How to try for an upgrade on BA flight

[JonX2C]

Hi All.

So this thursday im travelling to Cape Town on BA.

My dad booked my tickets and is flying out today, and is flying business, however he apparently messed up and only booked me coach as im flying on thursday, I was a little miffed.

Anyway, I have a shed load of Avios points as I collect miles though AMEX and other means etc.

So anyway, I have never tried it before, but I would like to try and blag an upgrade before.

I havnt ever flown business and im a little worried about the 11 hour flight as I have a bumber of ailments with my legs at present and dont fancy being cramped up in coach.

Does anyone have any helpful hints and tips.

[anonymous-user]

Sadly, only one - forget it, your chances are close to zero unless you want to pay.

Sorry to be negative.

[blueg33]

Next to impossible to blag in my experience. Easiest way is to pay.

Other tips I have been given

Dress smartly
Be travelling on your own
Check in at the end of check in time

also these, but you might be tight on time

Change your name to Lord Fatherson-haughs
Get an OBE (definitely works for a mate of mine)
Become a Professor
Become a celebrity
Buy a majority shareholding in BA

[TonyHetherington]

If there's space, you can normally upgrade at check in (at cost) so if it was a mistake, just get your dad to pay for that

However, simply put, if you're a BA gold member then you'll get upgraded first. Then BA silver, then BA blue. Then if you're on a honeymoon. Then if you're old and struggling. And then, at the very end of the list, there's you.

I once blagged an upgrade from Economy to Business because my collegue that I checked in with was travelling business and I wasn't, and even that I was surprised at. I also struck lucky once going to Chicago and got upgraded Business to First, but I was BA Silver and Business was full and I was travelling on my own.

[StevieBee]

Blagging upgrades are long gone. I fly BMI very regularly and even know quite a few of the check in/flight crew by name and has done me no favours at all.

Only time I've ever been bumped was on an overbooked flight from Abu Dhabi - bumped to economy plus at check in then to business at the gate, and on BMi flight from Riyadh that was also overbooked. Everyone was getting all arsey with the staff. I just said don't worry, these things happen, and I found myself in business!

[Motown Junk]

Recently returned from Cape Town with BA and went out World Traveller (cattle) but came back World Traveler Plus - huge difference and got lucky as upgrade was only £30!

OK it's not Business but worth considering.

[chazola]

Only been upgraded once on BA and didn't even ask for it- it was Christmas eve though so maybe the check-in girl was feeling generous. I have been whisked to the front of check-in queues a couple of times for being extra polite though, so maybe that helps

Otherwise, try getting to check-in pretty early and ask how much an upgrade would be... you might get lucky... or ask for a seat near a door that usually has extra leg room.

Edited by chazola on Tuesday 13th December 11:13

[JonX2C]

Thats a shame im a bronze member and have quite a few Avios points.

Im travelling on my own and will try the smart look, but I doubt it will do anything. Old man woont pay to upgrade me which was a pain, but i couldnt argue as he has paid for the flights and holiday.

This is where you need a friend high up in BA.

[TonyHetherington]

Don't forget - you will still actually get there in Economy

Sit down, headphones on/ipad on/magazine open, whatever it is that takes your fancy, a couple of films and you're there before you know it. Yes, it's sometimes not fun, but it's only 11 hours and there's worse things you can do than fly to cape town

[blueg33]

JonX2C said:

Thats a shame im a bronze member and have quite a few Avios points.

Im travelling on my own and will try the smart look, but I doubt it will do anything. Old man woont pay to upgrade me which was a pain, but i couldnt argue as he has paid for the flights and holiday.

This is where you need a friend high up in BA.

Like a 747 pilot? They can get up to 50,000ft

[WelshBoyo]

Check the BA website when you on-line check-in, if the flight is quiet you can get good discounts for upgrading.

We upgraded from normal to World Traveller Plus from Bermuda to UK for about 50dollars each and although not a massive difference it was much more spaceous and we had almost the entire area to ourselves.

We also upgraded for a flight from UK to Sydney from World Traveller Plus to Business Class (one leg). It wasn't cheap but still about a third of the price if I bought the business class ticket before hand.

[mattdaniels]

Does your shed load of Avios points cover the upgrade?

[AndyACB]

I'd say your chances of an upgrade without paying are zero this time of year.

Both flights will be packed in First and Club and Traveller Plus normally sells out really quick.

As the man above says, resign yourself to a few beers a film and a few hours of restless sleep

[JonX2C]

mattdaniels said:

Does your shed load of Avios points cover the upgrade?

it would but there is no option to do it in the online check in. says i need to contact my tour operator, i contacted them and they said i need to speak to BA

[blueg33]

JonX2C said:

it would but there is no option to do it in the online check in. says i need to contact my tour operator, i contacted them and they said i need to speak to BA

And BA said?

[rcspeirs]

You may wish to lower your expectations, to minimise the disappointment.

BA make most of their money from the premium cabins, and they go to great trouble to ensure you don't get to fly at the front of their planes unless you paid for it. Just because there might be an empty seat up the front, doesn't mean BA will give it away to someone who didn't pay for it.

If a plane is oversold, BA have a policy and a plan about who they will upgrade, if they need to. Occasionally that does mean people are upgraded - but the upgrade process is carefully controlled by BA. The check in staff are unlikely to have discretion to upgrade you - especially not at LHR.

If your ticket is booked by a travel agent rather than directly with BA, your chances of upgrade are lower than nil. Those tickets are last in the priority queue for upgrades.

[cjs]

JonX2C said:

mattdaniels said:

Does your shed load of Avios points cover the upgrade?

it would but there is no option to do it in the online check in. says i need to contact my tour operator, i contacted them and they said i need to speak to BA

This probably because you have a cheap bargain ticket that is not upgradable. Do you know what class your ticket is? It will have a letter, A,B,Z etc. This the ticket class and determines weather you can upgrade using miles or money.

You can pay for an exit seat in advance for about £75, well worth it if you want more legroom, better than paying for a World Traveller Plus seat. If not make sure you're ready to check in 24hrs in advance and try and get a better seat.

[GCH]

Pay for it,but its a very busy route and usually oversold so will be very expensive if-and thats a big if-an upsell is available.

Basically zero chance of a miles upgrade on this route, which from economy would only get you to premium economy not club.
If its a booking made through a travel agent-including corporate ones- you cannot upgrade with miles anyway.

You can buy exit seats in advance, provided status passengers slumming it in the back havent pre-assigned them.

Edited by GCH on Tuesday 13th December 19:18

[tuffer]

FFS, this topic comes up about once a week. Why don't you try upgrading your car next time you buy a new one as well.....Well you do have that 5 Series sat there doing nothing (after paying for your 120D).

[bigbubba]

blueg33 said:

Like a 747 pilot? They can get up to 50,000ft

I would be worried if I was at 50,000 ft in a 747.

Their ceiling is 43,000 ft.