• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Upgrades  >  Very Bad Upgrade Advice…
Upgrades

Very Bad Upgrade Advice…

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 2, 2019February 2, 2019 8 Comments

The perennial consumer rights advocate Christoper Elliott is out with a new column entitled, First class for free? Try these innovative tactics to get an airline upgrade. In it, he offers horrific upgrade advice…

Far be it from me to accuse anyone of clickbait, but the answer to his “first class for free?” question is very easy. No. As it turns out, much of his article focuses on obtaining a better seat in economy class. Let’s start there before moving to first class upgrades.

Elliott says “certain flights, like the first flight of the morning, or the red-eye (overnight flight), tend to be emptier.” That’s not my experience, but okay. He interviews a passenger who offers his advice.

I watch the seat maps and wait until the end to board. If there’s still an open exit row, he asks the flight attendant if he can sit in one of the premium seats without paying extra. I’ve had it work every time the seat has shown open.

Again, we must be flying different airlines because United closely polices its exit rows and all Economy Plus seating. Unless needed for weight/balance reasons on a regional jet, you cannot just poach an exit row seat for free. FAs are specifically forbidden from allowing this.

Next, Elliott moves to the subject of upgrade bidding. You’re actually far more likely to receive an upgrade offer than an upgrade bid from the legacy carriers. The question is how to position yourself to receive one and whether it is worthwhile.

We are advised to “bid somewhere between 30 to 40 percent of the difference between the cost of your original seat and the cost of your desired seat…Then pray.” Again, I’m not sure what airline he is referring to (Hawaiian perhaps?). Alaska, American, Delta, and United do not offer upgrade bidding.

If you do want an upgrade, be prepared to purchase it if you receive the option during check-in. That’s often when it is priced best.

An Unrequested Upgrade?

Elliott tells of an anecdote in which SAS upgraded a passenger without asking.

Actually, sometimes they’ll upgrade you – and charge you – without asking. That’s what happened to Robert Ryan, a marketing consultant from Chicago, who was flying from Copenhagen to Chicago recently. SAS decided to upgrade Ryan and his wife, even though they hadn’t bid on an upgrade.

“No airline should be able to force a customer to accept an unrequested upgrade,” says Ryan.

He’s right. I contacted SAS on his behalf and it refunded the $1,609 it charged for his business-class seat.

Let’s stop right there. Don’t you think a more likely situation is that Mr. Ryan put in a bid for an upgrade and forgot about it? I don’t think SAS or any airline is in the business of moving up passengers who did not request an upgrade then charging their credit card for it.

Three More Questionable Suggestions

Finally, Elliott concludes with three final suggestions to score an upgrade. First, be selfless. Of all the advice in the column, this one is the only one I would deem acceptable…though not because it is effective, just nice. He suggests that if you give up your economy class seat for another passenger, like a tall person wanting your exit row seat or a family wanting to sit together, flight attendants may upgrade you to first class. In my experience, they are much more likely to offer you free food and drink onboard.

Second, Elliott recommends you find something to complain about. If you find something wrong with your seat, like a broken reading light or inoperable IFE, approach the FA and asked to be moved. You might wind up in a better seat. My reply: you might also end up in a worse seat.

Finally, just move to a better seat. This can be a recipe for disaster and represents poor advice. For someone who loves to take a holier-than-thou approach to shaming airlines, this is encouraging people to steal. Airlines gain ancillary revenue from upgrades, including to better seats within the same cabin of service. Unless you have permission from a flight attendant, do not just help yourself to any open seat once the flight departs.

Elliott says:

[F]light attendants can’t police every seat in economy class, so if you see an empty seat within your class of service, you have my permission to claim it.

Wow, just wow…

CONCLUSION

Christopher Elliott is great at helping consumers battle airlines when the airline refuses to take responsibility for a service mishap. I value his website for all the contact details on it. But his advice on upgrades is just horrible.

image: Delta

Previous Article United’s 2019 Growth Strategy: Target Hubs
Next Article The Best Airline Cheeseburger In The World

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • American Airlines Offering International Upgrades to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Elites

    November 29, 2020
  • Lufthansa Upgrade Bidding

    Lufthansa Aggressively Hawks Upgrades

    February 5, 2020
  • United PlusPoints Bring Old Problems to New Situations

    December 29, 2019

8 Comments

  1. Jason Reply
    February 2, 2019 at 1:08 pm

    Yup, Christopher’s advice regarding upgrades is terrible. He should be ashamed to be giving such advice.

  2. Vivek Reply
    February 2, 2019 at 2:04 pm

    I read that article and could not stop myself from laughing. What stupid misinformation.

  3. Cool Breeze Reply
    February 2, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    He & Gary Leff’s disdain for each other is amusing (see View from the Wing), but Leff is dead-on regarding Elliott’s continual lousy advice.

  4. MeanMeosh Reply
    February 2, 2019 at 10:43 pm

    Pretty rich that a guy who continually refers to those who purchase mistake fares as “bottom feeders” who are “stealing from the airlines” advocates that passengers just help themselves to seats they didn’t pay for.

  5. emercycrite Reply
    February 3, 2019 at 6:06 am

    What an idiot.

  6. James Reply
    February 3, 2019 at 6:30 am

    With enough marketing, even an idiot can turned into genius for sale….

  7. Gary Pash Reply
    February 10, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    100% correct. None of those suggestions (ideas) work. Especially on American. One of the problems is the planes are usually pretty full and that really limits your opportunities to get upgraded or move around the cabin.

  8. Pingback: Perk For Delta AMEX Cardholders, WDW Closes Loophole, Extending Clear Membership & More - Your Mileage May Vary

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Why I Love My Capital One Venture X Card August 15, 2022
  • Jet2 Wheelchair
    Disabled Woman Humiliated After Pilot Blames Her Wheelchair For Delay August 15, 2022
  • American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Columbus
    Oops: American Airlines Sends Unaccompanied Minor To Wrong State August 15, 2022
  • United Airlines Gets Creative Over Flight Delay But Passengers Still Upset… August 15, 2022

Categories

Popular Posts

  • American Airlines stock
    Analyst: American Airlines Bankruptcy Increasingly Likely July 24, 2022
  • Avianca 787 Business Class
    Comically Bad: Avianca 787 Business Class July 21, 2022
  • Self-Upgrading Gulf Air
    The Self-Upgrading Imbecile On My Gulf Air Flight… July 18, 2022
  • New Orleans Debauchery
    The Debauchery Of New Orleans July 29, 2022

Archives

August 2022
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Jul    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.