Upgrade to business

Last year we flew from Seattle to Houston (or was it Dallas) on Alaska, changed over to KLM to Amsterdam with an upgrade from coach to "coach plus" or whatever they called it. We ended up with more leg room and only the two of us in a row for four. I believe it only cost us about $250/each for the upgrade that they were advertising at the Houston (or was it Dallas) airport and after getting onto the plane and seeing that section half full, I could see why they were trying to get folks to upgrade into what would have been empty seats. I would do it again in a minute for that amount of money (and maybe even a little more).

I can't answer the "reasonable charge" part of your question as I've used skymiles to upgrade but I have flown business class to Rome and Paris on KLM in the past couple of years. If it's not too bad, I'd do it just for the extra room. Overall though, I find KLM business class lacking what I have had on Delta, Air France, and Alitalia. The food & beverage is just as aweful as coach but you do get a cute little blue/white Delft minature house full of gin as a souvenir which is much better than the sandpaper green socks you get from Alitalia. I'd do it again only for the room though.

The probability of upgrading to business class at the gate is very remote if not impossible unless you have a very high ff status. And, if you do, you can upgrade before you get there. Who is "They say.."?

Actually several airlines do sell "at the gate" upgrades (Sorry Frank!) KLM is known for this amoung business travelers, but I have seen it on others. Sadly I fly Delta and they will let those seats go EMPTY before they give "at the gate upgrades :)

Yes, I have also been offered an upgrade at check-in for a fee on several airlines, but haven't flown KLM recently. A few years back, I recall United offering a business upgrade on IAD-LHR route for about $600 to $700 one-way at the kiosk. I haven't seen that offer in the last two years, but the flights I have taken have been absolutely packed.

I think the chance of an upgrade is very small unless you are in their "elite" tier of their frequent-flyer program.

We have flown business and first class on American and British Air, using frequent flier miles. We very much enjoyed both classes of service on both airlines. All three times we were given individual beds on the flights.

Sorry, Carol. Re-read it. I didn't say you could not buy an upgrade at the gate but just that the probability of buying that upgrade is very low. What has happened in the past is irrelevant to what is happening today. Years ago I could get a business class ticket with ff miles as short as six weeks out for an international flights - lots of flights, lots of seats. Today is much, much tighter. A year ago I could not get a RT business class ticket in Oct with nine month notice. I am just saying that my experience is that business class tickets for FF are less available given the reduction in number of flights, smaller planes, etc. so the possibility of two seats being available on their flight at the gate is small.

Pab, you might want to post this question on a frequent flyer forum.I'm guessing several hundred dollars. My experience is with Continental ( sob!), which is not what you are asking. I have upgraded for Houston- Jamaica for $125 from a discounted coach to first, and $ 99 for Houston- Costa Rica. These offers were at online checkin, within 24 hours of departure. I had silver statusuntil last weekend, but don't think that made a difference, rather being first to check in. Last month booked ff tickets on Delta for Austin-London and return Amsterdam- Austin for May,and it's $200 each way to get 4 more inches of space for economy plus. There is no upgrade to Biz class with the ff unless you book it in first. Why not call KLM- the worst they can tell you is that the price is based on demand.

Depends on when you are flying and just plain luck. We flew to Paris through LHR 2 years ago at Easter and were offered $100 upgrades to World Traveller Plus (Econ plus) on BA. Totally worth it! On the return, we were offered a similar deal, but 100pounds for the upgrade, available to "connecting passengers only." Took that one too! No FF status required--just cash.