eosphoros
Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2011
- Posts
- 293
I am not asking because I am looking for one—I have never thought about asking for nor ever expected a free upgrade—but after speaking to the parents of a friend who don't fly often and reading Top 10 worst excuses for free upgrades, I am interested in other stories AFF members have heard.
His parents recently flew QF5 to meet us and after their arrival there was the obligatory discussion about the flight during which they complained that when they asked if they could score a free upgrade, were told, "no, sorry the flight is very full." Now, whether this was true or not is irrelevant, but what struck me was what came after. The mother said (to us; thankfully not to the check-in agent) "and I thought, 'yeah, bull****.'" I have this feeling that it isn't uncommon among those that don't fly often to have this mentality. But why is this the case and why is it even at all expected? I expect to get the class of service that I pay for. And if there were op-up opportunities available, I expect it to go to status pax over non-status pax.
Have any AFFers or anyone they know actually tried the tactic of simply asking or making an excuse to score a free upgrade? It would be interesting to know the statistics as it doesn't seem that uncommon which seems to suggest that it does actually work sometimes, otherwise, this mentality or pattern of behaviour would not be as common as it is.
On a totally unrelated side note: this couple are over 60 and, nothing against them personally, but if they were on my flight seated in an exit row, I would strenuously object. The husband wears a hearing aid, the wife not so mobile and neither of them would satisfy the exit row requirement of being able to lift and throw out an emergency door. They even commented on it themselves (after reading the requirements before paying for the seats) saying that if there actually was an emergency and they needed to open the door, everyone would be screwed. Surely QF should police this more?
His parents recently flew QF5 to meet us and after their arrival there was the obligatory discussion about the flight during which they complained that when they asked if they could score a free upgrade, were told, "no, sorry the flight is very full." Now, whether this was true or not is irrelevant, but what struck me was what came after. The mother said (to us; thankfully not to the check-in agent) "and I thought, 'yeah, bull****.'" I have this feeling that it isn't uncommon among those that don't fly often to have this mentality. But why is this the case and why is it even at all expected? I expect to get the class of service that I pay for. And if there were op-up opportunities available, I expect it to go to status pax over non-status pax.
Have any AFFers or anyone they know actually tried the tactic of simply asking or making an excuse to score a free upgrade? It would be interesting to know the statistics as it doesn't seem that uncommon which seems to suggest that it does actually work sometimes, otherwise, this mentality or pattern of behaviour would not be as common as it is.
On a totally unrelated side note: this couple are over 60 and, nothing against them personally, but if they were on my flight seated in an exit row, I would strenuously object. The husband wears a hearing aid, the wife not so mobile and neither of them would satisfy the exit row requirement of being able to lift and throw out an emergency door. They even commented on it themselves (after reading the requirements before paying for the seats) saying that if there actually was an emergency and they needed to open the door, everyone would be screwed. Surely QF should police this more?