- Mr Plane Guy
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
British Airways Is Letting You Bid for Upgrades Here’s Exactly How It Works
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and sign up, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps fund my next AVIOS adventure. All opinions are my own and this is not financial advice.
British Airways has quietly launched a new way to upgrade your flight and for once, it gives passengers real control over what they pay.
Instead of fixed upgrade prices at check-in, BA is now testing a bidding system that allows selected passengers to make an offer for a higher cabin before departure. If your bid is successful, you move up. If not, you stay put, no harm done.
It’s rolled out slowly, and not every route or flight qualifies yet. But this is clearly part of BA’s long-term strategy to monetise unsold premium seats without slashing headline fares.
Here’s exactly how the system works and the important catches most people miss.
How the British Airways Upgrade Bidding System Works
British Airways uses a third-party platform called Plusgrade to manage upgrade bids.
Step 1: Check If Your Flight Is Eligible
Enter your British Airways booking reference and surname. If your flight qualifies, you’ll be invited to make an upgrade offer.
Not all routes are included, and eligibility varies by:
Route
Date
Demand
Cabin load
More routes are being added gradually.
Step 2: Place Your Upgrade Bid
If your flight qualifies, you’ll see a price range and can choose how much you’re willing to pay.
Important points:
Your bid is binding
Payment details are required upfront
You can change or withdraw your bid anytime before BA accepts it
Bidding closes several hours before departure
Once your bid is accepted or rejected, you cannot resubmit another offer.
Step 3: Enjoy the Upgrade
If British Airways accepts your bid:
You move into the higher cabin
You receive lounge access
Your seat and boarding group update automatically
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That’s enough for:
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A one-way long-haul in Premium,
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Offer ends 13 January 2026.
*I am not a financial advisor, this is not financial advice. Please consult financial advise before taking out any credit agreement.
What Does a British Airways Upgrade Cost?
British Airways does not publish fixed prices for bid upgrades. Instead:
Prices vary by route
Prices vary by demand
Prices vary by cabin availability
Prices vary by how generous your bid is
This means:
Some bids can undercut airport upgrade prices
Others may be poor value compared to Avios upgrades
You must always compare:
Paid bid vs
Cash upgrade vs
Avios upgrade value
The Rules Most Travellers Get Caught Out By
Everyone on the Booking Must Upgrade.
If multiple passengers are on one booking, everyone must upgrade together. You cannot split one person out for bidding.
You Cannot Use Avios to Pay
Upgrade bids are cash only, because Plusgrade collects the payment:
You do not get Amex BA bonus Avios
It does still count as a normal card purchase
Your Baggage Allowance Does NOT Change
Even if you upgrade:
Your original baggage allowance still applies
Hand-baggage-only fares remain hand-baggage-only
This catches out a lot of people.
Catering May Not Match Your New Cabin
If your upgrade clears late:
Catering may already be loaded
You may receive your original cabin meal
Short-haul may still receive no meal
Seat Selection Refunds ARE Possible
If you paid to select a seat in your original cabin:
You can request a refund after upgrading
This slightly offsets the cost of the bid
If You Change or Cancel Your Flight
Your upgrade fee is non-refundable
Even if your underlying ticket was flexible
Even if your original fare allows cancellation
Only the base ticket follows normal refund rules.
Avios & Tier Points on Paid Upgrade Bids
If you upgrade a cash ticket:
Avios and Tier Points are based on the combined cash value
If you upgrade an Avios redemption:
You earn no additional Avios or Tier Points
This makes paid upgrade bidding far more attractive on cash fares than redemptions.
What This Means for British Airways Avios Collectors
Short term:✅ More chances to sit in premium cabins for less
Long term:⚠️ Potentially fewer last-minute Avios reward seats as BA fills cabins through cash bidding instead
That’s exactly why understanding the British Airways flight upgrade trick still matters.
Plane Tip: Use Reward Flight Finder to Spot Avios Seats Instantly
If you use British Airways Avios regularly, this tool removes all the guessing:
It lets you:
Search the next 355 days of reward availability
View all BA routes in one place
Track Business and Premium cabins
Set instant alerts when seats appear
Membership Options:
Bronze (Free): 3 Economy searches + 1 alert
Silver (£3.99/month): Unlimited searches + 5 alerts
Gold (£6.99/month): Unlimited searches + instant alerts + 20 alerts
There’s also a 7-day free trial.
If you chase upgrades with Avios, this tool saves hours and often saves entire flights.
💳 Quick Reminder: The 45,000-point Amex Gold bonus (ends 13 Jan 2026) is currently one of the strongest UK upgrade-fuel deals available. Always check eligibility first.*
Plane Tip: Always use the eligibility checker first approval odds matter.
British Airways Guides That Save You the Most Money
These are your strongest internal links for rankings:
BA Flights from London Gatwick
BA Cancelled Flights – Your Rights Explained
Maximise Your Avios Points in 2025: The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Your Collection
Final Boarding Call: Is BA’s Upgrade Bidding Worth It?
British Airways’ upgrade bidding can deliver real value if you’re holding a cash ticket and fancy a late jump into the premium cabins without paying full upgrade prices. It’s especially tempting for last-minute comfort on long-haul. That said, the baggage rules are unusually tight, refunds are unforgiving, and if your strategy revolves around Avios redemptions, this system offers very little advantage. Like most things with BA, it’s powerful when used precisely – and frustrating if you get caught out by the fine print.
You can start with the 7-day free trial, and if it works for you
📩 Get Next Week’s Tip First
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Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading British Airways Is Letting You Bid for Upgrades Here’s Exactly How It Works.
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