at-gate upgrade assignment? its alphabetical!

[ggm]

We travel together all the time. same Q FF rating. pretty much the same miles. Same company. Same travel agent booking. Same dates booked. I mean, its like, how same can you get? We book identical class, usually request same seating (work on flight) if we can.

He gets the business to first, or the economy to business. Time after time, at the gate. Nobody is asking, nobody is winking. he hands in one card, they give back another, on he goes. I know he isn't filing a request, nor do I believe his card is marked in the system.

To my fading memory, 10 times now, long or short haul, US, Asia, LHR. you name it, every time it pops up on the Q computer, its alphabetical wins.

Name your kids Alex or Andrea folks, it works!

-G

 

[Travel Guru]

If you're going to choose your kids names purely based on increasing their chances of airline OP-UP's, then you belong in the loony bin, not in first class.

FWIW, I dont think its that simple.

TG

 

[ggm]

Anyone who names their kids to get rewards is indeed a sad loony.

But, if its not alphabetical then the depth of their knowledge into company structure, purchasing power, discretionary spending, marketing is immense because we've travelled together for nearly 10 years now, and begob it would have to be some criteria which can tell us apart because there isn't much else out there.

Perhaps its because he sometimes uses the other one for the wider bum in J class and they know it, and want to attract him back to the Qseat, noting that lie-flat trumps 10 degrees every time..

 

[ggm]

Ahh. I see. I see I'm being naive. I said 'not a mark on his card' but, clearly there *is* somebody who is motivated to ensure he's super-happy, and can mark it VVVIPax: the Travel agent. Who of course, will know the details of why he's worth the investment in subtle kindnesses of a simple nature.

<smacks head>

to be fair, I don't actually mind that much. I've had my share of simple kindness in other ways, and its petty to grudge another's good fortune. The time I got onto the earlier AA flight and he sat in Tom Bradley for 2hrs sticks in my mind: he didn't bear grudge on that, so I shall try harder not to in this.

 

[Keith009]

Ahh. I see. I see I'm being naive. I said 'not a mark on his card' but, clearly there *is* somebody who is motivated to ensure he's super-happy, and can mark it VVVIPax: the Travel agent. Who of course, will know the details of why he's worth the investment in subtle kindnesses of a simple nature.

<smacks head>

The TA can indeed mark a pax out as VIP or CIP using OSI (Other Special Instruction) notes. But there are very specific criteria for qualifying for VIP/CIP status and they differ from airline to airline. Unless your friend meets that criteria, the TA can get a fine for false declarations (doesn't usually happen but I have seen it happen to one overzealous TA).

 

[serfty]

With such upgrades, they are done manually.

However, Qantas airline staff now have a tool/report that rates each passenger in terms of their 'perceived' value to Qantas. Staff are instructed to emply this when necessary.

Quite conceivably, the passenger who pays for travel in wider seats more often would get priority.

More here: Proactive Onload

Note the "Proactive Onload" list provides recommendations; it's still up to the person doing such upgrades to decide on how use the list if at all.

 

[2muchplastic]

If you're going to choose your kids names purely based on increasing their chances of airline OP-UP's, then you belong in the loony bin, not in first class.....

What do you mean? I'm hoping my children, Aardvark, Aaron and Abel have a very bright travelling future ahead of them :mrgreen:

 

[ggm]

With such upgrades, they are done manually.

However, Qantas airline staff now have a tool/report that rates each passenger in terms of their 'perceived' value to Qantas. Staff are instructed to emply this when necessary.

This has a more plausible, and less paranoid feel to it. I'm going to agree its the best fit. After all, while my perception is we mostly fly together he very probably does solos which add up to (combined with prior travel history) a higher ranking in this weighting process.

Since I'm about to get punted occasionally into LCC land, this distinction can only grow :-(

 

[straitman]

What do you mean? I'm hoping my children, Aardvark, Aaron and Abel have a very bright travelling future ahead of them :mrgreen:

By the time your children are old enough they will have reversed the system :!:

 

[2muchplastic]

By the time your children are old enough they will have reversed the system :!:

Probably, though my two have already flown more miles in the first 10 & 13 years of their lives than I had in my first 30

 

[JohnK]

And here I was thinking that a lot of op-up's had more to do with being in the right place at the right time....

 

[auriga]

Maybe he is just better looking?!:mrgreen:

 

[straitman]

And here I was thinking that a lot of op-up's had more to do with being in the right place at the right time....

Maybe he is just better looking?!:mrgreen:

Maybe both :!: