Any tips for a free upgrade?

Using points or vouchers for upgrades is the only sure fire way of getting into a higher class of travel other than actualy paying for it in the first place. Some programmes are simpler than others. AA has a voucher system for its top tier fliers which works very nicely. I’m on a £300 ticket to San Francisco in a fortnights time and I am in First and Business Class all the way through because of the level of business I give AA. Works for me! 😎

Likewise myself… I am 1K (Gold) with UA, and I’m doing LHR-LAX and return in March, paid £321, upgrades to business class already confirmed both ways by way of two of my “systemwide upgrade” (SWU) e-vouchers! 😀

Andy

Using points or vouchers for upgrades is the only sure fire way of getting into a higher class of travel other than actualy paying for it in the first place.

Frequent Flyer programmes are the best way of doing this and as you are KLM Silver your membership pack will surely explain what you need to do in order to be able to upgrade your class of travel?

Some programmes are simpler than others. AA has a voucher system for its top tier fliers which works very nicely. I’m on a £300 ticket to San Francisco in a fortnights time and I am in First and Business Class all the way through because of the level of business I give AA. Works for me! 😎

And I’d be most pleased 😉

You’re a canny good Geordie lad Chris so I’d myek yee an exception

Scrooge…

That’s a paradox..if i were a Scrooge wouldn’t i be up the back end with the hoi polloi in the cheap seats

I only travel business class..i like the extra seat and leg room and the meals are far superior to cattle class..if someone was upgraded from the rear end and sat next me when they have only paid the economy price…I’d be most annoyed

Scrooge…

I only travel business class..i like the extra seat and leg room and the meals are far superior to cattle class..if someone was upgraded from the rear end and sat next me when they have only paid the economy price…I’d be most annoyed

And I’d be most pleased 😉

I only travel business class..i like the extra seat and leg room and the meals are far superior to cattle class..if someone was upgraded from the rear end and sat next me when they have only paid the economy price…I’d be most annoyed

…hardly business class is it. Ooh a curtain, a paper and a breadbun :p

I agree. I seriously dont understand airlines that offer a business class on such short-haul routes, they should make them all economy and then they would be able to accommodate even more passengers and therefore make more money!?:)

lol! some good stories above. thanks for sharing.

I regularly flew on the Fokker 70/100 service from NCL to AMS last year, and yeah…it’s hardly business class is it. Ooh a curtain, a paper and a breadbun :p

I have twice been upgraded on business trips without having to ask. I think one reason was that I was working for a high-profile company that was a regular customer of the airlines concerned – that’s probably a big help when blagging an upgrade. On the second occasion I was taking a late-night flight from Boston to Gatwick when it was delayed by about three hours. Presumably some of the fat cats in Premium Class had moved to earlier flights, leaving room for us plebs.

Another time I was flying on a business class ticket with a colleague on a VLM Fokker F.50 from Luxembourg to London City. Business class was separated from the rest of the cabin by a curtain hanging from the overhead lockers, but we were seated aft of the curtain. After checking our tickets the flight attendant ripped the curtain down (it was on Velcro fasteners) and reattached it behind our seats. It didn’t feel like much of an upgrade, to be honest.

I remember reading years ago there are a few tips that I think are the basics:
1) You have more chance if you are a member of their loyalty programme.
2) Ask them outright – don’t just hint at it. The worst they can say is no, they best they can say is yes.
3) You are more likely to be upgraded if you are travelling by yourself, as they are unlikely to upgrade a family etc.
4) If/when you ask, try catching the queue when it is at a minimum – they are unlikely to upgrade you when other passengers can hear/see what they are doing as they would get everyone doing it. Try and check-in by yourself.
5) Smile, be polite and friendly. A little charm sometimes goes a long way.

And another point I would add to this list is…

6) Make sure you are dressed appropriately for the class of service you want to travel in.

I’m not saying you should go dressed to impress in a suit, shirt & tie, but don’t go to other end of the extreme and rock up at the check-in desk in a t-shirt, jeans and trainers and then ask for an upgrade, as you wont stand a chance, even if your the highest earning mileage member and the airline is looking to upgrade passengers because Economy is oversold, you’ll be made to travel with the rest of us riff-raff down the back!

Blagging can be a wonderful thing. There are great stories around of people who have blagged all kinds of things, often at great expense.

Indeed symon, blagging can be a wonderful thing, but it takes a great deal of skill, and more importantly…luck!

A story that made me chuckle from a while back was of the guy who bought a fake beard, put it on just before he checked-in for his Virgin Atlantic flight and tried to pass himself off as a relative of SRB in order to gain an upgrade to Upper Class! Needless to say he was unsuccessful as his passport photo was not an accurate match…lol!

…Or, just buy the ticket in the class you want to travel in, if possible :p (I know, I know, if everyone did that then there would be no economy…)

If only we all had the money to do so! Blagging can be a wonderful thing. There are great stories around of people who have blagged all kinds of things, often at great expense. I’ve had a couple of success stories, but nothing extravagant.

You may not have much of (if any) a chance, but sometimes I still give it a go when flying long haul.

I remember reading years ago there are a few tips that I think are the basics:
1) You have more chance if you are a member of their loyalty programme.
2) Ask them outright – don’t just hint at it. The worst they can say is no, they best they can say is yes.
3) You are more likely to be upgraded if you are travelling by yourself, as they are unlikely to upgrade a family etc.
4) If/when you ask, try catching the queue when it is at a minimum – they are unlikely to upgrade you when other passengers can hear/see what they are doing as they would get everyone doing it. Try and check-in by yourself.
5) Smile, be polite and friendly. A little charm sometimes goes a long way.

Before anyone jumps in and says “That’s all rubbish! None of that will ever work because of reasons X, Y or Z!”…..I’m just reciting what I once read. no harm in trying :rolleyes:

I am one of the few Platinum Elite for life members and I am treated the same as everybody else mate.Forget any upgrades.

wawkrk

Indeed. However I fear that may somewhat remove the budget factor from the trip….which incidentally is the only reason I can go!

I wan’t better for nothing. Hey, I can dream can’t I :p

I’m a loyal customer!! I should be being served Bollinger and steamed lobster by now 😀

Chris …i find the easiest way to get into business class is to get out your cheque book and pay for it..it works for me every time

note to self: forget about it 😉

Good point about the cheap fares, I didn’t see the usual miles info as it’s not directly KLM…I’ve no idea how many miles I will get for it!

I would say your only hope is that Eco is oversold, and there is room in Business class. Any top tier members would most likley be given the chance to move up, but as silver, in short your chances are very very slim.

You may also find that the cheapest Eco fares are not upgradable anyway, even using miles.

All I would achieve in that case is a punch in the face 😉

Cheers, I thought as much mind. I don’t know if I have enough points, probably not! Oh well, maybe next time!!

Since last April i’ve racked up over 20,000 KLM points and I’m now at silver level.

I’ve just booked to go to Boston and then fly home from New York (NWA A330-300 to Boston, Air France 777-200 return), a steal for £350, couldn’t resist!

Anyway, any tips on blagging an upgrade? I’ve yet to go in Business Class! Would I be better off on the way out, or the way back? The NWA 330 I was on to Minneapolis a few months ago was great, brand new! Is it likely the one to Boston will be similarly new? What is the AF service like? Only flew with them once, a good few years ago…that was 330 aswell I believe, I remember good food!

Anyway, tips appreciated. If all else fails, will I have enough points to get an upgrade??

Forget it mate, most airlines have a standard upgrade policy which basically gives the highest mileage-earning pax preference to any complimentary upgrades first…to help keep them loyal. Also, airlines will not upgrade pax for free if there is still space in economy…will only ever happen if economy is oversold.

Either that or you could try fluttering your eyes at a pretty flight attendant…;)