There are numerous methods to obtain a first or business class seat without directly purchasing it (with either cash or miles). Frequently, you can utilize miles or upgrade instruments to secure a premium seat, while airlines also offer complimentary upgrades to elite members in certain cases.
There’s another type of upgrade that I don’t often mention, and it could be the most delightful upgrade to receive. Specifically, I am referring to operational upgrades (commonly called “op-ups”). In this article, I intend to elaborate on what this entails and discuss how you might obtain one.
The fundamentals of airline operational upgrades
As you might infer from the term, an operational upgrade occurs when you receive an upgrade on a flight due to operational needs. This generally happens when there’s no one remaining on the upgrade list, yet the airline still needs to accommodate individuals in first or business class.
Overselling flights is the primary reason for this. An airline may choose to oversell economy by a notable number of seats if it is aware that there are many vacant first and business class seats on the aircraft. Ultimately, the airline would prefer to earn some revenue from a seat rather than none.
This scenario is particularly prevalent among Gulf carriers, where there’s often high demand in economy but low demand in premium cabins on certain routes. For instance, an airline might oversell economy by 50 seats. Typically, there will be a number of passengers who either do not show up or miss their connections, allowing any leftover passengers to be promoted to first or business class, based on availability.
Additionally, there are a few other potential reasons for operational upgrades, such as:
– Occasionally, people must be relocated for weight and balance requirements; though this is quite rare on larger aircraft.
– It may happen that a seat becomes unusable at the last moment and no economy seats are available, necessitating a passenger’s move up to ensure the seat remains unoccupied.
Operational upgrades are fairly common with Gulf carriers.
How to attain an operational upgrade on a flight
While receiving an upgrade from the waitlist is pleasant, the joy of an operational upgrade is even greater since it’s typically unexpected. Firstly, it’s important to understand that operational upgrades are generally offered only after the entire upgrade list is cleared.
It’s quite uncommon to observe operational upgrades on domestic flights within the United States, primarily because many elite members are on the space-available upgrade list (the exception being American’s three-cabin A321Ts, which operate premium transcontinental routes).
Operational upgrades occur frequently on American A321Ts.
So, how do you snag an operational upgrade? No, it likely won’t result from dressing well or mentioning “revenue management.”
Most airlines have established protocols for operational upgrades. While the specifics differ by airline, broadly speaking:
– Operational upgrades are prioritized based on elite status and/or the fare class booked.
– Some airlines strictly adhere to elite status, while others may upgrade a full-fare non-elite economy passenger ahead of an elite member.
– While it occasionally occurs, airlines generally refrain from double upgrades; meaning if you’ve already been upgraded from economy to business class, it’s unlikely you’ll be near the top of the operational upgrade list for first class.
– In unusual cases, operational upgrades may not adhere to this protocol — it could happen that the last person to check-in receives an upgrade (as everyone else has already been assigned seats), or it might simply be a matter of being at the right place at the right time, but you shouldn’t rely on this (so no, don’t follow TikTok advice that suggests checking in last without a seat assignment will secure you a free upgrade, as you’re more likely to end up in a middle seat at the back of the plane).
In terms of timing for operational upgrades, it varies by airline and specific circumstances. Usually, operational upgrades occur at the gate just before departure. However, they can sometimes also take place during check-in, contingent on how oversold the flight is.
Operational upgrades most frequently occur at the gate.
Bottom line
Receiving an operational upgrade offers genuine satisfaction, as your flight seat is elevated for operational reasons. This is most typical when the cabin you’re in is oversold, and the airline has unoccupied seats in a premium cabin.
Never rely on an operational upgrade, but if you possess elite status and/or have purchased a high fare, and if economy is oversold while a premium cabin offers empty seats with no one on the upgrade list, your chances of obtaining one of these upgrades are likely favorable.
Have you ever experienced an operational upgrade? If yes, how was your experience?