Upgrading on Kenya Airways
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: DL DM 1MM, AA PP
Posts: 79
Upgrading on Kenya Airways
Anyone ever have any luck upgrading on KQ while booked on a KQ ticket? Not sure if DM status will help at all here or if I've got to figure out some other way. That 14 hour hop to NBO is super long.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,409
Pay the fare difference? Even if KQ participates in the SkyTeam upgrade award program (or whatever it's called), you need close to a FULL Y fare and IIRC a DL 006- ticket. GUCs don't work on KQ flights.
You could try asking in the forum that covers KQ whether/when they sometimes sell cheap upgrades, but I'm not optimistic.
You could try asking in the forum that covers KQ whether/when they sometimes sell cheap upgrades, but I'm not optimistic.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Delta Plat & 1M, Hilton Gold, IHG Rewards Plat
Posts: 128
KQ has upgrade auction program and they often send invitation mail to Y passengers several weeks prior to flight date. I guess this may be for KQ direct purchase only and am not sure about other ticketing channels, but auction was quite easy to get upgrade from any subclass tickets, even by bid of minimum US$ 250 one way BKK-NBO for Christmas holiday season.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,200
Flying intra-Africa, didn't have any options to upgrade on an E195. There were even empty seats in F. Interestingly enough, we got op-upped on the 787 from AMS-NBO on the way down (which was extremely pleasant, since the back of hte 787s was TIGHT). Be forewarned, there are no air vents and the cabin was quite warm (which made it hard to use the awesome blankets they gave you in Biz class on the 787).
#6
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
Not directly germane to the question, but Kenya Air was, hands-down, the worst J-class experience I’ve ever had. The cabin felt dated, for a 787, the service was appallingly bad, the food was horrendous — but the safety video was epically hysterical. Especially when they get to the part about the drop down oxygen masks and the animated boy begins to lose consciousness.
Almost made the entire flight worth it. I chuckled for an hour.
Almost made the entire flight worth it. I chuckled for an hour.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
Programs: UA 1K M, AA 2 MM PREM, AVIS First, HYATT Explorist, Marriott Lifetime Platinum., Hilton Gold.
Posts: 657
KQ has upgrade auction program and they often send invitation mail to Y passengers several weeks prior to flight date. I guess this may be for KQ direct purchase only and am not sure about other ticketing channels, but auction was quite easy to get upgrade from any subclass tickets, even by bid of minimum US$ 250 one way BKK-NBO for Christmas holiday season.
#8