Flying to Vegas tomorrow

[dazp]

So I am flying to Vegas with Virgin tomorrow and thinking what the chance is of getting a free upgrade seat as I cannot afford the upgrade fee. I will be on my own as my friends are already out there.

Does anyone know how I could add to the chance of getting a free upgrade or do I have 2 hopes Bob hope and no hope.

Cheers

[kelk]

I reckon Bob may be your friend. But for £50 you can pay fo ran exit seat with extended leg room etc which is well worth the money

[Fats25]

kelk said:

I reckon Bob may be your friend. But for £50 you can pay fo ran exit seat with extended leg room etc which is well worth the money

I did this last time I flew Virgin on the way out, I never bothered on the way home, and I wouldn't bother again! More leg room - but, not as comfortable as no where to rest your feet on!

[anonymous-user]

Just say "Oi, mush, give us an aaaarpgrade you moron"

Works every time

[-crookedtail-]

I've done this route a couple of times, I would imagine your chance of a free upgrade is low! Pay extra if you need more room.

Last trip I went on they seemed to operate the most tired 747-400 ive been on, the seat was broke as was the seat back display. Was not the best 10hrs of my life!

[dazp]

garyhun said:

Just say "Oi, mush, give us an aaaarpgrade you moron"

Works every time

Not sure that will really work but could give it a go.

[dazp]

-crookedtail- said:

I've done this route a couple of times, I would imagine your chance of a free upgrade is low! Pay extra if you need more room.

Last trip I went on they seemed to operate the most tired 747-400 ive been on, the seat was broke as was the seat back display. Was not the best 10hrs of my life!

They state its 12 hours out there and 10 hours back. Is this true or is it 10 hours there and 10 hours back?

[-crookedtail-]

It is true the outbound route is a bit longer than the return.

[kelk]

dazp said:

-crookedtail- said:

I've done this route a couple of times, I would imagine your chance of a free upgrade is low! Pay extra if you need more room.

Last trip I went on they seemed to operate the most tired 747-400 ive been on, the seat was broke as was the seat back display. Was not the best 10hrs of my life!

They state its 12 hours out there and 10 hours back. Is this true or is it 10 hours there and 10 hours back?

Usually found it 11 hours out and 10 back

[ghibbett]

Are you a Flying Club member? If not, I would say your chances are extremely slim.

[dazp]

ghibbett said:

Are you a Flying Club member? If not, I would say your chances are extremely slim.

Nope just flying standard eco and not a virgin member

[sneijder]

Your only chance is to look smart and get to the gate early with balls of steel.

Ask who the gate manager is, and tell them you are alone, and have no frequent flyer card. Mention if you need to upgrade anyone you'll be sitting just over there, so you don't have to start calling people to the gate to collect new boarding cards.

[Stablelad]

Flight is relatively wide open so not a chance in hell unless you've bought a Y2 fare level @ £1582 or booked through an Agent capable of putting a VIP (+ do all possible to assist) remark in your booking...... . There are 'expert travellers' out there that will tell you this doesn't work but I can guarantee it does on some occasions for my Customers.

Screenshot from booking software...



If you see zeroes against the class-designators that tells you the flight is full. You can see there are at LEAST 4 seats in Business, 7 in Premium Economy and 7 in basic economy for sale from the above. There are actually plenty MORE available for sale than that!

Having said that, let them know you might be willing to pay extra and see what figure they come up with....

Have a good time !

Edited by Stablelad on Thursday 4th November 16:08

[Targarama]

dazp said:

ghibbett said:

Are you a Flying Club member? If not, I would say your chances are extremely slim.

Nope just flying standard eco and not a virgin member

Not a chance in Hull then. I'm a Virgin Gold card holder and hardly ever get bumped up. Still, no harm in trying - at checkin and at the gate - as you're on your own it might be useful if there are last minute changes.

[wobert]

Targarama said:

dazp said:

ghibbett said:

Are you a Flying Club member? If not, I would say your chances are extremely slim.

Nope just flying standard eco and not a virgin member

Not a chance in Hull then. I'm a Virgin Gold card holder and hardly ever get bumped up. Still, no harm in trying - at checkin and at the gate - as you're on your own it might be useful if there are last minute changes.

This ^------

I'm at Senator level with Lufthansa and in the 68 flights I've made this year, I've had one upgrade and that was on a LH partner airline SWISS.

Airlines have a strict hierachy on what they call OpUps (Operational Upgrades), and this is based on your membership status, the booking class on your ticket and which classes are oversold and need to bump people up to make space further back in the aircraft.

Edited by wobert on Thursday 4th November 16:54

[5pen]

dazp said:

ghibbett said:

Are you a Flying Club member? If not, I would say your chances are extremely slim.

Nope just flying standard eco and not a virgin member

Might be worth joining the Flying Club if you think you may travel with them again. It depends on the category of ticket you bought but a return trip to Vegas could earn you about 8,000 miles and I think you only need 10,000 for a Premium Economy upgrade (usually around £250 one-way).

[Fats25]

Targarama said:

dazp said:

ghibbett said:

Are you a Flying Club member? If not, I would say your chances are extremely slim.

Nope just flying standard eco and not a virgin member

Not a chance in Hull then. I'm a Virgin Gold card holder and hardly ever get bumped up. Still, no harm in trying - at checkin and at the gate - as you're on your own it might be useful if there are last minute changes.

I must be the luckiest fella in the world then. I am a virgin member, and did have at one time just shy of 1 million miles. I have nearer 100,000 now as have spent most of them now, and am only a basic member now, as I no longer fly regularly on business.

I would say in the past 5 flights I have taken (all redeeming miles for economy seats) I have been bumped 80% of the time to Upper on at least one of the legs.

I do agree that the OP will be sitting in cattle all the way there today though - with having no previous affiliation to Virgin.

[anonymous-user]

kelk said:

dazp said:

-crookedtail- said:

I've done this route a couple of times, I would imagine your chance of a free upgrade is low! Pay extra if you need more room.

Last trip I went on they seemed to operate the most tired 747-400 ive been on, the seat was broke as was the seat back display. Was not the best 10hrs of my life!

They state its 12 hours out there and 10 hours back. Is this true or is it 10 hours there and 10 hours back?

Usually found it 11 hours out and 10 back

It's all about the jet stream and the strength of head/tail winds - typically it is quicker coming back due to the tail wind...