PAL starts seat upgrade program
Why pay full price for seat upgrade, when you can just bid for it and maybe save some money in the process?
This is the idea behind Philippine Airlines’ “myPAL Upgrade,” a platform that would allow economy-class ticket holders to bid for a spot in the Business Class section, which are typically more difficult for carriers to sell because of the high cost.
PAL, which seeks to increase flight revenue from the system, since it can still make money from otherwise empty business class seats, said it had launched the program with technology services provider Plusgrade.
The bid mechanics works this way. PAL said “eligible passengers” will be invited to submit upgrade bids up to 36 hours before the flight departure.
For each flight, a pre-determined minimum and maximum price is defined for a business class seat. Bidders only need to choose within this price range, and their offer represents how much they are willing to pay for an upgrade.
Winning bidders will be notified of their successful upgrades through e-mail at least 24 hours before their flight, PAL said. Apart from being invited, passengers can visit the myPAL Upgrade web page.
According to PAL, those that gain access to the front of the plane will enjoy the same benefits as full-paying business class travelers.
The benefits include: priority check-in and boarding, additional baggage allowance, lounge access, premium amenity kits, menu choices, on-demand in-flight entertainment and a business class seat.
PAL also offers business class mileage accrual to upgraded passengers traveling up to Aug. 31, 2016.
The program applies to select international flights such as Auckland, Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Cairns, Canton, Darwin, Fukuoka, Guam, Haneda, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Macau, Melbourne, Nagoya, Narita, New York, Osaka (Kansai), Port Moresby, Saigon, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Toronto, Vancouver, Quanzhou (Jinjiang).
