The Operational Upgrade Thread

[Fiches Mouser]

I'm clearly flying the wrong airlines for op-ups. SQ would rather torch the entire plane than give an F or J seat away for free.

 

[dajop]

I'm clearly flying the wrong airlines for op-ups. SQ would rather torch the entire plane than give an F or J seat away for free.

Not completely true. I had op-up in September SIN-MEL, Y-J and also previous month SIN-MNL. I think it is route dependent because I have had about 5-6 over the years between SIN and MNL or vice versa. But this year was first on a medium haul flight. Main issue I find (from looking at expert flyer ) is that when Y is full so is J.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Not completely true. I had op-up in September SIN-MEL, Y-J and also previous month SIN-MNL. I think it is route dependent because I have had about 5-6 over the years between SIN and MNL or vice versa. But this year was first on a medium haul flight. Main issue I find (from looking at expert flyer ) is that when Y is full so is J.

That's what I've found, particularly on MEL-SIN/SIN-MEL. These flights always seem to be packed in both cabins. But I see you have PPS which must help significantly...

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Happy new year, with an OpUp to J on QF551 BNE-SYD yesterday, myself (WP) and SWMBO (SG), scanned cards at gate, slip has us from 4E/F to 2D/F. Thanks QF.

First upgrade in 3 years, although I'm usually in the highest cabin with exception of domestic.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Not completely true. I had op-up in September SIN-MEL, Y-J and also previous month SIN-MNL. I think it is route dependent because I have had about 5-6 over the years between SIN and MNL or vice versa. But this year was first on a medium haul flight. Main issue I find (from looking at expert flyer ) is that when Y is full so is J.

The missus and I got bumped from Y to J PER-SIN early January which was a nice start to our holiday. I'm VA platinum and they approached us in the SQ lounge to offer us the upgrade. I fly a bit with SQ, but always in Y and with my VA card so had assumed that would mean zero chance of an upgrade ever. Pleasant surprise, flight must have been completely full I'm guessing.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

The missus and I got bumped from Y to J PER-SIN early January which was a nice start to our holiday. I'm VA platinum and they approached us in the SQ lounge to offer us the upgrade. I fly a bit with SQ, but always in Y and with my VA card so had assumed that would mean zero chance of an upgrade ever. Pleasant surprise, flight must have been completely full I'm guessing.

Brilliant! Good to know it happens, and that VA WPs are somewhere on the priority list. I often feel like SQ couldn't care less about VA golds and plats.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I often feel like SQ couldn't care less about VA golds and plats.

If anything, that's how they treat their non-PPS elites as well.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

If anything, that's how they treat their non-PPS elites as well.

That actually does make me feel better. Still, it's disappointing.

 

[wandering_fred]

Having returned from my trip (6 long haul PEY segments on CX) two were upgraded. JNB-HKG at checkin and HKG-LAX when a young lady showed up with the same seat number. In this case I suspect the gate agent confused a red light for extra secondary screening and did not check the stack of gate generated BPs.

OTOH LAX-HKG the cabin was only half full and my aisle seat became a window seat pair. From there the Y and PEY cabins became "almost full" and I resigned myself to the extra room delegated to the PEY cabins. And 6 to 8 months of travel withdrawal...

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Groundhog]

My year off to a decent start. Last week op up at the counter (Y-J) Mel to Akl, flying EK.
Today just got moved from 4F to 2F Mel to Bne, flying QF

 

[AIRwin]

Op-up on Sunday 15th Feb on VA720, PER-ADL - called while waiting in the lounge. Nice meal (barramundi) and a large dent put into bottles of Chardonnay and Shiraz....... was originally planning on sleeping all the way back in Row 3, but was more than happy to stay awake and sample J hospitality

Wow, has it been a year since the last (reported) op-up on VA? On Saturday 13 February I was already seated (and dozing off) in 3F waiting for my VA flight to complete boarding shortly when a ground staff came up to me with a new boarding pass and apologised for having to move me to 1A... My very first domestic op-up (never once on QF)!

 

[Awesom Andy]

Wow, has it been a year since the last (reported) op-up on VA? On Saturday 13 February I was already seated (and dozing off) in 3F waiting for my VA flight to complete boarding shortly when a ground staff came up to me with a new boarding pass and apologised for having to move me to 1A... My very first domestic op-up (never once on QF)!

There are less J seats on VA after all. Interesting to get op-ups in Feb, as it's generally one of the quieter months in Y.

 

[AIRwin]

Interesting to get op-ups in Feb, as it's generally one of the quieter months in Y.

Is it a coincidence that the last 2 VA instances reported here occurred over the VA-lentine's Day weekend? We should be so lucky feeling the love!

 

[Quickstatus]

Wow, has it been a year since the last (reported) op-up on VA? On Saturday 13 February I was already seated (and dozing off) in 3F waiting for my VA flight to complete boarding shortly when a ground staff came up to me with a new boarding pass and apologised for having to move me to 1A... My very first domestic op-up (never once on QF)!

Why is it that when someone gets an upgrade, the airline apologises?

 

[Mr_Orange]

Why is it that when someone gets an upgrade, the airline apologises?

The airline's idea of a joke, making the pax fleetingly think they have been moved to the back row or the luggage hold....?

 

[Awesom Andy]

The airline's idea of a joke, making the pax fleetingly think they have been moved to the back row or the luggage hold....?

It's their way to filter out the horrible pax. If the pax goes nuts when told that they have to take a different seat, then they get to keep the seat and the upgrade is offered to someone else.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

It's their way to filter out the horrible pax. If the pax goes nuts when told that they have to take a different seat, then they get to keep the seat and the upgrade is offered to someone else.

Exactly. I'm a fan of the "bad news" tactic. And it helps the heart-sink when you hear the unsettling beep that comes with a new BP.

 

[JohnK]

Travelling SYD-BNE yesterday evening with 4D pre-allocated.

Was just a little late to get to gate 8 and I was last on board. CSM greeted me while I was still in aerobridge and sort of took boarding pass from my pocket asking "Are you in 4D?". He also asked where in Greece I came from. Chatted for a minute or so.

Then he said I am moving you to 3D to help him solve an issue. He wanted to move a lady from 6D as there was a couple with young baby next to her. I saw this lady in business lounge so not sure why he didn't move her to 3D instead of me. 4C was also vacant with couple in 4AB.

Turns out there were 3 babies up front. Row 5AB, 5EF and 6EF. When we were about to disembark the lady in 4A was whinging that this was her worst flight with the screaming baby behind her. I didn't think it was too bad.

And pushka there in lies my comment that not all good things happen to good people.

 

[Quickstatus]

Perhaps 6D has requested to be moved and therefore lowered her upgrade potential. Alternatively the village of your Greek ancestors were not in a feud with the Greek ancestors of the CSM?

Was there catering?

It's amazing the physiological effects of an upgrade. Somehow any previously undesirables seem to fade.

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps 6D has requested to be moved and therefore lowered her upgrade potential. Alternatively the village of your Greek ancestors were not in a feud with the Greek ancestors of the CSM?

Was there catering?

It's amazing the physiological effects of an upgrade. Somehow any previously undesirables seem to fade.

The offer surprised me. The CSM is Armenian so not sure being Greek had anything to do it. I have seen him on many of my flights. There was catering. Only 5 in business before I moved to 3D. Had chicken and couscous. Very nice.