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Chances of upgrading to business class on BA?

Chances of upgrading to business class on BA?

Old Feb 10th, 2011, 12:52 PM
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Chances of upgrading to business class on BA?

My husband and I are flying to India on British Airways from PHL, with a stopover in London. Neither of us have flown BA before so we have no miles (but did sign up for their frequent flyer program). My husband's company paid for his ticket in business class. Since I'm just coming along as vacation we had to pay for my ticket, and definitely could not afford a business class seat to India ... so it looks like I'll be in coach by myself.

I've never tried to upgrade before. After reading a few articles online it seems like you are supposed to ask at the counter @ your gate, make sure you're dressed nicely, be polite, etc. My question: does this ever work?? If so, would they make you pay?

My husband said if I can't get upgraded we could switch seats every so often, but I don't even know if that would be allowed.

Thanks!
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Old Feb 10th, 2011, 02:07 PM
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Unfortunately BA operates its longhaul services using four classes of service - economy, "premium" economy, business and first class. Upgrading is only allowed to the next higher class of service, so if you're in coach (called "World Traveller") you can use miles to upgrade to "World Traveller Plus" (premium economy) but not to "Club World" (business class.)

We have been "op-upped" (operational upgrades, which usually only happen when e.g. coach is oversold) from WT+ to business once or twice, but in general BA is not keen to do a 2-cabin upgrade, and as a rule dressing nicely or being on your honeymoon, etc., is really not effective, on BA or anywhere else.
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Old Feb 10th, 2011, 02:12 PM
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Thanks. Sounds like the chances are slim, but I figure there's no harm in asking - if they say no, I haven't lost anything.
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Old Feb 10th, 2011, 06:08 PM
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Google "upgrade flirt"; dress "appropriately", go for a hot male agent and tell your husband to stay away during the process.
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Old Feb 10th, 2011, 06:22 PM
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I don't know if changing seats would be allowed. It's not allowed on U.S. carriers due to security, you must stay in your assigned cabin. AA enforced this on our flight DFW to CDG last month.
I think you are out of luck, oh well at least you get to go.
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Old Feb 10th, 2011, 06:44 PM
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The is no government regulation that say one cannot switch cabins. Plenty of people have switched cabins mid-flight on Continental with travel partners, as long as the lead FA/flight service manager is notified, and it's not done discretely without disturbing other passengers.
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Old Feb 10th, 2011, 07:09 PM
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pardon me for a second..

free U/g on longhaul BA, no status ?

HAHAHAHAHA

Seriously, of you don't get an u/g, don't count on being able to switch back and forth, especially once people are settled in. You MAY get to switch after the meal service. Once.
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Old Feb 10th, 2011, 07:54 PM
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If there are what Gardyloo called "op-ups" to be had, they will go first to BA status passengers who happen to be in coach.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 05:26 AM
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The likelihood of a free upgrade without status is roughly zero.

BA used to offer pay-for upgrades at check-in. IIRC, it was something like $700 to go from coach to biz when leaving from the US. Unfortunately, these were not available at LHR, so you would only make it as far as LHR.

I also don't know if they have abandoned the whole program entirely. It has been a while since I've done it.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 05:50 AM
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I also don't know if they have abandoned the whole program entirely. It has been a while since I've done it.

I've seen it happen, fairly recently in fact. However, it's never coach > business, it's either coach > WT+ or (rarely) WT+ > Club World. I've seen $250 per segment for WT > WT+; last time I saw WT+ > CW it was in the $600 - $700 range that you mentioned.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 08:04 AM
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The bigger question is why is your husband, the love of your life, sending you to the back as he's enjoying the perks of business class?

He should volunteer to go back and you to sit up front. That's what I would do in a similar situation.

I agree with all the other posters. The chances of getting an upgrade, regardless of what you do, are slim to none, and slim just left town.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 09:44 AM
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However, it's never coach > business

I've definitely done coach>biz, but it was maybe 3 years ago.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 09:51 AM
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We flew back from London last year with a similar situation. Mr. Surf volunteered to sit in the cheap seats with me, but since he has much longer legs and is very uncomfortable in regular seats, I told him to enjoy his peace and quiet!

AAFreqFly: In this case, the comfort factor was a huge difference!

I tried to go up and visit once or twice and was not allowed to go into B class. He was allowed to come back mid-flight, but only once (I think). The FA was kind enough to come back and tell me why I was stuck back there and he wasn't.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 12:40 PM
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Sigh. I knew it was probably a long shot...wasn't sure about the switching situation either. We tried to get his company to pay for two coach seats instead of one business class seat (it actually would have saved them about $3k!!) and they refused to do it. "It's our policy, no exceptions" blah blah.

Maybe we can compromise and one of us fly biz on the way there and the other do the way home...
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 02:15 PM
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I spent many an hour back there while my husband was "up-front". His business wanted him ready and rested to hit the ground, ready to do business. Maybe that's why they pay for the one business class ticket. Also many companies have "deals" with the corporate travel department of airlines on the price of these tickets.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 05:15 PM
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About 10 years ago BA screwed up and made a typo on my ticket. (this was back in the days of paper tickets) I had booked an award ticket in coach but they made a typo and coded it as a paid ticket in biz class. I had no idea this had happened until I checked in for the flight and they handed me a biz class boarding pass. I asked if my travelling companion could sit with me and much to our surprise they said OK, no problem.

Maybe it was just a case of dumb luck for both of us but it did work for me. Be prepared to sit in coach, but it never hurts to ask for the upgrade.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 06:16 PM
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Lynnaustin, yeah I'm sure that's probably why the company has that policy. I just made the mistake of looking on the BA website and checking out the Club World amenities and seats - now I REALLY don't want to sit in coach! Haha.

I'm still going to ask about upgrading for the heck of it, but I realize that it will probably be a no.
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Old Feb 11th, 2011, 08:36 PM
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I'm really curious to find out what rationale you will use at the check in.
"Hi my husband is in business and i am not. Can I sit with him?"
You have to realize that the days of getting a biz seat by smiling and dressing nice are over.

The ONE exception to that is if your husband's company paid a LOT of $$ for his seat they might U/G you one level..But even then if he has no status w/ the airline.///

I'll be really curious to hear how this pans put. Please comeback and tellus.
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Old Feb 12th, 2011, 08:52 AM
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Shortcake- don't switch with him one way unless you get it on the way home! My son and I recently flew to Paris in business class (it was wonderful). We had to go coach on the way home and it was miserable after business. The preference would have been to do it on the way home but we had to take what our miles would get us! It was nice while it lasted.
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Old Feb 14th, 2011, 01:10 PM
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I get upgraded on international flights regularly but it's never because of my clothes, flirting etc -as I have been upgraded before I get to the airport- from economy to premium economy. I do have a Qantas Club membership so I think as someone has previously stated that the priority would be to club members and very frequent flyers -rewarding loyalty!!
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