Correct, when phoning from UK simply ask to be transfered to Dubai I would have thought.

right, as I have just done exactly the same thing...try this number: +97142144444

I also have (UK) 0844 800 4440 for Gold Service Desk (not sure if this is the same thing) and 04-316 7200 in Dubai.
Didn't realise about the w/l possibility though....

Then why advertise it on their website?

http://www.emirates.com/english/Skyw...hip_tiers.aspx

Thank you Pdub. I was giving up with the implication that I was making things up here!

No, I hope you didn't think that. I don't doubt that they do exist, but I just can't figure out a way to actually reach them.

This thread is great!

I have just booked a ticket JNB-DXB and upon calling Skywards the kind lady informed me there are no upgrades left for Y-J before saying as you are a Gold member they reserve an additional 2 upgrades, as you have all experienced. This was totally unprompted by me, and greatly appreciated as I now have my J ticket sorted! I was all prepared to ask about these 2 seats but clearly no need.

On the other hand, she did say this was only when flights are full, so maybe it is a way of 'relieving' us of miles when they know they will need to op-up people anyway. Especially if you consider Golds are top of the op-up list, and the extra seats are reserved for Golds?

I live in Dubai and I called 04 3167200.

OT: Having never been to JNB before, I have a 6 hour transit between arriving on SAA and departing on EK. Does anyone have any ideas what I could do? I was hoping to leave the airport and go sight seeing? Is it worth it? How far is the airport from anywhere worth visiting? Can I get a taxi somewhere and ask the EK limo to collect me and bring me back to the airport?

Thanks all.

I thank you. I think she means onl when there are no normal upgrades free? On the flights I have upgraded this way there was availability to purchase seats?

Yes, there is still availability in both Y & J on revenue tickets, however Y has only a few seats left (according to her, I haven't looked) and J is pretty open. All normal upgrades are gone.

Therefore the perfect storm of Y being oversold with space in J looks like happening, so why not release a couple of extra seats and be 'paid' 30,000 miles instead of nowt?

This is all just a thought, I could be miles wide of the mark!

Tried twice to do this from J - F with no success. Upgraded at check in on one of those occasions with no loss of miles.

+1

Have just upgraded a DXB-GLA flight for which there was "no availability in J" until I mentioned there are usually two seats kept for skywards gold members which are freed up a week before the flight (I assumed this bit) and after a few minutes on hold, the agent proceeded to upgrade!

It seems that in UK call centre nobody knows about these "2 seats".
I was trying t o upgrade my flights last week from Y to J and when I was told that there is no availability I asked about 2 seats for gold.
The girl was like - sorry sir there is nothing like extra seats for gold, the only difference for gold is that you could be waitlisted, who told you that - there was never anything like this etc.
I felt like a person who is making up things to be honest.

THere are very rarely upgrades available on that route. I upgraded using the gold seat for Christmas (so no they arent freed a week before, its a first come first serve basis)

Get them to transfer you to the Dubai call centre and then ask to be out through to the Gold Desk otherwise, call Dubai direct +971 4 3167200.

You will need to book the EK limo at least 48 hours in advance, so you will need to know were you are going to be getting it from. 6 hours is a little too short to do anything decent in JNB; considering you'd need to get back to clear security, immigration (which can be busy) etc. If you wanted a decent meal you could take the new Gautrain to Sandton and eat out at Sandton City or Nelson Madela Square. You could book a private tour via taxi to get an overview of JNB CBD. Other attractions (such as the Apartheid museum) would require more time.