Virgin bid for upgrade
Discussion
SkinnyPete said:
If you are on an empty flight, then the minimum bid can get you upgraded, just keep in mind you are in competition with other passengers who may a bid more.
In short, it’s a gamble, and you don’t find out until 24 hours before the fight.
Blimey! There's a punchup involved too?In short, it’s a gamble, and you don’t find out until 24 hours before the fight.
Bid for upgrade from Economy to Economy Delight last September outbound, booked with points so can’t directly book Economy Delight.
Initial bid £100 (max was £130 on the scale), messaged 2 days before the flight advising outbid, but did I want to increase it so went full £130 as though about flight time / had hurt my back in between booking so a bit of extra legroom would definitely be welcome.
£130 was accepted.
Bigger sliding scale of cost on other classes obviously.
Flew SFO > New York with a different carrier (was meant to be Delta via Virgin, but that’s another story lol) and had booked New York > Heathrow as Premium anyways so no bidding on that one.
Initial bid £100 (max was £130 on the scale), messaged 2 days before the flight advising outbid, but did I want to increase it so went full £130 as though about flight time / had hurt my back in between booking so a bit of extra legroom would definitely be welcome.
£130 was accepted.
Bigger sliding scale of cost on other classes obviously.
Flew SFO > New York with a different carrier (was meant to be Delta via Virgin, but that’s another story lol) and had booked New York > Heathrow as Premium anyways so no bidding on that one.
Edited by lastofthev8s on Sunday 30th March 11:18
I recently had an upgrade "offer" from Virgin for Premium to Upper on a flight back from NY to Manchester and it was the best (or silliest) yet at £4,997, no bidding. Obviously declined that one!
So £5k for an upgrade one way, on top of the just under £3k the premium round trip already cost. It works out at nearly £800/hr extra.
To be fair, I've scored an upgrade to Upper before at £780 out of Atlanta, which was more palatable - I think the scale for that one was starting at £700 and it was a much quiet flight than the NY ones often are.
Sometimes I've found Upper tickets being little different to Premium + upgrade cost, but since most of my Virgin trips are for a client who is adamant they won't pay for anything above Premium I'm left messing around with upgrades which they still get billed for in the end.
As it happens, I'm writing this reply while sat in business on an Aer Lingus flight to Chicago for a different client. No messing with upgrades and it was just over £3k return booked direct.
So £5k for an upgrade one way, on top of the just under £3k the premium round trip already cost. It works out at nearly £800/hr extra.
To be fair, I've scored an upgrade to Upper before at £780 out of Atlanta, which was more palatable - I think the scale for that one was starting at £700 and it was a much quiet flight than the NY ones often are.
Sometimes I've found Upper tickets being little different to Premium + upgrade cost, but since most of my Virgin trips are for a client who is adamant they won't pay for anything above Premium I'm left messing around with upgrades which they still get billed for in the end.
As it happens, I'm writing this reply while sat in business on an Aer Lingus flight to Chicago for a different client. No messing with upgrades and it was just over £3k return booked direct.
LHR to JFK recently, bid the minimum to go from premium to Upper Class recently at £400ish each way fully expecting not to 'win' - email the day before saying I'd been outbid then 12 hours later I'd 'won' again, and did on the way back too (was £8k return if booked in Upper). Calling that a win!
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