a decent watch is pointless. I could turn up like a hobo next to you but if I've got a gazillion airmiles and a platinum loyalty card; I'll be turning left when boarding and you'll be squashed in economy.

Same goes for hotels but, obviously, there's a lot more independent/small brand hotels than airlines. Hence, an independent hotel has more scope for bumping you up.

gl20

1,121 posts

148 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
Had probably 7-10 flight upgrades in my time and I've never been more than Silver with BA Exec club. That said, it's a while since the last one so may be it is getting tighter. A couple of observations:

- Your chances increase on tourist routes ie as above I don't have Gold status but Silver was sufficient for an upgrade from Tampa to Gatwick on one of the first flights after 9/11 - the flight was always going to be rammed, probably 100% tourists and so less competition from other club card holders versus, say, an NYC flight.

- I think where there is still a bit of leniency is where you've been let down and where you remain polite in those circumstances. I scored a First upgrade coming back from Chicago to LHR then transiting straight to Amsterdam. They cancelled my first flight and knew I'd likely not see my bag make the transit so perhaps that's why I was one of the lucky ones to get the upgrade. The fact I didn't have a hissy fit about it might have helped. Similar thing with an overbooking going through Zurich a few years back

In NYC right now and, for the first time ever, going to be doing a return from JFK on Friday evening. That's notorious for overbooking so interested to see what happens there...

lee_fr200

5,476 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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my gma has some sort of card with british airways, when she took me to canada when i was 17 we had economy tickets and we were upgraded to club world which was lovely,

I'm interested to know how to get upgrades in florida though whether it be hire car upgrades or hotel upgrades

Floptimus Prime

8,842 posts

186 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
Truckosaurus said:
In cultures where tipping is popular eg. USA then I believe slipping the desk clerk $20 when enquiring about upgrades does the world of good.
This worked for me in Vegas.

EJH

932 posts

208 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Soov535 said:
These days it is impossible to be upgraded on a plane, unless :

1. You are a platinum or equivalent member
2. You fly A LOT, and I mean A LOT

On any given flight there will be a few people like this, and they get the upgrades.

Normal customers will not even make the shortlist.
I was BA Gold (& golden ticket) from domestic travel for a few years.

I got upgraded once...on a virtually domestic flight (Jersey) that was oversold and it was my birthday. 35 whole minutes of upgrade; woo!

I'm afraid to say that I don't think upgrades really happen anymore...so I shall continue to travel as comfortably (and shabbily) dressed as always! I find the thought of "dressing up," for a long-haul flight in the hope of being upgraded little short of madness, I'm afraid!

smack

9,727 posts

190 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Soov535 said:
These days it is impossible to be upgraded on a plane, unless :

1. You are a platinum or equivalent member
2. You fly A LOT, and I mean A LOT

On any given flight there will be a few people like this, and they get the upgrades.

Normal customers will not even make the shortlist.
Yep, I used to live on planes and hotels with work (less so now), and my upgrade rate was pretty high, with my best 5 upgrades on the trot for flights between US/UK. The more to fly with BA for example, above the base Gold level, and you get upgrade cabin upgrade vouchers.

Hotel upgrades are easier, if you are their top tier of customer. To the point I book the cheapest room as I know I won't get it. I use Hyatt and Hilton, and maxed out both programs, but Hyatt are not much use in UK, less so Europe as they don't have the hotel footprint over here, but their program is the best of the big hotel chains IMHO.
Only this week I was in London 2 nights on business, and upgraded to a suite in a Hilton, which was nice. A few times I have scored Presidential Suites, including walking in without a booking in a big US city on a Friday night, looking scruffy, tired, and I thought I had booked a room an hour earlier, but didn't notice the booking had gone through. Finding out my booking didn't exist, I said whatever, I still want a room, the manager hovering around told the checkin staff to give me the suite. I said thanks, walked off to park the car, expecting a slightly bigger corner room, but ended up having a suite the size of a large apartment which goes for 2k per night.

Hyatt has a nice perk to Diamond members, where you have 4 suite stay upgrades per year. Great when you want to make your personal holidays a bit more nicer, with out having to hope you win the upgrade lottery. Using that I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, in one of their best suites overlooking the harbour along with wined and dined, for £100 a night using their guaranteed suite upgrades - they don't bother to list the price of their top suites, as the old saying goes I guess if you have to ask.... Loved the hotel, so I'm planning to do it again this winter trip to Australia. It is a nice payback for spending a lot of your time trapped in a metal tube, and living out of a suitecase for good part of the year.


ETA - same goes for hirecar upgrades and loyalty to a company/top tier level. The US is good for that (Europe and SE Asia are a bit rubbish), I would just book a mid sedan, as they would upgrade me to some enormous SUV, or a tasteless Lincoln, and when I arrive I just say I want something fast with a V8, and get swapped no questions asked.

But the end result of these kinds of perks is being away from home for a significant period of time. So much so, a long term relationship of many years fell apart, but it was a relationship with the wrong kind of woman and was always doomed as such, but regardless it didn't help. And likewise, it is not conducive to having enough time to put aside for starting one.

Edited by smack on Friday 30th September 03:09

Stuart70

3,910 posts

182 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
smack said:
a suitecase
When your luggage gets a room upgrade and you don't?