Op Up's: What do VS look at when considering them?

Hello!

Really enjoying this fantastic site!

I'm keen to understand how VS rewards loyalty and if op up's (rare as they re) do happen to AG and AU FC members.

My view has always been that where a situation occurs where VS need to complete an op up (overbooked cabin etc) they will print off a list of FC members on the flight and give preference to AU first, then AG members.

However, in reality, those who I have seen receive an op up have always been either new to the airline or non-FC members - which always makes me wonder, do VS really only look at who is booked on the highest fare code that day or celebrating a birthday, rather than the bigger picture of status?

I know it's anecdotal, but I'd just be really interested to hear of your personal experiences and thoughts? Perhaps you've seen op ups happen frequently?

The question is, for the 40 TP it costs you achieve (& now maintain AU), do you really get recognised for your loyalty where opportunity arises? (I appreciate an op up is not a specific benefit of AU)

Cal

[Neil]

When we got our op-up from Y to W at Easter it was because Y was very full and they needed to sit families together, and we were both Au FC members. So, it seems to back up everything I have always been led to believe, they move people only when they have to and Au get priority.

Of course, I am sure there are many different accounts to mine.

Neil

From my own experiences of this, when I have received OP ups the flights have been full and each time it has been mentioned I have been upgraded because of my AU status. y)

Jon

in reality, those who I have seen receive an op up have always been either new to the airline or non-FC members

Guilty! My only op-up happened on my first-ever VS flight, and I wasn't then a FC member. I was flying PE to New York. I can't recall the exact details but an American airline had grounded its entire fleet of a certain aircraft type, and so loads of its passengers were put onto the VS flight.

Since then I have never had any recognition of status or loyalty whatsoever, despite undertaking almost all long-haul travel with VS.

I don't mind, though -- if I pay for mince I don't expect to get fillet steak.

[mitchja]

I've had several op-ups due to the VS check-in software assigning the same seat number to more than 1 person. Been AU meant I got the op-up as apposed to the other pax.

This has happened at LHR and at IAD twice now. The IAD one was total chaos as something like 12 pax had all been assigned 6 seat numbers between them. I'd already been op-up'ed from Y to W whilst waiting in the lounge but had been given the same W seat as another pax. In that case we where both AU but the other pax was on a higher fare code than me so they got the op-up to J. There was lots of shuffling around that day as the flight was full.

Only op-up was to J to CPT on first VS flight...and honeymoon, but to be fair had desired effect still here 10 years on...

As guilty recipients of a number of op-upgrades, I believe that the upgrade is based on the booking and take-up of the cabin in which you are already booked (and the cabin behind this), the availability of seats in the cabin in front, your Red/Ag/Au flying club membership and the additional code on your card which, I believe, signifies your position in the ultimate order of pecking.

NV

Certainly from what I have heard, op-ups are based on necessity, rather than 'we have space, let's use this as an opportunity to reward our loyal AUs' from Virgin. The interestring point seems to be that VS staff appear to be a bit more clued up around prioritising AU/AGs from the US than from the UK, although I stress this is anecdotal only.

As an AU, I've never had the pleasure myself, and frankly mever expect to, as the only time I travel outside UC is during the school hols and with family in tow.

That said if any VS staff are listening, I'm open to offers

The one other thing I would add here is that, having been on the periphery of work around the ealy development of the Tesco clubcard in the 90s, I'm fairly well aware of the power of trend analysis. So on that basis, you might think that someone that regularly travels UC (and can see via our booking agent that they are not working in one of the more 'impoverished' professions), yet takes their family on holiday in Y, would be worth the punt of an op-up to PE in the hope that they would pay for it next time round.

Anyway, I'm sure many people could construct equally convincing arguments for being upgraded, so rant over

My most recent op-up was from Y to W. I had paid for the exit row seat and while boarding I received the magical tone from the BP scanner... I figured Y must have been pretty full and I was probably one of the few AU card holders in Y.
During the flight I took a walk back to the Y section and saw my exit row seat was unoccupied, and it stayed that way for the entire flight. Not sure how it was operationally necessary to upgrade me, but you certainly won't see me complaining either!

FB

I got a surprise upgrade once when I was red FC member. It was from Man to MCO & I was upgraded from PE to Club as it was at that time. I have no idea whether my seats in PE were taken up as I never went back to look.

Katie

When we have been opuped, just being "the right people in the right place at the right time" (oversold flights, checking in fairly late, generally upgraded at check-in) - no elite FF status.

Both on VS and BA (economy to business - both times completely missing out WT+/PE) and UA (J to F).

Boo

When just travelling as a 'two' rather than with the family, I've been upgraded four times in 9 years. Each time we had purchased a sale PE seat (so discounted) and my FC status has never got past silver. Right place at the right time perhaps on those ocassions y) .

When doing a lot of travel to the US a few years back both for business and pleasure, I had 4 return flights to either New York or Washington over the summer. On 7 out of the 8 flights, I got bumped up from W to J. Needless to say, on that final flight on the way home, I sulked the entire way home I mean - I was at the front row of PE on the upper deck. I could almost see the UC pax in front of me! humph!
Then more recently, on a heavily discounted W fare to SFO on holiday with a mate of mine, we got the magical bing at the gate, and got up'd to J again. Shame - I had been up all night the night before and was too knackered to enjoy it - I promptly fell asleep for the whole flight. I did go back and check, and W was by no means full, and our formerly assigned seats were empty, so who knows what made them upgrade us then. It was much appreciated though! We also got an offer to upgrade for 20,000 miles each on the way home, with only the difference in taxes to be paid. A bit of a no-brainer there

Been upgraded quite a few times and only a FC Red Member, but travelling with our friends one year, their first time on VS and so obviously not FC members, we all checked in together and they got upgraded to PE and we didn't, or at least me and lacey senior didn't, our daughter was upgraded actually on the aircraft because her friend was upset at being parted for the flight and the crew took pity on her

thelaceys

The first VS flight we ever took we were upgraded at the gate, from Gatwick to St Lucia. No status, no flying club account and the holiday was booked through an agent. We just go to the gate and the very kind lady crossed out our seat numbers and wrote on two seat numbers, which were in the bubble. Needless to say, we were both very happy. Kind of worked for VS though, as we enjoyed the experience so much, we always try and fly PE now, so we have certainly spent more. I couldn't tell you if the flight was full/half empty, but just imagine it was the right place at the right time. I do remember we were one of the last people to board the plane, so whether that has anything to do with it, i'm not sure.

Hi
Have followed this site for a few years and you guys have been excellent with your advice, some of which has helped me a huge amount. Many thanks
Anyway to topic, We got lucky a couple of years ago when a seat clash in PE (IAD flight) worked in my favour and the four of us went to UC, again last Dec with the LHR snow problem on OLCI we were to the pointy bit from PE, however LHR boys couldn't move the snow and we lost out totally on both the flight and trip. Our last bit of luck was last month when the LGW 747 incident caused our MCO flight to be operated by a LHR 747 and we were moved to the nose, again from PE.
My wife thinks its because I have been silver for a few years (which might help) but I just think we have been lucky.
Vegas on Xmas day is the next flight with VS, fingers crossed for a present from santa SRB...!