Free Upgrade, is it a thing of the past?

Before I start, I'm not a freebie grabber, I have flown PE on my last two flights with Virgin. I just wondered if free upgrades are ever given to anyone. My wife and inlaws managed to all get upgraded with Virgin back in the 90's, we were at check-in when it opened and while engaging in friendly banter with the lady checking us in, we asked the question and got upgraded. I guess now, when we have online check-in, seat allocation available 90 days before flying and the airlines charging for extra legroom and exit row seats that this could well be a thing of the past.
Has anyone managed the near impossible, I'd love to hear how you managed it.
Cheers
Steve

Roll on September
, LGW to MCO

Morning
I think the chances of free upgrades these days are pretty slim and would only occur if it was for virgins benefit if they have oversold a particular cabin ,
I'm sure there are far more frequent flyers than myself on here who travel a lot in upper who would tell you about half full cabins
Blacky

I was given a double upgrade on LOT over Christmas on their 787.

Although I was downgraded with BA a few weeks before that so swings and roundabouts!

Though you can trawl the net and find tips for getting upgraded, my opinion is much the same as Blacky's on this one.

My feeling is that VS have got more savvy about this over the years;

- they will aim to to fill seats in advance, using their IT capabilities (stop that sniggering at the back).The dedicated frequent flyer can check for miles based upgrades, and the Manage My Booking system (for a while at least) would sometimes offer up cash upgrades.

- cash based upgrades will be offered on the the day if they want to fill seats

- they can be quite ruthless about consolidating undersold flights

- there's a whole hierarchy of frequent flyer status passengers who will (should) get first dibs on the opportunity to upgrade should VS feel the need to move people around.

Free upgrades do still happen and in the past few years has happened to me a couple of times on American and Emirates, only once on Virgin though. The Virgin case was coming back from Barbados, we had done OLCI fine and were even sitting in our seats in PE, when a member of CC asked to see our boarding passes again. Basically, the day before a lot of people had missed the flight and had been put on the next days flight and so our seats were double booked, my family of 4 were all upgraded to UC. That is very rare though and I don't know whether being Silver FC made a difference to whether we got upgraded or the other family.

Then in another occasion last year at IAD we were unable to do OLCI (A message appeared saying 'sorry you are unable to check-in at this time'). When we got to the airport and explained this the check-in agent said that PE was overbooked. We were asked if we wanted to upgrade to UC ......at the cost of a small house . We declined and were then told that we would be downgraded to economy....in absolute rage my wife flat out refused. This must have helped because we were eventually given our seats in PE. It seems as even if it is their fault in overbooking you still have to pay for an upgrade!!

We were asked if we wanted to upgrade to UC ......at the cost of a small house . We declined and were then told that we would be downgraded to economy

Wow, was that check-in agent huffing glue?? Given the compensation package that has to be given to involuntary downgrades they should have op-upped you to UC with a smile and a dance. Clearly not factoring in a basic cost-benefit ratio there v(

On the upgrade front, agreed with pjh, they are a thing that the benevolent Crawley towers doles out in an apparently random fashion - it is impossible for us to know all the variables at play so figuring out how to play the system is near impossible. Luck helps though y)

My free upgrade record has been quite good over the past few years.. I do tend to travel on busy routes and am a FC AU which probably helps. Although my main upgrade stream comes from using miles at the airport, if there are seats available in higher classes they can create P or G fares for people to upgrade into.

I would say they have it sussed. 8D

Free upgrades do still happen

Per Blacky's reply, the examples you mention are where it was in VS' interests to upgrade you due to overselling rather than a cheeky (in the nicest possible sense) freebie request at check in, which is my reading of the OP's question.

Never expect an upgrade.

Never ask or request an upgrade.

Be polite and engage with the VS staff.

Be smartly dressed and not intoxicated.

Use Expert Flyer to check the cabin loads.

Carry a Au or Ag card, at all times.

Upgrades happen, a lot.

There is a second numerical sequence on your FF card which, I think, defines your priority in the upgrade sequence.

FC and, therefore, check-in know your previous record with VS.

NV

There is a second numerical sequence on your FF card which, I think, defines your priority in the upgrade sequence.

?| ?| Have not heard this before.. do you know which set of numbers?

The first three are the level, 009 as AU for example.. In my time the next set of three has changed too, could those be it or is that a time indicator?

The first three are the level, 009 as AU for example.. In my time the next set of three has changed too, could those be it or is that a time indicator?

Do you mean your number has changed whilst you have maintained your status? I thought it only changed when you went up or down a tier?

Do you mean your number has changed whilst you have maintained your status? I thought it only changed when you went up or down a tier?

Yep, 00900 to 00901 2 renewals back... confused me at the time too and the FC helpline couldn't offer an explanation.. has not changed since though so rules out my time indicator theory.

Interesting...

Maybe you've been marked unsuitable for upgrade.

N
There is a second numerical sequence on your FF card which, I think, defines your priority in the upgrade sequence.

Means nothing. Nor do I even believe gate staff would look at these, or even that VS's systems would list by priority.

I've been 009008... since 2001, and move up from there but the number never changes.

[buns]

As many Gate and Crew seem to not recognise the meaning of 009 printed on Bording Cards, I doubt they would be aware of any sub numbering system

buns

Has anyone ever heard of people being upgraded due to it being a special occasion such as a honeymoon?

A former colleague told me that Thai upgraded her and her husband for free to business class free of charge because it was their honeymoon.

Wouldn't flying out while in school holidays also increase chance? If you're a lone flyer, the airline may want to sit a family together meaning you'll need to move. For example my flights full now (economy that is - VS1 31/03/13). Would they move you up to a higher cabin?

Has anyone ever heard of people being upgraded due to it being a special occasion such as a honeymoon?

A former colleague told me that Thai upgraded her and her husband for free to business class free of charge because it was their honeymoon.

Ha ha ha ha ha no in short, it does not happen often.

Spoken about in this thread

Wouldn't flying out while in school holidays also increase chance? If you're a lone flyer, the airline may want to sit a family together meaning you'll need to move. For example my flights full now (economy that is - VS1 31/03/13). Would they move you up to a higher cabin?

They only whip out the op-ups when the cabins are oversold (and the FFs will get first consideration), not because they are simply full or busy... lone traveller booked into economy? Sounds perfect for one of the middle fours buffering a family of three and one of two.. or how about in between two screaming kids and parents dosed on sleeping pills for added affect

However, as detailed in the link to the thread above, there are exceptions that undoubtedly prove the rule. It is truly a mystery... perhaps a bit of random op-upping here and there keeps everyone guessing and masks something truly simple of cabin oversold = opup the FFs first, followed by whomever else until loads are just right ):

Has anyone ever heard of people being upgraded due to it being a special occasion such as a honeymoon?

A former colleague told me that Thai upgraded her and her husband for free to business class free of charge because it was their honeymoon.

Ha ha ha ha ha no in short, it does not happen often.

Spoken about in this thread

Wouldn't flying out while in school holidays also increase chance? If you're a lone flyer, the airline may want to sit a family together meaning you'll need to move. For example my flights full now (economy that is - VS1 31/03/13). Would they move you up to a higher cabin?

They only whip out the op-ups when the cabins are oversold (and the FFs will get first consideration), not because they are simply full or busy... lone traveller booked into economy? Sounds perfect for one of the middle fours buffering a family of three and one of two.. or how about in between two screaming kids and parents dosed on sleeping pills for added affect

However, as detailed in the link to the thread above, there are exceptions that undoubtedly prove the rule. It is truly a mystery... perhaps a bit of random op-upping here and there keeps everyone guessing and masks something truly simple of cabin oversold = opup the FFs first, followed by whomever else until loads are just right ):

Having only been able to get 64K I have to have hope! Would be a nice treat especially flying with Virgin for the first time.

Having only been able to get 64K I have to have hope! Would be a nice treat especially flying with Virgin for the first time.

Hmm, 64K is enough for an upgrade or two.... on the VS1 one way upgrades: 10K miles from Eco to PE and 20K from Eco to UC (from upgradeable fare buckets that is ) . Always worth an enquiry at the airport, have hope and good luck 8D

Having only been able to get 64K I have to have hope! Would be a nice treat especially flying with Virgin for the first time.

Hmm, 64K is enough for an upgrade or two.... on the VS1 one way upgrades: 10K miles from Eco to PE and 20K from Eco to UC (from upgradeable fare buckets that is ) . Always worth an enquiry at the airport, have hope and good luck 8D

Joey..methinks OP is relating to seat numbers, not availbale FC miles! |:)

Joey..methinks OP is relating to seat numbers, not availbale FC miles! |:)

Ha ha ha ha, my bad...

64 K is not a bad seat.. at the back yes, still a window seat and near the galley should additional food and drink be required, lol. Just hoping the OP is not a selective eater

Newark customs is typically fast moving from the VS1, so assuming no plane delays the wait should not be too long.. having hope

Having only been able to get 64K I have to have hope! Would be a nice treat especially flying with Virgin for the first time.

Hmm, 64K is enough for an upgrade or two.... on the VS1 one way upgrades: 10K miles from Eco to PE and 20K from Eco to UC (from upgradeable fare buckets that is ) . Always worth an enquiry at the airport, have hope and good luck 8D

I'm on an X fare ticket though? Not upgradeable I believe. But I will be inquiring about how many PE seats are left for a cash upgrade. But having looked on Flightstats.com I think my flight is very close to being full.

I'm on an X fare ticket though? Not upgradeable I believe. But I will be inquiring about how many PE seats are left for a cash upgrade. But having looked on Flightstats.com I think my flight is very close to being full.

Not on the offset nope. At the airport they can calculate the amount to convert it into an M fare to then upgrade.

Sometimes it is cheaper to go for the straight cash upgrade, but if you have some miles spare it is better to ask as they may offer a deal or two.... have been offered all sorts over the years, from 2 for 1 upgrades to cheapest upgrade available on the sheet regardless of destination (only had this at LHR so far)

Hope you manage to get a bit further forward ):

Means nothing. Nor do I even believe gate staff would look at these, or even that VS's systems would list by priority.
I've been 009008... since 2001, and move up from there but the number never changes.

Slinky

My FF card number hasn't changed but the secondary number printed vertically on the rear of the card has progressively decreased every time that I've renewed Au.

VS are more likely to upgrade FF card carriers and they must have a system that allows them to pick and choose which ones over the others.

I agree that it depends on cabin loads and overbooking but I don'y think the upgrade process is, in anyway, random.

See you on Saturday!

My FF card number hasn't changed but the secondary number printed vertically on the rear of the card has progressively decreased every time that I've renewed Au.

A fun thought, and got to say, you have found some numbers I have in the past taken no notice of..

Here is the kicker... I have two AU cards for the current membership year (don't ask ii) ) and this little code is very diff on both of them, very diff as the letter and number sequence are in no way related or similar ?| Perhaps simple production markings?

I have a feeling that the best hiding place in this case is not in plain sight 8D