Free Upgrading ? (discussion)

[Rick93]

One of my activies, is volunteering with the emergency services. A guy I know from a neighbouring unit to mine, just happens to be a supervisor of Qantas staff at Sydney International.
My wife and I were about to board a QF flight to Singapore one night, when I had a tap on the shoulder. It was my colleague from the SES. He said out aloud: "Excuse me sir, I'll have to ask you to step aside, and may I have your boarding passes".
Well, I wasn't quite sure what he was up to, but of course we did. He told us to wait until everyone else in the queue had gone through. He then spoke quietly with the other staff, who looked up at my wife and I, and then began using a computer terminal.
My SES friend walked over to us, and said: "we're trying to fix your seats up for you". "You beauty, thanks". I knew exactly (or hoped I did) what he was talking about...... trying to get us upgraded. Not to Business.... he was trying for FIRST!
Unfortunately, a more senior supervisor turned up, and there was an exchange of words. My friend then came over and broke the bad news..... "sorry, I tried to get you better seats, but the boss said no way.... not anymore".
He later explained, that it was a computerised situation that can't be manually adjusted at this point.... due to security precautions. "We have to know exactly who is in what seat", he said.

I understood. The date of this trip was 19th. September, 2001.

He told me, if it was last month, I could have done it for you..... "but that's all gone now!"

'Close, but no cigar!'

 

[ausboylondon]

Bronze Upgrade to J on BA

On my first ever flight on BA from LHR to LAX I received a J class upgrade in the flat beds. I am now a silver QC member and have just completed a LHR - JFK return trip on AA and a JFK - LAS return trip. The LHR - JFK leg was completely full and I didn't receive an upgrade - the same on the return flight - I believe that BA will upgrade you more than Qantas - as I have never recieved a free upgrade on Qantas.

 

[QF WP]

I've got op ups on QF, but it was a long time ago when loads weren't as high. BA and CX have given me op ups in the past couple of years, but never one from AA...

 

[Nick]

Just flew home yesterday on QF3 from MEL to SYD and used an upgrade credit to upgrade from Economy to Business. To my surprise, I checked in and was allocated seat 2F, which at the time, I didn't realise was in First class until I boarded the plane (Way too early in the morning to comprehend what was happening :shock: )

So despite me thinking it would never happen on QF (despite me being a QC member), it sometimes does. For a short flight, I guess your best chances would be on a domestic sector of an international flight where there are more seats to play with.