Korean Job Discussion Forums

MollyBloom · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Location: James Joyce's pants

Is there some way to get free upgrades to business or first class, specifically at the airport?

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Go early to check in, dress nicely (important, guys wear a jacket) ask if the flight is full, if yes than ask if you could be upgraded to Bizz (never heard of anyone except already flying bizz to get up'ed to 1st class). If ur a guy go to a women check-in counter and if u are a gal go to man. Smile and give the general appearance of being happy. Wink

MollyBloom · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Location: James Joyce's pants

Dome Vans · Guest

Just quickly!!!

Agree with Spliff. I've been contacted twice by my travel agent because Aeroflot have cancelled and changed my two flights at Christmas. I asked them and they said that you can go and ask at the desk to be upgraded. What they did say was that the airline is not legally allowed to sell tickets when the check-in desk opens, so generally two hours before. So if you get to the check-in desk and there are seats available then technically you should be able to take them.

I have a genuine grievance because it's peed on my plans slightly. Whether I get the upgrade is another thing.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: free upgrades on flights

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Also, you can have your ticket booked with the 'Dr.' prefix. They can't check. Sometimes that'll get you bumped if you follow what Spliff suggested as well.

The downside is that someone has a medical emergency mid-flight. Then you can practice calmly saying, 'No, I'm an economist.'

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

littlelisa · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul

I got upgraded once, on my way back from Korea to Montreal. I had to change planes in Vancouver. From Seoul to Vancouver, I was squished in economy, but for Vancouver to Montreal I got moved to business class.

I was sitting next to a really old Chinese couple who didn�t speak English or French in the waiting area near the gate. The woman was in a wheelchair. A couple of times, the old man went up to the counter and tried to speak to them, but only knew Mandarin, and none of the staff did. They replied in English, saying that they�d get him for pre-boarding, but he didn�t understand them either. They tried French, but that was obviously no better. I offered to translate because the man was disoriented and worried. It was a big long thing because the woman was obviously in pain, and couldn't walk at all, the airline hadn't been notified in advance, and the guys who normally help people in wheelchairs on had all just gone on break. As the couple were boarding, one of the flight attendants said to the other that she could take over here as the other had stuff to do, including upgrading people. I joked that she should upgrade me, and was surprised when she actually did. Only time I've ever been upgraded, though.

poet13 · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

When I was doing contracting stuff, and bouncing around after 9/11, I got upgraded a lot going through US airports. I travelled a lot for FEMA and the US Army, and a couple of times gate or ticket agents said something like, "there's probably a marshal on board, but a little extra up front is nice." A couple of times coming back, going through Guam or Hawaii, the ticket agent has looked at me and said, 'You look tired. Welcome home, I've upgraded you to business." Guess 100 hour weeks will do that to you.

MollyBloom · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Location: James Joyce's pants

Well, I tried it and it was a no-go. I sat next to a Vietnamese girl who had stinky feet and threw her legs over me whilst sleeping. The Korean guy behind me had THE worst breath and I could smell it the whole 14 hours wafting from behind me. The food was actually really good: bi bim bap for lunch and pasta for supper.

Matty · Joined: 13 Jun 2008