Blagging an upgrade from Economy to Business
Discussion
I'm going to be flying from Frankfurt to Bogota for a holiday this coming March and I was hoping to take my laptop with me to watch movies, do a little work and just keep myself entertained a little.
Unfortunately I found out Lufthansa doesn't offer power sockets in economy unlike Emirates (which is the last long-haul flight I did). The only place I can get it is in business, but I don't seem to have the option to upgrade my seats to business.
So, my next plan is to try and blag the upgrade in the hope that I can get an upgrade for myself and my wife. There are obviously plenty of tips online but I wondering how the PH lot have managed to get theirs.
The first thing I would imagine is to be very nice and to dress smart. (Smart, dark jeans, and a nice shirt should be fine I guess. No need to tell my wife to dress smart as she always looks great!)
What other tips can be suggested?
Unfortunately I found out Lufthansa doesn't offer power sockets in economy unlike Emirates (which is the last long-haul flight I did). The only place I can get it is in business, but I don't seem to have the option to upgrade my seats to business.
So, my next plan is to try and blag the upgrade in the hope that I can get an upgrade for myself and my wife. There are obviously plenty of tips online but I wondering how the PH lot have managed to get theirs.
The first thing I would imagine is to be very nice and to dress smart. (Smart, dark jeans, and a nice shirt should be fine I guess. No need to tell my wife to dress smart as she always looks great!)
What other tips can be suggested?
If you have purchased very cheap "bucket" type or package holiday bulk purchase seats you will be at the back of the queue.
Those passengers who are travelling solo, have paid full fare economy and carry a Star Alliance frequent flyer card with good usage will be those higher in the queue - assuming space in business is available of course.
Checking in online will also take you out of the upgrade loop as you will bypass the check in desk. Not checking in online means you cannot guarantee your choice of seat.
Upgrade will only work invidually for each leg of the journey too.
You pays your money and takes your choice.
Those passengers who are travelling solo, have paid full fare economy and carry a Star Alliance frequent flyer card with good usage will be those higher in the queue - assuming space in business is available of course.
Checking in online will also take you out of the upgrade loop as you will bypass the check in desk. Not checking in online means you cannot guarantee your choice of seat.
Upgrade will only work invidually for each leg of the journey too.
You pays your money and takes your choice.
Edited by tubbystu on Thursday 20th January 11:24
tubbystu said:
If you have purchased very cheap "bucket" type or package holiday bulk purchase seats you will be at the back of the queue.
Those passengers who are travelling solo, have paid full fare economy and carry a Star Alliance frequent flyer card with good usage will be those higher in the queue - assuming space in business is available of course.
Checking in online will also take you out of the upgrade loop as you will bypass the check in desk. Not checking in online means you cannot guarantee your choice of seat.
Upgrade will only work invidually for each leg of the journey too.
You pays your money and takes your choice.
All fair points. I bought my tickets on the Lufthansa website plus I have a Star Alliance frequent flyer card which reasonable usage. My wife however travels very often and has a silver card.Those passengers who are travelling solo, have paid full fare economy and carry a Star Alliance frequent flyer card with good usage will be those higher in the queue - assuming space in business is available of course.
Checking in online will also take you out of the upgrade loop as you will bypass the check in desk. Not checking in online means you cannot guarantee your choice of seat.
Upgrade will only work invidually for each leg of the journey too.
You pays your money and takes your choice.
Edited by tubbystu on Thursday 20th January 11:24
We've also chosen our seats in advance so that part is sorted however it's a good point with the online check-in. I'll try that when I go to the airport and we can just go very early. (Although the initial flight from Vienna leaves at 6.20am.....
).Yeah. Silver star alliance ff probably won't get you an upgrade (given you'll be up against LH's FF program members / Star Alliance Gold etc).
Add in a fare which probably isn't Y/B class and the fact you have 2 people on the PNR and I'd estimate your chances to be very slim.
LH might offer paid upgrades? This would depend on flight length etc but I'd estimate around £500/person+ each way as a good guess.
Add in a fare which probably isn't Y/B class and the fact you have 2 people on the PNR and I'd estimate your chances to be very slim.
LH might offer paid upgrades? This would depend on flight length etc but I'd estimate around £500/person+ each way as a good guess.
tubbystu said:
Checking in online will also take you out of the upgrade loop as you will bypass the check in desk.
Not true. Only time I've ever been upgraded to "proper" business was during an online check-in. The machine said "sorry we can't check you in online, please go to a desk" - I had a little rant at the girl and she stopped me and said "it's because you've been upgraded, Sir" which cheered me up.Anyway, if you have an economy ticket, you won't get further than premium economy if they have it on the flight.
I finally got through to Lufthansa on the phone. It cost me €1.25 per minute for about 5 minutes but worth it for the explanation.
Unfortunately, there are no power-sockets in economy. This is now confirmed. Worst still, is due to my class of economy ticket, it's impossible to get an upgrade. I have what I have and I can't even pay for an upgrade. I had no idea this was the case when I purchased the ticket however the very nice gent on the phone called me back and told me he'd place a note in the system to explain my situation to the check-in person.
He said it would not guarantee anything but it would offer both myself and my wife a better chance of an upgrade.....fingers crossed on the 4th March!
Unfortunately, there are no power-sockets in economy. This is now confirmed. Worst still, is due to my class of economy ticket, it's impossible to get an upgrade. I have what I have and I can't even pay for an upgrade. I had no idea this was the case when I purchased the ticket however the very nice gent on the phone called me back and told me he'd place a note in the system to explain my situation to the check-in person.
He said it would not guarantee anything but it would offer both myself and my wife a better chance of an upgrade.....fingers crossed on the 4th March!
I've had quite a few 'notes' put on my ticket by very helpful staff,friends, friends of friends who know someone, never ever had an upgrade! Good luck.... I would be preparing for an economy flight if I was you, wear comfy clothing and get yourself a spare laptop battery.
Edited by cjs on Thursday 20th January 17:29
cjs said:
I've had quite a few 'notes' put on my ticket by very helpful staff, never ever had an upgrade! Good luck! I would be preparing for an economy flight if I was you, were comfy clothing and get yourself a spare laptop battery.
Spare lappy battery will set you back far less than the cost of the upgrade anyway 
miniman said:
Anyway, if you have an economy ticket, you won't get further than premium economy if they have it on the flight.
Not 100% true - my wife witnessed a couple being bumped from economy to Upper Class on Virgin (Hong Kong-London!). They were backpackers on the last leg of their round-the-world ticket. Previous flight had been cancelled, so plane was 100% full.
cjs said:
I've had quite a few 'notes' put on my ticket by very helpful staff,friends, friends of friends who know someone, never ever had an upgrade! Good luck.... I would be preparing for an economy flight if I was you, wear comfy clothing and get yourself a spare laptop battery.
I've got a spare battery so I'll definitely bring it along. (Same laptop at work as at home) Edited by cjs on Thursday 20th January 17:29
The problem is my battery is mostly dead. I have a service warning in the battery indicator however the laptop is under warranty so I'll be sure to get it sorted asap....
Puggit said:
120 flights on Star Alliance as a Gold card holder here - and no upgrades (often in full fare). Don't count any chickens
Same here, Lufthansa Senator (86 flights last year), one upgrade flying on SWISS.Lufthansa have a strict policy on upgrades, generally only if your booked class of service is full, and then they have a stepped system, HON Circle, Senators, Star Alliance Gold, FTL, then anyone else.
If you are LH blue then you at the bottom of the pile - sorry!
Only time I've seen a free upgrade to business in recent years was when economy was over-booked and business was nearly empty, that or an airline employee, but even that's difficult these days as I understand it!
I was even asked to downgrade from business to economy on the way back from Hong Kong a couple of years ago!! (for the reverse reason, business was massively over-booked!)
Thankfully I was checking in early and still got a seat.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on!
I was even asked to downgrade from business to economy on the way back from Hong Kong a couple of years ago!! (for the reverse reason, business was massively over-booked!)
Thankfully I was checking in early and still got a seat.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on!
Puggit said:
miniman said:
Anyway, if you have an economy ticket, you won't get further than premium economy if they have it on the flight.
Not 100% true - my wife witnessed a couple being bumped from economy to Upper Class on Virgin (Hong Kong-London!). My wife travels " a lot " and we are moved up more often than not .
Travel smart and always go to the desk to check in.
You need to fly with the same group of airlines on a regular basis. Upgrades are reserved for regular customers in order to keep their business. Beyond having a high status (Frequent Flyer) and ideally travelling alone, you stand little chance. You can always ask at the check in for a paid upgrade, sometimes the prices can be surprising.
Strangely I did get an upgrade to Biz class on Lufthansa (ok, it was short haul, main benefit was better food), on a return trip from the Oktoberfest a few years ago with some mates. So obviously not looking our best or smartly dressed and none of had star alliance cards.
Someone will inevitably ask why.. At Munich check-in they said the flight was overbooked and they were looking for volunteers to possibly switch to a flight 45 mins later that was landing at a different airport from the one we were due to fly to - like LGW instead of LHR, something like that. No big deal to us as hadn't driven to the airport, and in return we would get a fixed refund, which as it happened was slightly more than we paid for the return flights. Happy days. Girl said to go to the gate for original flight and that if selected for the later flight we would be told at the gate. If not, just get on the plane as normal and no refund.
Whilst browsing the shops we were called by name to the gate, and told that they didn't need us to switch flights but in thanks for volunteering, we'd been upgraded.
So that's my only upgrade story. A mate who's a long haul BA pilot said his only tip was *not* to ask for an upgrade on check-in, as if you ask you don't get (on BA anyway). Helps to be smart and polite but upgrades are always for their convenience and for operational reasons, not because they like you. If check-in girl thinks you're suitable she'll write "SFU" (suitable for upgrade) on the boarding pass as quite often they only know if they need to move people around after check-in closes. Also said it's the backroom staff that decide, not the front desk staff. If that helps at all.
Someone will inevitably ask why.. At Munich check-in they said the flight was overbooked and they were looking for volunteers to possibly switch to a flight 45 mins later that was landing at a different airport from the one we were due to fly to - like LGW instead of LHR, something like that. No big deal to us as hadn't driven to the airport, and in return we would get a fixed refund, which as it happened was slightly more than we paid for the return flights. Happy days. Girl said to go to the gate for original flight and that if selected for the later flight we would be told at the gate. If not, just get on the plane as normal and no refund.
Whilst browsing the shops we were called by name to the gate, and told that they didn't need us to switch flights but in thanks for volunteering, we'd been upgraded.
So that's my only upgrade story. A mate who's a long haul BA pilot said his only tip was *not* to ask for an upgrade on check-in, as if you ask you don't get (on BA anyway). Helps to be smart and polite but upgrades are always for their convenience and for operational reasons, not because they like you. If check-in girl thinks you're suitable she'll write "SFU" (suitable for upgrade) on the boarding pass as quite often they only know if they need to move people around after check-in closes. Also said it's the backroom staff that decide, not the front desk staff. If that helps at all.
Edited by munky on Friday 21st January 17:56
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