Getting seat upgrades at the airport

KJC · 05-26-2002, 05:01 AM

I've heard that airlines sometimes sell vacant first or business class seats at the gate for cheap. I can imagine they'd give them to their frequent flyers, but is there a way to buy these if you're not a frequent flyer? Any suggestions?

BHopper88 · 05-26-2002, 05:44 AM

i have never heard that, i know that the airlines usually dont just give the first class seats away, ie first class seat for coach price....

not saying they wouldnt...
you have a better chance of asking for an upgrade at the gate then buying a discount first class seat....

thus when they over sell a flight they will put the people in first...
thats just my experience of seeing things at NWA.... so other airlines might do things differently

05-26-2002, 01:44 PM

Our you could sneak into first class. But really that would be good for me to get cheap first class tickets.

05-26-2002, 02:06 PM

Air China does that. If you buy your tickets the day you fly and they are booked in economy sometimes they will let you into first class for the same price as an economy ticket.

Sean1999 Ram Air TA · 05-26-2002, 11:48 PM

Well United upgraded me to FC on 5 of my 6 flights I took this weekend.

MCO-ORD A320 moved me from 19A to 1A

ORD-YYZ 735 flight from 19A to 4F (Econ Plus)

YYZ-ORD 735 moved me from 13F to 2A

ORD-DTW 733 moved me from 10F to 1A

DTW-ORD 733 moved me from 13A to 1A

ORD-MCO A320 moved me from 19F to 1F

All of my flights were 90%+ full I just asked them at check-in if they had bulkhead seating and they said they can put in in first if I would like

Sean

MNL · 05-27-2002, 09:52 AM

well if your a frequent flyer of the same airline you could get
some upgrade seats for free like Saudi Arabian does ..

or you could ask the flight attendant to let you transfer to
Business class because of a certain reason ...... or maybe
a fake reason ......

My seat is always upgraded when we fly transfering from
last row to Business class ..... Tricky isn't it ?

but some airlines sell ticket at the counter .....

________________________________
WOW PHILIPPINES !!!!!!!

05-26-2002, 05:01 AM	#1
KJC Insane Collector Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Pasadena, CA Age: 37 Posts: 2,529	Getting seat upgrades at the airport I've heard that airlines sometimes sell vacant first or business class seats at the gate for cheap. I can imagine they'd give them to their frequent flyers, but is there a way to buy these if you're not a frequent flyer? Any suggestions? __________________ The white zones are for the immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. No parking!

05-26-2002, 11:48 PM	#5
Sean1999 Ram Air TA Senior Collector Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 249	Well United upgraded me to FC on 5 of my 6 flights I took this weekend. MCO-ORD A320 moved me from 19A to 1A ORD-YYZ 735 flight from 19A to 4F (Econ Plus) YYZ-ORD 735 moved me from 13F to 2A ORD-DTW 733 moved me from 10F to 1A DTW-ORD 733 moved me from 13A to 1A ORD-MCO A320 moved me from 19F to 1F All of my flights were 90%+ full I just asked them at check-in if they had bulkhead seating and they said they can put in in first if I would like Sean __________________ United Airlines Historian and Memorabilia Collector WAHS Member Last edited by Sean1999 Ram Air TA; 05-26-2002 at 11:54 PM.

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05-26-2002, 05:44 AM	#2
BHopper88 Master Collector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Home: Beverly Hills, Michigan (burb of Detroit), School: Grand Forks, North Dakota Age: 30 Posts: 547	i have never heard that, i know that the airlines usually dont just give the first class seats away, ie first class seat for coach price.... not saying they wouldnt... you have a better chance of asking for an upgrade at the gate then buying a discount first class seat.... thus when they over sell a flight they will put the people in first... thats just my experience of seeing things at NWA.... so other airlines might do things differently

05-26-2002, 01:44 PM	#3
Romania is #1 Guest Posts: n/a	Our you could sneak into first class. But really that would be good for me to get cheap first class tickets.

05-26-2002, 02:06 PM	#4
JohnnyB Guest Posts: n/a	Air China does that. If you buy your tickets the day you fly and they are booked in economy sometimes they will let you into first class for the same price as an economy ticket.

05-27-2002, 09:52 AM	#6
MNL Senior Collector Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: land of the good looking men (Narf) Posts: 396	well if your a frequent flyer of the same airline you could get some upgrade seats for free like Saudi Arabian does .. or you could ask the flight attendant to let you transfer to Business class because of a certain reason ...... or maybe a fake reason ...... My seat is always upgraded when we fly transfering from last row to Business class ..... Tricky isn't it ? but some airlines sell ticket at the counter ..... ________________________________ WOW PHILIPPINES !!!!!!!