Releasing Frequent Flyer Seats

I currently am flying on the VS046 this Sunday in UC on FC miles. However, ideally I'd rather be on the VS004 so I can get to work on time.

Currently, FC is saying there are no miles seats available although there is plenty of availability of revenue seats.

In the past, I have been able to call FC close to the departure date and ask nicely to release a seat for use with miles. The agent was able to talk to some department internally to get approval and each time I got it.

But I tried to do the same today and the agent I spoke said that there was no one she could talk to and nothing she could do.

Is this true? Or was the agent misinformed? If it is the latter, do you know the people to whom the agent needs to speak in order to get the seat released?

The agent isn't misinformed. I am very surprised if they were able to contact someone or the department to release a reward seat for you.

I would take the agents advice, if there is nothing available to sell right now then keep checking back. Either by return or one way searches by selecting "Spend Miles" and the class of service you would like. if it quotes just your Taxes, fees and surcharges etc then call the contact centre and they can confirm if its available to you.

or

Go to the airport on the day and ask if they would release a G/P class seat from what is left from the revenue on the day. I have heard that some passengers have managed this.

Either way, best of luck getting your upgrade!

Alex

Thanks. Just to clarify. I already have an UC FF seat on VS46. I am just trying to shift to the VS4. So I'm not asking for an upgrade. Just want to trade one FF for another. I have been able to do this in the past by asking nicely.

From experience the check in staff can make that phone call to some internal department and release revenue seats for mileage upgrades.

If I am reading this correctly, you already hold an upgraded upper class ticket(G) for the VS46 and are looking to change planes to the VS4? - if you have been able to do this in the past for little to no cost I would count my blessings, I tried to change from the VS10 to the VS4 at JFK once upon a time and was told that it would involve some heavy charges given the class of ticket I was travelling on. :#

Was this part of an upgrade between cabins? i.e have you already paid for an upgradable economy or premium economy ticket or is this a straight out mileage purchase? If it is the former option, then changing from a full revenue fare between flights should be relatively easy and cost the change fees stipulated on your t&cs if there are seats available. That, you should be able to do over the phone with flying club, in that case the agent is misinformed..

Thanks. Just to clarify. I already have an UC FF seat on VS46. I am just trying to shift to the VS4. So I'm not asking for an upgrade. Just want to trade one FF for another. I have been able to do this in the past by asking nicely.

Apologies, In that case it would go by availability on that flight. So the same applies.

Check in/Ticket desks *may* be in a better position at the airport as its on the day but the CC wont open up a G class on a different flight for you to change to. It has to be available to sell/change to in the first place.

Alex

I'd turn up at check in a bit early and just nicely ask if they can move you over onto the earlier flight - obviously no guarantees though.

The Agent would have called the department concerned but they no longer do this now. I have had this done in the past.

A while ago, I was able to change flights to the same destination 3 days before the date of my flight. I had to pay a small charge for admin, £25.00 if I recall.

Hope you are successful.

Roxy popsy

[honey lamb]

IIRC some time back (and I mean a year or so) someone posted on here to say that Revenue Management had instructed staff not to call and request seats to be released on flights so the agent was right. It will be a case off checking for a release on the website or alse at the airport

Ah it was Revenue Management I was thinking of. They were the ones that released the seats but obviously the policy must have changed.