First/Business Class Upgrades on major carriers

**mp0006** · 12-Apr-2010, 01:52 PM

Hi all, I was looking for a thread that seemed to put this information in one spot, but couldn't find one, maybe I didn't look hard enough!!?!?

Anyway, I was wondering if people could chime in on the procedures/likelihood of getting upgraded on the various major airlines. As a gate agent, I understand that a lot is up to us, and chocolates never hurt

but wondered which airlines you have to list in a certain class, etc....

I'll get it started....on FRONTIER / MIDWEST / REPUBLIC we currently don't have separate class cabins. Some aircraft do have stretch seating (5 in of extra legroom) and some still have a more traditional domestic business class seat, but those are typically on "spare" planes and aren't reliably available.

Our official line is non-revs (OAL and our own) have to pay $25 to upgrade to the stretch seat if it is available, though if all the coach seats are taken, we can put non-revs up there. In practice, though you probably have about a 50/50 chance of getting a gracious agent. I always put all my non-revs up there even if the flight is wide open.

Since we only have one cabin, everyone lists in Y class.

Thanks!

**spongebue** · 12-Apr-2010, 03:14 PM

I'm pretty sure that the only major US airline you can count on an upgrade with (assuming there's space) is on Delta. Really, it's surprising *not* to get first on that airline if there are seats, per company policy (no roulette of gate agents). This goes for OAL, too. With the vast majority of airlines, upgrades on OAL is pretty much purely dependent on luck, I'm pretty sure.

**ColoAvs19** · 12-Apr-2010, 05:28 PM

Official policy on DL is to put all OAL nonrevs in Y. I always put them up front when I had space, and alot of DL gate agents will put OAL nonrevs up front, but the official policy is that OAL goes in the back.

**spongebue** · 12-Apr-2010, 05:53 PM

My mistake, thanks for that!

**Pago Flyer** · 12-Apr-2010, 09:40 PM

I have some DL FA buddies who always make sure that non-revs don't pay for drinks. Good people....

**DeltaFlyer** · 13-Apr-2010, 10:10 PM

The only OAL employees prohibited from first/business are Skyteam OAL because of the non-rev agreements with those airlines...Skyteam OAL standby priority is S3D and that allows them to be cleared before our buddy pass riders but coach only, the S3D priority code is restricted and dl_term will not allow first or biz seats to be cleared...
All other OAL employees are to be listed as S-4 with no restrictions on first or business...but with all the free upgrades given to the mediallions on domestic flights getting first on a domestic flight is next too impossible even for DL employees on an S2 priority...

**qxramper** · 13-Apr-2010, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by DeltaFlyer

The only OAL employees prohibited from first/business are Skyteam OAL because of the non-rev agreements with those airlines...Skyteam OAL standby priority is S3D and that allows them to be cleared before our buddy pass riders but coach only, the S3D priority code is restricted and dl_term will not allow first or biz seats to be cleared...
All other OAL employees are to be listed as S-4 with no restrictions on first or business...but with all the free upgrades given to the mediallions on domestic flights getting first on a domestic flight is next too impossible even for DL employees on an S2 priority...

Delta Flyer, What about codeshare OAL are they allowed to be put in first class?

SkyTeam and Codeshare Employees - Standby only in Coach Cabin-AM/AF/JM/CZ/LY/KE/AT/SA/AZ/OK/BE/-CO/NW. If Coach is full standby next flight is required. Exception - F/J allowed only on Block Space Flights - Use S4 Priority.

Is the listed airlines skyteam? Because my listing priority as a AS employee is S3D and AS is not in that list?

**DeltaFlyer** · 14-Apr-2010, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by qxramper

Delta Flyer, What about codeshare OAL are they allowed to be put in first class?

SkyTeam and Codeshare Employees - Standby only in Coach Cabin-AM/AF/JM/CZ/LY/KE/AT/SA/AZ/OK/BE/-CO/NW. If Coach is full standby next flight is required. Exception - F/J allowed only on Block Space Flights - Use S4 Priority.

Is the listed airlines skyteam? Because my listing priority as a AS employee is S3D and AS is not in that list?

the listed airlines are Skyteam members, if you have been told to use S3D then that limits you from first (technically) but allows you to be cleared before DL buddy pass riders...
I just found an updated posting that reads -

The only carriers that don't allow in the premium cabin are as follows: AM/AF/AV/CZ/LY/KE/AT/AZ/OK/CO/KL/SU/AS. However, everyone else may be listed in either class and/or cleared in either class.

I think it kinda sucks that our own alliance and codeshare folks arent entitled to first/business - but I guess that is how the interline agreements were written in the codeshare agreements...

I put as many people as I can in first, I know I like to sit up there and hate to see an aircraft go out with empty seats up front...

**qxramper** · 14-Apr-2010, 06:26 PM

actually im confused, i think my boarding priority is S4, Thats good to hear that there allowed to put me in First. I depended on first class flying in and out of MNL on NWA.

**BlueHeron** · 13-Apr-2011, 09:53 PM

Does anyone know what the prospects are of getting upgraded to first or biz class on US Airways from CLT - GIG (Rio)?

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