You probably won't be sitting on the lower deck in that case - LON flights have been particularly busy lately. I just returned for a trip where I got Y-J op-ups on 4 sectors out of 4...

Just checked Manage My Booking, still plenty of seats available. I shall do what I always do, keep my fingers crossed and pray to the upgrade gods

That's what I call a Home Run....Never got it in all my years of flying EK.

EK3 departing at 1430 on Saturday 1st showing F3 J5 Y3 E3 R3 W3, so it's time to pray that there's a lot of last minute bookings and staff travel

Prayers amended - to get an exit seat (aisle) and have the middle seat empty

As it happens my initial prayers were answered, I've been upgraded

So, as much as I'd like to report on my 'Y' experience as a Plat, I'm unable to.

One fly in the ointment, the flight has been delayed, new estimated time is 16:00. I'm not that fussed as I'm back in the 1st class lounge

Yes, new crew start at the back, or downstairs, on an EK flight and work their way forwards or upwards. So the Y zone gets the lowest standard of service as its delivered by "newbies". If service standards drop in Y, ask to speak to the purser and sort things out during the flight - not by moaning afterwards.

As for recognition, the Purser downloads the F and J class passenger list on to his iPad device before the flight - EK keeps a close watch on passenger preference, flight regularity etc and maintains a great database of passenger preferences.

That's how he/she can say "welcome back", or in my case, "we'll have your Veuve Cliquot to you shortly, sir". With 400 or so pax in Y, it simply isn't practical to do that, so while you will be in their database, the crew won't know about you unless you are travelling up front.

So, caught EK152 DXB-CPH on Monday and then EK510 till DEL, both booked in Y. When the senior attendent came around in the beginning of the flight, I asked if I could have my meal choice with the special meals. No problem she said and it arrived as promised. On some flights, they automatically bring me a red wine with the meal as this is on the manifest, but not this time. I didn't mention it

Later in the flight, the purser came unannounced and brought me a red wine from J. Very nice service! Thank you!

Second flight, got the J opup and the service was good, but didn't seem as genuine as on the first flight

I find EK has the highest percentage of Y-J op up wannabes compared o BA LH TG etc.
wonder why.

What makes you think they are 'wannabes' only?

Not even sure I understand what an upgrade wannabe is! Wouldn't all passengers on all airlines want to be be upgraded if it is a free upgrade?!

I used to travel exclusively on Star Alliance, but unless you are on metal fr the carrier you have your card with, there is an extremely small chance of you ever getting an upgrade. Sure, people with Skyward cards are more likely to hope that they get an opup on EK because there is more of a chance of this actually happening that, for example, someone with a SAS Eurobonus Gold getting an opup with Lufthansa. Just doesn't happen.

So, yes, maybe the EK have more hope... I do now that I have switched

Lets make a few things clear as has been said many times already in this thread - your meal as Gold/Plat are not meant to be delivered alongside the special meals. EK Oneliner instruction to all crew as per OBU. So if u don't get it please don't whine that it didn't happen, also like giving Y class pax champagne from J - Not meant to happen. Be grateful for when it does. 2.5 year old, Child meal - should have been ordered. When you realise how EK treats its own staff you may realise why there are some really sour grapes. Granted it shouldn't happen but it does - they are HUMAN as well and guess what, crew have bad days too. Perhaps the PUR is a PITA? Maybe they have had a death in their immediate family (Brother/Sister/Grandparents) and EK has said "No you cannot go home because they aren't mother or father" << Yes this is true, don't believe me, ask the crew next time you're on board a flight. You may be top tier flyer, but I can honestly say EK doesn't care in the grand scheme of things. Next time you do not get what you want or feel so entitled to - I can assure you its not personal by the crew.

Make of this what you will...

Well said dxbflyer. I don't get this moaning about expectations above what is paid for. Pax can either enjoy the occasional bending of the rules because of status or have a situation were Ek imposes the rules more strictly. If I am in Y and a pax gets super duper treatment it would annoy me regardless of their status or mine. Ek are trying to make sure other pax don't get irritated by overt special treatment of one or two. I have an io card and I accept that so I think plats should too!!

I am curious... do you ever sit in the back with this card? I thought that you always got a J or F upgrade...