Get those upgrades...pointers from a lucky traveler!!
 

I apologize if this seems long, just had to get it all in!! First, the flight...Air France Atlanta to Paris. Read on this sight about getting upgrades and learned a few more pointers that may help future travelers. In Atlanta Air France flights are checked in by Delta employees at the Delta desk, or our's was at least. I started asking there about upgrades. I was advised that I would need to inquire at the boarding gate, but she did say that coach was over booked and an upgrade might be possible (apparently business and first class were not over booked or even full). At the boarding gate I checked with a very pompous Delta employee who advised me that, based on our fare, an upgrade was "unlikely" but he would "keep us in mind". We paid $618 R/T that included a connecting flight within Europe to Stuttgart, then back to Paris-Atlanta from Stuttgart. As soon as he walked away from the counter a lady walked up and I also asked her about upgrades. She was much nicer and advised that the Air France rep would have to make that decision and this rep would be there about 45 minutes before flight time. She also added, though much nicer, that an upgrade would be unlikely based on my fare. As soon as I saw the Air France rep I approached the desk and asked again, she barely glanced at the ticket and said, "Sure, that would be fine." So, all of a sudden we were in Business class to Paris!!! Same senario in Paris on the return trip. Initial check-in desk gave me a flat "No" but when I got to the boarding desk I inquired again and was given an upgrade for the return trip and the rep didn't even check to see what fare I was on. Through all of this here are the things I learned... <BR>1. Never take "no" for an answer! Keep asking right up until you board the flight, ask every different rep you encounter. <BR>2. It helps if coach is overbooked, ask the initial check-in person to see if this is the case on your flight. <BR>3. Be very humble and non-demanding. Be very appreciative for any help anyone gives you. <BR>4. Dressing up apparently doesn't matter, on the trip over I had on slacks and a sweater with heels and my husband had on a polo shirt with nice slacks, the trip back, however, were were in jeans and cotton sweater with tennis shoes for me and my husband was in khaki shorts with polo shirt and boat shoes. Also, don't know what, if any difference age makes...we are in our 30's (36 and 30). <BR>5. Also don't know if being a member of the frequent flyer club helps but we did join the Air France FF club before departing and this number does show up on the screen when you check-in. <BR>I had never flown in anything but coach before and may I say Business Class is a HUGE improvement in Trans-Atlantic flights! What a thrill for us, we felt like royalty!! <BR>The flights were on A340 going and 777 coming back, both of these planes were very nice and the personal TV screens are nice. The food was fair even in Business Class, I have had better in Delta Coach. <BR>To sum up, have a great flight and never stop asking for those upgrades!!!

Congratulations and thanks for the tips

Thanks for the advice. It shamed me! Just a month or so ago, on a domestic flight, I did exactly what you did-- to a point. I went to the counter and inquired. They were very polite, but noncommittal. But they said to hang around until the plane was loading. I did, and at the last minute, they called me and another gentleman over, and began processing the seat changes. Then they asked for our coupons! He pulls his out, and I look at her blankly. Then I vaguely remembered something about upgrade coupons, which I didn't have, so I turned to slink away quietly. But you have taught me a lesson. They had the seat, she was willing to give it to me. So unless they wanted to be sticklers, which they might have been, they might well have upgraded me anyway. However, I was too embarassed to push the issue. <BR> <BR>So, another lesson: don't think you aren't entitled!

Good advice, but are you saying you asked to be upgraded without a coupon? I am going on the AF flight from Atlanta to Paris(9:35pm), do I just ask if they have business class available? I am not sure how to approach this matter, however. I would love to be upgraded..Please advise!

I was wondering the same thing. From Vanessa's post, it sounded like she didn't need/use any coupons. How does this work?

Vanessa, <BR>What exactly did you ask the desk clerk? Did you mention at the time that you were FF members of AF? How do you keep asking without it sounding pushy? We'd love to get an upgrade, but don't know what to ask for. Thanks for your great tip!

No, I did not have any coupons and didn't even know any were required. I simply asked at the initial check-in desk (in the terminal) if coach was full, they are very anxious to fill these seats with stand-bys. At the boarding gate I asked the clerks at the check-in desk about an upgrade, and as you've seen it worked. In France, without ANY questions asked. All I did was be polite, humble and vey thankful to everyone I spoke to, even the nasty Delta employee we dealt with in Atlanta. Good luck! Remenber, it helps if coach is over-booked. Also, no I did not mention that I was an AF FF.

Dear Vanessa, I hate to belabor the point, but how did you seguey into the upgrade question? Did you say could we upgraded to business class or what? I would love to be upgraded. We are going to Rome in Sept and to go business class would be the best. I will try all avenues once there, Thanks again.

Judy, <BR>When I got to the Boarding gate I asked every employee I came across about an upgrade. All I said was, "Would it be possible for an upgrade?" I was given variuos answers that you have seen. In France I asked at the boarding counter and was advised to see a separate desk. I asked again, "Would it be possible for an upgrade?" and this man just took our tickets out of the envelope and replaced them with upgraded ones! He smiled at me but never even spoke! Of course I gave him a BIG thank you!! You know, I still wonder if this was just a REALLY good day or are upgrades always this easy and I've just been affraid to ask all these years?

I agree that honey works better than vinegar. I usually dress nicely if I'm planning to work for an upgrade. And yes, I think politely asking someone else after one or a few no's can be successful. Also, I've noticed that the only complimentary upgrades I've received at the terminal are from women employees, never from a guy. <BR>I fly Northwest (Detroit hub), and they've changed their policy regarding using miles to upgrade. Used to be that you could upgrade on a coach fare to Europe using 20K miles. Now you have to have a full-fare coach just to be allowed to then use your miles to try to upgrade. Has anyone found a way around that (Silver/Gold/Platinum?)

My upgrade to Paris was issued by a woman (the Delta employee who was so nasty was a man) but issued from a man back to the US, and also, I was not using miles, I didn't even have any before this trip!

My husband and I have asked for upgrades numerous times on various national and international flights. We've ALWAYS had to present upgrade coupons (which we have). Never heard of being upgraded without one, unless the flight is overbooked and you give up a seat with the promise of the next flight out being in first class.

Based on the responses I've gotten to this I guess I was just REAL lucky these 2 trips!! I didn't have to give up a seat, so to speak, as I left on the same flight I was booked on. Coach was over booked both directions but I did note that Business Class was about 40% full (that's with us in it!) and first class was less tha that. It seems a shame that airlines wuuldn't offer upgrades on Coach overbooked flights when Business and First Class are virtually empty, it seems to me that some revenue is better than no revenue. But I guess that's why I'm a nurse and not an airline executive!

I was flying once from London to Lisbon and got upgraded without asking and without being told. My friend and I found our seats sat down and after a few minutes wondered why we were so comfortable. Because we were sitting in leather chairs that i would kill to have at home and all the leg room possible. We then looked back and saw the little curtain seperating us from the rest of the plane. What a great flight! Wish it happened flying from Canada to Lisbon but oh well, probably my only chance of ever flying in first class, loved it! The thing is we were both in our early 20's were probably wearing jean cutoffs or something similar still clueless why or how it happened. We were flying British Airways.

A few years ago, returning from London to Boston on BA, the agent kept looking for three seats together (me, my husband and 16 year old daughter) and kept coming up empty! She kept giving us two/one seat options, and my husband kept saying, very politely and quietly, that's not acceptable. I threw in, almost as a joke "you could always upgrade us...". The woman was very nice, but gave no reaction to my comment. She finally just gave us back our boarding passes, and we went to wait for the flight. When we arrived at the gate, the attendant looked at our tickets, the computer, and said there had been a change. She wrote the new seat numbers on the boarding passes. Just like Lidija, I couldn't figure out why our seats were soooo comfortable (boy, was I tired). It took me a few minutes to realize we'd been upgraded to Business. The bad part is that my husband now refuses to fly to Europe again unless he can fly Business. I'm willing to leave him home ;-).

We got a similar "unrequested upgrade" on a family trip to London two years ago. My dad had polio when he was in his 20s and walks with a brace; for any distances at all (more than 50 yards at most), he'll use a wheelchair. <BR> <BR>We were waiting to board the BA flight from Washington Dulles, had our boarding passes, etc. We hadn't requested anything unusual (other than 3 seats together). Just as we were about to board, I heard our names being called over the paging system. I hurried to the gate agent and she handed me three boarding passes, saying "These are your new boarding passes." <BR> <BR>When we got on, we realized that the new seat assignments were in business class--affording us the comfort of the "cradle seats" for the overnight flight. Dad was really relieved--what a help! (He also said to me, "Now I know why you wanted me to travel with you!") Some wonderful gate agent automatically upgraded us without our even asking. Now that's what I call thoughtful.

I remember being upgraded to first class when I was in college, travelling from BWI to Atlanta. I didn't request it, but a really cute Delta employee called my name on the paging system. I asked if everything was OK, and he smiled and said, "I'd just like to see you arrive in style." I beamed at him and indeed was quite comfortable. Pity it wasn't a longer flight! My other upgrade came when I was flying from home from San Francisco to BWI after visiting my boyfriend (now husband!). I was missing him already, and couldn't stop weeping! I guess the agents felt sorry for me (or thought I might have started wailing hysterically once on the plane) so they upgraded me. Luck hasn't struck since (when we remember to inquire), but we'll keep trying!

How do you get "upgrade coupons"? Are these coupons issued with your frequent flyer points that you request ahead of time? Can you not use them to upgrade a ticket at the time of reservation?

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Assuming that we aren't already USING upgrade tickets, we request EVERY time, politely and EARLY, dress nicely, and get upgraded (without coupons or miles) about half the time.