Finnair E-Mail Upgrade Offers
Mar 10, 2014, 7:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ZRH
Programs: QR Privilege Club Gold; Accor LeClub Platinum
Posts: 658
Finnair E-Mail Upgrade Offers
Hello everyone
After a year of flying mainly with Qatar Airways, I have a flight coming up with Finnair in economy and I have a question regarding upgrades.
Last time i flew with finnair, i got an email offer to upgrade about 2 weeks prior to departure. Does anyone know based on what these offers are sent out (obviously quite full economy and empty business, but why did I get chosen)? At the time i just subscribed and used a Finnair Plus number without any miles/status, however the route was HEL-CKG, so I'd assume I was one of the few with any FF membership at all.
Now I have another finnair flight coming up, this time on a more elite heavy route (presumably... route being HEL-HKG). What is my best chance of getting one of those emails again? I can either use my old finnair plus account without any miles (well, about 2000 or so from that one flight) and no status; or I could use my Qatar PC gold status ( = oneworld Sapphire). Who would get priority here?
Does anyone have any experiences or tips? I'd appreciate it.
After a year of flying mainly with Qatar Airways, I have a flight coming up with Finnair in economy and I have a question regarding upgrades.
Last time i flew with finnair, i got an email offer to upgrade about 2 weeks prior to departure. Does anyone know based on what these offers are sent out (obviously quite full economy and empty business, but why did I get chosen)? At the time i just subscribed and used a Finnair Plus number without any miles/status, however the route was HEL-CKG, so I'd assume I was one of the few with any FF membership at all.
Now I have another finnair flight coming up, this time on a more elite heavy route (presumably... route being HEL-HKG). What is my best chance of getting one of those emails again? I can either use my old finnair plus account without any miles (well, about 2000 or so from that one flight) and no status; or I could use my Qatar PC gold status ( = oneworld Sapphire). Who would get priority here?
Does anyone have any experiences or tips? I'd appreciate it.
Mar 12, 2014, 4:01 am
#2
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,172
Judging by the low number of replies, I'd say these email upgrade offers are not a regular thing. IME, it is something AY does once in a while, and nothing you really can predict.
But for arguments sake, let's say they do send them. I'd say they will prefer you to use points for such an upgrade, so it will be targeted to pax with an AY+ profile. Your QR PC would not fit that profile, as there is no alliance wide "upgrade for points".
AY is known to only upgrade when there is a oversold situation. On CKG they seem to oversell regularly based solely on the fact that they sell few J tickets, and has space to upgraded anyone to solve the oversold situation. On HKG, J has most of the time a 100% load factor and there is no space for upgrades. This means they will be more careful and not oversell Y, and if they do, they will need to bump passengers.
I'd say your chance of upgrade, paid or complementary, is close to 0% on HKG route regardless of your status and or program affiliation.
But for arguments sake, let's say they do send them. I'd say they will prefer you to use points for such an upgrade, so it will be targeted to pax with an AY+ profile. Your QR PC would not fit that profile, as there is no alliance wide "upgrade for points".
AY is known to only upgrade when there is a oversold situation. On CKG they seem to oversell regularly based solely on the fact that they sell few J tickets, and has space to upgraded anyone to solve the oversold situation. On HKG, J has most of the time a 100% load factor and there is no space for upgrades. This means they will be more careful and not oversell Y, and if they do, they will need to bump passengers.
I'd say your chance of upgrade, paid or complementary, is close to 0% on HKG route regardless of your status and or program affiliation.
Aug 12, 2014, 1:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Switzerland
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 843
Just received an upgrade offer via email for HEL-ZRH, for EUR69 per pax. Flight was showing J3 Y0.
Too bad the T&C say "will receive original AY Plus economy points", unlike BA's similar last minute paid upgrades that give C tier points and miles.
Too bad the T&C say "will receive original AY Plus economy points", unlike BA's similar last minute paid upgrades that give C tier points and miles.