Does EK typically fill the F cabin with op-ups?
#46
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Programs: BA Exec Silver, Aeroplan, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 1,120
I guess no matter if they opup to F, it is still nice and intimate up there (I say this as someone who has been alone in F). I felt a wee bit self-conscious.
I have a question for B747-437B: since the ACC-DXB flights comes from ABJ, do you have any idea how many people board in ABJ and ACC? I was curious what the split is. I am guessing more than 50% join at ACC (and vice versa leave at ACC on DXB-ACC-ABJ).
I have a question for B747-437B: since the ACC-DXB flights comes from ABJ, do you have any idea how many people board in ABJ and ACC? I was curious what the split is. I am guessing more than 50% join at ACC (and vice versa leave at ACC on DXB-ACC-ABJ).
#47
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,637
The only reason Abidjan keeps running is that they have the UN contract to ship Bangladeshi peacekeepers between Cote D'Ivoire and Dhaka.
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
Just to report, am in DXB again on the way to DFW, two of us travelling in J. I was watching ExpertFlyer and KVS starting around 3 hours prior to departure.
The ExpertFlyer seat map showed Y and J completely full and 5 seats left in F. KVS was reporting P4, J2, and Y7.
About 2.5 hours prior to departure I noticed on ExpertFlyer 2 seats in F got taken, leaving 3 left. J was still showing full.
I decided to head down to the gate an hour before boarding time and waited there about 20 minutes for the gate to open. I went in and asked the gate agent about the possibility of an op-up and whether it would be best to come into the gate early or later. He tapped on his keyboard and said "You two are already upgraded to F.".
Sure enough, the two seats I saw get filled on ExpertFlyer 2.5 hours before departure were ours! And that was with KVS still showing availability in the J and Y cabins.
The gate agent told me the flight was full and that we were Gold, thus the reason for the upgrade. However, the J cabin has nearly been full for several days, I would assume there are many Golds in the J cabin.
I did ask about the possibility of getting the window seat that ExpertFlyer showed as available, but the gate agent stated F is full, so it sounds like the other 3 seats got filled too. And sure enough ExpertFlyer is now showing the entire plane as full.
So, 2 for 2 now on DXB -> DFW op-ups. 0 for 1 on DFW -> DXB. The difference being the DFW-DXB flight had many empty seats, both DXB->DFW flights have been packed.
The ExpertFlyer seat map showed Y and J completely full and 5 seats left in F. KVS was reporting P4, J2, and Y7.
About 2.5 hours prior to departure I noticed on ExpertFlyer 2 seats in F got taken, leaving 3 left. J was still showing full.
I decided to head down to the gate an hour before boarding time and waited there about 20 minutes for the gate to open. I went in and asked the gate agent about the possibility of an op-up and whether it would be best to come into the gate early or later. He tapped on his keyboard and said "You two are already upgraded to F.".
Sure enough, the two seats I saw get filled on ExpertFlyer 2.5 hours before departure were ours! And that was with KVS still showing availability in the J and Y cabins.
The gate agent told me the flight was full and that we were Gold, thus the reason for the upgrade. However, the J cabin has nearly been full for several days, I would assume there are many Golds in the J cabin.
I did ask about the possibility of getting the window seat that ExpertFlyer showed as available, but the gate agent stated F is full, so it sounds like the other 3 seats got filled too. And sure enough ExpertFlyer is now showing the entire plane as full.
So, 2 for 2 now on DXB -> DFW op-ups. 0 for 1 on DFW -> DXB. The difference being the DFW-DXB flight had many empty seats, both DXB->DFW flights have been packed.
#50
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,551
Whimike, I'm surprised EF/ KVS were so accurate an hour before the flight. Usually once check in opens, they're unable to give proper information.
#51
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: DL DM. EK Gold. UA1K. BA Silver. SPG Plat. HH. Diamond.
Posts: 261
As a gold, I have received an op-up only once, and that was from LHR to DBX. Seems to me that the 380 often flies out full in 1st, at least on a Fri. I couldn't even get a seat in J yesterday on that route on a full paid J ticket, so I flew coach. Actually wondering if I can get some compensation for that, considering the price difference.
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
However, I have always found the EF seat map to be pretty accurate, at least for both EK and AA. As soon as I change one of my seats it is immediately reflected on EF.
#54
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: BA GGL, EK Plat, Hilton Diamond, AMEX Plat
Posts: 171
#55
Moderator: Emirates Skywards and Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: 12R/30L
Programs: EK Gold|EY Gold|Bonvoy Ambassador| IHG Plat|HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,818
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
You can still find fares close to this. Try CAI -> DXB -> SEA, it comes to $1950 in J roundtrip. The "gotcha" is that these fares are ex-CAI.
#57
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 366
I wish you would have made me aware of CAI before I booked my other trips! Its actually 60% cheaper for me to fly to LAX from CAI in J than it is from KWI (AND THATS INCLUDING J TIX KWI-CAI) Arghhh I was planning it thru BHN which was a good $1600 and forgot about CAI completley! Which to me is a good $4500 in my pocket, and def makes the extra 6hrs of flying in the outbound leg worth it! (That would be KWI-CAI-DXB)
Here's a tip for someone planning from GCC looking for a cheaper J or F fare.
CAI only has to be your start place. For example to LAX you have to fly CAI-DXB-LAX. But on the return book a one month stop over in DXB, as soon as you land in DXB, cancel your DXB-CAI to avoid penalties and your entitled to a coupon which in my view Im happy to let go of and keep the OVERALL fare difference in my pocket.
Then book ANOTHER carrier DXB-GCC country and return home when you want too.
You'll avoid 6hrs of back and forth flight time of which EK is only 3hrs.
To me the miles arent worth it. But, after 15hrs in the air I'm willing to pass it and go to bed at home! Sorry for the thread creep but this is an idea of what I'm planning around now that whimike made me aware of the cheaper fare!
Here's a tip for someone planning from GCC looking for a cheaper J or F fare.
CAI only has to be your start place. For example to LAX you have to fly CAI-DXB-LAX. But on the return book a one month stop over in DXB, as soon as you land in DXB, cancel your DXB-CAI to avoid penalties and your entitled to a coupon which in my view Im happy to let go of and keep the OVERALL fare difference in my pocket.
Then book ANOTHER carrier DXB-GCC country and return home when you want too.
You'll avoid 6hrs of back and forth flight time of which EK is only 3hrs.
To me the miles arent worth it. But, after 15hrs in the air I'm willing to pass it and go to bed at home! Sorry for the thread creep but this is an idea of what I'm planning around now that whimike made me aware of the cheaper fare!
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
When I actually have to travel to Dubai and other places in the area, I also do the stopover in DXB with a later onward date (typically the length of my trip) to CAI. Then, I have my next trip booked from CAI -> SFO/SEA/DFW to pick up from the inbound to CAI.
For example, I will book CAI->DXB->SEA for March 1st, then SEA->DXB on March 15th, and DXB->CAI on March 25th. From March 15th - March 25th I travel around the region on EK and other airlines. Then I have a flight booked from March 25th CAI->DXB->SEA with a return sometime in the future using the same stopover in DXB for the next trip.