Swiss Air - business upgrade?
 

I am flying Swiss to Geneva next month, coach seats. I was considering booking their cheapest business category on the overnight trip there (not needed on the return since it is a day flight), but it wasn't available. Now, it is back showing as available again, so I assume the business class still has many seats. Is there a way to upgrade at check in for less than the current cost of the seat? I am having trouble justifying the $800+ per ticket for the one way upgrade, since this was an unexpected trip that I did not have money put aside for. I have read other posters who describe being upgraded or paying a low amount for an upgrade at the airport or at online check in.

I haven't tried this on Swiss, but on United from Ohare to Frankfurt and on another flight from Ohare to Heathrow, I paid at the gate. It cost me $400-500 for a business class seat for just that flight. I don't know how they price these seats, but it probably has to do with distance traveled/length of flight. It costs more to fly from Ohare to Tokyo if you pay for the seat at the gate. It was $800+, if I recall correctly. But worth it. That's a loooong flight.

Swiss will generally offer upgrades at check in from JFK if business class is wide open. Never gone that route, so can't give you any pricing, but I think you should be able to find some more info in the Swiss forum on flyertalk.com:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=502

Hope this helps,
Andre