abbylou

Need some help, please. This is a generic question about upgrades for hotels and planes. Need some advice from you Fodor heavy hitters and world travelers. Will be in San Francisco at Hotel Palomar this month and hoping to get a room upgrade. And if anyone out there can tell me how to get an upgrade on a weekday flight I would be grateful.

Thanks.

BeachBoi

Flight Upgrade-you want it,you're gonna have to pay for it.My TA is telling me that flights from anywhere to anywhere this summer will be packed every day.From reading some of the posts and hearing tales of woe from other travellers,nothing is being given away.The seats just arent going to be there.I am hearing that those travellers who normally use their FT status to upgrade are purchasing FClass tickets to be absolutely guaranteed a 1st class seat.But anything goes in the world of travel these days.Hotel Upgrade-I have a friend who stays at the Prescott in SFO each month.Last week was the first time this year he was NOT upgraded to a corner JuniorSuite from a corporate rate.The hotel was sold out.However,they sent him a fruit basket and a box of Godivas with a very genuinely warming note of appreciation for his business.

GoTravel

I tried to upgrade this weekend with miles and USAir didn't have the seats. Unless you pay for it, these days you will not get in FC.

As far as the rooms go, if the hotel has a frequent stay program, join it. Also, by asking politely at the front desk never hurts.

gail

Same problem with USAir on several trips - lots of people have lots of FF miles and are worried about future existence of individual airlines so they are using miles for upgrades.

GoTravel

gail, USAir is out of bankruptcy.

E

Traveling last week, we noticed that all the flights were full, but the airports were empty: cutbacks in flight schedules mean that empty seats are few and far between, even in 1st Class.

I've always had pretty good luck getting room upgrades by asking nicely and having a (hopefully) charming story to back up my request, e.g., "it's my husband's 40th b'day". Mind you, the stories are always true, I just really play them up. I also mention, where applicable, my loyalty to that chain or specific hotel, and I always do all this ahead of time over the phone. By the time I check in, my upgrade is usually in the computer already.
Best of luck!

Loika

Thank you all for your help. I will try being polite and charming and see what happens.