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Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 12:31
by Lucinda
Hi all,
Mum & I are flying to JFK, out on VS45 in Upper and back on VS46 in PE. We want to upgrade to Upper on the return journey. I’ve rung Virgin a couple of times to get a price but the quote they are giving me is more than I would want to pay.
Both of the agents I have spoken to have however told me to ring back a few days before we fly and they have a “special” dept that deals with upgrades that might be able to help me. Does anyone have any experience of getting a lower priced upgrade through this mystery department??!
Thanks in advance.
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 14:19
by Blacky1
Hi lucinda,I will be interested to see what your outcome is as I'm doing the same flights in nov although mine are PE both ways so please let me know your outcome.
Regards
Blacky
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 14:44
by McMaddog
From memory, wasn't this one of the flights where you could bid money to be upgraded?
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 14:58
by StillRedHot
It's the pre-flight team who are the same team that you may receive a call from a few days before departure. If there is availability a day or two before your flight then they can offer the same upgrade prices the airports can offer.
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 18:19
by joeyc
Isn't this all another way of calling the revenue department that oversee the computer's pricing of the flights. They are the ones that release reward upgrades and alter the pricing of the fares to correspond with sales/competition promotions etc... I am 100% certain that you cannot talk to these people directly as, otherwise, they would be being approached all the time B)
As SRH says the team you will be speaking with is plain old customer services preflight team that randomly call certain pax in the days running up to flights to offer upgrades, make sure all is ok with booking etc.. you can call these guys by going through the customer service switchboard, but as the agent says you will be attaining a much more acceptable upgrade price closer to the flight date - they have to flog the tickets somehow ):
Good luck with them y) y)
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 18:39
by Lucinda
Thanks for your help all, will let you know how I get on. Don't feel all that optimistic!
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 21:24
by pjh
joeyc wrote:but as the agent says you will be attaining a much more acceptable upgrade price closer to the flight date - they have to flog the tickets somehow ):
Mmm...I tend to disagree. In my (albeit very limited) experience they may choose not to price to sell, and would rather leave a UC cabin empty rather than promote the idea that delaying booking will lead to a bargain...
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 21:58
by joeyc
pjh wrote:Mmm...I tend to disagree. In my (albeit very limited) experience they may choose not to price to sell, and would rather leave a UC cabin empty rather than promote the idea that delaying booking will lead to a bargain...
A fair point. My experience of upgrading into UC comes mostly from using miles as opposed to cash, which is where revenue management usually rear their heads either at check in or a few days before..
Delaying booking will most certainly not guarantee a bargain, my apologies did not mean to convey that message.
Hope you score that upgrade Lucinda y)
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
12 Oct 2012, 22:29
by jodash
all my upgrades from PE to UC (4 in total) have come via the"MMB" page at a good price but you have to check at least 3 or 4 times a day
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
13 Oct 2012, 09:15
by jodash
ScubaRoo wrote:What's "MMB"? ?|
manage my booking which you can log in to once you got your locater number,or if booked via VH your booking ref
Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
13 Oct 2012, 15:25
by Lucinda
I'm not been offered an upgrade via MMB, do you think this will be an option nearer the time? Flying out on 21 Nov

Re: Special Upgrade Dept?

Posted:
13 Oct 2012, 16:15
by joeyc
Lucinda wrote:I'm not been offered an upgrade via MMB, do you think this will be an option nearer the time? Flying out on 21 Nov 
Maybe, keep checking back every now and again - it may pop up at some point before the flight. If not either give customer service a call or check at the airport. Always worth a pop, but don't expect miracles. 8D