Singapore Airlines has just joined Qantas and South African Airways with its very own upgrade auctions, where passengers can bid their way into First or Business Class.
Launched this week, mySQupgrade gives travellers the chance to move one-cabin up days before their flight at a price of their choice.
The system works by invitation-only, with eligible bookings receiving an invite to bid around seven days before departure. All bids need to be made in dollars and within a preset range.
So, if a client was thinking about flying Premium but didn’t want to spend the extra $300, they may be able to bid for it and fork over what they can afford.
However, users can only move up one-cabin, which means a passenger in Economy can make a bid to move up to Premium Class, while a passenger in Premium may want the extra space and benefits of Business.
All users can change or cancel their bid up to 50 hours prior to departure. The highest bidder will then receive an email notification 48 hours before take off, when they can start celebrating their affordable jump to a higher Class.
According to an airline spokesperson, guests will be selected to receive an invitation on “sole discretion based on certain criteria and combination of factors”.
Singapore Airlines is the latest airline to jump on the upgrade auctions, which not only help airlines fill pricier cabins, but help them compete on popular routes.
Earlier this year, a new app launched on the market to offer travellers the chance to auction off their seat in exchange for a better one. Read about it here.
