Originally Posted by shakka (Post 17015684)

I personally feel it's worth the added cost for the space and comfort alone, however my travelling companion doesn't agree. I'm willing to pay for both upgrades but they wouldn't feel comfortable accepting so it leaves me with a dilemma.

Originally Posted by DYKWIA (Post 16993754)

Yes - award availability does open up (sometimes exactly a month before the flight). Set an ExpertFlyer alert, and you'll get an email if/when availability appears.

Cheers,
Rick

Originally Posted by jammy70 (Post 17019169)

I'm flying alone, cattle class, from sydney to venice via dubai in a month. I joined skywards after I booked my ticket but have updated my sywards details on the emirates web site. Do you think I've got any chance of recieving a paid upgrade email? ...hope, hope, hope!

Originally Posted by shakka (Post 17015684)

I personally feel it's worth the added cost for the space and comfort alone, however my travelling companion doesn't agree. I'm willing to pay for both upgrades but they wouldn't feel comfortable accepting so it leaves me with a dilemma.

Originally Posted by jammy70 (Post 17019278)

...I forgot to mention that I didn't book directly with Emirates. They do have my email address now, however.

Originally Posted by davanian (Post 16684730)

Flying Rome Sydney requested upgrade for Dubai Sydney leg in Rome and was put on the computer.

On arriving at Dubai (5 hour transit) checked and advised nothing available. The staff in lounge advised to check again 40 minutes prior to departure when the flight closed which was succesfull.

As an aside I find the staff in Rome are always helpfull.

Originally Posted by jammy70 (Post 17019169)

I'm flying alone, cattle class, from sydney to venice via dubai in a month. I joined skywards after I booked my ticket but have updated my sywards details on the emirates web site. Do you think I've got any chance of recieving a paid upgrade email? ...hope, hope, hope!

Originally Posted by ukdoctor (Post 17036305)

I used to get paid upgrade emails for upgrades from Y to J when I was a lowly blue and then silver. Once I became gold I have never been sent a paid upgrade email:confused:.but I have been flying in J for the last 3 years of being gold. Got 2 free op ups J--- F in 2009 but none since then

AFAIK it depends on the sector/date/load etc. Your skywards status plays only a very small role.

Originally Posted by jammy70 (Post 17040867)

Thanks for the replies :)
I am still wondering if it makes any difference if the ticket is booked directly through emirates or not ...anyone know?
Also, how far out from the flight would an email offer be sent?

Originally Posted by jammy70 (Post 17040867)

Thanks for the replies :)
I am still wondering if it makes any difference if the ticket is booked directly through emirates or not ...anyone know?
Also, how far out from the flight would an email offer be sent?

Originally Posted by TheAirman (Post 17055248)

Checking with EF and KVS I get a 'strange' booking situation:
1. KVS: Flight is zeroed out in all economy
2. EF: showing a half empty flight in the economy section
=> basically contradicting 1

Originally Posted by TheAirman (Post 17055469)

Sorry if I was unclear.

Regular flex awards in business are available, upgrades not.
And yes I want to upgrade fom a booked economy (saver type) to business class.

Originally Posted by ung1 (Post 17055544)

Ok - then just wait for a couple of weeks as they'll be blocking upgrade inventory till closer to the flight. Shouldn't be a problem getting one on this route.

Originally Posted by TheAirman (Post 17055615)

OK, so that's not a busy route ?
At what time do they usually release upgrade/award seats ? My flight is in about 3 weeks and have been checking since July.

Originally Posted by KVS (Post 17055451)

Are you trying to compare Availability with Seat Maps?

http://Help.KVSTool.com/#Q1

Originally Posted by Budley (Post 17074199)

would it work for me to ask for her to be upgraded in my place and for me to remain in Y?

Originally Posted by Budley (Post 17074199)

Here's an interesting one for all you experts.

My wife and I will be flying together Europe-DXB shortly (on different PNR's).

It looks as if I may well be given an op-up, but my wife is a nobody EK-wise so no doubt won't be offered anything.

If this happens she will divorce me (or at least attempt murder), so would it work for me to ask for her to be upgraded in my place and for me to remain in Y?

Originally Posted by eightblack (Post 17074213)

You could ask for the PNR's to be linked (or at least a notation made in the bookings) so if there is a chance you will get op-upped, the load controller might see this and give both of you bigger seats. At least worth a shot...

Originally Posted by Budley (Post 17074199)

Here's an interesting one for all you experts.

My wife and I will be flying together Europe-DXB shortly (on different PNR's).

It looks as if I may well be given an op-up, but my wife is a nobody EK-wise so no doubt won't be offered anything.

If this happens she will divorce me (or at least attempt murder), so would it work for me to ask for her to be upgraded in my place and for me to remain in Y?

Originally Posted by jiggyjig (Post 17079986)

If you put Mrs Budley in J, at least you can both use the lounges then as your gold, whereas in reverse only you can access the lounge.

Originally Posted by jackiedada (Post 16698642)

And almost all of my upgrades have happened at the gate, except once when I was upgraded at check-in.

Originally Posted by jiggyjig (Post 17085181)

According to the experience of others on the thread you mentioned there seems to be inconsistent policy on this, as it has worked for some and not others - maybe it depends on the outstation ?
The only consensus on this thread is that no one ever got chauffer drive out of an op-up.

From reference thread below :

"Originally Posted by GigoloArt
At outstations, (e.g. not DXB), you should get lucky if you get the op-up already at the check-in, e.g. DUS. In these cases, and where the BP does not indicate that you got op-uped, the lounge dragon will let you in.

And yes, no chauffeur drive for op-ups."

"Years ago, when I was not gold, I get an upgrade, but lounge acces only with big discussions, but it works :-)"

"no lounge access for op-ups at check in! i am positive! have had this situation quite a few times....

unless you get lucky or you're wearing an expensive suit ... now that's a completely different story

no harm in trying"

"If you upgrade at check in you will get a J boarding pass which will have lounge invite due to class and not status in this case."

Originally Posted by UK Flyer 1 (Post 17085673)

This a mine of information for someone new to the scheme trying to get to grips.
There is one area where I would appreciate a steer.

Which are the optimum mileage amounts to collect which provide the most useful value for money redemption(s)? Is there an argument best use is miles for upgrades, say Y to J, or use of miles for a full award ( for one of the front cabin(s) )?

Does the scheme permit use awards for one ways, whether for a full ticket or for a one way upgrade ( for half mileage )?

A typical routing I would anticipatee with Emiates = London to Dubai, or London to SE Asia ( SIN )

Is 50k a useful amount, or 100k? or something else?

Originally Posted by ung1 (Post 17086579)

I would say upgrades, based on collecting miles on flex tickets. Redemptions are very poor value on the EK program, especially the flex or one way rewards.

Then, Europe (LON) is a good deal at 25k vs Singapore at 32.5k given flight time is similar. You can do the entire thing for 52.5k though. Dubai to Australia is probably good value at 45k.

Originally Posted by UK Flyer 1 (Post 17086952)

Thanks - so, just to be clear, Europe (LON) to Dubai is a good deal at 25k is for one way?
Given I read that rewards tend to open up T-48 hours, is that normal rule to upgrade one leg ( one way ) then the other leg ( the return ) 2 days before coming back?