Upgrade
Jul 26, 2014 | 12:38 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards silver :-(, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,572
I spoke with Emirates today about upgrading my BHX - DXB flight for 2 adults, 1 child, infant to business.
They said it would cost 32,500 miles each (plus 10% for infant) and about £750 in taxes.
The cost for taxes seems high and almost defeats the fact that I used up miles.
Is this right? If you upgrade at checkin or at gate, is the tax still taken?
They said it would cost 32,500 miles each (plus 10% for infant) and about £750 in taxes.
The cost for taxes seems high and almost defeats the fact that I used up miles.
Is this right? If you upgrade at checkin or at gate, is the tax still taken?
The excess APD you have been asked to pay seems much higher than normal for a UK to DXB flight. I don't think DXB is your final destination. AFAIK the UK departure APD is based on the final destination and not the leg you upgrade.
The only way you can avoid paying the excess APD is to ask for an on board upgrade . ( if you are silver or above) AFAIK.
In my experience I always had to pay the excess APD while upgrading at check in and in the lounge . I have never tried at the gate but did not have to pay for the onboard upgrade.
Jul 26, 2014 | 12:39 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,043
Taxes do seem high.
You should be getting asked for increased APD based on flying in J. This varies depending on your final destination. It would be £69 each if you were only going as far as Dubai.
If you booked on EK.com you should be able to do this on line and you can see the costs before committing to the upgrade.
You should be getting asked for increased APD based on flying in J. This varies depending on your final destination. It would be £69 each if you were only going as far as Dubai.
If you booked on EK.com you should be able to do this on line and you can see the costs before committing to the upgrade.
Jul 26, 2014 | 5:40 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 118
Taxes do seem high.
You should be getting asked for increased APD based on flying in J. This varies depending on your final destination. It would be £69 each if you were only going as far as Dubai.
If you booked on EK.com you should be able to do this on line and you can see the costs before committing to the upgrade.
You should be getting asked for increased APD based on flying in J. This varies depending on your final destination. It would be £69 each if you were only going as far as Dubai.
If you booked on EK.com you should be able to do this on line and you can see the costs before committing to the upgrade.
I asked about MAN - DXB or BHX - DXB a few days earlier than my booked flight, they said there is availability but I would be paying a date change fee and then APD.
They quoted me £1000+ for the family, with the APD part of it at £750.
Is this £750 something more than APD? Isn't APD collected on behalf of the Government? Doesn't Emirates charge their own additional taxes/charges based on upgrading from econ - business?
If it is only meant to be £69 per person, isn't there a way I can draw that to their attention?
Last edited by manutd123; Jul 26, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Jul 27, 2014 | 12:17 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards silver :-(, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,572
DXB is my final destination.
I asked about MAN - DXB or BHX - DXB a few days earlier than my booked flight, they said there is availability but I would be paying a date change fee and then APD.
They quoted me £1000+ for the family, with the APD part of it at £750.
Is this £750 something more than APD? Isn't APD collected on behalf of the Government? Doesn't Emirates charge their own additional taxes/charges based on upgrading from econ - business?
If it is only meant to be £69 per person, isn't there a way I can draw that to their attention?
I asked about MAN - DXB or BHX - DXB a few days earlier than my booked flight, they said there is availability but I would be paying a date change fee and then APD.
They quoted me £1000+ for the family, with the APD part of it at £750.
Is this £750 something more than APD? Isn't APD collected on behalf of the Government? Doesn't Emirates charge their own additional taxes/charges based on upgrading from econ - business?
If it is only meant to be £69 per person, isn't there a way I can draw that to their attention?
You said that they asked for 32500 miles per person plus cash. This confirms that you are on a saver ticket ( flex tickets need only 25000 miles for a upgrade in that sector).
Most saver economy tickets are not upgradable prior to check in. I suspect that the rate you have been quoted might include the change fee from saver to flex plus the excess APD.????
The other possibility is that you/ agent is quoting the cash upgrade fee for the UK to Dubai sector???. Are you sure that there are saver reward/ upgrade seats available for that flight?
Last edited by ukdoctor; Jul 27, 2014 at 12:37 am
Jul 27, 2014 | 4:30 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 118
EK does not charge any extra fee other than approx £69 per person as excess APD. You dont wven have to pay it if you upgrade in the reverse direction (i.e DXB to UK)
You said that they asked for 32500 miles per person plus cash. This confirms that you are on a saver ticket ( flex tickets need only 25000 miles for a upgrade in that sector).
Most saver economy tickets are not upgradable prior to check in. I suspect that the rate you have been quoted might include the change fee from saver to flex plus the excess APD.????
The other possibility is that you/ agent is quoting the cash upgrade fee for the UK to Dubai sector???. Are you sure that there are saver reward/ upgrade seats available for that flight?
You said that they asked for 32500 miles per person plus cash. This confirms that you are on a saver ticket ( flex tickets need only 25000 miles for a upgrade in that sector).
Most saver economy tickets are not upgradable prior to check in. I suspect that the rate you have been quoted might include the change fee from saver to flex plus the excess APD.????
The other possibility is that you/ agent is quoting the cash upgrade fee for the UK to Dubai sector???. Are you sure that there are saver reward/ upgrade seats available for that flight?
MAN-DXB on 8/8/14 (afternoon flight)
BHX-DXB on 9/8/14 (evening flight)
Both showed upgrade seats available. So I phoned them to find out the cost. The woman said £75 per person date change penalty and then around £250 per person for upgrade with 32500 miles to pay also.
As I say, I was so surprised at the price, I thought it must be a mistake, that's why I posted here.
If everyone is saying it should be different, I will call to clarify....
Jul 27, 2014 | 4:49 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,043
I can't see the BHX upgrade as available on the website, but the MAN one on the 8th is.
The APD increase would be the only cost applicable if it was a straightforward upgrade. As you're doing a date change as well, that is probably confusing things and could be adding to the cost.
Let us know how you get on.
The APD increase would be the only cost applicable if it was a straightforward upgrade. As you're doing a date change as well, that is probably confusing things and could be adding to the cost.
Let us know how you get on.
Jul 27, 2014 | 4:52 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 118
Just spoke to them...
Emirates quoted me cash upgrade, not with miles.
So with 32500 Miles they say:
£75 date change fee
£20 fare difference
£69 APD from BHX
Presumably that's right now?
The lady also quoted APD from MAN as £130.41!!!! Is that right? I asked why the high APD, she said each airport is set differently, that's MAN, I asked if it was because the flight was A380, she said no.
PS. Just looking at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/apd.htm it says:
2.6.4 Upgrades
If a passenger upgrades for a fee, at any stage in the journey, we consider that they are travelling in the higher class and that the agreement for carriage has been modified accordingly.
The same applies to free upgrades if there is an element of entitlement or priority not enjoyed by other (standard class) passengers, for example in the case of 'perks' enjoyed by airline employees.
It is only where the passenger has no expectation of, or entitlement to, a free upgrade that it will not take them out of standard class for APD purposes (for example where the passenger gets an upgrade solely because they have booked early).
So standard class fee applies for upgrades to business?
For UK airports to DXB in business, it can never be the reduced rate of £69?
It should always be £138, no?
Emirates quoted me cash upgrade, not with miles.
So with 32500 Miles they say:
£75 date change fee
£20 fare difference
£69 APD from BHX
Presumably that's right now?
The lady also quoted APD from MAN as £130.41!!!! Is that right? I asked why the high APD, she said each airport is set differently, that's MAN, I asked if it was because the flight was A380, she said no.
PS. Just looking at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/apd.htm it says:
2.6.4 Upgrades
If a passenger upgrades for a fee, at any stage in the journey, we consider that they are travelling in the higher class and that the agreement for carriage has been modified accordingly.
The same applies to free upgrades if there is an element of entitlement or priority not enjoyed by other (standard class) passengers, for example in the case of 'perks' enjoyed by airline employees.
It is only where the passenger has no expectation of, or entitlement to, a free upgrade that it will not take them out of standard class for APD purposes (for example where the passenger gets an upgrade solely because they have booked early).
So standard class fee applies for upgrades to business?
For UK airports to DXB in business, it can never be the reduced rate of £69?
It should always be £138, no?
Last edited by manutd123; Jul 27, 2014 at 6:18 am