I've flown economy, been upgraded, booked business class and always flew first with my parents as a child but I'm horrified by the notion that you can "tell" the people from economy! That we wouldn't want them getting any advantages...


Some here seem to suggest there is an economy "type" but the truth is that most of the people in business often fly in economy too depending on price, upgrades/status etc. In fact many companies will not pay for business class on flights under a certain number of hours. People in business can look as tacky as those in economy and vice versa!

The only consistency I have seen amongst business class passengers is that they tend to be more predominantly male...does this make them a better class of person?!!

My husband and I were upgraded to Business class last November on Aer Lingus, going from Chicago to Dublin.

I don't have any idea how we got so lucky. It certainly wasn't because we had so many miles with them; it was our first time to fly on that airline.

The funny thing was that we had gotten a super-cheap fare, so it wasn't how much we had paid for our ticket, either.

We were dressed nicely enough, but nothing extraordinary. And we had chatted pleasantly with the agent, but once again, nothing out of the ordinary.

We certainly didn't ask for or expect anything special. The agent had seated us in bulkhead seats initially, though, and then apparently someone traveling with an infant requested those seats, so they just moved us to Business.

Whatever the reason, we enjoyed our good fortune!

I worked for airlines for 13 years, and we always upgraded if there was room ($5 surcharge). Coat and tie were required, making us non-revs the only ones in the front cabin who didn't look like we just get out of bed.

Domestically I've been upgraded 5 or 6 times usually because the airline messed up somehow and I've just asked and they came through. One time between Montreal and Halifax there was only 5 women and we were all in economy so they bumped us all up. Internationally my husband and I have been bumped up twice. In March when we flew to Switzerland we were upgraded this happened because the flight was oversold and there was a change of aircraft and they didn't keep our reservations together. They automatically upgraded my husband because of his elite status and they pushed me out of my emergency exit and put me at the back in the middle. So when we got to the gate agent we said we didn't care if we both went to business class we just wanted to sit together and they upgraded me too. The other time was between NY and Venice and they came and got us once we were already boarded, the flight attendent said "Miss Taylor would you like to come up to business class", as if someone would willingly stay in economy. I was out of my seat and sipping champagne in business before my husband had even heard the question. After my first taste of international business class we've used FF miles three more time to go overseas something we probably wouldn't have done had we not seen for ourselves how much better it is.

Singletail - Do you object to trendy night clubs only letting the "cool-looking" people in. Even though the other schmucks waiting in line also have enough money to get in, the bouncers select those that get in based on their look. Why doesn't anyone object when the Hollywood-types get away with this blatant favoritism, but when the successful businessman who dresses nicely gets something the masses get all up in arms? Try working for the federal government sometime. If the public only knew what deals Senators, Congressmen, ambassadors, full-bird Colonels and up, lobbyists, et al get...

My husband and I were upgraded to business class on a flight from London on British Airways in December. We don't have any special status, didn't ask for an upgrade, and aren't sure why we were so lucky. We were not particularly dressed up, although we weren't wearing jeans.

My thoughts on the experience: if business class is that nice, what they heck do they get in first class?

SuzieC, I totally agree with you. When I have walked from the lowly coach class through business to exit the plane, I have never seen such a mess. 97% of those in first class are total slobs who can't pick up after themselves (or think they are too good to have to do that). It's disgusting - just proves once again that money and class do not go hand in hand.

Last year I flew first class from LA to Washington D.C. on a friend's companion ticket. It was for coach and the airline upgraded the ticket for free. A very nice gesture on their part.

However, the service and the food wasn't that great. For what you pay either in more expensive tickets or using FF miles for an upgrade is just not worth it.

It doesn't bother me flying coach (the main point is I am traveling again). I use my FF miles for free flights (2 of 9 trips to Europe have been free) And I will be going to NZ for free next year.
Cheap flights, great B&B's, restaurants where the locals dine - works for me!

Till few years ago I too thought that all the people in business or first class were slobs, till I started flying up front and now I know exactly why the cabin looks the way it does when people exit.

This is more true to long haul flights and more true to the business section. People in that sction get bombarded with free stuff throughout the flight: newspapers, magazines, snacks, bottles of water, amenity kits, food menus, special headphones and blankets wrapped in plastic bags, etc. etc. While the FA to paxs ratio is better in business than in economy, it's still not as good as first class. So on a flight were there are 30-45 business seats, there may be 3-4 dedicated FAs. They are very busy in this section because of the way food and drinks are served as well as all the other special requests. So they don't have very much time to go around and collect garbage every so often. When they do find some time, many passengers are sleeping, so they don't have a chance to get rid of some of the garbage. Most people stick the newspapers, menus, mgazines, plastic bags and whatever garbage they collect throughout the flight in the seatback pockets, so throughout the flight the cabin looks clean. Once the plane lands, everybody starts to look for their own personal belongings that they may have also stuck in the seatback pockets, thus pulling out whatever else is in there. And that's when the cabin starts to look like your local garbage dump. So basically the airline is to blame for this as they spoil the business passengers with all the free stuff while not having a place to dispose of it in most cases.

And finally, here is one sure way that will guarantee an upgrade......





PAY FOR IT!!!!!!!

This is definitely an interesting thread.... I thought there was a thread recently about this exact topic and most of the posts said forget about it.

We're flying business class this fall on Virgin, while my parents will be on the same flight in coach. Just couldn't afford to get them on the flight.

I will probably mention it when I'm checking in ... we're all FF members with Virgin. I guess the worst they can say is no.

The clothing thing *is* a consideration with airline personnel working the gates. My travel-wise European friend told me to dress "SFU" (suitable for upgrade) for my flight.

A few years ago, I believe August 00, my aunt and uncle were flying coach back from Paris. An overbooked Northwest/KLM combo flight to Minneapolis via Detroit was noticed by the flight crew to be full, and gate agents started "bidding" out incentives for people to wait till the next flight. They announced a certain amount of airmiles, and no one moved. The bids kept going up, until my aunt and uncle saw there chance and quickly went up front. In return for skipping that flight out of Paris, they we're rewarded with not only the ff miles, but also First Class through Amsterdam, into Detroit, and then into Minneapolis...and they didn't even have to wait a while for the changed flight to Amsterdam. Essentially, they had lost nothing, and gained just about everything. They even got into Minneapolis no more than 5 hours later than they would have originally......and they got to make their late entrance in style.

I agree with some above posters in regards to how much you pay for your tickets. Above all, though, just be nice to attendants. About, oh gosh, probably 9 or 10 years ago my dad and I were flying to Minneapolis from Los Angeles on Northwest to visit relatives, and the plane had been overbooked. (As I recall, at least). We were bumped up to the first row of first class and were served great steaks with quite tasty salads. (If only it were still like that nowadays). By the way, has anyone flown United lately in the states? In 01 i flew from Kennedy back home to LAX and they still had real silverwear. (Too used to flying NWA, i suppose). Do they still have real silverwear on United? I had determined they must have been the last U.S. airline still using real forks and knives and spoons back in 01. (This was in April, though, so before 9-11...im sure they've stopped)

The big American airlines all have distinct rules and regulations for bumping people. If you have semi-elite status, you get to upgrade at the time of the flight if in fact there is room. This is how it works, at least, for domestic flights within the United States. I'm not as sure about International.

Well, I hate to upset poor MK2, but last November, while traveling back to the states after Thanksgiving using $198 RT tickets from Denver, my wife and I were upgraded to business class. I usually don't wear jeans when I fly because I don't think they are as comfortable as other pants, but I don't think dress was the question. I hadn't flown BA in three years, so that wasn't it and I'm certainly not very good looking, but my wife is a knock out. Ahhh, that could be it.

My neice is an executive with Continental and thus my sister, brother-in-law and nephew fly for free and more often than not, are placed in 1st class. There is a dress code involved if you are flying that status and jeans are prohibited, though that is sometimes overlooked.

Bill

The how you dress thing is really bunk. In March I was upgraded on BA coming home on a last-minute flight for a death in the family. I paid for a coach ticket, but at check-in was notified I was upgraded. I was in jeans, a sweater and Doc Martens. Oddly, my mother who booked with me and was traveling home with me, was left in coach. Go figure. (And yes, the seating arrangements stayed that way...I love my mother, but....)

I agree with AA about why it's such a mess there, I have never been plied with so many freebies, food and drink in my life, it will be mighty difficult to go back to coach next time!

I fly business class and therefore do not have to worry about upgrades! No more steerage if the flight is longer than 4 hours.

Like Amyb, I was also upgraded into first class when returning from a funeral (my dad's). I was never told why, and at the time didn't care to ask. It's been over 10 years and I don't remerber how I was dressed, I suspect that traveling on a bereavement ticket might have been a factor. Coincidentally I was seated next to someone who turned out to be a friend of a friend - he was a sales rep for a hockey equipment company and my friends owned a hockey supply store. Now I know why hockey gear is so expensive - the sales reps are flying first class!

Our only upgrade to business was on British Air, London to Seattle. We had tickets for their World Traveler plus class. I have a problem with my feet we were waiting in their Serenity Lounge so they knew I had a problem. When we arrived at the gate we were told we had been bumped, don't know why but we sure didn't question it.

Quick question - how many of you, having no personal "ins" with the A/Ls you fly to get preferential treatment are obese?
M
Sorry, but that may be an issue.

Are you saying that you think it's <i>more</i> or <i>less</i> likely to get upgraded if you're obese?

Trish, only joking with you, but this line made me laugh the first time I read it:

<i>they pushed me out of my emergency exit</i>

Not an action I'd hope to have happen on a flight either, especially after takeoff. The wing is not an upgrade.