Originally Posted by
Bhoytony
I usually upgrade my flights with miles on the website, but that seems to have disappeared now. The only way to do it now seems to be the "bid for an upgrade" option. The lowest bid available, which probably won't be successful, is more than double the normal number of miles needed. I would never use that ridiculous bidding scheme.
I'd like to know if Etihad really have stopped you just directly booking upgrades with miles, or have I missed it on the webite. Is it possible to do it by phone? Using miles for these upgrades is the only reason I continue to regularly fly with them. If it's gone with all the other useful Guest privileges, I can't see any reason not to fly with other airlines.
You can still get the miles upgrades with the mileages shown on the EY
Guest Mileage Calculator if you
call EY Guest directly - although it can be a bit of a fight to get them to honour the rates shown... perseverance and standing your ground is needed.
Just spent an hour on a call trying to upgrade from Economy Choice to Business. MAN-AUH
I first checked on the Flights With Miles page to see if there were Guest Seats available, yes; 70,000 miles + taxes to buy.
Called EY Guest - luckily I have Platinum status so quickly answered; although the quality of the agent is not always Elite standard!!
Went through the usual security checks. Once they confirmed guest seats were available the agent then proceeded to quote 96,000+ miles.
After I picked myself up from the floor, I calmly explained that the mileage site says it should be 50,372 for MAN-AUH Choice to Business and to buy one outright was 70,000 miles.
After a bit of "the computer says no" type conversations and long holds, the agent eventually conceded the mileage was nearer 50,000 and there was a system glitch they would be fixing soon...!
Went ahead and booked it - miles were redeemed immediately and new itinerary issued. Just miles, no cash element or taxes to be paid.
I also asked for the return leg, AUH-MAN, to be quoted and surprisingly the mileage quoted was correct - within 10 miles - without having to jump through hoops...
FYI I also checked on manage my booking the price to upgrade with miles via PlusGrade.
Minimum bid was 116,000 with taxes of
£14,386!!!
I think I found the glitch LOL.
