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#Post#: 17121--------------------------------------------------
What would you do?
By: SHL Date: June 24, 2019, 11:28 pm
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I had a question, sort of for the general board.
As I mentioned on the other thread, I‘m leaving for Berlin in 10
days, almost 9 now, via Iceland.
The cheap-o Icelandic carrier, WOW air, I took the last 3 years
went bankrupt this year and quit flying, so I booked a ticket on
Icelandair, the national Icelandic carrier, a much better
airline. I took them back in 1979. They were the cheapest
airline from the US to Europe with a no-extra cost stay in
Iceland for those interested. They also only had one class of
service back then, economy.
Over the years, they added what they call Saga Class. It‘s not
exactly like an international business class (like Lufthansa
with the seats that fold into beds) but it‘s better than
economy. As an upgrade it costs about $2,000 more than economy
(I paid $1,700 for the economy roundtrip from San Francisco to
Berlin).
It’s still 8 hours on the plane to Iceland from San Francisco (
but that’s a lot better than 10 1/2 on Lufthansa direct to
Frankfurt). At least that way, I can rest up in a hotel in
Iceland and continue on the next day.
Well, I just got this email from Icelandair and they want to
make me a deal. They wanted to know if I‘d be interested in
bidding on a $2,000 upgrade by anonymously offering anything
extra to the ticket price I wanted. So, say I offer $500 extra.
They consider the offer and 48 hours before the departure date,
they let me know of the offer was accepted or not. If it is, I
get this big upgrade. If rejected, everything just stays the
same. So, I can‘t lose out no matter what.
It’s actually a very clever business strategy. Their economy
seats sell out first, and then they are left with a certain
number of upgraded unsold Saga class seats. To sell them off to
the highest bidder from the economy class makes good business
sense: they make a little extra, fill a seat in the upgraded
class, and free up a seat in economy to sell to someone else.
This way they assure they have a full plane on every flight and
maximize their profits. Makes good business sense.
If it weren’t an 8 hour trip, I wouldn’t probably care too much,
but an upgraded ticket on a long trip is nice.
So, the question: what would you do, and how much do you think
one should offer, under these facts, to have a shot at the
upgrade?
#Post#: 17124--------------------------------------------------
Re: What would you do?
By: Aliph Date: June 25, 2019, 1:03 am
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That’s a tough question! It really depends on your budget. There
is also something that you have to consider: there is the risk
that if you get the chance to fly once on business class you
will find it really hard to fly again on a regular economic
class. I was once upgraded on a flight from Paris to Bangkok
that was overbooked. Great experience! The return flight however
in regular tourist class was a real pain.
In French they say „essayer c‘est l‘adopter“ = if you try it you
will adopt it. But that needs a good budget.
#Post#: 17127--------------------------------------------------
Re: What would you do?
By: MartinSR Date: June 25, 2019, 7:11 am
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$500 is still a considerable sum of money. I would say it's too
much for an unnecessary luxury. On the other hand, when you
travel alone, the journey is over 6h long and it would minimize
the possible negative impact on your health - it's worth
trying. I think only a few people will decide to try it, so you
have a chance.
There are situations when an additional comfort is worth the
money you pay for it. I usually buy the priority boarding on
low-fare flights and full insurance when using rent-a-car. But
$2000 would be too much... at least for me. Many people work the
whole month for less than that.
#Post#: 17146--------------------------------------------------
Re: What would you do?
By: NealC Date: June 25, 2019, 5:25 pm
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Add 20% to the cost of your ticket and put it in as a bid. You
will enjoy the upgrade. Been a tough year.
#Post#: 17149--------------------------------------------------
Re: What would you do?
By: SHL Date: June 25, 2019, 7:28 pm
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[quote author=NealC link=topic=1177.msg17146#msg17146
date=1561501541]
Add 20% to the cost of your ticket and put it in as a bid. You
will enjoy the upgrade. Been a tough year.
[/quote]
Thanks for the advice, Neal.
The problem is I went to their upgrade site and the minimum they
will accept as an offer is just about 20% of the ticket price,
about $350.
That’s not a problem, but then they give you this odds chart
next to it (I swear these guys are good businessmen). And it is
this dial thing. On the left it is red, meaning least chance of
acceptance, and on the right green, meaning high chance of
acceptance. Obviously, the more you offer, the more the dial
goes up this half circle. If I plug in $600, for instance, it
puts me right in the middle of odds of acceptance. And the odds
go up proportionate to what you bid.
But, I checked this online and other people said they got
approved putting in the lowest bid, like $350 or so coming from
Seattle even. So, acceptance depends on a variety of factors
that they won’t disclose (which is why they are so clever- their
loads on a given day, and so on). It’s a clever business ploy to
maximize their profits per flight.
I would like the upgrade. You get your own private check-in (no
long lines to wait it), a larger luggage allowance, a luxury
lounge to wait in for your flight, a big seat, and top service,
free food and drinks, so it sounds nice.
Just debating how to play the game so to speak.
#Post#: 17150--------------------------------------------------
Re: What would you do?
By: NealC Date: June 25, 2019, 7:45 pm
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Go the $350, then just add what you think. At what point does
the money you add take away from your vacation?
I once took a really long flight, and the expensive upgrade to
business class probably saved my life :-)
#Post#: 17152--------------------------------------------------
Re: What would you do?
By: SHL Date: June 25, 2019, 8:00 pm
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[quote author=NealC link=topic=1177.msg17150#msg17150
date=1561509933]
Go the $350, then just add what you think. At what point does
the money you add take away from your vacation?
I once took a really long flight, and the expensive upgrade to
business class probably saved my life :-)
[/quote]
Yeah, I agree with you. Last year, that long trip in a seat that
was like off a bus did take a lot out of me. This is one of
those times you have to sort of go with your gut. For a few
hundred extra bucks, it can make huge difference between being
really comfortable and just watching the clock hoping the hours
go by as fast as possible.
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