Fact or Fiction -- April 2023

[KevinD]

It's that time again. Let us hear what you think about the following Fact or Fiction statement:

Fact or Fiction

Concur Travel puts me on the First-Class upgrade list for my flight if I have the correct status with the airline.

Please be sure to provide an explanation. Looking forward to hearing what you think.

[MiShipley]

Our company doesn't use Travel, but I am saying this is correct. I believe it would be cleaner to have these options in place to minimize the employees having to make upgrades and risk having issues with the original transaction.

[rwingerd]

I am going to say this is False.  The upgrade list is maintained by the airlines and if the traveler is eligible for upgrades the airline would add them to the upgrade list.

[TammyK]

We do not use Travel either.

[KevinD]

Thanks for the replies thus far. Hopefully we will get some more. 🙂

[leela2516]

I'm going with False as well. We have a specific "travel class" for our users that are eligible to book the upgraded status outside of the "default travel class". So, I would say it is not what the airline has defined for the user, but what the user's travel class is set as.

[Meysam]

Depending on your travel policy & travel rule class set up in Concur, it could be true or false.

Just as an FYI, Travel rule class is a group of employees to which a travel policy or rules can be applied. Employees are assigned to a group, and the policy is applied to everyone in the group. When an employee books travel, the travel policy is automatically applied to their search and travel selections.

As an example, a company may set up a rule class/policy specifically for executives to be upgraded automatically to first class once booked while a different one for sales staff could direct them to only their default option (i.e., economy).

[kenrichards]

My understanding: Concur Travel does not put the traveler on an upgrade list, however if the traveler has provided their Travel ID/Rewards number, then the airline is aware.

If the airline/traveler is eligible for upgrade and their account is configured to automatically place the traveler on an upgrade list for booked travel, that will happen. The traveler can also view their flight on the airline site once it's been booked (again if using their number), and verify or include themselves on the upgrade list for their flight.

[KLM]

This is a guess, however I don't believe this is true ... UNLESS the traveler's airline profile/app is set to auto default to add to upgrade list. It seems in reality it's the airline that does this not Concur Travel. 

[tedecesare11]

I would say this is False.   Concur Travel does not add remarks or queue to the airline for upgrades.  Upgrades are done by actions of the Travel Dept or Traveler.

[NoraCal]

I think CONCUR allows you to add a group of people that are allowed to purchase first class tickets without any warnings popping up. An employee not on this group is still able to purchase a upgrade to First Class but CONCUR will flag that transaction per our Audit Rules in place. 

[KevinD]

Hello all and thank you for the replies. Here is the answer:

Fiction: The Airline places you on the upgrade list, not Concur Travel.

An easy way to explain it is to think of Concur Travel just like any other booking tool; Expedia, Travelocity, etc. If you book a flight on these booking tools, you do not use these tools to request a first class upgrade. They are for booking only. 

Requesting a first class upgrade and purchasing a first class ticket in Concur Travel are two different things. Yes, if your travel class allows for it, you can book first class. Even if your travel class allows it, if you book an Economy or Coach ticket in Concur Travel, you still need the airline to put you on the upgrade list, which they should do automatically if you have the proper status and the fare is eligible for an upgrade.

[leela2516]

@KevinD - These are great and provide a good learning tool! Thanks for the detailed explanation.

[KevinD]

@leela2516 I'm glad you are enjoying them. It really spawned from seeing various posts here on Community that I wanted to dispel and make sure people knew the real answer. 

[cmakai]

Thank you. I don't work on the Travel side of Concur, but this is still helpful to know as an Admin. 🙂