If you have paid for an economy ticket, why expect to be upgraded???

They won't upgrade you with kids either - obviously!

I think they use to a lot more. Perhaps the passengers in business don't want a bunch of oiks sitting next to them

I was once upgraded to 1st class from economy!

Then again neither would I.
I always fly economy.............if I had splashed out to treat myself to an upgrade I would be pretty peeved off to find myself sitting next to some one who had been upgraded for free!!

You've no chance. Airlines don't just upgrade people willy nilly. As person before my mentions, I would be annoyed to have paid for a premium ticket and then see people being upgraded for nothing.

I have been BA gold card holder for years due to business travel but never had an upgrade when travelling at my own expense. I have managed to get my husband brought forward to business when I have already got a business class ticket.

The only other time airlines upgrade is when the flight is overbooked and then frequent flyers travelling in lower classes will get priority.

BA moved me to a bed one year coming back from the UK (to Sg) when I'd picked up a bug and couldn't stop barfing. I felt so guilty stumbling back and forth to the loo (still couldn't stop barfing despite them phoning a doc and giving me meds) and annoying all those folks who had paid for the privilege of a peaceful night.

They wouldn't move my husband (didn't ask them to, but they apologetically said they couldn't); however they brought him up next to me for a nice breakfast just prior to landing and the git had the nerve to eat it! Had me gipping again.

Not always true - we (inc 3 children) were once upgraded from Muscat to London on Gulf Air

Yes, twice in January we were upgraded on US flights - once FOC on United from Puerto Vallarta to SFO and once for US$80 (for two of us) to First Class on Virgin.

Yeah, do what I did. Get a job with an airline. Get upgraded a lot because of my length of service and position...........(space available and standby travel)

Don't do what I did. Have twins. No chance of an upgrade now until they are a lot older. Oh well, turn right on boarding.........

My mum managed to get an upgrade from economy to first class with BA on a flight from LHR TO CPT a few years ago because it was her birthday. But she was the kind of lady who could charm the birds out of the trees.

That was only after a fight I tell you. Initially they offered 2 economy seats to a UK airport and then Europe but I didn't let up. The seats would have cost the best part of £8,000 if we'd paid full price to Sydney.

We just got back from our validation visit to Melbourne and couldn't believe our luck when the 3 of us, (me, oh & 7 yr old daughter) were upgraded on the way out (Heathrow-Hong Kong, then Hong Kong-Melbourne). We were travelling Premium with Quantas and had thought long & hard about paying the extra to fly business but decided that we would need our pennies after the trip for estate agents, new windows etc.

I think it only happened because the A380 to Sydney was cancelled and they had to cram the delayed Sydney flyers onto our flight. Speaking to other passengers, a lot of people booked onto the Melbourne flight were upgraded one class. Also when booking our tickets on line we decided to register as for the frequent flyer scheme (to get some free goodies) so suspect this might have helped us to be chosen for an upgrade instead of others.

I think to be honest there is no secret formula just right place, right time and always be extra nice to the check in staff as you never know!

Got upgraded on my last Qantas flight back from Australia 4 weeks ago (SYD-BKK-LHR).

I'm a BA Exec silver card holder so no doubt that was what got us the upgrade. As someone who takes about 80 flights a year I can tell you that Operational Upgrades are pretty much the only way that you'll get a move towards the front of the plane nowadays, and that will be based on whether you are a frequent flyer with the airline and also on those who have paid full price economy tickets.

I went out to Perth from LHR at Christmas on a fully booked flight. I purchased a shortfall in points to upgrade to business on the LHR-DXB leg but not being able to afford to upgrade the DXB-PER sector I resigned myself to having to change class for the longer second flight. I work for a freight forwarding company and had a contact with Emirates who said they would do what they could to upgrade from economy to business but he didn't hold out much hope (I know its cheeky to ask but if you don't ask you don't get). When I checked in at LHR I was booked into business right the way through and also enjoyed the pleasures of the airport business lounge. Not sure whether it was my contact's input or because somehow check in missed that the second sector should have been economy, but whatever the reason I skipped all the way to the departure gate.

It was great to experience business once in my life though I still couldn't sleep despite the almost flat seat.