Thought we’d have a look at this little question as Im asked about it, weirdly by those who have booked economy seats. It seems the affluent business class traveller is not as fussed about heading North towards the cockpit and the often unseen, certainly untried First Class cabin.
In short it is nigh impossible to get that conversion from turning right to turning left (or even upstairs). However in my days at Virgin Atlantic and British Airways I learnt a small thing or two about the upgrade. Firstly, you need to be on very full, infact overbooked flights. This means that the airline will be looking to upgrade people.
How you dress then helps, though I always tuck some ‘economy’ travel wear in my hand luggage (wearing Tails in economy is not only daft but highlights the fact you are a failed Business Class Upgrade Searcher (BCUS) which will result in ridicule from the rest of your economy posse).
Having an airline loyalty card is a real clincher. Forget the BA Blue Card, my 5 year old has one of them. You need to start with Silver, aspire to Gold and if youve got the ‘rare as hens teeth’ Platinum card (can I help sir) you will not be reading this anyway. Any airline looks after its frequent travellers as best it can and that includes upgrades.
Forget eating 700 doughnuts and claiming you cant fit in your seat or claiming that you are a mate of Richard’s (if flying Virgin), neither rubs with the Servisair check in staff who after checking you in will be booking Margaret to Tenerife for some winter sun luvvie. Oh thats another one, only attempt the upgrade request with actual airline check in staff. BA at Heathrow is a good example.
Honeymooners, absolutely try your luck, anyone over 100 and Roger Moore (though he wants to travel on a bus at the momeent). You all have a chance.
But I have a better idea. BA is short of cash, to the tune of approx £260m as announced today. For a quid you get an Upgrade Lottery Ticket ticket and it says yeah or nay to an upgrade on your next journey. You know it would work, you would have a much better chance of winning than the National Lottery and it would force you to fly BA.
You heard it first here. Any airline could try it. Virgin Atlantic vs BA National Upgrade lottery every week. Imagine that. One would be on the BBC and the other on Sky probably.
NB. Any airline wishing to take up this great idea, should contact me via the blog for the rights. Ill accept a lifetime of upgrades.
