So I have heard various stories about people getting upgraded for special occasions and also just for asking. I know it does not happen as much these days, however I wanted to see if the stories were true.
I'm flying on the 787 to London, and unfortunately have bought discount economy tickets which don't allow me to upgrade using points or cash. I am just planning on asking in the hope that they might still have these practices. I hope I don't get laughed at haha.
What has your experience been?
No, you are not special. Thousands of honeymooners travel every day. The only way you might get an upgrade is if you are a frequent flier and travel with the airline regularly. I would suggest being polite as possible, you could mention you are on your honeymoon without asking. If they are in a good mood they might block out seats next to you so you have a row to yourself or put priority baggage tags on your luggage.
As it stands we currently have a row to ourselves on the dreamliner. I am hopeful this will remain the case since most people don't want to be on a window (maybe only leaving the middle seat might be the bigger deterrent, possibly a good idea for another poll).
I do not think getting married (legitimately or attempting to use this as a scam) means you should be guaranteed an upgrade. I think it is a kind and thoughtful gesture. I hope I did not imply that it should be an expectation.
I also am a frequent flyer, and although this is advantageous. It has not given me an special privileges so far (other than potentially early seat selection?).
It's unfortunate that you can't use points to upgrade international discount economy tickets. I payed $1500 for Perth to Rome return, about $300 more to fly on Qantas, hoping for the possibility of a points upgrade. But sadly this isn't the case. Oh well.
As it stands we currently have a row to ourselves on the dreamliner.
How do you figure you've got a whole row you yourselves? If you're making that assumption by looking at the map in the seat selections, then you may be disappointed because not everyone selects a seat before the flight so many seats may appear empty even on the day of the flight.
Often, they'll fill the plane from the front to the back if it's almost a full flight. So the further back you are, the more chances of you two getting a whole row to yourselves.
I am hopeful this will remain the case since most people don't want to be on a window
Not sure where you got this idea from, but there are two types of passengers - there's aisle seat lovers and window seat lovers. It's actually the middle seat that no-one likes!
As it stands
As it stands based on the information that I have right now. I am not expecting it to remain empty on such a popular route.
Often, they'll fill the plane from the front to the back if it's almost a full flight.
Logically this is what they will do, but I feel the odds of empty rows is pretty even from the middle onwards.
maybe only leaving the middle seat might be the bigger deterrent
I did say that the middle row might be the bigger deterrent, but the risk is if you choose the isle and your partner chooses the window, you run the risk of sitting apart the entire 17 hour flight.
the risk is if you choose the isle and your partner chooses the window, you run the risk of sitting apart the entire 17 hour flight.
Mostly I travel alone, but when I have travelled with someone, I've intentionally left the middle seat empty a few times before in the hope that no one is in that seat. Out of 6-7 times, twice I've had someone show up to sit for the seat. Knowing that no one likes the middle seat, I politely ask them whether they would like to swap for a window or aisle so that I can sit with my travel buddy and both times they have happily agreed. Everyone's happy! haha
Why polling? Ask if they say NO, tough titties. They sure will laugh, how unfortunate Mr You are getting married, get used to it :)
Curiosity and research? I just wanted to see if it was still a thing that actually happened or just an urban myth/something people blog about.
I got a little extra when I added it to the hotel request box that I'm on my honeymoon. We got slightly better rooms/better floors or a little welcome basket of goodies :) This was while we were in Japan and HK
If you paid a full price fare (who does that now) sure you might get something. These days nah no upgrades I imagine - one of the guys at work honeymooned on discount ticketes, mentioned his new marital status and they gave him 2 lounge passes (the airline was Virgin).
Upgrades are usually decided by the computer nowadays depending on your frequent flyer status.
There was a stage where I was upgraded to business on every flight because of my gold FF status. This is despite me wearing thongs, shorts and singlet every time I travelled. So what you wear or say doesn't have much influence anymore.
I'm sure that there's someone that has the discretion to override the computer decision, but it'll be more of an exception rather than the norm. A honeymoon isn't pressing enough for them to go out of their way.
I know it does not happen as much these days, however I wanted to see if the stories were true.
Yes it use to happen in the olden days, but now everyone is flying for a 'special' event, so it just another meh yeah when checking in. Oh wow its your honeymoon, congrats it was 20 other peoples honeymoon too trying to get a free upgrade as well on this flight.
and unfortunately have bought discount economy tickets which don't allow me to upgrade using points or cash
Then you seriously have zero chance, all the people who didn't buy the cheap arse tickets will get offered it before you.
I am just planning on asking in the hope that they might still have these practices. I hope I don't get laughed at haha.
So as above then, its not really your Wedding/Honey Moon at all and just trying it on like 99% of people!?
Remember that a honeymoon should never be 7 days - It makes a whole weak.
No upgrade, but the flight attendant did bring us a bottle of champagne & 2 glasses as soon as the seatbelt sign was turned off. (Air Caledonie to Noumea)
When we went on our honeymoon I let the airline and all the hotels we stayed at know ahead of time. We didn't get any upgrades, but we did get a special cake on the plane and complementary honeymoon decorations and macaroons at one of the hotels.
I only know of Qantas doing it, but only for same sex couples for the next few months only
So why the bigotry and discrimination?
More than just this thread banging on about Qantas and SSM support - bigots will bigot.
tell him he's dreamin'.
maybe in the 90s or early 2000's you would have been upgraded on a flight.
most we got on honeymoon was champagne and chocolates in our hotels across the USA. We are talking waldorf, hilton etc
Got an upgrade at the Aria in las vegas to a tower suite (one bedroom unit with loungeroom, massive bathroom with spa and all that jazz, worth $700+ per night)
20 years ago there weren't may people on our flight so the staff said we could sit anywhere we wanted. My partner is very tall and wanted a seat with a high head rest. The seat he chose must have been higher than economy but the staff wouldn't let us sit there even when we pulled the honeymoon line. We got a visit to the cockpit on the way home as a honeymoon treat. The hotel gave us free champagne and chocolates.
I was upgraded on my first ever Emirates flight, econ to business but nothing since :(
I think I was lucky that time in that;
1. I had joined the ff program (but had no points)
2. I was travelling alone
3. I had shown up to the airport some 7 hours early for my flight to see my sister off on a different flight so I was first in line to check in.
Expensive seats for a free upgrade, don't like your chases for a Sydney to London. Discount Economy tickets won't help either as you've mentioned.
Don't like your luck, but it can't hurt to ask. We were pretty coy about it early in our honeymoon, but by the end we were telling everyone. No upgrades, but we got lounge access and priority stickers for our luggage coming home from Dubai.
you'll have zero luck with the discount economy tickets, i fly a fair bit for work (VA gold) and never get upgrades unless it's because the plane is so full that they simply don't have other seats (i've had 2 upgrades in my life, between melb to adelaide, and launceston to melb)
by all means feel free to ask, but just remember that the person checking you in probably has 50 people a day tell them they're on their honeymoon in hope of a free upgrade :P
our luggage got upgraded, and actually came out first on the conveyor belt
Lining up to check in with Qantas on Friday night in Tokyo and one of the Japanese Qantas staff was chatting away with my 10 year old when my daughter told her that her mum is pregnant. The Qantas staff quickly went to my wife to confirm, asked her how many weeks etc then went behind the desk to chat with the lady checking us in. I thought we were definitely getting upgraded but they were only concerned that if she was a few more weeks into her pregnancy then she would have needed a doctors certificate to say she is safe to fly.
Maybe next time I'll say it's our honeymoon and see if that works, or better yet we are getting divorced and don't want to sit near other.
Hi all, I just wanted to clarify this is for curiosity sake and not expectations. I have a few friends who have been upgraded on Cathay and Emirates.
I am a Gold QFF (VA Gold as well) and my partner is Silver (QFF). I think it is a nice gesture by the airline or hotel if they have space.
We had to go to the service desk on boarding as our tickets didn't scan.
They'd bumped us from Bus to 1st. Surprise.
But I was Platinum at the time and AFAIK was the only basis for their decision, coincidentally was our honeymoon.
Great way to kick it off.
Edit: Flying with Qantas
Username checks out.
No upgrade for me.
But I did get let off a speeding ticket once because I was driving on my wedding night to our honeymoon location!
If you're asking how to do it, then I suggest reading the news.com.au articles which seem to pop up once a month:
Google search "news.com.au flight upgrade" and you'll see all the articles.
Some of them are probably travel marketing tie-ins of some kind but worth checking out if you want to do it.
I have read a few of them already, generally they tell you to contact the airline early (ask them to leave a note on your account). Dress to impress. Be high FF status, be nice and be prepared to ask repeatedly and get nothing.
I would love to try the 787-9 Business class, hopefully one day with points.
I was flying from London to Schiphol (major European transit airport near Amsterdam) a couple of years ago and despite it being a very early flight there was a drunken boofhead carrying on with the check-in staff over something. I was about 6 back in the line but could see and hear everything. He became more and more aggressive and then climbed over the conveyor belt where the bags go and went for the check-in girl. I ran up behind him and assisted him to the ground and held him until security dragged him away. My missus and I were upgraded to 1st class and when we joined our next flight in Schiphol to fly to Incheon, (Seoul), we were also upgraded to 1st class, despite it being a different airline. I still have the really fancy pyjamas they gave me on the Incheon flight!
On an Etihad flight to Ahu Dhabi my partner (a nurse) was first to assist a man in the row in front who had a siezure. She spent some 3 hours dealing with the situation and on the phone to medical aide in Australia. We got escorted through AUH to our next flight and a letter of thanks. Nothing else.
I flew to Egypt with Etihad years ago. We told them it was our honeymoon, it wasn't. They were very excited. At boarding, the attendant was waving at us furiously, "board via first class!" On board, "yay it's the newlyweds!" Sit in your seats and we'll come back soon for a chat. Thought we were a shoe in for upgrade. Nothing. They didn't even come back for the chat. Haha
Nothing. They didn't even come back for the chat. Haha
Well played by the airline! haha
You're more likely to get upgrades/freebies at any hotels you're staying at.
I added in the notes/comments section on the bookings that we were on our honeymoon.
Some of the freebies we got
- room upgrades
- free bottle of wine
- free dinner
- free cake
On our cruise we got free choc coated strawberries and a bottle of wine.
I did a road trip from L.A. to San Francisco last year and we stayed in a hotel in Carmel, (Clint Eastwood used to be the mayor). In our room was a big bunch of flowers, a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries and a bottle of Lanson Champagne. There was a 'welcome' card attached but my reading glasses were in my bag and I couldn't be bothered to put them on to read the scrawly handwriting. I was really impressed as we were only staying one night.
The following morning I was packing up ready to go and I decided to keep the little card as a reminder of our luck on this holiday. When I read it is said "Welcome back Mr and Mrs Gomez". I don't know who they were, but they lucked out this time.
we got given free cups of Haagen Dazs, along with a muffin acting as a cake and a handwritten/hand-drawn note from the FA's. Didn't even mention it was our honeymoon, the purser overheard us giggling and whispering and somehow worked it out. This was in Scoot Biz, and somehow I remember that part almost as much as the Singapore Air first class flights home from Tokyo. Singapore Air didn't give us anything extra, but there was nothing we wanted for anyway.
But as Enzalicious said, you'll likely get upgrades etc at hotels. I think we got some freebies at our Ryokan in Japan, and then there was cake sent up to our (paid for) suite for out stopover in Singapore… again, we didn't say in advance it was a honeymoon, only when asked why we were travelling…
Just as a follow up.
We didn't get SFA :p. Unfortunately stayed in AirBnB's most of the way, so didn't even get a hotel upgrade.
However… they did give us exit rows all the way home. So I guess that helps. One day!
By today's standards, I just want what I paid for and I'll be happy.