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#751650 by rich1664
05 Aug 2010, 17:45
The near mythical free upgrade has just happened to my wife.

As I posted a few days ago I booked her a PE ticket using my miles for her to join me in NYC.

She was sat at the gate waiting for flight VS009 to board, when she was called to the desk. Apparently PE is overbooked, and they told her that as she is smartly dressed and traveling by herself that they would like to upgrade her to UC.

As you can imagine, she is delighted!
#751654 by honey lamb
05 Aug 2010, 17:50
crispin wrote:Result :D - shame it happened at the gate - she didn't get to use the clubhouse :(

She couldn't have used the Clubhouse as it was an op-up.

Nice result for your wife y)
#751655 by Guest
05 Aug 2010, 17:52
crispin wrote:Result :D - shame it happened at the gate - she didn't get to use the clubhouse :(


I dont believe op/up upgrades get you entrance to the clubhouse anyway.

But result all the same
#751660 by vizbiz
05 Aug 2010, 18:14
Can anyone here who knows the facts on this scenario tell me how the decision at the gate is actually made. Is it literally by the people at the desk in the departure lounge who "choose" the lucky recipient, or is it a decision by someone sitting in an office elsewhere - say Rev Mgt or Sales and the staff in the lounge simply communicate the change?
#751661 by rich1664
05 Aug 2010, 18:18
I don't know exactly, but my wife was told it was because she was traveling alone and dressed smartly. So does that lead to think that a combination of the two. (An office somewhere supplying a list of possibles to the gate staff, and then they chose on appearance?)

What surprised me is that she's traveling on a U and that no-one on a w was moved.

Still, all good for her!
#751662 by Guest
05 Aug 2010, 18:20
vizbiz wrote:Can anyone here who knows the facts on this scenario tell me how the decision at the gate is actually made. Is it literally by the people at the desk in the departure lounge who "choose" the lucky recipient, or is it a decision by someone sitting in an office elsewhere - say Rev Mgt or Sales and the staff in the lounge simply communicate the change?


It is made in the back office but check in agent will mark you wither SFU (suitable for upgrade) or NSFU (not suitabloe for upgrade) and the office will use this info together what they need - e.g. single traveller, type of ticket, Gold Card or above holder (but I would expect their upgrades to have been authorised earlier in the clubhouse). Their throwaway line about being smartly dressede was just that - nothing to do with it IMHO.
#751663 by Guest
05 Aug 2010, 18:22
rich1664 wrote:What surprised me is that she's traveling on a U and that no-one on a w was moved.



How does she now that ? W could have been selected prior to checkin as often happens or were bleeped before or after she left the gate.
#751664 by Jacki
05 Aug 2010, 18:30
Upgrades are so satisfying - great result y)
#751670 by Guest
05 Aug 2010, 18:58
iGuyHD wrote:Dress does have a part to play Hackneyguy,



I was speaking from my vast experience of witnessing op ups over the years and it certainly DOES NOT work in reality - unless one counts football shirts and shorts as acceptable dress for Upper - as a paying J PAX I dont v(
Many, many a time I have had a member of cabin crew remark to me -"How do "they" make the decions to op up ?"

I dont doubt the manual exists as you said, but it may be too long for all to read and certainly is not followed IME.
#751672 by daywalker
05 Aug 2010, 19:17
iGuyHD wrote:Having actually looked at the guidelines for allowing OpUps, I can pretty much say that the policy is fairly complicated; depends on a whole plethora of things, with pretty strict policies with regards to priority and status.

Dress does have a part to play Hackneyguy, since the manual states quite clearly that pax who are smartly dressed will be selected over those that arnt if it comes to the crunch. It also helps if your booking has been TCPd with an Upper class booking (if your travelling together for example).

The whole policy document is about 20 pages long, so a bit long to post on here - besides, I'd get into trouble :p


How do you (they) define smartly dressed?
#751675 by daywalker
05 Aug 2010, 19:39
iGuyHD wrote:Just so there is no ambiguity in the future, I pay, in full, for my J tickets. I have never travelled as anything less than a full revenue passenger.

I wouldn't get upset over what HG posts; he does have awful habit of SHOUTING on here y)
#751677 by rich1664
05 Aug 2010, 19:46
hackneyguy wrote:
rich1664 wrote:What surprised me is that she's traveling on a U and that no-one on a w was moved.



How does she now that ? W could have been selected prior to checkin as often happens or were bleeped before or after she left the gate.


Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but her eticket has U as the travel class on it.
Last edited by rich1664 on 05 Aug 2010, 19:51, edited 1 time in total.
#751678 by Dubaiification
05 Aug 2010, 19:47
I have heard many theories about the old op-up - people buying titles, accidentally leaving 'gifts' on the check in desk (can't see that one working in these security wise days), wearing full hunting gear, dressing for your oscar awards party ....

In reality they are going to op-up whoever is the highest rev, best positioned to accomodate the rest of the Y passengers and least offensive to stick with the purple card holders.
#751687 by tontybear
05 Aug 2010, 20:32
daywalker wrote:
iGuyHD wrote:Just so there is no ambiguity in the future, I pay, in full, for my J tickets. I have never travelled as anything less than a full revenue passenger.

I wouldn't get upset over what HG posts; he does have awful habit of SHOUTING on here y)


I dont think HG was challenging which cabin any individual flew in or type of ticket they had / paid for just that the policy on 'smart dress' needing to be worn as part of the 'assessement' for getting an op-up does not appear to mean 'smart dress' as most people would understand it. And this seams to be born out by some of the comments made to him by crew.

To me 'smart dress' in this context does not include sports shirts / shorts / trainers etc.
#751689 by tontybear
05 Aug 2010, 20:44
rich1664 wrote:
hackneyguy wrote:
rich1664 wrote:What surprised me is that she's traveling on a U and that no-one on a w was moved.



How does she now that ? W could have been selected prior to checkin as often happens or were bleeped before or after she left the gate.


Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but her eticket has U as the travel class on it.


I think the question was how your good lady knew no one with a W ticket wasn't upgraded
#751691 by Guest
05 Aug 2010, 21:00
tontybear wrote:
daywalker wrote:
iGuyHD wrote:Just so there is no ambiguity in the future, I pay, in full, for my J tickets. I have never travelled as anything less than a full revenue passenger.

I wouldn't get upset over what HG posts; he does have awful habit of SHOUTING on here y)


I dont think HG was challenging which cabin any individual flew in or type of ticket they had / paid for just that the policy on 'smart dress' needing to be worn as part of the 'assessement' for getting an op-up does not appear to mean 'smart dress' as most people would understand it. And this seams to be born out by some of the comments made to him by crew.

To me 'smart dress' in this context does not include sports shirts / shorts / trainers etc.



Thank you Tonty for your reasoned posting y) Pleased that SOME posters can still display politeness :D
#751693 by Guest
05 Aug 2010, 21:08
I think 'smart' dress varies across age groups to be honest; be it a full on whistle and flute, or something a little less formal.

I totally agree that shorts and sports tops are not what we all want to see when in J, but similarly, a good pair of jeans, coupled with an open necked shirt or polo is fine with me.

Provided people make an effort, all credit to them.
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