Best Way To Get An Upgrade ?

As I have previously posted in some thread or other, a very close relative of mine had a wedding overseas - all flights for the weddingparty (in BA First and Club) where paid for by the Brides family as was part of the wedding - we all had a great time and fab memories and at no time did the Father expect to get anything special back from the wedding planners or BA - the fact he got a lovely 'gift for life' from BA was an unexpected but appreciated gesture.

Hackneyguy

I'd actually like to disagree on the matter of down grading the importance and the value of the chocolate fountain in all this debate!!!!!

luv

Cloudscudder

Never thought to ask if I can get an upgrade when Mrs DA and I went on our honeymoon. Considering that we got married in Vegas, somehow I think the check-in staff probably heard that line million times before. [:w]

quote:Originally posted by Cloudscudder
I'd actually like to disagree on the matter of down grading the importance and the value of the chocolate fountain in all this debate!!!!!
luv
Cloudscudder


Absolutely...

Especially when chocolate fountain involves 3 bridesmaids...[}:)]

NH

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion



Oh what a fab image !

Any chance of a larger version or transcript of the text?


Sure - I can sort them out when I get home tonight. It is from an ad campaign in 2002, some of the others are just as good.

quote:Originally posted by northernhenry
quote:Originally posted by Cloudscudder
I'd actually like to disagree on the matter of down grading the importance and the value of the chocolate fountain in all this debate!!!!!
luv
Cloudscudder


Absolutely...

Especially when chocolate fountain involves 3 bridesmaids...[}:)]

NH


Oh dear ... [oo]

We booked Virgin Holidays for our wedding in Vegas and it was my 40th birthday and we never got one single acknowledgement from anywhere that it was our wedding/honeymoon or my 40th. Despite knowing it was our honeymoon we were put in a twin bedded room in Vegas, Hawaii and San Francisco, we weren't best pleased! That was 3 years ago now.

I've just come back from New York and a very empty VS18 and I've sent an email to Virgin Flying club saying that I have 3 more trips booked with them this year and a bit of acknowledgement of our support of them in these difficult economic times would be appreciated, why not upgrade people on empty planes? Perhaps they should upgrade people on empty planes, what does it matter to them whether someone is sleeping in a bed instead of sprawled across 3 seats in economy?

On a point about spending money on flying Upper Class instead of having a big wedding. My husband will never, whilst he has breath in his body, pay Upper Class as he said we get there in the same time anyway! We didn't want a big wedding either so that 'wasted' money was used as a deposit for our very nice big house which is far more useful. We have fantastic memories of our Elvis, they are priceless! We've flown PE a few times but only because they've been free upgrades from the AMEX card.

As it has been said it's purely down to personal preference and it may be negative but from experience don't expect anything from VH or VS to mark any occasion.

Anita

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
..... why not upgrade people on empty planes?

Quite simply because if people thought there was a better than even chance of getting a free upgrade, why would they buy tickets for PE or UC?

[:D]


Nick

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
I've just come back from New York and a very empty VS18 and I've sent an email to Virgin Flying club saying that I have 3 more trips booked with them this year and a bit of acknowledgement of our support of them in these difficult economic times would be appreciated, why not upgrade people on empty planes? Perhaps they should upgrade people on empty planes, what does it matter to them whether someone is sleeping in a bed instead of sprawled across 3 seats in economy?





Can you please explain the business logic of upgrading passengers on 'empty' planes ? I must really be missing something there [:?][:w]

[HighFlyer]

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
it's purely down to personal preference


Absolutely. But as Richard and others have stated, if you do not wish to spend the required amount of money on your flight then do you really have the right to expect (possibly even ask?) for an upgrade?.

As for upgrading passengers on planes, quite simply, if I have paid a lot of money for a ticket in a cabin I would be mightily annoyed to see people being upgraded for free. Its a devaluation.

Thanks,
Sarah

To be very honest with you the UC seating is about the most unromantic set up on the planet for couples travelling together. By nature of the pod's design you are very isolated from everyone and in my humble (and slightly romatic opinion) PE in this situation really is the best option if you want to be with loved ones and dare I say it hold hands etc etc.... enough said. I am absolutely sure the CC would make the trip special for you in any cabin class onboard

luv

Cloudscudder

As ground staff I'm used to hearing the 'we're on our honeymoon, can we have an upgrade/is there anything you can do?' of course, I can't. Personally I think it's like going to buy a new mini and then asking for an even better car for the same money.
Really the only way you may get it is if you know someone who works for/with virgin who can get in a good word with someone high up. But as cloudscudder said, PE is best for couple UC is better for people travelling alone or maybe people who have travelled so much they don't mind sharing the odd word across a cabin.

My word what a lot of whingeing about getting free upgrades just because you're getting married or the plane is empty - I guess when you go to Tesco on Saturday you should be saying 'I see no one is buying the champagne, why don't you give it to me for free?' just to be consistent ... see what they say, or perhaps you already know [:w]

Before the OP gets too depressed, if anyone is going to recognise honeymooners - it's the hotel.
The airline, that's there to get you from A to B, and will be getting people from A to B whether you travel with them or not. I envy airlines in one aspect because they can command such great rates for a seat! A seat! For eight hours.
Hotels on the other hand... are in business to make you as comfortable as possible. And they are in a competitive business, so they want you to come back to them.
So let them know, in a nice way that it is your honeymoon, and any hotel worth it's salt will mark this is one way or another.

Oh yes, before I forget...
Congratulations!

most amusing scene I've ever witnessed at an airport was whilst we were going on honeymoon, on a BA charter flight to the Bahamas with BA holidays, had economy, WTP and ClubWorld classes from which you could choose to buy.

A couple showed up, went straight into the Club queue (which we were next to in the WTP queue) and gave across their WTP tickets. No upgrade at the desk, but they tried using the honeymoon and wedding certificate to try ...

went to the gate, they hung around joking with the staff, again getting out their wedding cert and showing off their ring and casually dropping in the joke of 'only thing that could make it better would be an upgrade HAHAHAHA' ... emabarrasing and didnt work either.

Finally got on the plane and they were sitting behind us, they called the CSD over asked for champagne and if there was possibly any room in Club for an upgrade as they were honeymooners .... CSD loudly replied that she knew they were honeymooners, she'd been told at the gate that seats x and y were a honeymoon couple and then she said so are the couple behind, the couple next to you, infront of you, and occupying about 75% of the aircraft - you are not alone .... I nearly wet myself they were so put in their place!

and the final most gratifying moment was when the couple across the isle had a broken seat and were wooshed up to Club whilst these 2 fumed!

Amazingly they tried the same tactics on the way back ... I'm suprised the crew didnt give them a happy slap.

quote:Originally posted by Islander

Amazingly they tried the same tactics on the way back ... I'm suprised the crew didnt give them a happy slap.


I bet you wanted to slap them too and I bet they told all their friends about how horrible BA treated them - how they woulnd't give then an upgrade but how they did to the other couple ... how it ruined their honeymoon ...

quote:Originally posted by Islander
most amusing scene I've ever witnessed at an airport was whilst we were going on honeymoon, on a BA charter flight to the Bahamas with BA holidays, had economy, WTP and ClubWorld classes from which you could choose to buy.

A couple showed up, went straight into the Club queue (which we were next to in the WTP queue) and gave across their WTP tickets. No upgrade at the desk, but they tried using the honeymoon and wedding certificate to try ...

went to the gate, they hung around joking with the staff, again getting out their wedding cert and showing off their ring and casually dropping in the joke of 'only thing that could make it better would be an upgrade HAHAHAHA' ... emabarrasing and didnt work either.

Finally got on the plane and they were sitting behind us, they called the CSD over asked for champagne and if there was possibly any room in Club for an upgrade as they were honeymooners .... CSD loudly replied that she knew they were honeymooners, she'd been told at the gate that seats x and y were a honeymoon couple and then she said so are the couple behind, the couple next to you, infront of you, and occupying about 75% of the aircraft - you are not alone .... I nearly wet myself they were so put in their place!

and the final most gratifying moment was when the couple across the isle had a broken seat and were wooshed up to Club whilst these 2 fumed!

Amazingly they tried the same tactics on the way back ... I'm suprised the crew didnt give them a happy slap.


Thats only the best story i have ever heard fell of my seat laughing so hard, would love to have been there![:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)]

cheers

alex

The reality, at least with VAA, is that the best chances of getting an upgrade, roughly in order, tend to be;

- Route/Load.
- Having family/friend at VAA who can influence an upgrade for you.
- Frequent Flyer Status being Gold, then Silver, then Red.
- Class of Fare (i.e. lowest fare class will be at the back of the queue for any upgrages etc).
- Being in an oversold cabin plus the above conditions being met.
- Last minute Op-Up for miscellaneous reasons.
- Sneaking forward once the lights are out [}:)].

woz099, where do you fit in to the above appx hierarchy [:?]?

BTW, asking for an upgrade will probably have the opposite effect to that desired!

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:
Having family/friend at VAA who can influence an upgrade for you.


I'd disagree with that. I doubt VS would look too kindly on employees randomly upgrading family/friends. Whilst it may happen, the words 'disciplinary action' spring to mind.[:w]

My logic of upgrading on empty planes is that it's good customer service and it would keep me happy and still flying with Virgin.

I've had Silver membership for 3 years, I've not once had an upgrade at the airport, I've not once been acknowledged as a silver cardholder, infact I've had Virgin operative been quite rude when I've tried to use the 'queue in Premium line instead of economy' benefit. I'm getting absolutely nothing for my Silver membership which is basically costing me 6,000 a year to maintain (which is more than my annual mortgage payments) and a free upgrade would have stopped me from transferring my allegiance to another carrier.

Depending on their reply (in the mandatory 28 days, which is appauling customer service) I will decide which airline to book my next flight with.

Again this is purely my personal opinion and the comparison of getting a free bottle of champagne that could sit on the shelf for years is not the same as getting on an empty plane, it's a one hit deal, they haven't sold the seats on that plane so to keep their loyal customer base happy why not fill the seats.

Anita

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
My logic of upgrading on empty planes is that it's good customer service and it would keep me happy and still flying with Virgin.

I've had Silver membership for 3 years, I've not once had an upgrade at the airport, I've not once been acknowledged as a silver cardholder,

Not true - for your loyality you get a silver card and the benefits that it brings with it (higher mileage earning, use of PE checkin, LGW and LHR express train upgrades to First class).

To be honest their must be thousands and thousands of silver card holders which are relativley easy to obtain compared to other airlines such as BA - I would personally view a regular VS customer as one that has a Gold card and as such Virgin should be doing their best to retain their loyality first and foremost e.g. when 'free' op ups are given out or a glass of champagne when in one of the economy cabins.

Hackneyguy

[Darren Wheeler]

To be honest, I'd start looking for another airline to book with now if I were you.

Demanding an upgrade just because you have flown several times and have AG membership is highly unlikely to work. There are many AU members who spend a lot more and fly more often who have never had an Op-Up.

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
but why do so many people spend a small fortune on a wedding and then fly themselves away in Economy on honeymoon and hope/ask for an upgrade? For such a 'special occasion' surely treating yourself and your new husband/wife is worth more than the posh flowers, chocolate fountain or four bridesmaids on the day? I know what I'd rather spend my hard-earned on and I am surprised that more couples do not think the same?

Don't quite agree with this. The wedding in itself is a memorable occasion and will stay with you for the rest of your life. A trip in UC will come and go and probably forgotten by the following week. I sure wouldn't go with Sainsburys flowers and a packet of Cadburys choc & nut for my guests so I can fly UC on my honeymoon.

quote:Originally posted by Alex V


Thats only the best story i have ever heard fell of my seat laughing so hard, would love to have been there![:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)]

cheers

alex



I think we and the other 300 0dd passengers thought they were the inflight entertainment ..... it was so cringing you actually felt yourself slinking into the seat with embarrassment at their efforts.

Basically to the OP - thousands of people get married every day, generally those people get on a plane and go on honeymoon. Did you get a free upgrade with your wedding food? Did your wedding night hotel give you a deal on the wedding suite? Did the wedding cars and suit hire place give you discount as it was for a wedding ???

No - of course they didnt, you get what you pay for. If you do get upgrades feel VERY lucky, DO NOT ask and sure as hell don't feel that as its your honeymoon it would be a nice treat for you ...... the airlines see hundreds of honeymoon couples every day, why on earth would they give you a free product for nothing? The first people they'd be bumping up are those on gold cards who they make money off constantly through the year.

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
I'm getting absolutely nothing for my Silver membership which is basically costing me 6,000 a year to maintain (which is more than my annual mortgage payments)


6000 a year to maintain? You need 10 TP's to renew Ag membership, so 3 round trips in economy to NYC would do it, at say 300 per flight, so less than 1k. You could also do it with 1 UC round trip, again a Z to NYC can be anywhere from 1000-1200, so your figures seem mighty high!

As the others have said, Ag membership is so easy and cheap to get/renew it can be done by someone showing hardly any loyalty to VS, and one of the reasons why I imagine you will never have received an op-up from it.