Just wondering if anyone has had success in asking for a free flight upgrade? Any suggestions/experiences would be great! Flying to Australia in Jan and am tempted to be cheeky and ask- it's really not my style but I am beginning to think there is more truth to 'if you don't ask, you don't get' than I ever realised!! :-)

Nothing ventured....nothing gained!

From my experience (10+ with British Airways) you've got 2 hopes...and one's Bob ;)
Even staff cant get upgraded these days.

In the glory days when I first started flying (as Crew) it was par for the course, most flight's seats were over sold but upgrades tended to be done at the gate (not at check-in as the flight had to 'close' to know how many of the oversold seats had turned up, and this generally worked well as many business traveller tickets were open and so chopped and changed at last minute..so pax loads shown pre-checkin always changed by check-in close) generally the Gate staff would choose 'business' looking passengers to up-grade (men in suits!) Then with the advent of 'loyalty cards' Gate staff were instructed to look for 'BA Gold card' holders and upgrade them. (which I always found unfair as these people tended only to be so loyal because it was their firm rather than them that were paying for all this 'loyalty')

I lost count of the amount of Business travellers who cottoned on to this and when travelling for leisure (paying for the ticket themselves) would buy themselves a Club or First ticket and their wife an economy ticket! then get on the aircraft and wave their gold card at me and demand that their wife be upgraded!

Nowadays Gate staff/check-in staff and crew are not permitted to upgrade passengers (most flights will not even recieve the catering for any extra)
Alot of Airlines now advertise upgrades to be paid for, Free ones are few and far between.

My advice, take advantage of on-line check-in this way you can view a plan of all the seats on the aircraft and pre choose your seats (so get the exit seats with legroom) they go quick so make sure you'r on-line as soon as checkin starts (usually 12 hours before airport check-in opens) Then knowing if it doesnt work out you have decent seats prebooked I would make sure you are one of the last people at the gate... then if the flight has oversold this is where any upgrades will take place.

HTH?
(Who are you flying with?)

You are a wealth of knowledge!!! That definitely helps, thanks a million. I am flying with Thai Airways as they were the cheapest by about £150- usually I spend a bit more and fly Singapore, but as I am also flying the pup I have to save every penny possible!!! I am going to take your advice, pre-book a good seat (hopefully leg room!!) and then wait until the masses have boarded and make a cheeky enquiry! It's such a nightmare flight- 20hrs+ :-( I used to try not to sleep for a few days before my flights so I would crash out once seated, but as the pup is flying the day before me I will need to be focussed and sensible. Really not looking forward to it, but can't wait to be home :-)

A friend of mine who travels long haul quite frequently always asks how much an upgarde will cost as she's checking in.  Sometimes the orice is extortionate but she has got some very reasonable deals as a result :-) 

I will modify my cheeky request to a genuine "how much will an upgrade cost" - that will make me seem so much less a blagger. Nice tip, thanks!!!

My friend went to Thailiand the other year and got an upgrade for about £75 I think.  They just asked at check in.

When flying to San Fran last year someone spilled coffee in first class above & it dripped down onto us in economy for the whole flight.  They said they didn't have any spare seats to move us but took our itinery & when we checked in at LAX to return home we have been upgraded from economy to business class - it was fab! well worth having a bit of coffee dripped on me!! Think that was BA we flew with.  I know a few frequent flyers & they always dress smartly & check in on their own & they've been upgraded quite a few times, these are normally long haul flights too.  We told the check in assistant when returning from SA we had just got engaged & she looked at us as if to say do you really think that will work??? We flew back economy....

Four years ago, we got a super price from Virgin, to Hong Kong, flying business class out (at only £50 each more than BA Travellers World class).   On the way back, our SIL checked us in at the check in at the metro station - and said - do you know how busy the flight is - its not so easy for elderly travellers!   What a cheek!!!!   I nearly clocked him with my HK Gucci bag!  But yes .....his comments didn't fall on deaf ears - and we were upgraded to 1st!!!! Yee haa!   Glass of champers as we joined, we chose our menu - and when we wanted to eat - complementary massages, virgin trackie jammies AND proper beds and duvets!!!!   Oh so luvverly :) :)

So I forgave SIL his comments :)

Again, we always dress smartly ...... ;)

Not being funny I flew to NZ with Tai once and there was not a problem with leg room ect it was fine. i did get upgraded to Business Class to NZ once but it spolit us for life one christmas eve in 2001/2 all 4 of us. But that was a one off.

I have been upgraded twice with BA!  Once long haul and once short (not really worth it for short haul), I was told that because we checked in late, they didn't have enough room in economy and so upgraded us to business which was empty.  The short haul upgrade was the most recent in 2006. 

Also had an upgrade with Egypt Air, very nice 'cos they offer you a box of minature bottles of spirits before you board - lol. 

A couple of years ago OH was on an Air NZ flight to NZ (in economy) and the plane was quite empty and they offered free first class upgrades to people once they were in flight.  And HE, being a man, didn't take it as he said "once everyone else had buggered off I could lie out on the seats and get a decent sleep"!!  Men, never understand them. 

CG

Ha ha! That is hilarious- crazy man! I once had a whole row to myself to Australia, I could lie down flat which was absolutely amazing. Ever since then I have been crammed in with the largest, most annoying people you could imagine. Hence why I am asking about free upgrades etc!! I think my dog will prob have more room in her crate than I will in my seat, how depressing! :-P