Hey guys.

Looks like I can forget about an upgrade DXB-DUR as EK775 is completely full. I am hoping to upgrade at check-in, at the gate, or on board on EK4 to ensure that I have at least one flight where I can sleep well. The flight is wide open in all classes so I assume that if J is still unsold they will sell it to me.

I heard that if you upgrade ex. UK, there is some tax involved. Can this be paid in cash to EK at check-in or on-board? If it is not cash then it restricts my ability to pay it unless it is at check-in and where father can use his credit card.

Also, does anyone know how much the tax is? My ticket is Flex Y in The M fare bucket. I know from saver Y to upgrade to J ex. UK will cost R1,400 but I'm not sure about flex.

Thanks ^

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/apd.htm

I think if you do an on board upgrade after doors have closed/ takeoff, you may escape the tax but not sure about that....

Once the doors are closed I doubt EK will care about collecting tax on behalf of HMRC....

Oh that is great to hear as I doubt they will accept cash on the plane.

Really hoping they allow this. I don't mind eating Y food or anything, I just need the J seat so I am well-rested for my 9 hour long day flight in Y.

Don't worry about it too much, its just a 9 hour flight. I'm sure you'll come out unscathed in Y as well...

My last y flight in march, the first in 18 months was hell!

Good luck !

I was not charged APD for a On board upgrade after takeoff ex UK last year. I could have paid at check in but they wanted excess APD till India for a LGW-DXB upgrade .( due to strange ex UK APD rules). I had already upgraded online the DXB DEL leg using miles. It was a matter of 20 odd quid but it was a day flight and I thought I won't do it as a matter of principle.

Thought I would rough it out in Y but the cabin was packed with several screaming children and had to move.

Just a warning that in my experience flights tend to go out full in J from LHR - especially EK4 and EK6 - and within the last hour before the flight, the lounge staff will make several announcements for people to go to the desk to pay with miles or get an op-up. As a result, by the time you get on the plane, all of the seats may have gone...

But I'm pretty sure you can pay with cash in the lounge, if you don't want to risk upgrading on the flight.

Damn it. I will not be in the lounge so this is an issue! Let's hope at least 1 seat goes untouched as there are still 7 left. Possibly upgrade at check in to avoid this.

Thanks for the warning...

Thanks!

I hope that I am able to upgrade... Let's hope that nobody snags those seats left.

For some reason, when I used to travel less, I used to think that J/F on EK was such a great way to travel. Now that I travel so much, somehow I really don't mind traveling in Y and F/J doesn't hold that much charm unless with family on a vacation.

You have become a jaded traveller! Welcome to the club!

Ha! So true...

I was booked on EK4 in late June on a Saver ticket which did not allow me to upgrade to J with Skywards miles before check-in. 24 hours before departure I checked in online however the same 'No award seats available' message kept coming up. The staff over the phone at EK said the chances were slim of an upgrade but to get to LHR 3 hours before the departure time.

So I got the check-in desk to drop off my bag and basically asked/begged the agent for an upgrade. Told him I had more than enough miles to upgrade and that it was my birthday the next day (which it was). I was informed that there were 3 seats available in J and I was first on the upgrade list, so was more than likely to get the upgrade at the gate. Got to the gate and waited ages for someone to call my name to take my Y ticket away and issue me with a J ticket but no one did so, forcing me to tell someone the discussion at the check-in counter. Y ticket taken away, J ticket printed out, but not given before I paid the �69 APD. I had to wait about 10 minutes for the card machine to be brought down from the lounge to the gate.

Incredibly full flight though, as are all on the LHR-DXB route.