Cathay Pacific Exploring "EBay" Style Upgrades for Seats...$$$

Hate your airline seat? Bid higher next time.
That's right, it's auction time in the skies as airlines are creating a unique way of determining seating by actually allowing customers to bid on their upgrade. In a process that has been likened to the way eBay does business, this move would allow airlines to not only make sure every seat is booked, but also make a lot more money.
As one Cathay Pacific spokesperson explained it,"Customers would be invited to place an offer for their booked flights via a website prior to their departure date. If their offer was successful they would be advised around four days prior to departure and the offer payment collected." Basically, it just means that if you have a seat in economy and want to upgrade to business class, you can put in a bid for the empty seat you strive to sit in.

I may be biased but nonrevs should get first dibs on J/F seats and if there are any seats up front left over, then give it to the revenue folks unless said folks fork over the regular J class fare or use miles.

AA sells upgrades at check-in to J at several European cities and as a result, I 'lost' my sure seat up front for one in the back on at least two occasions, flying back from ZRH and FRA. Again, I may be biased but in this situation, they should go to nonrevs first then sell whatever is left.

Now isppilot you know that money talks and non-revs get 30B. :cool:

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Originally Posted by isppilot

I may be biased but nonrevs should get first dibs on J/F seats and if there are any seats up front left over, then give it to the revenue folks unless said folks fork over the regular J class fare or use miles.

AA sells upgrades at check-in to J at several European cities and as a result, I 'lost' my sure seat up front for one in the back on at least two occasions, flying back from ZRH and FRA. Again, I may be biased but in this situation, they should go to nonrevs first then sell whatever is left.

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Curious, what's your basis for saying that? Sure, I would love to get that upgrade as a nonrev (which on UA, is EXTREMELY rare since we hand upgrades out like candy) but these decisions are made for the bottom line. As nonrevs, we're bottom of the barrel. The last piece of the puzzle, if we fit and the puzzle isn't already put together. The LAST group to get any priority over anything. And really, that's probably how it should be.