Best Way To Get An Upgrade ?

Given the choice I know I would rather choose a PE/UC seat rather than a fancy wedding, especially if it is your first PE/UC trip it would really make it special. [y]

That being said I took the parents with us to my cousins wedding in Miami 5 years ago, we were flying in PE, and my mother being the person she is spoke to the gate agent about an upgrade as it was her ruby wedding and the first time they had flown for 25 years [xx(] (Whilst I shriveled in a corner of embarrassment). Whilst we boarded as normal 5 mins after we took our seats a FA came over and spoke quietly and invited us to the front of the plane. [y]

Have to say I would never have done this myself and if I want an UC seat I do like the rest of the posters ...pay cash or use every means possible to get miles to upgrade.

Celebrating your Ruby wedding anniversary is far more worthy of an upgrade than being married for a mere couple of hours !

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by sky0000547

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.


So by the very nature you have answered the question. Flying in UC is not a memorable occasion in this isntance, so why expect an upgrade. Life is about compromises - if your budget allows for a flash wedding and a good honeymoon, then great. If you choose to splash the cash on the 500 wedding cake, 250+ guests at 50+ head etc, and then book Economy or PE for the honeymoon - you have made your own bed, so lay in it. Don't expect a gesture from the airline.

As to the other persons comments about being Ag and never getting an upgrade, and why don't the airline upgrade people if the seats are empty - well, I'll reply when I have stopped laughing and have picked myself up off the floor fully.

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
Celebrating your Ruby wedding anniversary is far more worthy of an upgrade than being married for a mere couple of hours !


[oo][oo]

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
Celebrating your Ruby wedding anniversary is far more worthy of an upgrade than being married for a mere couple of hours !


Believe me - those celebrating a 'divorce' are more worth of an upgrade [:I]

Just to put my 2c worth in, on our honeymoon we booked J Class as many have said, check in agents must get every other couple asking for an upgrade for one reason or another. If you want to enjoy Business Class and all that if offers, book a seat and try it! It's well worth it IMO!

Enjoy the wedding and honeymoon.

Dominic

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by DMetters-Bone
Just to put my 2c worth in, on our honeymoon we booked J Class as many have said, check in agents must get every other couple asking for an upgrade for one reason or another. If you want to enjoy Business Class and all that if offers, book a seat and try it! It's well worth it IMO!



See DMB, if you had spent less on flowers you could have both gone in F..... [:w]

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
quote:Originally posted by DMetters-Bone
Just to put my 2c worth in, on our honeymoon we booked J Class as many have said, check in agents must get every other couple asking for an upgrade for one reason or another. If you want to enjoy Business Class and all that if offers, book a seat and try it! It's well worth it IMO!



See DMB, if you had spent less on flowers you could have both gone in F..... [:w]


I know my bouquet was rather expensive......I had to slum it in J!!!! Oh the shame. [}:)]

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
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 ...





bet you're spot on there![y]

it does make me smile, people who get all het up about not being upgraded if there are empty seats on the flight ....

as someone earlier put it best - that would totally devalue the cost the regular passengers had paid for the UC seats and would encourage people to checkin for quiet flights, pay economy fare and expect a bump up.

Why can people not just get what they pay for and be content?? You never get upgraded food in a restaurant, upgraded groceries in a supermarket, an upgraded car at the dealership,

why does flying make people think they should be rewarded and given stuff for free? I dont get it. Nice when it happens but we sure as heck never expect or think it should be given to us. And when we do fly UC having paid for it it does peeve me when we see people upgraded, they get what we get for less than half the price, yes that does bug me!

Have been reading this thread with interest. How I have laughed. In my opinion it is all about you get what you pay for - if you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
quote:Originally posted by sky0000547

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.


So by the very nature you have answered the question. Flying in UC is not a memorable occasion in this isntance, so why expect an upgrade. Life is about compromises - if your budget allows for a flash wedding and a good honeymoon, then great. If you choose to splash the cash on the 500 wedding cake, 250+ guests at 50+ head etc, and then book Economy or PE for the honeymoon - you have made your own bed, so lay in it. Don't expect a gesture from the airline.

As to the other persons comments about being Ag and never getting an upgrade, and why don't the airline upgrade people if the seats are empty - well, I'll reply when I have stopped laughing and have picked myself up off the floor fully.


Please check carefully before replying. I am not the one expecting an upgrade nor did I in my entire life ever asked for any sorts of upgrade. Besides when I am organising my own wedding whether I am flying UC to my honeymoon would be the least of my concern.

It's also worth noting. that if people are moved into another cabin, there are tax implications that need to be paid.

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by sky0000547

Please check carefully before replying. I am not the one expecting an upgrade nor did I in my entire life ever asked for any sorts of upgrade. Besides when I am organising my own wedding whether I am flying UC to my honeymoon would be the least of my concern.


No but I was commenting on your statement about not agreeing with HighFlyer's post.

What gets me most in all this is the fact that it has been totally lost on everyone in this thread ..... the fact the poor maligned Chocolate fountain seems to have been just totally forgotten as if it doesn't really matter to anyone any more!!!!

Maybe an onboard champagne fountain from which newly weds can drink from is a half way house and there is a natural champers synergy between Virgin and newly weds is there not........obviously this type of fountain is not as good to dip one's Pretzels or cheese and biscuits in as chocolate one but hey if they are soon going to be withdrawn these mini snacks does it really matter in the greater scheme of things.

Yes, to those that will ask the question, I have considered the risk of the aircraft banking and the effect on the flow of chocolate and champagn but in situations like this one really does need to throw caution to the wind and live on the edge!

luv

a concerned Cloudscudder [:w]

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by Cloudscudder
What gets me most in all this is the fact that it has been totally lost on everyone in this thread ..... the fact the poor maligned Chocolate fountain seems to have been just totally forgotten as if it doesn't really matter to anyone any more!!!!

Maybe an onboard champagne fountain from which newly weds can drink from is a half way house and there is a natural champers synergy between Virgin and newly weds is there not........obviously this type of fountain is not as good to dip one's Pretzels or cheese and biscuits in as chocolate one but hey if they are soon going to be withdrawn these mini snacks does it really matter in the greater scheme of things.

Yes, to those that will ask the question, I have considered the risk of the aircraft banking and the effect on the flow of chocolate and champagn but in situations like this one really does need to throw caution to the wind and live on the edge!

luv

a concerned Cloudscudder [:w]


Get in line - no chance of this right now, we're still waiting for the return of:

a) The little red cushions
b) the flowers on the bar
c) the IFBT
d) Guaranteed complement of limes for Upper

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion

Get in line - no chance of this right now, we're still waiting for the return of:

d) Guaranteed complement of limes for Upper


That reminds me, I better buy a load [:p]

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:Originally posted by Wolves27
quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion

Get in line - no chance of this right now, we're still waiting for the return of:

d) Guaranteed complement of limes for Upper


That reminds me, I better buy a load [:p]


And have them confiscated by security as they are more than 100ml...

I'll be relying on the CH bar to fill my clip-n-seal box with the green citrus fruit for my T10 & Tonic.

I thought this was an open forum for people to express their opinions not to be ridiculed by the regulars!

Anita

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
I thought this was an open forum for people to express their opinions not to be ridiculed by the regulars!

Anita


I've not replied fully yet....[:w]

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
I thought this was an open forum for people to express their opinions not to be ridiculed by the regulars!

Anita


It is Anita and people are entitled to their opinion, but they must also be able to accept that others might have a different opinion.

Your moan about VS not giving you free upgrades because you are a 'Silver FC' member, is just frankly, absurd. If you think you will get free upgrades with being BA silver (which is a lot more difficult to get that VS Silver, and more like VS Gold) then I think you will be left very disappointed.

The 'regulars' as you put it, are a very knowledgeable bunch, who were trying to explain why your argument doesn't wash, if you choose to ignore that, then that is your choice.

quote:Originally posted by 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]


not quite true, if you see the right person it can happen, failing that you can at least get the best seats in the cabin you booked.

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:Originally posted by Lizz
quote:Originally posted by 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]


not quite true, if you see the right person it can happen, failing that you can at least get the best seats in the cabin you booked.


regardless of whoever may have already requested them?

quote:Originally posted by Lizz
quote:Originally posted by 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]


not quite true, if you see the right person it can happen, failing that you can at least get the best seats in the cabin you booked.


I had a long discussion with a FSM about this when I witnessed a whole bunch of friends and family of staff moving forward into UC, when I had asked for a Mileage Upgrade, and was told no. I also was on a fully flexible W cost ticket.

What I learned was that the staff on board cannot upgrade people without an operational issue, otherwise it could get the member of staff into trouble. The people with the power to upgrade are the ground crew.

I have received 1 upgrade as a Silver member from Y to PE, as Y was full. I have received 1 upgrade as a Gold member to UC from PE as PE was full. I have been Gold since Dec 2006, and completed over 65 flights since Dec 06. Even as a Gold member, the chances of an upgrade are slim, and in my experience are entirely down to operational needs.

I no longer feel like an upgrade should ever come my way when I travel, if it does ever happen, then great. I did think that my loyalty should be rewarded, but try and cop a view of the lists of passengers each Cabin Crew have in their station, as there are usually plenty of other Gold flyers sitting in your part of the plane.

Mark

yeah I meant ground staff, obviously if someone needs the bulkhead say fair enough but the exits are usually left avaliable until the day but if you get in before that they can be assigned so could be given to friends/family if you ask, I've never known them not to.

quote:Originally posted by Neatfeat
I thought this was an open forum for people to express their opinions not to be ridiculed by the regulars!

Anita

No one's ridiculing you Anita, honest. If you want to see ridiculing, you should take at look at some of things we say to and about Neil...

This is just a (relatively) healthy exchange of opinions, which everyone ought to be pretty much entitled to.