Paying for upgrade at check in
Oct 29, 2014, 3:31 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dublin
Programs: EK Blue,VS,BA, Krisflyer, Hilton Gold , Radisson Gold , Hyatt Gold.
Posts: 427
I'd say that's for you to decide. Personally I think it's presumptuous to go to the premium desks until/unless you're actually entitled to check in there. You can be sure that if they're keen to offer y-j cash upgrades on the day, the staff at economy desks will be well primed & armed with all necessary info.
Oct 29, 2014, 9:23 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
At man thereis an ek desk opposite the check in area which is where you have to pay for any upgrade fees or costs. I'd go to that desk if it exists first, then if you get a j seat you can then go to the j check in 
Oct 29, 2014, 10:46 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Durban, South Africa | LHR
Programs: Emirates Skywards Gold | South African Airways Voyager Gold
Posts: 863
Good luck.
Oct 31, 2014, 4:17 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dublin
Programs: EK Blue,VS,BA, Krisflyer, Hilton Gold , Radisson Gold , Hyatt Gold.
Posts: 427
Spending too much on your Porsche?
Upgrade on the day will be approx 380 GBP if they are empty in J. I've done this ex MAN once or twice when 380 was a better option than using my points.
There is no gurantee they will have this offer though but thats about how much it will be. Othertimes you get email offers and if not EK will simply offer you the fare difference which will be expensive.
Upgrade on the day will be approx 380 GBP if they are empty in J. I've done this ex MAN once or twice when 380 was a better option than using my points.
There is no gurantee they will have this offer though but thats about how much it will be. Othertimes you get email offers and if not EK will simply offer you the fare difference which will be expensive.
Oct 31, 2014, 4:35 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Hmm ....doesn't seem in the least bit attractive.
That would buy a night of luxury - for two people - at a Burj Al Arab suite (or any number of other high-end properties) where you could happily 'recover' post-flight from any perceived discomforts of Y class travel .....
That would buy a night of luxury - for two people - at a Burj Al Arab suite (or any number of other high-end properties) where you could happily 'recover' post-flight from any perceived discomforts of Y class travel .....
Oct 31, 2014, 4:42 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dublin
Programs: EK Blue,VS,BA, Krisflyer, Hilton Gold , Radisson Gold , Hyatt Gold.
Posts: 427
I know its crazy and the J section is 3/4 empty by the sounds of things - It makes commercial sense to maybe try sell same at the last minute at a discount to get more income. Maybe they wont put same on their website but do a half decent upgrade cost at the desk.
Oct 31, 2014, 5:14 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
On the face of it, yes it would seem to make commercial sense.
But with emphasis on the word seem ......
There is a fine balance between getting enough people to book J class tickets at full revenue (ie well in advance of departure date); and creating an impression (and I mean in general ..... not just in relation to any one specific flight) that heavily discounted seats will be available at last minute/check-in - a scenario which would then encourage a certain proportion of pax who might normally pay full fare in J to instead book Y and then sit tight & hope for some sort of upgrade 'deal'
I'm certainly not saying that the boffins who work in the weird & wonderful world of yield management always get the mix 100% right. But there is obviously pressure on them to do so most of the time, simply because the alternative spells doom for an airline.
But with emphasis on the word seem ......
There is a fine balance between getting enough people to book J class tickets at full revenue (ie well in advance of departure date); and creating an impression (and I mean in general ..... not just in relation to any one specific flight) that heavily discounted seats will be available at last minute/check-in - a scenario which would then encourage a certain proportion of pax who might normally pay full fare in J to instead book Y and then sit tight & hope for some sort of upgrade 'deal'
I'm certainly not saying that the boffins who work in the weird & wonderful world of yield management always get the mix 100% right. But there is obviously pressure on them to do so most of the time, simply because the alternative spells doom for an airline.
Oct 31, 2014, 5:34 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: EK Silver
Posts: 72
As to what offers you receive largely depends on your FF status and the type of booking you've made (e.g. Gold, Y flight, LHR - DXB).
Oct 31, 2014, 8:12 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dublin
Programs: EK Blue,VS,BA, Krisflyer, Hilton Gold , Radisson Gold , Hyatt Gold.
Posts: 427
Anyway I wont moan and just get on with it and enjoy the Y class
bon Voyage
Oct 31, 2014, 12:28 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Given a free choice, we all know whereabouts in the plane we would sit ; but worth remembering I guess that on most flights Y class is the 'default cabin' for around 85% or so of pax (or even 100% depending on aircraft/sector !) - all of whom manage to survive ......
Oct 31, 2014, 12:48 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 665
AFAIK most airlines, including Emirates, only offer cheap upgrades when Economy is overbooked and Business has empty seats. They'll try to sell upgrades to some punters (often infrequent customers so as not to erode revenue) to try and make some extra revenue from the situation. They'll also open up miles upgrade availability to get frequent fliers to spend miles. If there aren't enough takers then they'll have to op-up passengers for free, usually in order of status (or, in the case of Emirates in the past, in alphabetic surname order).
So unless economy is oversold then a cheap upgrade offer is a rare beast.
Nov 1, 2014, 2:17 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Your post may be accurate but doesn't answer what was asked.