The Operational Upgrade Thread

[Kangol]

However there was very brief mention of a 'galley (processed) upgrade' on AFF in the last few days.

it has always intrigued me. Once an aircraft's doors are loaded and secured and the plane has taken off and levelled out, if I am not mistaken the critical time for the aircraft's trim (weight distribution) has ended.

Apart from a lack of say business class meals loaded or the forward section cabin crew's desire to do less work along with possible raised eyebrows from other staff or business class passengers, what stops cabin crew from selectively upgrading 'nice' or 'good looking' passengers, those who might be prepared to offer a spare hundred smackaroos or similar for the privilege, or who ask (not that I've ever heard it) on board if there is any chance of being upgraded for free?

Is it a case of a cabin crew member facing questioning by management or the sack if the latter somehow found out?

There have been reports here of staff doing that to their friends once the seatbelt sign turns off. Do a search and you'll be surprised. I don't know if there has been any reported reprimand but let's just say, if the crew are in on it, it will be hard to *out* them (so to speak).

On a recent A380 flight in 32B, I did notice one young lady being *escorted* with her carry-on luggage up the B/D aisle not long after the seatbelt sign was turned off.. now I don't have any facts besides what I observed, but if someone in Y needed to change seat due to an IFE or other issue, even if they were on lower deck Y, I don't see what the reason for taking them out of Y would be. From memory, upper deck Y was full so it most probably was not an UD Y pax, rather a LD Y pax who came up the rear stairs. I don't know if they ended up in PE or J but the observations didn't make sense... unless what you are suggesting actually occurred.

I have read some F TRs (not on AFF) on other carriers where the TR writing pax in F were asked/told by the CSM about other pax being upgraded to F whilst airborne.. and given the reasons why..

 

[Awesom Andy]

Although there was once, there was a pax in Y+, I'm not sure how she got there in the first place, but she managed to downgrade herself for the take-off. Her bp says 3K, and it was on a reconfiged QF 744.

 

[Flashback]

From time to time there will be a need for cabin crew to upgrade passenger(s) on a two or three class configuration from whY to J due to medical needs. One example might be where a whY passenger develops severe asthma but the economy class section is full.

Other reasons might be if two passengers were double booked in a full economy cabin but it was not noticed until everyone had tried to take their seat.

However there was very brief mention of a 'galley (processed) upgrade' on AFF in the last few days.

it has always intrigued me. Once an aircraft's doors are loaded and secured and the plane has taken off and levelled out, if I am not mistaken the critical time for the aircraft's trim (weight distribution) has ended.

Apart from a lack of say business class meals loaded or the forward section cabin crew's desire to do less work along with possible raised eyebrows from other staff or business class passengers, what stops cabin crew from selectively upgrading 'nice' or 'good looking' passengers, those who might be prepared to offer a spare hundred smackaroos or similar for the privilege, or who ask (not that I've ever heard it) on board if there is any chance of being upgraded for free?

Is it a case of a cabin crew member facing questioning by management or the sack if the latter somehow found out?

I had an onboard upgrade once. I was flying Club Europe and my wife was in the first row of whY. Some other chap boarded and asked the CSM for an upgrade ... once he moved on through I said "well, if you're going to upgrade anyone ... the seat next to me is spare and my wife's just over there!". He said he would see what he could do. Anyway ... wife was soon after sitting with me (catering not assured), but in the end, she ended up having a meal after all Well done BA!

 

[dairyfloss]

Not quite an op-up - but I was successful in my recent request of AY check-in staff at MUC for a seat allocation in the business 'mini-cabin' of their A340 from HEL-SIN (AY82) on a run through MUC-HEL-SIN-SYD. The mini-cabin, which is rows 6 & 7 of certain A340 J configurations often goes unsold, and apparently is instead allocated by staff to AY [and I guess OW] elites. It's a J hard product, with Y service. I was watching on EF for availability, and knew that seats were available up until my transfer from the hotel to MUC. Very nice to get a reasonable lay-flat, when a full Y cabin was the alternative! No such love from QF on the shorter SIN-SYD follow on...

Cheers.

 

[spudseamus]

Returning from Dublin on EY in J I hurriedly walked to the AUH business lounge looking to have a quick bite and a shower and was shocked to see how full the lounge was . The desk was crowded and with a quick wave of boarding pass I was waved thorough ! So after grabbing one of the few available seats I went and got something to eat . A few minutes later my name was being called by a gentleman wandering around the lounge . He informs me I was missed at the desk and they were very sorry for doing so but I had been upgraded to F for the trip to Melbourne ! I love KARMA!

 

[ShaneN]

I have just had the rare double upgrade today. Booked QF127 Sydney to Hong Kong in Y+, and requested points upgrade to J. Heard on Thursday that points upgrade to J had come through. At check in this morning told I had been upgraded to First. Wonderful experience flying F on the A380.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I have just had the rare double upgrade today. Booked QF127 Sydney to Hong Kong in Y+, and requested points upgrade to J. Heard on Thursday that points upgrade to J had come through. At check in this morning told I had been upgraded to First. Wonderful experience flying F on the A380.

Imagine if you didn't need to use points for the upgrade to J.

Anyway, glad to see this thread alive again, after no posts for almost one whole month.

 

[freepyjamas]

probably should've posted that I got my 3rd J-F op-up in as many trips on QF93/94. in the space of a couple of months.
it's a busy route, which always helps.

only downside to the last op-up: the previous occupant of my F seat left the 93 menu in the seat, and they got to have 2006 Mount Mary Quintet. On the 94 return leg I was on, they were only serving 2010 Mount Mary Quintet. Still, I soldiered on bravely, as one must in the face of adversity.

 

[Happy Trails]

PE to J on CX last weekend, BKK-HKG.
I'd previously taken the opportunity to upgrade from Y to PE for about $40.

 

[AussieTim]

PE to J on QF Thursday night, SIN-BNE at checkin.

Visited QF lounge, showered and went onto Emirates lounge for champagne, satay and lamb cutlets. Followed by a bit more champagne and a good nights rest onboard.

 

[cmon0005]

Has anyone that has been Op-Up'd on Cathay Pacific confirm that they were Op-Up'd from an exit row seat in Y?

Reason I ask is I was wondering if being in an exit row came with any disadvantage re: probability of op-up's.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have just had the rare double upgrade today. Booked QF127 Sydney to Hong Kong in Y+, and requested points upgrade to J. Heard on Thursday that points upgrade to J had come through. At check in this morning told I had been upgraded to First. Wonderful experience flying F on the A380.

Well done! It's happened to myself as well always a good day !!

 

[ShaneN]

Well done! It's happened to myself as well always a good day !!

It was a very good day!

 

[cmon0005]

CX - Y to Y+ for myself + Mrs (OWE & OWR)...

Feeling the love on my first CX flight! They will certainly be getting my business more often.

 

[defurax]

CX - Y to Y+ for myself + Mrs (OWE & OWR)...

Feeling the love on my first CX flight! They will certainly be getting my business more often.

Were you still allocated exit row seats in Y before the op-up to Y+ (as per your previous question)?

 

[cmon0005]

Were you still allocated exit row seats in Y before the op-up to Y+ (as per your previous question)?

The op up is for the 2nd leg of my flight hkg-kul, I was seated originally at bulk head. Opup happened at around 12 hours after online check-in opened.. As for my 1st leg I am still allocated exit row (hoping for a beep at the gate

 

[serfty]

QF codeshare on EK - was cranky for five minutes whn I noticed my 5+ month preallocated bulkhead seat was lost and they was no obvious allocation. E/F showed blocked out seatmap.

Went to test OLCI and voila! There was my seat in Business ...

 

[cmon0005]

The op up is for the 2nd leg of my flight hkg-kul, I was seated originally at bulk head. Opup happened at around 12 hours after online check-in opened.. As for my 1st leg I am still allocated exit row (hoping for a beep at the gate

As a follow on from first leg no Opup, however on 2nd leg got an infamous double Opup, from y to Y+ now to j!!

 

[penegal]

QF codeshare on EK - was cranky for five minutes whn I noticed my 5+ month preallocated bulkhead seat was lost and they was no obvious allocation. E/F showed blocked out seatmap.

Went to test OLCI and voila! There was my seat in Business ...

Nice!

especially on that fare

 

[serfty]

Nice!

especially on ...

... Emirates ...