That’s what I’m saying. I’ve had various levels of elite membership for years now, and I get bumped up on roughly 40% of my domestic flights. I think I have only been bumped up on two international flights, and that’s because economy was overbooked with spaces in the premium cabins.
I’ve managed to convince my office to cover an upgrade to Economy Plus, since I had (still have, actually) a deep vein thrombosis. Given that I am 6’5", mostly leg, this is waaaay more comfortable.
On a flight from Heathrow to Newark when I was 16 years old, I was upgraded to Business Class without asking for it or even understanding the reason. I was at the boarding gate when the attendant just said: “Sir, you’ve been moved up to Business Class.” I surely didn’t have any miles or some such - it was one of my first long-distance flights.
That flight sure was nice, even though I’m not sure I could fully appreciate it when I was 16.
The only time I’ve flown better than coach was in 1988. I was flying from Kansas City to Lansing, Michigan, bringing my grandmother, who was 84 at the time, along for a visit.
I get to check in and they tell me they have overbooked the flight and there’s no room for us! I get quite angry, but try to stay polite as I don’t want to look bad in front of my grandmother. But I play on the fact I have an elderly woman with me, who isn’t up to a long wait for another flight. I get them to admit that they actually do have some seats left…in first class. I tell them we’ll settle for that and they give them to us. Better for Grandma anyway, with wider seats and more leg room. She even took the free drink!
Back in the late 80s and through the 90s, we were discouraged from flying in uniform. In the Air Force, anyway. the only time I flew in my blues was from Basic to my tech school in Indianapolis.
Earlier this year I was flying from Chicago to Rome in two segments - Chicago to DC and DC to Rome. A friend of mine was a consultant at the time so he had more FF miles than he knew what to do with so he offered to upgrade me on all my flights. Unfortunately, my flights back were through Air Canada so he couldn’t use United miles on them but he said he’d get me upgraded on my flights there. As it turned out, he was able to upgrade my Chicago to DC flight, but United wouldn’t upgrade me on the DC to Rome leg because my fare class was “ineligible”. Walking past those first class pods back to my economy seat on that flight was painful.
I’ve managed to get two $75 upgrades domestically at check in - one was a flight to Orlando (if you can get a cheap upgrade on a flight to Orlando - take it. Flights tend to be full of kids). But in both cases I paid for it. Both cases were very early morning flights.
I’ve had some success buying upgrades at check-in. In those cases, the flight wasn’t very full and I was able to buy an upgrade for less than half the normal price. If nothing else, spend the money on economy plus, it is well worth it.
Depends on the airline.
I regularly get upgrades from Emirates (6 out of 6 last year) Also Etihad (business to first 3 out of four) And just a few days ago upgraded on Cathay Pacific which was the first time I have ever flown with them.
I get them by either just asking or being “generous” to the more senior looking steward in the FF lounge.
Also try Flyertalk . com this will open you up to one of the most useful forums for frquent fliers where people will tell you all the promotional codes, give free lounge invites and a host of other help.
Last time I flew from UK - USA I had opremium economy, twas OK. Never experienced a free upgrade!
Got bumped from coach to business class twice. Once was from Frankfurt to Minneapolis with my wife - we were simply at the check-in desk very early (this was Northwest), nothing to do with frequent flyer miles.
The second time was a leg on KLM from Rome to Amsterdam - again early at the check-in. The second leg was Amsterdam to Chicago in coach - that was rough.
After the Rome check-in agent had bumped us, she laughed when I told her to look at our ticket price. It was $298 roundtrip including all fees from Chicago to Rome (it was a new flight number/ web special).
In '88, I was flying back to the States from Germany on a military charter. I was just an Spec-4 at the time, so I was stashed in the cattle-car section.
But then a Stewardess/Flight Attendant/In-Air Hospitality Coordinator/Whatever came by and asked me if I would mind giving up my seat so a family could sit together. I say sure, and she leads me forward to my new seat.
We continue forward, and then some more (747s are big), and then come to a small spiral staircase and head up it, where she seats me in a seat big enough for two next to a Navy PO2. The next highest ranking person was a Lt. Colonel, who was an Aide/Flunky to the Three-Star General who was the highest ranking.
They were not happy to have us lowly peons sharing their rarified air.
I remember that one of my friends was moving a long distance, and she found that flying first class (with unlimited luggage) was actually cheaper than flying coach (with a surcharge).
Why didn’t they just give the first class seats to the elderly couple, I wonder?
But, sweet deal and good on you for swapping.
Didn’t want them to wett all over the rich Corinthian leather?
When we were on our honeymoon (nine years and 364 days ago) I asked at check in if they ever upgrade people to first class on their honeymoon…'cause we’re on our honeymoon.
She did, and it was lovely…a short flight (SFO to LAX) but it still made me smile (and I am smiling now as I type)
I’ve only ever upgraded using frequent flyer points. Even then, often you have to use them long in advance if it is a decent flight.
I got a few upgrades back when some airlines offered them to people paying full fare (my company’s policy then was to get unrestricted coach fares). They were pretty nice.
Then I spent a summer commuting from DC to southern California weekly, flying American, and saved up the miles (then got a credit card to get more miles). Though that doesn’t quite count, as I spent a boatload of miles to get that first class trip (we used it when I was pregnant with Dweezil).
Then in 2002 I used years worth of frequent-flyer miles to take the whole family to California, first class. Again, not an “upgrade” as others are talking about. Still, nice.
About 8 years back, I was travelling to Denver with 2 colleagues. One of them - who paid the least for his ticket, and checked in last - wound up getting bumped to Business class. I had tried for an aisle seat, was told “yay, here’s a bulkhead seat” and thought that meant aisle AND bulkhead… and got stuck in the middle of a row of 5 seats in steerage with no entertaiment screen (people further back had seatback video). While my colleague got Business Class. And he wasn’t even a FF club member (I was).
Needless to say, I was pissed.
This was on United. Every bad experience I’ve ever had flying was on United. I hate United.
Did you have any luck sandra?
I’ve always used points to upgrade.
Both of mine are back in the pre-9/11 days.
Returning from Anaheim to Myrtle Beach, I went to the airport with time to spare, then discovered I had “disappeared” from the airline’s computer. I patiently waited as the counter person tapped away on her computer, trying to find me again. 15 minutes passed, I remained calm, joked around with the other passengers in line, and tried to hide my increasing nervousness. Finally, she “found” me again. She asked the typical “is there anything else I can help you with?” After telling her she had done more than enough for me, I jokingly said, “yeah, can you bump me to 1st class?” We both laughed as she continued typing away, and she printed my baording pass and handed it to me. I didn’t look at the seat until I got ready to board at the gate. Row 2, Seat A. Score. From Anaheim to Atlanta.
Second time, there were only 7 passengers on the plane, and there were eight 1st class seats (the trip leg was just from Charlotte to Philly), so we ALL got to sit up front.
As an addition, on my flight back from Philly, I was the ONLY passenger on the aircraft from Philly back to Charlotte. Figures, there was NO 1st class on that flight !