Upgrading Austrian Airlines: How Much Does It Cost To Enhance Your Experience?

Austrian Airlines offers upgrades to passengers who have already booked their tickets but wish to switch to a higher travel class. Passengers can choose from a variety of upgrades, including priority boarding, lounge access, and a multi-course meal. Upgrades can be booked at a fixed price or through a bid system, where passengers can choose how much they want to pay. The bid system is available on all scheduled flights, except for flights to and from Japan, and passengers can submit their bids in EUR, GBP, or USD. Passengers will be notified 60 to 48 hours before departure if their bid has been accepted.

Upgrades on Austrian Airlines

Fixed-price upgrades

Austrian Airlines offers fixed-price upgrades to passengers who want to switch to a higher travel class after completing their flight booking. This option is available for passengers who have booked an Economy or Premium Economy Class ticket. Passengers can choose from a range of upgrade options, including priority boarding, lounge access, and a several-course meal.

To access the fixed-price upgrade option, passengers can go to "My Bookings" and click on "Upgrade flights". They will then be able to select the flights they want to upgrade and choose the desired options for each flight. The upgrade can be purchased for just one flight or for both outbound and return flights. Fixed-price upgrades can be booked up to 48 hours before departure, and passengers will receive confirmation by email.

It is important to note that Miles & More award tickets are excluded from Austrian Airlines fixed-price upgrades. Additionally, upgrades are only available on Austrian scheduled flights operated by Austrian Airlines under a flight number beginning with "OS". For flights where additional services have already been booked, such as travelling with pets or children under two years old, upgrades may not be possible.

Passengers who are interested in upgrading their seat can also submit a bid for the upgrade. This allows them to determine the price they are willing to pay. The bid can be submitted in EUR, GBP, or USD up to 60 hours before departure. Passengers will be notified 60 to 48 hours before departure if their bid has been accepted. However, it is important to note that the bid amount is non-refundable if the upgrade is accepted.

Bid upgrades

Austrian Airlines offers a 'bid for an upgrade' scheme, allowing passengers to upgrade their tickets to a higher travel class. This scheme is similar to those of other airlines. Passengers can submit a bid for an upgrade up to 60 hours before departure. The bid can be submitted in EUR, GBP, or USD.

To be eligible for a bid upgrade, passengers must have a valid Austrian air ticket (ticket number beginning with 257) for a scheduled flight operated by Austrian. All flights to and from Japan are excluded from the bid upgrade scheme. Passengers with pets or extra seats are also excluded from the scheme.

Passengers can select the flights they want to upgrade and the desired options for each flight. They can then use a slider to enter the amount they wish to pay for the upgrade. The amount of the individual bid can be set using a sliding scale, which goes from £250 to £1400 to upgrade from economy to business class. Passengers will be notified 60 to 48 hours before departure if their bid has been accepted.

Passengers can increase, decrease, or cancel their bid up to 60 hours before departure. Once a bid has been accepted, the upgrade amount charged is not refundable. If a bid upgrade is not confirmed, passengers will keep their originally booked seats.

Upgrade availability

Austrian Airlines offers upgrade options for passengers who have already booked their tickets but wish to switch to a higher travel class. Passengers can choose to upgrade to priority boarding, lounge access, or a several-course meal.

Upgrades are available at a fixed price or through a bid upgrade. Passengers can book an upgrade at a fixed price online up to 48 hours before departure. Passengers will be informed 60 to 48 hours before departure if their bid upgrade has been accepted. Bid upgrades can be submitted up to 60 hours before departure, and passengers can choose the amount they wish to pay for the upgrade.

Passengers can use their miles to upgrade to a higher service class online, at the check-in desk, or through the local Miles & More Team. However, Miles & More award tickets are excluded from Austrian Airlines upgrades at a fixed price. Upgrades are only possible on flights with no Premium Economy.

Passengers can also use the Smart Bid Upgrade option, where they can place a bid for an upgrade. Bids can be made in EUR, GBP, or USD. Passengers with pets or extra seats are eligible for bid upgrades on all scheduled flights, except for flights to and from Japan.

Upgrade conditions

Upgrades are possible under the following conditions:

• You have a valid Austrian air ticket (ticket number beginning with 257) that has already been issued for a scheduled flight operated by Austrian.
• You are not travelling with a pet in the passenger cabin or baggage hold.
• You are not travelling with extra seats for more comfort, medical reasons, or for carry-on baggage such as musical instruments.
• You are not travelling with small children up to the age of two years.
• You are not travelling on a flight to or from Japan.
• You are not travelling on a Miles & More award ticket, as these are excluded from Austrian Airlines upgrades at a fixed price.
• You are not travelling on a flight with additional services already booked that would prevent an upgrade (e.g. taking a pet on board).
• You are travelling on a flight operated by LH, LX, OS, OU, SN, UA, or VL.
• You are travelling on a flight with no Premium Economy, if upgrading from Economy to Business Class.
• You are a Miles & More member resident in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, or Tunisia, and your journey begins or ends in your country of residence.
• You are upgrading at least 48 hours before departure.
• You are upgrading on a flight with available seats.

If your bid for an upgrade is accepted, the fare conditions for the original ticket you purchased shall remain in effect and will be applicable even if you have been upgraded. This also applies to cancellation policies, change fees, and baggage conditions. You will be credited status and award miles based on the value of the upgrade.

If your bid is accepted and your credit card is charged, but the upgrade is not provided, you may apply for a refund. You will need to provide your boarding pass and the email notifying you of your upgrade. Refunds will be processed in the currency in which the upgrade amount was charged.

Upgrade refunds

Austrian Airlines offers two types of upgrades: fixed-price upgrades and bid upgrades. Fixed-price upgrades are available up to 48 hours before departure, while bid upgrades can be submitted up to 60 hours before departure.

Regarding refunds for upgrades, Austrian Airlines has the following policies:

Fixed-Price Upgrades

If you have purchased a fixed-price upgrade and your flight is cancelled or significantly changed, you are entitled to a refund of your airfare, including any taxes and ancillary fees. You can choose not to accept rebooking on an alternative flight or any form of compensation offered in lieu of a refund. In this case, your refund will be processed automatically, and you will not need to contact the airline to request it.

Bid Upgrades

For bid upgrades, the upgrade amount charged is generally not refundable. However, there are specific scenarios where a refund may be provided. If a passenger with a disability experiences significant changes to their itinerary, such as a downgrade in class or a lack of accessibility features, they are entitled to a refund. Additionally, any individuals in the same reservation as the passenger with a disability who choose not to continue travel without them will also be eligible for a refund.

It is important to note that bid upgrades are non-refundable once accepted. Therefore, passengers should carefully review the terms and conditions of their upgrade before finalising their purchase.

Frequently asked questions