Purchasing Upgrades at Check In

29 replies

Warragul

Member since 22 Jan 2019

Total posts 20

Is there a list of some sort of the airlines that will sell (not the bidding lottery or using points) upgrades at check in? A search of threads here returned a discussion about Qantas not doing that. A family member has successfully done this with Etihad twice in the last three weeks. So I'm wondering who does and doesn't.

Thanks

souths70

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 19 Mar 2015

Total posts 18

Thai airways do

Last editedby souths70 at Jan 06, 2020, 12:21 PM.

fish1983

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 03 Jun 2014

Total posts 17

Fiji Airways do as well

Dan22

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 07 Aug 2013

Total posts 168

Air New Zealand - they have a map of set cost to upgrade using a radius distnace from Auckland. From memory it was $1k to Perth to upgrade to business, $500 for premium. Same for any other destination within that radius i.e approx 7hr flight time. East cost Australia to upgrade was $500 and so on.

ScottB

Member since 21 Apr 2016

Total posts 13

JAL publish a price list for upgrading to premium economy at check-in.

https://www.jal.co.jp/en/info/inter/apopyug.html

bbtlife

Member since 28 Oct 2018

Total posts 3

Virgin Australia do both lottery and purchase upgrades at check-in self serve kiosks

DrSK

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 08 Jul 2014

Total posts 44

US-based airlines will generally offer paid upgrades, especially for domestic flights.

Aidan

Member since 05 Dec 2018

Total posts 95

Last year when I was at checking in for Qantas QF95 Mel-Lax flight a passenger asked for payed upgrades to business. They were on offer and it something reasonable like $900 per person.

I was surprised as I didn't know this was a thing.

Theresnormissin

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 14 Oct 2016

Total posts 161

Out of interest does anyone know if the purchased upgrades come with a higher points/status earn ? I'm guessing this is airline dependant but that would factor highly in my decision to upgrade alongside my personal comfort:flight time metric.

ScottB

Member since 21 Apr 2016

Total posts 13

Originally Posted by Theresnormissin

Out of interest does anyone know if the purchased upgrades come with a higher points/status earn ? I'm guessing this is airline dependant but that would factor highly in my decision to upgrade alongside my personal comfort:flight time metric.

Word of thumb is generally no, however there are anecdotes of paid upgrades on certain airlines crediting at the higher rate on other FF programs, e.g. Plusgrade bids on MH crediting to BAEC at full J rates..

Warragul

Member since 22 Jan 2019

Total posts 20

Originally Posted by Theresnormissin

Out of interest does anyone know if the purchased upgrades come with a higher points/status earn ? I'm guessing this is airline dependant but that would factor highly in my decision to upgrade alongside my personal comfort:flight time metric.

Mentioned family member who upgraded on Etihad asked about this today, with Velocity points/status are based on the original fare.

Thanks for the replies.

Seuna

Avianca - AviancaPlus

Member since 27 Oct 2015

Total posts 1

I have twice purchased an upgrade from a cheap economy fare to business on KLM by being first in line at the check in counter (KUL-AMS each way) when 2 seats were available. It was a bargain - cost something like $300AUD pp.

My parents-in-law are travelling economy with Qatar in a few months. I'd love to know if they offer it?

Pit

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 31 Jul 2017

Total posts 14

Virgin when travelling internationally - at checkin


Rufus1

Member since 04 Dec 2013

Total posts 70

Originally Posted by Warragul

Originally Posted by Theresnormissin

Out of interest does anyone know if the purchased upgrades come with a higher points/status earn ? I'm guessing this is airline dependant but that would factor highly in my decision to upgrade alongside my personal comfort:flight time metric.

Mentioned family member who upgraded on Etihad asked about this today, with Velocity points/status are based on the original fare.

Thanks for the replies.

Lufthansa credits at the business class rate for a bid upgrade (although I haven't seen how this works since they revamped Miles&More a little while back).

Pigeon226

Member since 18 Oct 2019

Total posts 1

BA definitely do paid upgrades. Have done it numerous times throughout Europe and trans-Atlantic flights. Long haul promotional upgrade is what they call it and have gone from economy to business for £500. Got full business class status points etc as well

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