Every so often I see a frequent flyer express frustration online about not receiving a free upgrade to an empty premium seat. Some airlines have published complimentary upgrade programs, but I’m referring to situations where an upgrade isn’t a perk of elite status.
Continue reading: Why Don’t Airlines Offer Free Upgrades To Empty Seats?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
A full F or J cabin does affect the quality of service and wait/cleanliness of the lav.
Disagree. Airlines dynamically price to fill their cabins. They can cut capacity to control load factors. The days of 60 or 70% percent load factors for a quarter are history.
Take a look at Southwest and all of the disabled people who need to board first to figure out how that would go.
Restaurants don't give away their food at the end of the day...neither should airlines with their product. You need to pay to play end of story. Entitled travelers are nauseating
Non rev travel and sitting in the best seat possible is a job perk, it’s not something for free. My years of service to the airline and my contract state I have earned that privilege, so don’t mind me while I jet off to Tokyo in 2A “for free”
Can you do a post about how they think about award tickets at saver levels then? Seems to have the same philosophy. You want to have some to have good customer relations but better to price em like skypesos. Why do some airlines open seats when Delta gets away with insane awards and making billions from Amex?
It may be that airlines in the America used to price the first class seats on domestic way too high and they would award elite travelers complimentary upgrades as to not less those seats go to waste and to create loyalty. Now, they have gotten better at monetizing those cabins so they must slowly get travelers conditioned to pay for those ‘premium’ seats again but yes it would sorely put a damper on the elites who have been used to it for so many years.
Being loyal to a FF program sure gets us to do irrational things so get off the automatic hamster wheel. I think it still makes sense to be a part of the FF programs but be reasonable about it and have common sense about it. Be loyal to it where it makes sense for you or works for you but not only because you want to accumulate miles, loyalty points, segments, etc.
I'm happy with Australian domestic business class. Bigger seats, lounge access and [usually] good food on board. But the prices!! And if you want an upgrade to get there, you need to spend points for that.
I wonder why flying economy continues to be even less comfortable? Sure airline travel costs a lot less than during the so-called "golden age of air travel," half a century ago. While airlines say flying in coach costs a bit less than, say, 15-25 years ago, I think that's debatable, because seat pitch was longer, food and checked baggage were included in the ticket, and changing flight dates was free of charge –all in all, it was a better travel experience. Current ancillary costs and restrictions may make more economic sense for airlines and the public but no wonder flying is more stressful for both airline staff and passengers (and there are more cases of air rage than years ago), and many flyers often try to sneak cabin luggage that is bulkier and heavier than allowed.
Imagine if restaurants, coffeeshops, stores, amusement parks and other consumer experiences involving customer service had gone the airline path.
And you just know that the gluten-free tofu casserole will have a kale and raw broccoli salad to go with it, and a vegan cheese plate to finish. Gross.
Why don't they offer bidding on the empty premium seats--like cruise ships and other airlines do??? vs going out empty and No revenue
There are Ways to upgrade internationally, if empty seats. Use a SWU or use miles and copay.
As a vegan, I am impressed that in your scenario they haven’t forgotten to load the VGML
I agree with all what you said Ben, but in all honesty, this is also true for hotels and hotels do upgrade. I think the fundamental difference is the difference in willingness to pay for an airline upgrade vs a hotel upgrade.
For airlines, there is a willingness to pay from business travellers to get a better rest and save on work time. For hotels, this almost doesn't exist and you could argue that people who need a suite are rather families who would have otherwise paid for two rooms.
Bottom line, what I'm trying to say is: airline upgrades is a need for some who are really willing to pay, while hotel (or car rental) upgrades are just commonly seen as a perk.
I started flying extensively for work back in the mid 90 (done hundreds of flights, mostly with BA). I’d say I’d get upgraded on every third or fourth flight on average. Over the last 15+ years I was probably upgraded once, by a lovely Cathay agent. It seems that at least flying out of Australia, that’s no longer a thing. Most premium seats sell and there is always a waiting list for paid upgrades.
How are seats assigned for crew and their families flying for leisure or deadheading?
In the US all three of the majors offer complimentary upgrades to all elite levels, assuming-a big assumption, there's open seats. Not sure why one would expect an airline to give away a first class seat to a flyer that isn't generating at least some amount of revenue.
The a sweet is pretty simple . Airlines would be actually discográfica people from paying for their product.
So, Ben good job on this article. It's all about revenue even if there are empty seats in premium class. I remember the days that elites did not book business class on international flights because they counted on getting day of flight upgrades.
But one suggestion that KLM used to do in the past was to offer random passengers without regard to their elite status an upgrade at a very nominal cost 50-70 euros. This was very good for promoting the airline positively. I happened to take advantage of thos situation 3 times on KLM from AMS-TLV when I was Northwest Platinum where there was no benefit for any other upgrade opportunity on Int'l flughts.
I am a 1K on UA (lifetime) I used to get the upgrade almost all of the time. Then UA decided to monetize the F/C domestic product. If you are a bit flexible, in time of day you Can usually purchase F/C for a very reasonable price, often less than the cost of coach on the more popular flight before. I have that flexibility and just buy First almost all of the time. It takes the guess work out of the process. It's amazing how many under $500.00 flights in First in today's world that used to be priced over $1,500 -$1,800 and went to upgrades.
My mom flew her last flight recently. She doesn't wish to do it again nor will she be changing her mind. I can't imagine anyone would want to see an 86 year old woman hobbling to the back on a 45 min. domestic route, but you never know. I did let them know that she is handicapped. No. Not the kind of terrible awful disability from youth or birth, just old age really can't get around well kind.
Sincerely, thanks for that statement! Airline pay is comparatively low, and travel benefits are an important perk in many aspects, so indeed, it doesn't come for free. On top of this, it can be frustrating to non-rev at times. It's not always only premium class and all fun.
Some airlines have a bidding system where passengers can bid for an upgrade and if they win the upgrade their credit card is charged.
So if a 787 is half full in business class and the agent gives 20 passengers a complimentary upgrade what happens to the meal service?Most airlines don’t cater for a full flight if the planned load is half that. So are the flight attendants supposed to go around the cabin and identify who gets a business class meal and who gets one from premium economy or even economy? That would be a great meal service. What about a domestic flight that has enough meals on board but by the time they get to my row the only choice is a gluten free tofu casserole because all the freeloaders took the short ribs?What if the freeloaders drink all the good champagne? (In this situation we would obviously not be riding on American.). I am supposed to drink beer with my tofu? What if there are not enough amenity kits on board? Am I going to have to sit near someone that hasn’t brushed their teeth in over ten hours? This idea has crisis written all over it.
I do agree giving them away for free does dilute the product and creates expectation of future free upgrades. It also puts the GAs into a difficult position again.
It seems like all the big 3 have figured out how to offer reasonably priced upgrades when the cabin is clearly forecasted not to sell out on long haul flights. Usually when only a couple seats left the upgrade price is just the difference between buying the paid fare. They could very easily create some good will by offering that reasonably priced upgrade in the days/hours before just to elites, and put a cap on how often they can take advantage of those offers (again not to get them expecting they’ll receive those offers instead).
Isnt that exactly what they do??? Unless F is sold out there is always cash/miles upgrade in the app.
You're underselling the fact that the airlines use this as an HR lever to perpetually underpay employees without having to pay much in the way of taxes. But what do I know, I don't wash my hands in the bathroom.
You forgot to mention one important point that I see happening all the time. I can't remember the last time I flew on an international flight of a US based airline where there was an empty seat on business class. Now, there were seats available while prior to boarding but when the door closes, every seat is taken. Non-revenue passengers, either airline employees or family/friends. I have seen so many times passengers showing up at the last minute on business class and it happens at least one of the FAs knows the passenger well to the point of taking selfies to spending a good amount of the flight time chatting with them.
first - I think the “reasonably” priced first class fares disappeared a year or two ago…
Second - I’m torn. As someone whom frequently pays for first class, the last thing I want is for the empty seat next to me to be filled by an upgrade. One of the best experiences about flying first internationally is not having the cabin filled, let alone with a bunch of upgrades.
At the same time, I also have top-tier status with a couple airlines, and getting upgraded is a wonderful now and then is a really nice perk.
I honestly wish airline would eliminate free upgrades for silver and gold level statuses, and reserve that for just the top-tier.
An airline could offer upgrades based on the last time a person got one. They could have in the system John Doe had a free upgrade two flights ago, but Jane Doe has never had one, so they could give her the upgrade. They have all this information already, so they could easily have it in the system for who gets an upgrade for free. I also don't buy the argument that people who pay will be upset they paid while someone else got it for free. The passenger would have no clue who did or didn't get one unless someone says they did. Most people who do pay are not willing to take the risk of an upgrade even if it was available for free. If I am on a 10 hour flight I sure as heck wouldn't take the chance of maybe being upgraded, even if I had a chance. Giving a free upgrade once in a blue moon to someone is hardly a big deal for all parties involved.
Some do. They have an algorithm that detects frequent fliers who have been upgraded during a certain time frame v others that have not. So for example, someone with a lower status accompanying one with a higher one and the same booking may be upgraded.
The only thing worse than a stingy customer is a stingy customer who expects to be treated like a VIP
This isn't totally related, but I never understand why US carriers don't provide lounge access on paid domestic first class tickets. Lounge access marginally costs very little to provide, and these are an airline's most lucrative customers. I know why it started this way (and for not very pleasant reasons), but it's a mystery why it's persisted.
I guess the "obvious" answer is that they are hooked on selling club passes, and some people (who always travel in paid first class) would unsubscribe. But I wonder if they could charge more for domestic first class if this were a benefit of the ticket class. Or an American loyalist with an Admirals Club membership might fly United (and be upsold to First) if they knew their first class ticket came with club access. As someone who has access across all three carriers, I wouldn't like to see that, but it seems like a clear win for airlines.
Most hubs are already at capacity, no way these lounges could take on all this extra. A one off paid first class passenger is far from the airlines’ most profitable
However as airlines start to unbundle and tier fares more I wouldn’t be surprised to see a domestic first that comes with lounge access
That's a very fair counterpoint, but they could offset that by tightening up on club access for memberships/credit cards. Again, I wouldn't like to see these changes, I'm just surprised this isn't the direction the industry is heading, especially given how they take a completly different view of international business/first class passengers.
That said, I suspect you're closer to the mark with your guess of future fares that include the access. It would be almost like selling day passes, except they could price the unbundled offering according to capacity.
They do offer club access on long haul business class and it is a separate more upscale club from their regular clubs.
I fly F/J only, with the exception I'll do Y in Australia as I find the additional cost ridiculous for the short hop it normally is (and I'm in Y on NZ planes without F, of course). I paid for it in cash or miles. On narrowbodies, I'd much rather have the only seat next to me empty. I'd rather have the F FA have less people to serve. If Homer wants F, Homer should buy F. I agree that upgrades can reduce the willingness of those who might get upgraded to buy F. But, those who pay for F will be willing to pay more if the left unsold F seats empty. If I paid $1,000 for F, I don't think it unreadonable for Bart tp stay in the Y seat that cost hime $200, since I will enjoy 2C more if Bart isn't in 2A.
Free upgrades should be provided only to winners of a Hunger Games type challenge amongst the economy passengers. A brutal competition amongst the poors would undoubtedly keep me entertained whilst waiting for my flight in the lounge.
If a airline upgrades someone last minute in the UK for free (operational upgrade etc), would the higher APD need to be paid?
Because 'they're businesses, not charities' or whatever the supply-side folks like to say.
Back in the day, Delta was known in travel agency / corporate travel management for being so good about upgrading a travel professional at the gate and rarely (back in the 80s 90s early 200s) did I not get an upgrade.
That was greatly appreciated and I am sure3 it drove sales Delta's way.
I have been lucky to get a few upgrades without having status. Cathay Pacific, PE to BC. Air Canada, E to BC and Qantas in flight, E to PE. All in all, i was friendly and accommodating to the front line workers.
Then when i have status, forget about it.
Put hot and kind FAs in business class and I’ll pay more for a better view and service.
I am pretty much done being loyal to any airline. I have been EXP with AA for several years based on flying and credit card spend. I was able to get upgraded most of the time. Gone were the 100 hours before flight time and lately, it has been at the gate. I constantly monitor the flights that I am booked on in advance to see seat availability. Today I was offered an upgrade on my next flight to LGA. I looked and there are 8 of the 12 seats available. I priced a one way for this flight, and the basic fare was $324. The price for Main was $392 as it also was for premium( FC ). Now if someone needed to book this flight, why would anyone book in Main versus first class? And so, between the upgrade offers and this crazy same fare for both coach and FC, I guess I may not get my upgrade. It is a one hour flight and my wife and I are booked together as it is a regional jet so it is still no middle seat and we get to sit up front in coach anyway. Something is wrong with this picture. And do not say it should be reserved just for fliers versus credit card spend, as the airlines make more on credit card spend than on fares. Amex is the winner here now because I have no real reason to use my AA credit card.
“I am pretty much done being loyal to any airline.”
Hear hear!
Well, I should say I’m loyal, but I’m loyal based on service and hard product, and price, and that has led to status with three global / international carriers, but that status is coincidental (and doesn’t do much for me, as my international flights are always in first anyway (so I already have lounge access and checked bags as part of the ticket, etc. etc. etc.), with the occasional business segment if first isn’t available).
But ultimately status doesn’t do much for me other than get me the occasional “Thank you Mr. TravelinWilly for being a blah member with our airline.”
Since you're "always in first anyway", this post isn't really for you, is it now. This truly is relevant for those who are not travelling like you, me being one of them.
The US airlines can and do create exactly the opposite of what you describe, i.e it is ILL WILL and resentment when they break their own rules for Elite status passengers and push their greed for monetizing premium seats to rediculous limits: I understand and approve their approach when they offer market-priced cash upgrades, but they go too far.
REAL EXAMPLE:
On the 4-hour flight yesterday from A to B in a 737 Max, there were 10 unsold F seats 5 days before the flight. I received an offer, not cheap. I did not decline but remained silent. My status permits (not guarantees, of course) free upgrades 96 hours before the flight. I kept receiving offers, but not much cheaper, as F did not fill. The last offer was 12 hours before departure.
I was finally upgraded 7 hours before the flight as 7 seats remained open. The last 2 or 3 upgrades were only given at the gate.
So now, whether you are Elite-Top or Elite-Entry, you receive offers up to a few hours before the flight. This is not always the case but it becomes more and more frequent. They happily tread on their own policies and they expect to keep our loyalty. Dream on....
As someone who nearly always pays for long-haul business class (or FC in the US), it used to be that you'd see some seats in the front released to elites and/or nonrev's just before the aircraft door closed. And they would usually quietly take their seats and not cause a fuss.
Today, the entitlement is just next level. "I should have received an upgrade..." "I have xxx,000 followers, and I'll bury them..." "I can't believe these parasites are allowed to get seats in this cabin when I paid $4000 ..." "I'm an important influencer, and I paid full-fare to fly in the front of this plane, and video myself and blather on about every aspect of my flight experience, to the detriment of everyone seated around me..." Honestly, it's beyond ridiculous. Pay for what you want; sit down quietly; respect the passengers in your immediate vicinity. I'm just done with all this undeserved entitlement!
P.S. Yes - I should just break down and fly private. Unfortunately, that's not in the cards economically. Still... people.. just behave! It's not that hard!
If I’m flying an eight-to-17 hour flight, I’d rather be on one of the decent international carriers’ first class (looking at you, EK, AF, SQ, NH, CX, etc.) than private.
Agreed on most of your other points, however!