Mar 12, 2015, 3:34 pm
Last edit by: Marschel
Background
From time to time, AY will make the Y traveller an offer to upgrade. This thread lists when, how and and how much the upgrade is.
Selection process is unknown, but it is likely that neither fare class on original ticket nor tier status of traveller is a selection criteria, at least not to travellers advantage. From the reports made so far, both travellers with and without FF# in the reservation have gotten offers.
Offers are likely made only when Y is oversold or nearly full. Some travellers have reported declining offer and being upgraded for free later ("op-up").
Offers are fixed price offers, either in € or in AY+points. The latter kind is only valid for members of AY+, while €-offers are directed to all kind of travellers.
Offers are made either in mail or via text message and recipient has 72 hours to repspond. Some reports says this time is now shortened to 48 hours. Text message offers typically arrive close to departure and may not state a last time to reply.
Offers in text message can be replied to and upgrade is instantly processed. Offers in mail has occasionally not cleared (said to be "sold out" when accepting offer too late).
If offer is accepted and upgrade clears, new ticket is issued in F, so a confirmed upgrade with all perks of business class included. Mileage earning is according to original fare class however.
Development
In august 2015 AY announced a trial to let travellers bid for upgrades, initially on AY89 and AY90. It is likely that bidding will affect the number of fixed price offers.
The trial has been made permanent, and the bidding for upgrade has been extended to more longhaul routes.
The program has also led to a consolidation of upgrade options to one webpage
https://www.finnair.com/int/gb/upgrade-options
where you can upgrade by bidding, by using AY+ points or by accepting last minute cash offers. The latter ("Last minute" offers) are the same as have been discussed in this thread.. Finnair still pushes those offers via e-mail and text-message, but now also shows them on this webpage.
Offers made
Here is a condensed list of offers made, processed including post #213.
Figures are in € unless otherwise stated. Each destination's offers are recorded in a single line in time order.
Longhaul
SIN-HEL 248, 348, 348
HEL-SIN 499, 499, 348, 349€
JFK-HEL 48k points, 348€, 348€, 499
HKG-HEL 248
HEL-HKG 348
BKK-HEL 298, 348, 348
HEL-BKK 48k points, 348€, 348€ (290€ on phone? Not yet confirmed)
HEL-HKT 348
NRT-HEL 498
HEL-KIX 348, 375 (12/19, 01/20)
KIX-HEL 391 (12/19, 01/20)
ICN-HEL 248, 318
HEL-PVG 298
PVG-HEL 448, 498
CKG-HEL 228
XIY-HEL 248
HEL-DEL 198
HEL-DEL 300 (4/19)
YYZ-HEL 225€, 225
Shorthaul
DXB-HEL 99
HEL-VNO 7k points
HEL-BUD 69€
BUD-HEL 69, 8k points, 69
HEL-PRG 69€
PRG-HEL ≈70€
CPH-HEL 7k points, 7k, 69€, 7k, 69€
HEL-CPH 69€, 69, 69
HEL-ARN 7,5k points, 41€
HEL-GOT 7k points
GOT-HEL 7k points
HEL-VIE 69€
HEL-CDG 69€, 69€, 69
CDG-HEL 89€
HEL-MXP 69
HEL-TXL 9k points, 9k
HEL-DUS 69
HEL-HAM 69,69
HAM-HEL 69
HEL-FRA 69€
FRA-HEL 69€, 89, 89€
BRU-HEL 69
GVA-HEL 69
HEL-GVA 69, 89
HEL-LHR 9k points
HEL-LHR 109€
HEL-MAD 89€, 9k points
HEL-SVO 69€
HEL-WAW 79€
WAW-HEL 79€
DUS-HEL 69€
HEL-OSL 42€
HEL-MUC 90 (01/20)
MUC-HEL 115€ (01/20)
From time to time, AY will make the Y traveller an offer to upgrade. This thread lists when, how and and how much the upgrade is.
Selection process is unknown, but it is likely that neither fare class on original ticket nor tier status of traveller is a selection criteria, at least not to travellers advantage. From the reports made so far, both travellers with and without FF# in the reservation have gotten offers.
Offers are likely made only when Y is oversold or nearly full. Some travellers have reported declining offer and being upgraded for free later ("op-up").
Offers are fixed price offers, either in € or in AY+points. The latter kind is only valid for members of AY+, while €-offers are directed to all kind of travellers.
Offers are made either in mail or via text message and recipient has 72 hours to repspond. Some reports says this time is now shortened to 48 hours. Text message offers typically arrive close to departure and may not state a last time to reply.
Offers in text message can be replied to and upgrade is instantly processed. Offers in mail has occasionally not cleared (said to be "sold out" when accepting offer too late).
If offer is accepted and upgrade clears, new ticket is issued in F, so a confirmed upgrade with all perks of business class included. Mileage earning is according to original fare class however.
Development
In august 2015 AY announced a trial to let travellers bid for upgrades, initially on AY89 and AY90. It is likely that bidding will affect the number of fixed price offers.
The trial has been made permanent, and the bidding for upgrade has been extended to more longhaul routes.
The program has also led to a consolidation of upgrade options to one webpage
https://www.finnair.com/int/gb/upgrade-options
where you can upgrade by bidding, by using AY+ points or by accepting last minute cash offers. The latter ("Last minute" offers) are the same as have been discussed in this thread.. Finnair still pushes those offers via e-mail and text-message, but now also shows them on this webpage.
Offers made
Here is a condensed list of offers made, processed including post #213.
Figures are in € unless otherwise stated. Each destination's offers are recorded in a single line in time order.
Longhaul
SIN-HEL 248, 348, 348
HEL-SIN 499, 499, 348, 349€
JFK-HEL 48k points, 348€, 348€, 499
HKG-HEL 248
HEL-HKG 348
BKK-HEL 298, 348, 348
HEL-BKK 48k points, 348€, 348€ (290€ on phone? Not yet confirmed)
HEL-HKT 348
NRT-HEL 498
HEL-KIX 348, 375 (12/19, 01/20)
KIX-HEL 391 (12/19, 01/20)
ICN-HEL 248, 318
HEL-PVG 298
PVG-HEL 448, 498
CKG-HEL 228
XIY-HEL 248
HEL-DEL 198
HEL-DEL 300 (4/19)
YYZ-HEL 225€, 225
Shorthaul
DXB-HEL 99
HEL-VNO 7k points
HEL-BUD 69€
BUD-HEL 69, 8k points, 69
HEL-PRG 69€
PRG-HEL ≈70€
CPH-HEL 7k points, 7k, 69€, 7k, 69€
HEL-CPH 69€, 69, 69
HEL-ARN 7,5k points, 41€
HEL-GOT 7k points
GOT-HEL 7k points
HEL-VIE 69€
HEL-CDG 69€, 69€, 69
CDG-HEL 89€
HEL-MXP 69
HEL-TXL 9k points, 9k
HEL-DUS 69
HEL-HAM 69,69
HAM-HEL 69
HEL-FRA 69€
FRA-HEL 69€, 89, 89€
BRU-HEL 69
GVA-HEL 69
HEL-GVA 69, 89
HEL-LHR 9k points
HEL-LHR 109€
HEL-MAD 89€, 9k points
HEL-SVO 69€
HEL-WAW 79€
WAW-HEL 79€
DUS-HEL 69€
HEL-OSL 42€
HEL-MUC 90 (01/20)
MUC-HEL 115€ (01/20)
Please post your upgrade offers
Dec 28, 2016, 4:36 am
#451
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Going around Russian airspace
Posts: 621
But are the extra points really worth that much money? If you have a cheap ticket that earns you 500+125 points, the €69 upgrade would get you 2000+500 points instead. As a Platinum, the only benefits from the upgrade would be the inflight meal, a guaranteed empty middle seat and 1875 points.
For a non-status member, those upgrades might be more meaningful because of priority check-in, security and lounge access. And luggage allowance if needed. But for a status member, even the extra miles wouldn't make it worth it in my book.
For a non-status member, those upgrades might be more meaningful because of priority check-in, security and lounge access. And luggage allowance if needed. But for a status member, even the extra miles wouldn't make it worth it in my book.
Dec 28, 2016, 8:16 am
#452
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
So TXL would probably be 1000 points on a cheap ticket (unless it's a 25 % campaign), meaning 3000 extra points if upgrades came with J points. For a Plat, it would mean 5000 points instead of 1250 points so an extra 3750 points.
I usually value 1000 points at €10, although with flight tickets having become so much cheaper, I should probably review this. I based this on a typical European ticket some 15 years ago... (40 000 points = €400 = Euro-Y ticket)
Dec 28, 2016, 8:35 am
#454
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
What I meant was that an AY Plat who accepts the TXL upgrade offer would receive 3750 points more if AY indeed gave J points for those upgrades.
Instead of 1000+250, assuming one travels on a basic/light ticket, it would be 4000+1000 for the upgraded ticket.
Instead of 1000+250, assuming one travels on a basic/light ticket, it would be 4000+1000 for the upgraded ticket.
Dec 28, 2016, 10:52 am
#456
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
I think we all know that. The discussion started from this post http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27670187-post449.html where Wkndtraveler said he would have accepted the upgrade offer if AY did give J points for those. And I countered that those additional points would be rather expensive. Of course, this is all theory since there are no J points to be had...
Dec 28, 2016, 1:07 pm
#457
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
I too tend to value one AY point as one cent. The purchase price for points is a starting point, at 12.5€ for 1000 points except during sales. Another way to compare is the price of business upgrades in points or money. There seems to be a rough consensus that business upgrades are the "best" use of Finnair points value.
But if the would-be points for paid upgrades counted as tier points, then valuation gets more complicated.
But if the would-be points for paid upgrades counted as tier points, then valuation gets more complicated.
Dec 30, 2016, 6:48 am
#459
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,111
But are the extra points really worth that much money? --. For a non-status member, those upgrades might be more meaningful because of priority check-in, security and lounge access. And luggage allowance if needed. But for a status member, even the extra miles wouldn't make it worth it in my book.
Jan 12, 2017, 8:05 am
#460
Join Date: May 2016
Location: FRA
Programs: AY+ Silver, IHG Gold Elite
Posts: 62
City-pair: FRA-HEL (AY826)
Price: 69 EUR
FF tier: AY+ Silver
Ticket type: Value
Advance: 10 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
This time got the upgrade offer for 69€ per person. For me and the companion.
Price: 69 EUR
FF tier: AY+ Silver
Ticket type: Value
Advance: 10 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
This time got the upgrade offer for 69€ per person. For me and the companion.
Jan 16, 2017, 12:42 am
#462
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
City-pair: HEL-LHR (AY839)
Price: 109 EUR
FF tier: AY junior
Ticket type: Value
Advance: ?
Validity: Unknown, was available until at least 27h before take-off *)
Conveyance: It was not solicited, but found on the "instant upgrade" page
*) At that time the flight was scheduled A320 and had 10 rows of J. Later there was a swap to A319 and reduction to 5 rows and they had to stop selling seats in J.
Price: 109 EUR
FF tier: AY junior
Ticket type: Value
Advance: ?
Validity: Unknown, was available until at least 27h before take-off *)
Conveyance: It was not solicited, but found on the "instant upgrade" page
*) At that time the flight was scheduled A320 and had 10 rows of J. Later there was a swap to A319 and reduction to 5 rows and they had to stop selling seats in J.
Jan 24, 2017, 10:09 pm
#464
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
City-pair: HEL-BRU (AY811)
Price: 109€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Light
Advance: 10 days and 4 hours
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
I think I can manage a nice breakfast for much less.
Price: 109€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Light
Advance: 10 days and 4 hours
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
I think I can manage a nice breakfast for much less.
Jan 25, 2017, 6:08 am
#465
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN
Programs: AY+ Plat, GA Plat, SQ Gold
Posts: 316
City-pair: HEL-DXB (AY961)
Price: 99€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Value
Advance: 10 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
City-pair: HEL-PVG (AY57)
Price: 390€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Value
Advance: 15 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
Price: 99€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Value
Advance: 10 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
City-pair: HEL-PVG (AY57)
Price: 390€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Value
Advance: 15 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email