Does Checking In Online Affect Chances Of and Op-Up?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: LGW
Programs: EK Gold
Posts: 3
Does Checking In Online Affect Chances Of and Op-Up?
Hi,
Apologies is this should be in the newbies thread - was not sure where to post.
I have Gold status with EK and have booked a flex ticket in economy. I am booked on a flight to SIN from LGW tomorrow (16th June). It looks like the flights out might be full so was wondering if checking in online would help my chance of an op-up or if arriving early/late would help that? One odd thing I did notice was that when I looked at the online check-in, my seat allocation for LGW-DXB was there but the DXB-SIN (which I had selected online) was listed as unallocated. Does that mean anything?
Any advice appreciated
LL
Apologies is this should be in the newbies thread - was not sure where to post.
I have Gold status with EK and have booked a flex ticket in economy. I am booked on a flight to SIN from LGW tomorrow (16th June). It looks like the flights out might be full so was wondering if checking in online would help my chance of an op-up or if arriving early/late would help that? One odd thing I did notice was that when I looked at the online check-in, my seat allocation for LGW-DXB was there but the DXB-SIN (which I had selected online) was listed as unallocated. Does that mean anything?
Any advice appreciated

LL
#2
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Dubai
Programs: Emirates Platinum
Posts: 372
I honestly don't think it makes a difference when and how you check in. I travel with a group of Gold and Plat holders regularly, and we've exchanged notes. I once got upgraded without checking in online and within an hour of check in closing, and my colleagues who'd checked in a day earlier got nothing. And the reverse has happened.
Havent seen any convincing logic to the upgrade system at EK, short of having status improves your chances. Hopefully someone will be able to give a link to where it's been worked out. Relative newbie to the forum myself.
Havent seen any convincing logic to the upgrade system at EK, short of having status improves your chances. Hopefully someone will be able to give a link to where it's been worked out. Relative newbie to the forum myself.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BHX\LHR
Programs: EK Gold
Posts: 238
Checking in on-line, in my experience, doesn't affect the chances of op-ups. A lot of op-ups are given at the gate anyway.
Not sure if your seat going unallocated means anything though. Some people seem to think it means you might be getting an op-up, but then other times when you go and check-in you get your old seat back again. Am sure others on here will have experienced that though and will be able to comment.
Not sure if your seat going unallocated means anything though. Some people seem to think it means you might be getting an op-up, but then other times when you go and check-in you get your old seat back again. Am sure others on here will have experienced that though and will be able to comment.
#4


Join Date: May 2010
Location: BOM
Programs: EK Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,001
No it does not - it seems to me to be a software glitch. I've seen it happening on every flight I've taken in the last 3-4 months where my onward connection from DXB shows the seat as 'none' one the first screen when I begin to check-in online, though the proper seat appears back during seat selection during online check in and thereafter.
#5


Join Date: May 2010
Location: BOM
Programs: EK Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,001
1. You got an op-up.
2. You requested for a different seat at check-in.
Since I never change my seat from the one I've allocated during olci, the only reason EK load managers will change the seat of a premium FF pax is to give him an op-up. Has worked for me 100% of the time.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,063
If you receive a gate upgrade then checking in on-line will not have made a difference as the decision to upgrade you will have been made after check in.
However, if the flight is being managed prior to check in, including allocating op-ups, then checking in on-line shows that you more than likely intend to fly. You may be op-upped at this point in preference to someone of equal status who hasn't checked in.
However, if the flight is being managed prior to check in, including allocating op-ups, then checking in on-line shows that you more than likely intend to fly. You may be op-upped at this point in preference to someone of equal status who hasn't checked in.
Last edited by ft101; Jun 16, 2013 at 4:13 am
#8


Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,932
If you receive a gate upgrade then checking in on-line will not have have a difference as the decision to upgrade you will have been made after check in.
However, if the flight is being managed prior to check in, including allocating op-ups, then checking in on-line shows that you more than likely intend to fly. You may be op-upped at this point in preference to someone of equal status who hasn't checked in.
However, if the flight is being managed prior to check in, including allocating op-ups, then checking in on-line shows that you more than likely intend to fly. You may be op-upped at this point in preference to someone of equal status who hasn't checked in.
As FT101 states it depends on when they are done - no one apart from the station managers have visibility to this. If they know of a shift from 2/3 class it may be done a few hours before.
I'd imagine its all done on a database and its luck of the draw between golds/plats and silvers with the rest pot luck. We like to think there is a system and I wish there was aside from simple status segmentation but I doubt it!
#9


Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
Posts: 4,723
If you receive a gate upgrade then checking in on-line will not have have a difference as the decision to upgrade you will have been made after check in.
However, if the flight is being managed prior to check in, including allocating op-ups, then checking in on-line shows that you more than likely intend to fly. You may be op-upped at this point in preference to someone of equal status who hasn't checked in.
However, if the flight is being managed prior to check in, including allocating op-ups, then checking in on-line shows that you more than likely intend to fly. You may be op-upped at this point in preference to someone of equal status who hasn't checked in.
#10




Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: london
Posts: 317
Its all down to the mentality/mood of them at the controls on the day.

