On reflection, I've had quite a few of late.
IIRC, I've been op-up'd from J>F 4/4 times from BLR this year. I have often wondered if it's "real" first though when I have been up in F. The only difference I could find last time was that I was offered an arabic coffee before take off, and my headset was in a velvet pouch rather than a polythene bag.

I seem to only ever get upgraded on the shorter flights I take. Still, mustn't grumble!

Just flew DXB-CMB-SIN where DXB-CMB was overbooked but CMB-SIN was fairly empty. They did op-up pax "according to priority" but I didn't get one. I think they just upgraded people flying to CMB. I shouldn't judge by looks but some of the J pax really didn't look like they could be Golds.

I have often noticed when boarding an F flight with the suites, that not everyone has the little snack baskets under the TV's. A sure fire way of telling who has ben bumped. I head a guy the other day in 1B ask where his was, the FA informed him that they put them out in accordance to who they have listed in first at the tim they get on themselves. Tjhey receive the manifest once the flight is closed, which is usually after they have prepared the cabin.

He then asked if he could have an amenity kit and did they have PJ's. The FA replied with (and i loved her responce) "�h this is your first time, dont worry, we will give out what we have after take off"

So if you get bumped into the suites, my advice, if you want to keep cool, kep quiet!

Now this could be an interesting stream of replies... What does a Gold look like???????

Me: 6ft 3"', skin head (hiding the balness at the back) usually wearing shorts, flip flops, or converse allstars, shirt or T shirt, i-pod in ears right until i sit down, never take it out for anyone other than x-ray, usually dancing (well i call it dancing) if i have to stand in line at all - which is rare, am more often than not one of the last on! Tumi carry on with Tumni laptop bag. Friendly and usually 2 sheets to the wind depending on destination and when i have to go to an office!

Been gold since the first year.... every year...

If you fly on the LOS/ACC/ABJ flights you'll run into 60-year old illiterate trader women who are Skywards Gold many times over, but need the cabin crew to fill out their landing cards since they can't read or write. They do know to priority board at the correct time though, together with their 5-6 pieces of hand luggage.

A few more data points.

YYZ-DXB last week -- 97 Golds
DXB-ACC this morning -- 12 Golds

My luck with op-ups continues as well. I'm batting almost 50% for the year with either Y-J or J-F upgrades on a variety of routes.

Wow on the YYZ-DXB.... what's the max passengers on the A380?

Wouldn't that be like 1/4 or 1/5 of the plane was Gold?

The 380 on YYZ is 12/76/395 config IIRC, so yes about 20% of the plane was Gold.

I was more surprised by the relatively small number of Golds on the Accra run where it was not uncommon to have 50%+ of Gold members in Economy until last year - although I expected this to reduce with the Skywards changes this year. It seems that a lot of the trader traffic is migrating to Turkish Airlines nowadays and the EK flight was almost entirely composed of Chinese migrant workers going to Accra and Bangladeshi peacekeepers going to Abidjan.

Well good thing I bagged a points upgrade on my YYZ-DXB flight... Op-Up would be slim, even with a Flex fare.

Now if only EK would get themselves a real lounge at YYZ or sub it out to the International MLL

Don't be so sure.

Someone's gotta be upgraded and if you're traveling alone it just might be you. It doesn't hurt to make yourself known to the people at check-in though.

Me 5'11" OK on the hair front but mostly greyish (OK I lie all grey) usually shorts or jeans, pair of Vans, T- shirt, i-pod with the feet tapping away (i am probably worse at dancing than DTB), time is to valuable in the lounge so likewise the last one on. Same Tumi carry on and laptop, they looks as old as i feel. Likewise with the friendship stakes and learned never to arrive DBX 2 sheets to the wind and try to clear immigration without e-gate. You see a reall X section of Golds that it is impossible to judge. Do I look as though I travel in F, well to be honest no.

I just got upgraded at the boarding gate on the 17th of september from Tunis. I am skyward blue though.

I gambled last time as a Silver with a Flex... this was in January on YYZ-DXB, but load was low. YYZ-DXB being a night flight, is worth the points UG... on the return... being a day flight, it's a gamble I don't mind taking.

I am male and have long, curly black hair, halfway down my back. Both arms are completely tattooed up. I travel in jeans, a plain black t-shirt and simple shoes.

Needless to say, I get searched in DBX all the friggin' time. I don't touch drugs at all and don't even smoke.

Forgot to mention, the OpUp came in!!
We were moved to 6A and 6B on the 777, it was fantastic, also upgraded at DXB for the onward leg to PVG too!

A340 to PVG not as good as the 777 but still awesome.

No such luck on the return though, but still a great result nonetheless.

EK 777 Business beats BA Club in my eyes...