Route: AUH - LHR
Class: J to F
Bid: £945
Bid placed : 90 days before departure
Upgrade confirmed: Unsuccessful but then successful four hours before departure

Received an email saying my bid had been unsuccessful three days before departure. At that point I was still able to place a bid for a minimum for £1450 which really wasn’t worth it. I noticed that for a subsequent booking I have that the minimum is £1450 there also. Made my way to the J lounge a little bit dejected but noticed that my Amex had a pending payment for £945 triggered 12 hours before departure, so I thought it was worth asking what was going on. The staff explained that there were only two seats left in F and therefore unlikely anything would happen and the pending payment wouldn’t be taken. The upgrade portal which was previously showing an unsuccessful bid now was showing the upgrade was in progress. The lounge staff made a few phone calls and forced the upgrade through.