Kiwi, I fully agree. A few years ago, I could upgrade any flight any time. Now it's a massive hassle of being waitlisted for weeks, having to check online and/or call several times, and then not getting the upgrade anyway. Or getting it last minute, in the case of Y-J upgrades without the limo.

I'm relocating to South America this year, so no more EK for me. I was going to miss it, but the way it's going, I mind less and less.