Buying Miles
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Buying Miles
Quick question. If I spot an upgrade at 24 hours on a saver fare but am short a few miles - if I purchase the difference will they post immediately or should I buy in advance?
Also - has anyone spotted a correlation between Flex Awards available in advance and the Saver Awards at 24 hours - at the moment with circa 72 hours to go Expert Flyer shows 7 Flex Awards on the flight and there are 4 of us. Should I even think we have a chance of an upgrade?
Also - has anyone spotted a correlation between Flex Awards available in advance and the Saver Awards at 24 hours - at the moment with circa 72 hours to go Expert Flyer shows 7 Flex Awards on the flight and there are 4 of us. Should I even think we have a chance of an upgrade?
#2
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,528
Quick question. If I spot an upgrade at 24 hours on a saver fare but am short a few miles - if I purchase the difference will they post immediately or should I buy in advance?
Also - has anyone spotted a correlation between Flex Awards available in advance and the Saver Awards at 24 hours - at the moment with circa 72 hours to go Expert Flyer shows 7 Flex Awards on the flight and there are 4 of us. Should I even think we have a chance of an upgrade?
Also - has anyone spotted a correlation between Flex Awards available in advance and the Saver Awards at 24 hours - at the moment with circa 72 hours to go Expert Flyer shows 7 Flex Awards on the flight and there are 4 of us. Should I even think we have a chance of an upgrade?
And miles post instantly so no need to waste your money if d class isn't available.
#4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,146

With op-ups if all of you're all on the same booking then forget about it altogether.
But here's a trick to actually go in J. Purchase the miles you need now. Once you board the aircraft tell the flight attendant that you'd like to upgrade. They'll come around and if there are 4 vacant seats in J, they'll process the upgrade from your account on the fly.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,528
Depending on the route, if it's long haul or ULH then very little chances using miles right up to check in. It appears that availability in D going up to 7 is more of an oddity than the norm 
With op-ups if all of you're all on the same booking then forget about it altogether.
But here's a trick to actually go in J. Purchase the miles you need now. Once you board the aircraft tell the flight attendant that you'd like to upgrade. They'll come around and if there are 4 vacant seats in J, they'll process the upgrade from your account on the fly.

With op-ups if all of you're all on the same booking then forget about it altogether.
But here's a trick to actually go in J. Purchase the miles you need now. Once you board the aircraft tell the flight attendant that you'd like to upgrade. They'll come around and if there are 4 vacant seats in J, they'll process the upgrade from your account on the fly.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: Skywards Plat, Etihad Gold, Aerosvit Gold, Virgin Silver, AA lifetime Gold, Sirius Gold
Posts: 1,229
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
#9
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 15,698
#10
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,156
#11
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 15,698

#12
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Melbourne
Programs: EK, QF, VA
Posts: 73
I usually buy J seats outright, or upgrade using miles a week or two before the flight, but if I was travelling on a Y saver fare and was on an A380, and I boarded the aircraft through the Y door, how would I get to the upper deck if the purser allowed me to upgrade on board? Is there an internal staircase that the public can use, or would they send me back down the airbridge to walk to the upper deck from the airbridge entrance. Just curious.
#13
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BOM
Programs: EK Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,794
I usually buy J seats outright, or upgrade using miles a week or two before the flight, but if I was travelling on a Y saver fare and was on an A380, and I boarded the aircraft through the Y door, how would I get to the upper deck if the purser allowed me to upgrade on board? Is there an internal staircase that the public can use, or would they send me back down the airbridge to walk to the upper deck from the airbridge entrance. Just curious.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards Blue :-(, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, GHA Platinum
Posts: 2,435
Same day appointment is the way to do it. I think it was an extra £40 or £50 but got it in an hour and a bit but its worth it.The best bit is that anyone can apply for you as long as the passport holder is physically present in the UK at the time of application.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,008