Upgraded without status

I have had friends who are infreqent flyers (a round trip or less a year)
who because of oversold reservations have been upgraded to BC on INTL trips
for free. I am surprised that that they have been upgraded as nonstatus non
FF people. I would think they would check out the whole cabin for people
who had some status? This is USA citizens on LH.
Can anyone shed some light why this would happen?

dennis

I have had friends who are infreqent flyers (a round trip or less a
year)
who because of oversold reservations have been upgraded to BC on INTL
trips
for free. I am surprised that that they have been upgraded as nonstatus
non
FF people. I would think they would check out the whole cabin for people
who had some status? This is USA citizens on LH.
Can anyone shed some light why this would happen?

This has happened to my father on a couple of occasions on transatlantic
flights. I think if the flight is oversold, they need to free up some seats
in steerage, and they've already upgraded all the "status" people they start
picking others. My dad always looks "presentable," which I think goes a
long way. It's also happened to me twice domestically. In both cases I was
wearing a suit and tie - Again, looking "presentable."

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada

Geoff Glave -r-g wrote:
This has happened to my father on a couple of occasions on transatlantic
flights. I think if the flight is oversold, they need to free up some
seats in steerage, and they've already upgraded all the "status" people
they start picking others. My dad always looks "presentable," which I
think goes a long way. It's also happened to me twice domestically. In
both cases I was wearing a suit and tie - Again, looking "presentable."

I have never in my life flown wearing a suit and tie and have been upgraded
without any special status on many occasions. Being friendly and polite
helps as much as spending money on fancy threads, I think.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Site remodeled 10-Sept-2003: Hundreds of new photos, easier navigation.

In article ,
"Dennis G. Rears" wrote:

I have had friends who are infreqent flyers (a round trip or less a year)
who because of oversold reservations have been upgraded to BC on INTL trips
for free. I am surprised that that they have been upgraded as nonstatus non
FF people. I would think they would check out the whole cabin for people
who had some status? This is USA citizens on LH.
Can anyone shed some light why this would happen?

On some airlines, it's more frequent that others. BA is anecdotally
more likely to upgrade a non member, let alone no status, than a top
tier member. AA is, on the other hand, very good about upgrading those
with status.

On Mon, 06 Oct 2003 02:44:59 GMT, "Dennis G. Rears"
wrote:

I have had friends who are infreqent flyers (a round trip or less a year)
who because of oversold reservations have been upgraded to BC on INTL trips
for free. I am surprised that that they have been upgraded as nonstatus non
FF people. I would think they would check out the whole cabin for people
who had some status? This is USA citizens on LH.
Can anyone shed some light why this would happen?

They are trying to win over the non-members/non-status flyers - think
about it, you have been upgraded, you feel all warm and fuzzy, who are
you going to fly with next time?


Dave

On Mon, 06 Oct 2003 20:13:54 +1000, Dave Proctor
wrote:

They are trying to win over the non-members/non-status flyers - think
about it, you have been upgraded, you feel all warm and fuzzy, who are
you going to fly with next time?

Whoever's cheapest same as I did last time... being upgraded has
never made any difference to my flight choices, and I can't see why it
would, sure BC is nice, but for me it's definately not worth the
money, and it's definately not worth trying to play games and picking
an airline where you might have a better chance.

I'd've thought the airline check-in folk don't care who they upgrade,
they just need the seats, the first person who comes along who's nice
and friendly will probably get it. What's their interest in doing
anything else?

Jim.

(Miguel Cruz) wrote in
:

Geoff Glave -r-g wrote:
This has happened to my father on a couple of occasions on
transatlantic flights. I think if the flight is oversold, they need
to free up some seats in steerage, and they've already upgraded all
the "status" people they start picking others. My dad always looks
"presentable," which I think goes a long way. It's also happened to
me twice domestically. In both cases I was wearing a suit and tie -
Again, looking "presentable."

I have never in my life flown wearing a suit and tie and have been
upgraded without any special status on many occasions. Being friendly
and polite helps as much as spending money on fancy threads, I think.

miguel

that is what I have been told by friends who work as gate agents. the
policies differ from airline to airline, but the bottom line is the gate
agetns are often empowered to adjust seating and kindness pays
dividends.

I have received this treatment from CO twice. Once the gate agetn walked
over and asked for my boarding pass returning in a few minutes with a
new one, on another occassion the flight attendant came back and said
"The gate agents thought that you might like this seat a little better"
in his hand was a boarding pass for seat 1B.

I've been upgraded a couple of times on oversold flights without
having any FF status other than being a basic member. However, one
time I didn't get my FF # on the reservation and couldn't get a seat
assignement at check-in. Went to wait at the gate and checked with an
agent there - nope no seat available yet, until I gave them my FF # at
which point a seat in Business Class miraculously became available.

I have had friends who are infreqent flyers (a round trip or less a
year)
who because of oversold reservations have been upgraded to BC on INTL
trips
for free. I am surprised that that they have been upgraded as nonstatus
non
FF people. I would think they would check out the whole cabin for people
who had some status? This is USA citizens on LH.
Can anyone shed some light why this would happen?

This happened to us when flying VS LHR-SFO. We were late checking in and
Myself and my wife couldn't be seated together in scum class. I kicked up a
bit of a fuss, and we were ungraded to Premium Economy.

"Dennis G. Rears" wrote:

I have had friends who are infreqent flyers (a round trip or less a year)
who because of oversold reservations have been upgraded to BC on INTL trips
for free. I am surprised that that they have been upgraded as nonstatus non
FF people. I would think they would check out the whole cabin for people
who had some status? This is USA citizens on LH.
Can anyone shed some light why this would happen?

If the BS seats became available due to a no show, the plane may have
already boarded, except for those without seat assignments.

Hense non-status passengers luck out.

--
Stephen

There were no weapons of mass destruction, just words of mass deception.