Miles upgrade at the airport

Hi V-Flyer,

First real forum post apart from itineraries

My wife and I are traveling SFO to LHR in PE on 7th May. We 'bought' the tickets using miles (P fare code). My wife is 24 weeks pregnant so I'm really hoping that I'll be able to upgrade at least her to UC using miles at the airport so that the journey will be a lot easier on her back.

My question is how early would you recommend getting to the airport to have the best chance of getting a miles upgrade?

Thanks in advance,

Jamie Loberman

p.s. We have UC coming back on the 1st June so if anyone happens to be flying and wants to join us in the clubhouse we'd be happy to take you in.

The desks at SFO open 4 hours before the flight is due to depart.

Thanks for the replies. I did call customer service before I booked the PE tickets hoping that they might release an UC seat but no joy. They just suggested that I book the PE seats and try our luck at the airport.

I am assuming that turning up at the airport 4 hours early will increase our chances ...

only in that IF there are upgrades available then yes but there are no guarantees they will be.

Yep..... be preparred for t PE flight...... would not get my hope up of upgrade at all... then if it does come off it is a bonus.

They always more inclined to take any cash offers they can get so even arriving early chanced are reduced. Would certainly try to be one of first checking in though.

Hmm

Just done a load check and seen a grand old total of (at least) 8 revenue seats left in UC for your flight.. Assuming this number holds the check-in desks can free up some seats for mileage upgrades.

I feel I do have to highlight that this is a very popular route, therefore there may be a push from the top to flog these to cash paying customers - in that case arriving at check-in as soon as it opens and making your case to the staff should increase your odds of upgrading with miles.

Good luck 8D

Thanks everyone. We'll get there as early as we can and hopefully they'll release at least one seat. For anyone who's interested I'll report back what happens.

Jamie and Abbey.

Jamie - talk to the supervisor on duty (usually hanging around) if there are no miles upgrades, rather than just the normal check-in desk staff, or at least ask them to let him/her know. Even if there are no upgrades available when you check in, he/she might remember later that you were willing to do a miles upgrade, or make a kind gesture, but remember to ask nicely, say please and thank-you.

Will do!

I'm happy to report that I'm writing this from the SFO clubhouse. We got here 4 hours early as suggested, explained the situation (being as polite, happy and smiley and we possibly could) and went on the waitlist. Since arriving, every single member of the Virgin staff here has been amazing.

A great result and a great reminder of why we're loyal Virgin flyers. Thanks for the input everyone!

Jamie

I'm happy to report that I'm writing this from the SFO clubhouse. We got here 4 hours early as suggested, explained the situation (being as polite, happy and smiley and we possibly could) and went on the waitlist. Since arriving, every single member of the Virgin staff here has been amazing.

A great result and a great reminder of why we're loyal Virgin flyers. Thanks for the input everyone!

Jamie

Great result.

I'm happy to report that I'm writing this from the SFO clubhouse. We got here 4 hours early as suggested, explained the situation (being as polite, happy and smiley and we possibly could) and went on the waitlist. Since arriving, every single member of the Virgin staff here has been amazing.

A great result and a great reminder of why we're loyal Virgin flyers. Thanks for the input everyone!

Jamie

So you both upgraded with miles in the end, or just got invited into the clubhouse to wait around...

Have a great time in the UK.

We paid our way into the clubhouse to wait on the waiting list and then around an hour before the flight were told we both had miles upgraded seats. They voided the charge for the lounge and took the miles and taxes!

Result!

We paid our way into the clubhouse to wait on the waiting list and then around an hour before the flight were told we both had miles upgraded seats. They voided the charge for the lounge and took the miles and taxes!

Nice one, hope you both enjoyed it all 8D

How much did you have to pay to get into the clubhouse? Can any Virgin flyer pay to get into the Clubhouse if flying another class other than UC?

How much did you have to pay to get into the clubhouse? Can any Virgin flyer pay to get into the Clubhouse if flying another class other than UC?

It's at their discretion and I think it depends on the loads (I'll let someone more knowledgeable than me confirm that). When she picked up the phone to check her words were "Are we accepting PE passengers in to the clubhouse?"

We paid $60 each but they voided that when they I paid the additional taxes on the upgrade.

We paid $60 each but they voided that when they I paid the additional taxes on the upgrade.

If they said you had to pay extra 'taxes' they they were telling porkies and what they were really charging you was the VS imposed own fuel surcharge.

But congrats on getting the upgrade and I hope you and your good lady enjoy your visit to our shores !

We paid $60 each but they voided that when they I paid the additional taxes on the upgrade.

If they said you had to pay extra 'taxes' they they were telling porkies and what they were really charging you was the VS imposed own fuel surcharge.

But congrats on getting the upgrade and I hope you and your good lady enjoy your visit to our shores !

Sorry, fuel surcharge is what I meant. I just lumped it in with taxes in my mind!

We paid our way into the clubhouse to wait on the waiting list and then around an hour before the flight were told we both had miles upgraded seats. They voided the charge for the lounge and took the miles and taxes!

Congratulations! Did you go straight to the Clubhouse to ask, or via the ticket desk first?

I asked at the ticket desk whilst checking it, just after they put us on the waiting list for the miles upgrade. That's when she called and checked.