View Full Version : Getting upgraded on Virgin
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
31-08-2002, 15:33
Myself and Roger may be travelling to Florida in the next week or so for a few days and were wondering if anyone has any good tips for getting upgraded on Virgin (we'll be flying MAN-MCO)?
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
After a burglary next door, we invited the crime prevention officer to have a look around our home. As you do, we eventually got talking about Florida and he mentioned that he always gets upgraded when flying to USA. We had a sneaky feeling he might have worn his uniform(!) but he said he didn't.
Best tips so far are to dress smart casual (no jeans/trainers, etc), check in early and ask persuasively!
Blott
steph_goodrum
31-08-2002, 21:28
Blott
We were told by someone that those that ask don't get upgraded. We have only been upgraded once and that was on our last return trip, we are silver flying club members, so can check in at the premium economy desk, although all 3 of us were wearing shorts, t-shirts and sandals, the lady checking us in didn't mind. Maybe there had been some really irritating person who had paid for the upgrade and she thought it would upset them, putting riff-raff who hadn't paid beside them. It was one of her colleagues who said they got fed up being asked by people who thought they were better than everyone else (but weren't prepard to pay for it), so our policy is be as friendly and polite as possible and keep your fingers crossed.
Babblin Boo
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
31-08-2002, 21:42
Ok, so far we've got smart casual clothes, be polite at checkin and don't ask fro an upgrade.
I did hear that if you offer to be flexible with travel in case they are overbooked then this also counts in your favour. Anyone any comments on this?
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
steph_goodrum
31-08-2002, 22:07
John
We always ask if they are looking to "off load anyone", the first time we went to Orlando this is what happened to us, the flight was overbooked when we got to checkin at Orlando and they asked if we'd be prepared to "stand down", in return they asked if we would fly to Miami and pick up the Gatwick flight from there, this meant instead of 3 hours we had been expecting to wait at Orl Int, we were rushed straight to the other departure gate to pick up the 1 hr flight to Miami, the Gatwick flight left an hour earlier than the one we would have caught at Orlando and in return we were given the choice or either 40,000 Freeway miles (which at the time we didn't belong to the club) or a voucher for a free flight on any of Virgins scheduled network flights. So all 4 of us went back to Orlando for nothing the next year, but we could have gone to Japan or South Afirc if we'd wanted. This was about 5 years ago. So unless we've got to get back by a particular time we always ask if anything is available. BTW our friends had travelled on a different flight to us were expecting to be waiting for an hour for us all to get the minibus home, were quite amazed to find us waving to them at the arrivals desk (and boy were they green when we told them about the free flight).
Babblin Boo
When we were upgraded we were told by the lady at the Virgin check in desk that they usually look for those who have another Virgin flight booked in the future (which so happened to be in our case). Not absolutely convinced by that one though!
Sandra
florida4sun
01-09-2002, 07:00
Having being bumped up once or twice and also having a sister in law who worked for BA and Virgin, here are my guidelines:
No young kids.
Look smart and be friendly.
Arrive early.
Dont ask directly but maybe ask for a maximum legroom as you have a sore leg. We have shamelessly used Alex as an excuse for upgrades, never worked with virgin but has done so for every other airline we have used.
Failing that book on one of United's 777, service and seating is much better than Virgin.
They will only do free upgrades if they overbooked or very rarely as a good will gesture (just think about how many you will tell how great the airline was)
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Myself and Roger may be travelling to Florida in the next week or so for a few days and were wondering if anyone has any good tips for getting upgraded on Virgin (we'll be flying MAN-MCO)?
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Martin
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
02-09-2002, 17:34
Sarah's sister and partner Tony are travelling to Las Vegas today via Chicago with bmi. They managed to get themselves upgraded by:
- being smartly dressed
- being VERY polite to the check in staff
- checking in very early
- asking about legroom as Tony is 6.5 feet tall
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
caroline
02-09-2002, 17:40
quote:
Sarah's sister and partner Tony are travelling to Las Vegas today via Chicago with bmi. They managed to get themselves upgraded by:
- being smartly dressed
- being VERY polite to the check in staff
- checking in very early
- asking about legroom as Tony is 6.5 feet tall
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
Well - do you think 3 out of 4 would do??
David's 5ft 8 and a half!!! and I'm 5ft 5 so I don't think we qualify on legroom required!!!
Caroline
orlandobabe
02-09-2002, 17:42
We've never been that lucky. I guess I'll just have to keep on trying to win mine!
Orlandobabe
We have just tried to get off-loaded but no luck. Having two tall husbands and being polite didn't help but I think 5 kids in tow didn't help our cause either. Never mind, there's always another time.
Kerry
caroline
02-09-2002, 18:19
Aren't you lucky - 2 tall husbands <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Caroline
Edited by - caroline on 02/09/2002 14:20:30
Whoops!! Only one is mine and the other is my friends<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I'm not that lucky!!
Kerry
With 5 kids I think you would need 2 husbands <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> but then again a husband is like a child in some ways so maybe 1 would be better<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Ruth
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
02-09-2002, 19:02
Steady on Ruth <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
I can't comment specifically about getting upgraded in Virgin, but here's some general advice I've learned. If you're going to make an appeal for an upgrade, do it at an agent that stands away from the business-class check in agent. They are not going to let paying business-class passengers hear them giving out free upgrades.
It also helps if you've paid full price and not got a bargain ticket to start with. paul has been upgraded twice, both times from premier economy to upper class. The last time they tried to persuade him to pay for an upgrade,(he'd not asked for one) but he realised they'd overbooked economy so held firm and only discovered he'd been upgraded when his name was called to go early to the gate!
Chris
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
11-09-2002, 22:31
We have hatched a plan to get upgraded so only time will tell tomorrow.
Not sure if we paid full price economy but it was certainly not cheap.
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
caroline
12-09-2002, 10:24
Don't keep us in suspense for tooooo long - I'm dying to know what the plan is <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Caroline
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
12-09-2002, 10:41
Caroline:
We'll tell you in about an hour after we have checked in!
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
You and Roger haven't got black suits, sunglasses and black soft hats on have you - doing an impersonation of the Blues Brothers perhaps??
Sandra
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
12-09-2002, 11:49
That's not too far from the truth Sandra <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>.
Just checked in and they said whilst they are not doing upgrades as there are lots of spare seats they have put our names down for an upgrade at the gate so here's hoping!
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
Precious
12-09-2002, 12:04
Last November myself and three friends got upgraded on Virgin. One of the girls was a silver flyer and so we could all use the express checkin. Whilst we we there we were telling the lady about the horrible filght out seven days earlier when the ran out of meals so we all had to have the kids meals, which were neither satisfing nor wholesome.
caroline
13-09-2002, 15:09
John? Roger?
Any news yet?
Did the nice Mr Branson think you were worthy of his "Uper Class" treatment?
Caroline
Needless to say we did not get upgraded despite our valiant efforts. It was very close - we had to wait until we got to the gate but in the end there were just too many spare seats in economy for them to justify it.
We'll be trying hard for the upgrade again on the way home on Tuesday!
John (using Roger's logon to the forums)
Roger
www.orlandovillas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
steph_goodrum
13-09-2002, 17:14
Never mind Roger, maybe on the way back, that's when you'll benefit most anyway when you are trying to get some sleep.
Babblin Boo
John,
travelling when the planes have lots of gaps is pretty good though, loads of room to spread out?
Fiona
caroline
13-09-2002, 17:17
Good Luck John - You've got to give it a try - Stephs right the "big seats" make all the difference when you're trying to sleep
Caroline
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
13-09-2002, 17:23
We had 3 seats to ourself so it was not a bad flights at all - apart from the lady in front of Roger who insisted in reclining her seat to the max for the whole flight <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>.
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
What a shame, never mind, there's always Tuesday.
If there are loads of empty seats, why are they still chargeing silly prices<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>
Kerry
caroline
13-09-2002, 18:02
quote:
We had 3 seats to ourself so it was not a bad flights at all - apart from the lady in front of Roger who insisted in reclining her seat to the max for the whole flight <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>.
John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info
It makes you feel like sticking your knees in the back of their seat when people insist on behaving like this <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle> but that would just be lowering yourself to their standards <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>
Caroline
Yes, why do people insist on doing that?! I mean it's 9 hours for flip sake. If I get that this time I'm going to have to politely ask them to put their seat up. [}:)]