V-Flyer

Work put me on a R fare class to NYC in a couple of weeks (NYC is excluded from even prem-econ on my firm, thankfully its a rare destination). It's a travel agent fare, but is one of the highest fare classes right?

Has anyone had any luck getting an upgrade at either checkin or lounge on this with a travel agent fare?

Flight looks empty ish - so would be open for an UC upgrade, and yes, I have the miles.

As a current gold, I've booked exit rows etc already and will have clubhouse both ends regardless, which is a nice bonus for a Y flight.

Again to reiterate VS does not offer upgrades (cash/miles/free) just because there may be seats available in a cabin.

And whilst travel agent fares can have the same codes as normal fares the fare rules can often be different and so vary from those quoted in the tool box.

That said and as been noted before the rules appear to go out of the window at the airport if it suits VS to break them (they are their rules afterall)

All you can do is ask. Expect a 'no' but be happy if you get a 'yes'

Quick question but when you "ask at the airport" do you ask at the checkin or at the ticket desk? I have nearly 120k miles and a non-upgradeable ec ticket next week to JNB and will try anything to get some sort of upgrade!

Lucy I would go to the ticket desk rather than ask at check-in.

Thanks

LucyLu wrote:Quick question but when you "ask at the airport" do you ask at the checkin or at the ticket desk? I have nearly 120k miles and a non-upgradeable ec ticket next week to JNB and will try anything to get some sort of upgrade!

LucyLu -- I have always asked at check-in, they check with superiors and then send you to the ticket desk
I also have never failed to get an upgrade [to PVG] but costs have varied a lot --- however always better value than at time of booking the original ticket

VS say a travel agent R is not upgradable...

"You can also upgrade other non-published ticket types such as discounted, corporate, travel agent or tour operator fares but ONLY in the following booking classes: W, Y and B."

in the old days i'm sure i've done it on other codes, but for the last couple of years i've only been offered 'upgrades' at what seemed like the price of the cheapest available PE/UC ticket

when i've asked why so much, the answer is consistent: the system shows no value for the TA ticket, so it's taken as zero when calculating upgrade cost

now if travel policy puts me in EC i've learned to get the TA to buy me a B

but it never hurts to ask at the airport, at LHR i usually go to the ticket desk, maybe you'll be lucky!

in january i got an EC->UC upgrade both ways at the LHR ticket desk, this was on a B though

Timely thread. Just had the green light for a conference in MCO, our travel policy also dictates Econ, and our agents have got me an O class

Not too bad though as bagged seats in the bubble both ways

I'm on a X ticket on monday, which is non-upgradeable so not holding my breath.

JNB is too long a flight for EC in my opinion, but have no choice in the matter due to company policy. If only my customer had pulled their finger out and raised their purchase order 2 weeks earlier I would have been on a Y ticket and could have upgraded to PE with points as there was availability.

I was told it wasn't possible to upgrade a travel agent fare because it's impossible for VS to calculate the fare difference.

Tinuks wrote:I was told it wasn't possible to upgrade a travel agent fare because it's impossible for VS to calculate the fare difference.

yes, in the past that's what i've been told too, but it is not quite right, some TA fares upgrade with no issue

VS does allow a TA ticket value to be upgraded for miles (plus tax/surcharge) if it's a W, Y or B, for these the calculation is possible

it's a VS policy decision, nothing to do with ability to perform a calculation, VS was still paid a known amount by TA for the other codes, it simply chooses not to allow it to be used

which is fine, VS has the right to choose which fares can be used for upgrade

but it'd just be nice if at the ticket desk they simply said, "sorry, we can only upgrade a TA ticket if it's W, Y or B", so that you know next time

it does say this on the website, but i missed it for years and only noticed after someone in FC explained what the real rules are (only W, Y, B ), so now i know i need a B!