Help needed and much appreeciated on 3 counts

(1) I would like to book my (78 year old) mother a cash ticket DEL-GRU return and then use my miles to upgrade her to Business She is on my household account but I cannot seem to do it online

(2) I am Ek Gold i understand there is a GOld desk in DXB does anyone have the number,, so I can do it by phone. Will tyey accept my Credit Card if I am booking for my mother? Is there also a gold desk in the USA? If so does anyone have the number to call from OUTSIDE the US? (I am in Brazil

(3) Since both journeys involve an overnight stopover at DXB will emirates give her and me both the same quality of hotel once upgraded? (I am flying weith her in Business, on a paid ticket)

Many thanks in advance for help

DO NOT put her on the household account. Let her have her own account and accrue miles on that, or you earn 20% of her miles, which would be substantial on a DEL-GRU.

How did you try doing it online? Go to her booking and try upgrade using miles - it should let you select the various flights after keying in your FF details and show you availability.

You don't have to call the Gold desk - call the normal EK number and they're pretty helpful.

For (3) - is that the shortest stop over? There are about five daily flights from DEL, so unless the shortest stop is over 6 hrs, hotel won't be given. If eligible, it'll be the J eligibility though.

The Gold Number (toll) is listed on the back of your membership card. You can PM me if you don't have it.

But as Ung1 has said, the local EK office should be able to help you. Sometimes they want you to fill out an upgrade form and fax it back to them (which I have done multiple times) for family upgrades.

Rathin,
if the upgrade fails just pony up the cash and get her into C....dont spend alot of time trying to get it done, you more than likely have the means to make it happen so do it and move on......

Coach Class fare $1400...Business Class fare almost 5 Times more at $6950.

IMHO the OP should be able to use miles for an upgrade rather than overpay just to add to Emirates Profits.

On the contrary, continue trying with the help desk. Unless the business is sold out entirely, eventually you will have the upgrade, sometimes even two days before the flight.

We managed for three pax on the semester end on December and right after newyear DXB-LAX-DXB after continous effort.

Hope you have a safe flight.

Many Many thanks for all the tips and advice. I will call the Sao paulo office and make it happen! I will also get her her own FFP as advised. The layover in DXB is six hours and five minutes (shortest) so I can get a hotel.

if anyone can give me the OIut of USA number to call skywards again I would be very grateful

Always refer to the sticky at the top of the EK forum "Everything you need to know..."

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15486771-post1.html

Contacts below:

Dubai
Address
P.O. Box 35436,
Dubai, UAE.
Telephone
In the UAE call 04 214 4444
From the rest of the world call +9714 214 4444
Fax +9714 316 7001
Working hours (open 07:00 - 22:00 hrs. daily)

New York
Address
P.O. Box 709, Mineola,
New York 11501-0709,
USA.
Telephone
In the US and Canada call 1 800 777 3999
Fax +1 516 247 3527
Working hours (open 24 / 7)

I would also agree that you persist with the upgrade - it is definately possible.

Unless I am doing something wrong (very possible! ) AFAIK the shortest connection to from GRU to DEL is 5h 30m in the summer (arr 2305 dep 0435) and 5 minutes longer in the winter.

In the summer DEL to GRU is 2h 25m (arr 0610 dep 0835) and 4h 5m in the winter (arr 0630 dep 1035). So I don't think that you would qualify for the hotel.

Actually you are right.. i missed that flight..but for paying F and C customers Emirates is quite relaxed about giving a free airport hotel if I take an earlier flight..Let me see if I can persuade them to do it for my mother on miles upgrade as well since I am travellling with her

By the way my fancy damien Hirst yellow butterfly Gold card has no gold desk number on it!!!!!

But I followed your advice and am liaising with the local office


Cheers!