Upgrade at check-in?
 

Hi all - first post...

I'm flying BHX-DXB-KUL in November on a saver ticket in Y. Subject to availability I'm hoping to upgrade on the DXB-KUL sector but unsure when I can do this. OCLI opens 24hrs before the BHX departure - can I attempt to upgrade at that time even though it's about 32hrs before the DXB departure?

Thanks in advance.

Interested in knowing the same.

Hi ScubaDeano and welcome to FT!

My mom tried doing this in BLR for BLR-DXB-BOS. They refused to help. She asked again in DXB but they said she had to pay $3000 or have the miles. Not sure about your route though.

Cash or miles upgrade?

It would be a miles upgrade. I have enough for both sectors if that was a requirement but I was mainly interested in the DXB-KUL part.

Go for it then! Try in BHX and DXB and make sure to get to BHX early!

And another question, do you want to upgrade to J or F? Because BHX-DXB frequently gets subbed from 3 class to 2 class and DXB-KUL is mostly operated by older 773's with old ICE and SkyCruiser seats.

It will also be a toss on both flights if you get ICE or Digital Widescreen.

Yes. If there is availability on the second flight you will be offered it when you check in, despite it being > 24 hours from that flight's departure.

I think BHX-DXB is only operated as a 2 class service?

Haven't done this very much on EK. Regarding availability (for miles upgrade), how is that defined? That is, is it simply that there has to be positive space in F by check-in or does F have to be > some lower limit?

Before check-in, it's a combination of fare bucket availability and your ticket type (you can of course, change your fare to a flex ticket and then upgrade, but you'll have to do that over the phone).

After check-in opens, it is generally space available. I say generally, because it's up to the controller on the shift as to whether he/she wants to allow the upgrade to be processed (e.g. he/she may have an iO who wants to use their miles to upgrade their family into half the F cabin but the controller hasn't got round to processing yet).

After the doors close, if you are Skywards silver or above, the purser also process an upgrade for you. Officially it's only one class, but at their discretion they might make it two class. The mileage cost is pre-calculated based on whether you have a saver/flex ticket - it's preloaded on the purser's tablet. Officially you will also need to present your skywards card for this. Also, unofficially, you can upgrade other people who don't have to be on your PNR on board as well, and the people you are upgrading do not need to be Skywards members. All the miles need to come from your account though.

Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear I'm Gold, on a flex, flying in J, alone. And while there's been nothing available to this point, F is looking open on both my segments (SYD-DXB-YYZ).

They are very stingy with Z class these days. Annoyingly so.

That's not going to help. I'm flying out on EK501 (A380) next week . F is totally unsold, J looks around 30% full and Y oversold. My guess is that EK will release zero Z inventory, preferring to sell Y seats instead and filling up the premium cabins with upgrades rather than allowing people to use their miles for an upgrade - not sure why but that's how it kind of works....

The cynical part of me says that it forces you into lower cost redemption options (e.g. football tickets, Emirates high street, donations to the foundation) instead of potential loss of cash revenue through seat sales. And after three years of course, expiry. Cash is, of course, king...!

I don't think so.

My flight to HKG is 1 in F J is going to go out quite full and Y is most likely over. They are still offering 2 Z seats (came up yesterday). That said ex MAN they didnt release until check in despite F being quiet.

I think you just need to keep waiting, upgrading J to F on the A380 is usually not a problem, Y to J on the other hand....