Deathside Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 I was overjoyed when the very nice lady at the British Airways Check-in desk at Singapore Airport said We are upgrading you to Business Class Should this be in the Ticket News and Travel forum??
Janx Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 I was overjoyed when the very nice lady at the British Airways Check-in desk at Singapore Airport said We are upgrading you to Business Class Should this be in the Ticket News and Travel forum?? Does this still happen, why?
Nationwider Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 Does this still happen, why? And why does it never happen to me on the number 36 into town?
Jay Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 Does this still happen, why? it can happen through overbooking!! all major schedule airlines sell more seats than they actually have which really should be against the law as normally plenty of people cancel at the last minute and so on
lookwhaticando Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 I don't see the problem with overbooking. It's sensible business practice in my eyes - especially on flights that operate regularly (ie. a few times a day). From a business perspective, selling 10% more seats than you've got available makes a lot of sense. Imagine all the passangers you've booked turn up - you've got to pay some of them a bit of cash or a free flight to keep them happy. In an era where fuel costs are making flights very expensive undertakings, you really don't want to be flying around planes that aren't carrying plenty of passangers. I'm sure as money-making goes, it makes more sense to pay a few people say 100 quid each for taking a later flight, than it does to suffer the lower yields flying a plane with fewer passangers. Besides, there's often quite a few people willing to accept a small fee for missing one flight and taking the next. On a trip to Milan I was bumped, and paid 50 quid to take the flight that left two hours later. My dad has accepted many such payments for taking later flights - mostly on his return from a business trip, when he's no need to worry about being a few hours later than planned. And I certainly didn't complain when me and the family were upgraded to World Traveller Plus (Economy with more room, basically) from Toronto to London on BA.
Head Honcho Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 My wife regularly book flights only to cancel them at the last minute, It's the norm in the business world.
Matt Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 When I checked in to go home from Australia, They said "We're sorry we seem to have sold your seats, but we have seat in first class so we will upgrade you there for free" God knows how they sold my seat when I had already bought it in the first place but I didn't mind First Class was unbeleivable. You had you own little cubicle/room with sliding door, there was a "star" effect in the cealing when they shut the plane down at night, Free bar, proper food (Although I personally don't mind normal airplane food), personal tv (Almost like Sky TV), reclining seats that went right back and folded into a bed. Hope it happens when I go at christmas. The only reason I can think they sold my seat was that I had used emirates in the past, and as someone offered to buy the seat they had free seats in First Class so upgraded me, thats the only explanation/theory I can think off!
lookwhaticando Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 When I checked in to go home from Australia, They said "We're sorry we seem to have sold your seats, but we have seat in first class so we will upgrade you there for free" God knows how they sold my seat when I had already bought it in the first place but I didn't mind First Class was unbeleivable. You had you own little cubicle/room with sliding door, there was a "star" effect in the cealing when they shut the plane down at night, Free bar, proper food (Although I personally don't mind normal airplane food), personal tv (Almost like Sky TV), reclining seats that went right back and folded into a bed. Hope it happens when I go at christmas. The only reason I can think they sold my seat was that I had used emirates in the past, and as someone offered to buy the seat they had free seats in First Class so upgraded me, thats the only explanation/theory I can think off! I think it's a bit more passive than that. I'm not convinced airlines go around selling *particular* passanger's seats. They just overbook from the start and then bump/upgrade selected people. They sell 'seats' then work out what to do with the people they may/may not have displaced. Chances are - they sold 'some' seats on the aircraft to somebody who turned up and paid right then and there (paying to fly at the time of the flight is lucrative business for the airline) - still overbooking, but for good business reason (a massive fee charged to buy a seat then and there). They then proceeded to pick somebody suitable (ie. someone in need of the same number of seats) to upgrade. If there were no more seats in First, you may have gone into Business class, or at worse they'd have paid you (or someone else) to hang around and get the next flight. Essentially, it was overbooking that landed you your posh ride home. They just presented the facts differently.
Fosse_KC Posted 31 July 2006 Posted 31 July 2006 The joys of Overbooking - it's all part and parcel of Revenue Management. I do this as my part of my job in the Hotel industry, and it is copied directly from the Airline business. Basically, they expect a certain amount of people not to turn up (No Shows) or cancel at the last minute (Last Cancellations) - so the amount they overbook by will depend on this number, which will vary by time of flight, destination etc. For those people who don't turn up the company still charges them the money, and for late cancellations there is generally always a late cancellation fee or no refund policy. This way the company can maximise their earnings from their fixed number of seats / hotel rooms and generally the aim is to make sure they are always running at full capacity as this makes it more cost effective.
Guest Posted 1 August 2006 Posted 1 August 2006 I am always willing to be upgraded on any flight. Thank you any visiting airlines who happen to be reading this post.
Janx Posted 1 August 2006 Posted 1 August 2006 I am always willing to be upgraded on any flight. Thank you any visiting airlines who happen to be reading this post. Havent flown long haul for about 5 years since Jr Janx arrived.... so unless EZJET & Jet2 start doing 1st class, Im scuppered, that said Im off to Florida and Vegas in the next 12 months! YAY Come on Airlines give this man a break...or abig comfy seat and free beer, whichever
Daggers Posted 1 August 2006 Posted 1 August 2006 I am always willing to be upgraded on any flight. Thank you any visiting airlines who happen to be reading this post. I found asking at every check-in was a guaranteed mood raiser. For some reason everyone always found it SO funny to hear the scruffy fat man ask if he could go into First Class. Stupid dumb airline staff grrrrr
Ric Flair Posted 1 August 2006 Posted 1 August 2006 When I checked in to go home from Australia, They said "We're sorry we seem to have sold your seats, but we have seat in first class so we will upgrade you there for free" God knows how they sold my seat when I had already bought it in the first place but I didn't mind First Class was unbeleivable. You had you own little cubicle/room with sliding door, there was a "star" effect in the cealing when they shut the plane down at night, Free bar, proper food (Although I personally don't mind normal airplane food), personal tv (Almost like Sky TV), reclining seats that went right back and folded into a bed. Hope it happens when I go at christmas. The only reason I can think they sold my seat was that I had used emirates in the past, and as someone offered to buy the seat they had free seats in First Class so upgraded me, thats the only explanation/theory I can think off! Matty, me old boy! Always nice to hear you have something complimentary to say. I've been upgraded to first class before for free and as you say it's absolutely amazing.
Monk Posted 1 August 2006 Posted 1 August 2006 I was overjoyed when the very nice lady at the British Airways Check-in desk at Singapore Airport said We are upgrading you to Business Class Should this be in the Ticket News and Travel forum?? mate do you live in Singapore? I am moving out there in November...
Deathside Posted 1 August 2006 Author Posted 1 August 2006 mate do you live in Singapore? I am moving out there in November... Live in Leicester but just had 2 lengthy work trips to Singapore I absolutely love it there - The weather is just right for me and the punk scene is mental I now have more frens in Singapore than I do in UK
Janx Posted 1 August 2006 Posted 1 August 2006 Live in Leicester but just had 2 lengthy work trips to Singapore I absolutely love it there - The weather is just right for me and the punk scene is mental I now have more frens in Singapore than I do in UK
Deathside Posted 1 August 2006 Author Posted 1 August 2006 Other reasons why upgrades due to overbooking happen is flexible tickets - On a flexi ticket you can take any flight (Obviously you pay a premium for this when you originally purchase your ticket) For work trips on BA I fly World Traveller Plus (Also refered to as Premium Economy or Economy Plus) - On this occasion it was over subscribed (there are only 32 seats available) Who gets the upgrade is generally based on a number of different criteria - Being a member of the airlines frequant flyer scheme is always in your favour - Additionally this was my 4th long hall flight on BA in 2.5 months - Also I completed a survey for BA about a week previous which compared my experiences with them against other airlines - I have a good opinion of BA but have recently flown Singapore Airlines - The SA experience (even in economy) blows BA out of the water Another reason for upgrades is that, after the experience, you may consider buying your future tickets in the higher class The downside is that next time I fly BA in World Traveller Plus it will seem cráp
Monk Posted 1 August 2006 Posted 1 August 2006 Live in Leicester but just had 2 lengthy work trips to Singapore I absolutely love it there - The weather is just right for me and the punk scene is mental I now have more frens in Singapore than I do in UK Nice one. Am completely psyched. Sorry this is off topic. How do you find the cost of stuff there?
Deathside Posted 1 August 2006 Author Posted 1 August 2006 Pub drinks - extortionate - Stick to 7 Eleven stores and street drinking parties Car ownership - Forget it - You need a permit before you can buy a car - The permit can cost as much as a brand new car - MRT (Metro system) is very cheap and very reliable (Bus service also cheap / good) Food stuff - Eating at food halls or coffee shops is super cheap (Lots of vegetarian foods available too) Gigs - DIY / Punk gigs are dirt cheap - Big gigs by visiting bands are stupid money Accomodation - I gather this is pretty pricey - My hotels were paid for by my employers so not hassle for me there Tattoos - Cheap by UK standards and from my experience well worth it - Helps if you get introduced to the artist by friends - You tend to get a better deal that way And finally - not a financial consideration but... Girlies - Drop dead gorgeous and easily impressed by an aging Punker from the West
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