We're taking off on Friday GLA-MEL return and since booking a number of months ago have not been able to upgrade from Business to First using miles. I keep getting:

"Sorry, there are no reward seats available in the next higher class for the flight(s) chosen. Please try again closer to departure".

We have about enough miles to upgrade either DXB-MEL or MEL-DXB (no point between GLA and DXB as it is a 2-class flight and we don't have enough miles anyway). 64,000 and 61,000 respectively on Saver fare incidentally.

A couple of questions, thanks in advance for replies:

Is there a chance of getting an upgrade by phoning Emirates if this message keeps appearing? (if so does anyone have a number in the UK to try)

Is it likely they will release upgrade seats the day before or on the day?

If they have unsold inventory in F, then it is quite likely.

It normally opens up T-14 to departure, given that F inventory is still available. If those are gone, they will open up closer to departure.

Same problem for my flights in February GLA-AKL via MEL although I have been able to upgrade my GLA-DXB and DXB-GLA flights. I have set up an Expert Flyer alert but I also keep checking via Manage Booking. Fortunately I have enough miles for the round trip if only I can use them.

I read somewhere, maybe on here that it might be difficult/impossible, can't remember which, to upgrade the second leg of a multi leg flight at on line check in or at the first airport.

Have your GLA-DXB flights been changed to a 2 class aircraft? I have noticed this happened quite a few times in December 2013 and in another post for at least one forthcoming flight in January 2014.

Fingers crossed for unsold inventory on both our longhaul flights and no involuntary downgrade for me between Glasgow and Dubai!

Take a close look at your e-ticket's Addition Information part. If it says - CHK-IN--UPGRADE, then Im afraid you can only upgrade when check-in for the flight is open. That is 24 hours before departure.

I think that is only for some Saver Y fares, if you're in J you are able to upgrade as soon as there's availability.

Assuming you are leaving Glasgow on Friday and DXB on EK406 on Saturday I had a quick look in EF which currently shows the following availability.

F4 A0 J7 C7 I7 O0 P0 Y0 E0 R0 W0 M0 B0 U0 K0 H0 Q0 L0 T0 V0 X0 but no Z (J to F upgrade) showing at the moment for any day this week

Thanks for replies - you have a similar routing.

We are EK 28 10/1 and EK 408 (via KUL) 11/1; returning EK 405 24/3 and EK 27 25/3.

The additional information if it helps at the bottom of the e-ticket says:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FQEK 'my number' NON-END/SKYWARDS SAVER//VLD ON EK/WPID 'a number'

I've virtually checked daily for the last month or two only to get the sorry not available message but once it said 2 were available MEL-DXB and none on the other sectors but I couldn't go any further on Manage a Booking to actually get into booking an upgrade for this.

I'm not on Expert Flyer btw.

EK28 on 5th, 10th and 18th January and EK26 on 4th January (my one from Saturday) are all that are currently showing 2-class equipment.

Expert Flyer currently showing the following availability for EK 408 Sat 11th.

F4 A3 J5 C5 IC OC PC YC EC RC WC MC BC UC KC HC QC LC TC VC XC

Thanks. So if they are available but it doesn't say so in Manage a Booking what do I do? Ask at check-in, phone before (or join EF - can you process upgrades via this)?

Expertflyer just shows you fare availability etc., it isn't a system where you can actually issue tickets/process upgrades.

Pre check-in upgrades in the F cabin come from Z availability, which as you know is currently 0. If they can't sell any last minute tickets and it looks like they don't need to bump people from J-F because of overbooking in Y/J, and there are seats available, then you will be able to process an upgrade at DXB, or even GLA as they will be open to putting people in those seats for money/miles.

Also, at check-in, those seats may also become available for upgrading into, and you can check that online.

Ugh I hope not, I'm off to MEL for a couple of weeks in march through MAN in J

I've managed to upgrade the first inbound leg back to DXB to F and am checking daily for availability to upgrade the second inbound leg from DXB > MAN to F but only seeing availability for the first outbound leg MAN > DXB at present