An operational upgrade is a move to a higher cabin made by the airline for its own reasons, because the booked cabin is oversold or the aircraft changed.
An operational upgrade is a move to a higher cabin made by the airline for its own reasons, because the booked cabin is oversold or the aircraft changed.
Also called: Op-up, Involuntary upgrade.
How it works#
The selection is made by the airline’s system on the day of departure, usually by status tier, fare and type of booking. An operational upgrade is not an entitlement and creates none: it can disappear again if the booking is rebooked. Equally, it does not release the airline from rights that arise when the lower cabin is oversold.
Not to be confused with#
An operational upgrade is not the same as a status upgrade: a status upgrade is allocated as a benefit, an operational one arises from an operational need.
In German#
The German term is Betriebliches Upgrade. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Upgrade: An upgrade is the move into a higher cabin or room category than the one booked, paid for with miles, cash or granted as an elite benefit.
- Denied boarding: Denied boarding is the refusal to carry a passenger who holds a valid booking and arrived on time, typically because the flight is oversold.
- Elite status: Elite status is a tier in a loyalty programme that grants extra benefits for a limited period once a qualification threshold has been met.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onStatus and lounges.