Trading up

[Emma Richardson]

I have read on a few occasions that some of the second class passengers managed to upgrade to first for a small charge as first class was not full. I also seem to recall a unimpressed second class lady getting a first class cabin because her cabin had been near the kitchen and it was noisy or something like that. I am wondering if any third class passengers did likewise and moved up to second. Of course because third class on Titanic was so much better than on older ships they may have been perfectly happy with what they had. Many Thanks Em.

 

[Dave Hudson]

I don't believe that there are any confirmed accounts of 2nd to 1st upgrades. Mrs. Cassabeer claimed to have booked in 2nd and paid McElroy a small fee to get into 1st, but she is known to have eccentric. At any rate, documents prove that she bought a 1st Class ticket and there is no evidence that she ever entered 2nd.

3rd class would NEVER have been allowed to upgrade. There was too much risk of disease.

David

 

[Emma Richardson]

thanks for that David, I will try and find where I read about the 2nd to 1st class upgrades.

 

[Mike Herbold]

Imanita Shelley had her 2nd class accommodations upgraded, but I think it was just to a better 2nd class room.

 

[Pat Cook]

There was also Alfred Nourney (Baron von Drachstedt) who was upgraded from 2nd to 1st - his account is here on the E T site.

Best regards,
Cook

 

[Daniel Klistorner]

David is right about Cassebeer, there is no record that she was ever booked into second class. In fact the ticket list shows her originally booking a first class cabin. She probably made up the story that she moved from first to second.

Alfred Nourney did move from second to first. He originally appeared on the second class passenger list and ticket list and there is a document which verifies that he moved from 2nd to 1st class. So far as I know, he is the only passenger to upgrade from 1st to second.

I think there was a third class lady that might have moved from third to second - but I'm not too familiar with the situation, Pat you might know what I'm talking about.

As for too much disease in third, I hardly doubt that was a problem. Third class passengers were not allowed to board a ship if there was even a small hint of ill health. There are some documented accounts of third class passengers not being able to sail due to eye infections or even slight skin blemishes. Upgrades for a certain price should certainly not have been a problem.

Daniel.

 

[Emma Richardson]

Hi Daniel, I also thought that perhaps 3rd may have been able to upgrade to 2nd because as you say everyone was inspected before they got on but maybe they could have changed before boarding? thank you everyone for your imput it's very interesting. Emma.