Here’s an interesting data point for an airline that very closely guards its first class cabin. When available, SWISS offers reasonably-priced paid upgrades to first class. You just have to ask…
I recently booked an Aeroplan (Air Canada-issued) award for an Award Expert client from London to Nariboi via Zurich on SWISS. It was a business class award that cost 62.5K miles one-way plus government taxes.
My client frequently flies between London and Nairobi in British Airways first class, but there was no award space (or even revenue space) this time. Kenya Airways also did not have space on the nonstop. She wasn’t happy about the extra connection or flying business class and kept asking me about upgrading to first class. She was traveling with a large in-cabin dog and wanted space to spread out. I advised her that was no formal way to upgrade an Aeroplan-issued award ticket to business class but that she should “ask early and ask often” at the airport. It never hurts to ask.
Turns out it only took one agent. At check-in, she asked if she could upgrade to first class on the Zurich to Nairobi sector and was offered an upgrade for $1000. Not GBP, though she was in London. Not CHF, even though she was flying SWISS. For 1000 USD she was upgraded to first class on the 7-hour, 45-minute nonstop flight.
I asked her about how the flight went and she told me:
It was a good thing because I think it would have been difficult traveling with the dog in the business class section. The seats were quite small and he would have had to be on my lap the whole time. In first class, he could sit next to me in the seat. They even gave him his own plate of meat and cheese.
I’d say that is $1,000 well spent!
CONCLUSION
Despite all sorts of formal rules about upgrades, airport and gate agents have great flexibility. If you are looking for an upgrade, my advice is always to ask at the airport when you cannot upgrade in advance. The worst you can be told is NO.
As a side note, SWISS actually does have a formal first class upgrade bidding system, but tickets must be issued on SWISS stock (724…) and must be requested at least 132 hours prior to departure. Neither applied in this case.
This was the same on my last Swiss flight. I could have upgraded from ZRH-EWR for $2,000 on an Aeroplan award. Probably higher given the market even though it isn’t that much longer than your client’s flight.
https://runningwithmiles.boardingarea.com/cost-to-upgrade-to-swiss-business-class/
Interesting. Thanks for the data point!
@ Matthew — Here’s another data point — The FCQ and I asked about upgrading a United business class award last week ZRH-EWR from Swiss J to F. Our offer was $2,000/each one-way. We declined. FWIW, F had 5 open seats.
Interesting. Thanks for the data point. $2K is too much…
I sure those who paid the full tab for their F tickets were thrilled to have to share their cabin with a four legged creature!
Are dogs generally accepted in first and business classes? I don’t fly that often, but have never seen a scene like that. 🙂
Depends on the airline. Some are much stricter than others.
@Matthew I did this very thing in December on Air France. I was on a 60K mile special redemption for Business Class on the 29th, IAD-CDG. It actually offered me the upgrade to Le Premiere when I checked in online for around $1600.00. Given Le Premiere is so elusive for many of us I got it. What was surprising to me is that it was on an award ticket. Service and the experience was amazing. I was the only person in the cabin which is beautiful. Good to know about this option for Swiss as well!
Nice upgrade! Was this the A380 or 777?
777-300. It was well worth the experience on that aircraft. I avoid the A380 on AF in any class of service.
Smart man!
Wow, my dog was forced in to the bowels of the plane and that cost me $4500 one-way (of course, it was Saudia).
I hope they clean her seat afterwards cause im allergic to dogs and If I were to sit on her seat it would be terrible.
I feel bad if she had to fly on business on a 7hr flight, I bet she would have been livid.
I had this on a Swiss flight to ZRH to ORD. Three passengers in F, me and a couple with a dog. it barked a lot, and after I complained to the purser he told the owners who came round and threatened me if I complained again.
How did you respond? What exactly did they say?
Did you then complain to the purser that the dogs’ owners were barking mad?
Dogs are allowed in my public places in Switzerland like hotels and restaurants. So, it is no surprise that they are allowed on aircraft. As to cleaning, Swiss is pretty good but no airline is perfect.
And an FYI. Swiss allows upgrades to business from coach for about $500 from the east coast to Zurich. All you have to do is ask.
Thanks for this very helpful article, Matthew. Another data point – 15 Apr, ZRH – HKG (77W), CHF2,100 for an upgrade (at ZRH transfer desk – I originated from CPH but the ticket desk there said they could not do it but I had to ask at ZRH) from a Lifemiles I Class ticket. And before I upgraded, there were only two unsold First seats.
Hello, sorry to write here.
I’ve been getting back my emails to Award Expert as “undelivered”.
Please contact me whenever you can.
Kind regards.
Alessandro
Hi Alessandro, I’m sorry .. you are not the only one and I don’t know what is wrong with the system. Please reach out to me at Matthew at upgrd dot com.
Data point: Offered $1,080 per person J->F from ORD-ZRH. Ticket booked with SQ KrisFlyer.