Upgrading using miles
 

Hi All,

I'm hoping someone can help me.....

So I'm off back to the UK (currently living/working in Shanghai) to tie the knot next summer....

I've got over 150k miles as I fly business class with work, so I'm thinking book economy flex and upgrade as soon as I've booked them using points.

My dates will probably be departing PVG Sat 11th July (EK303 & EK017), returning from MAN on Sat 8th Aug (EK018 & EK302) meaning A380 all the way.

I think I have previously read somewhere that if there are flex rewards available for the flights in Business (fully paid by miles + tax), this means there are available seats to upgrade from Economy Flex (paid by cash) to Business Class using miles.

Can anyone confirm the above or let me know the best way to find this out, I believe I'm currently a week too early to book the return flight anyway.

Basically, I want to confirm there is availability to upgrade using points before I spend c. £1200 on each economy ticket.

The alternative option is I use the free companion ticket I have with my Virgin Atlantic Credit card and book PE/Upper Class (BOGOF at the full fare). But, she will be going back before me and I'm not sure if the companion ticket requires exactly the same flight(s) (but I guess that's one for another forum)!

Thanks in advance

Not quite what you say.

You need Business Saver Rewards to be available, as they come from the same fare bucket as upgrades.

Log into your account and do a return reward search to check availability.

Thanks for the clarification.

So in that case there aren't any.....great!

Is it too far out for saver rewards (Economy to Business upgrades) to become available?

Thanks

yes and there are no guarantees these days.

I'd go for VS 241 if you can get the dates issue sorted or pay for J if you 100% want to gurantee it.

Remember you would need to buy a flex ticket to gurantee you can upgrade before check in.

No it isn't, I think the earlier you can plan, the better. I am trying to plan a family vacation to the US and trying to work my dates around reward availability - and EK seem to have released the reward inventory 1 year out.

Not 100% correct: some saver fares are upgradable too. As the online booking tool is incomplete, it is better to call an agent to get the price of the cheapest upgradable fare, which is probably cheaper then a flex fare...

Buying a flex fare guarantees that you ticket will not have the 24 hours upgrade restriction. However, some saver fares also don't have this restrictions as well. X, V, T, L, Q, H are only the saver fare classes that can't be upgraded until 24 hours before check-in.

Being pedantic my statement was correct. I said to "gurantee". There is a guarantee if you buy a flex you can upgrade subject to availability.

If you buy a saver you need to speak to an agent to confirm as the website is not that transparent although it does state if a ticket is not upgradeable before check in.

The EK website tells you if your ticket is not upgradable prior to check in. As others have pointed out, some saver Y fares do not have any restrictions on upgrades . However these might be difficult to find on the website.

I have noticed that if you select J out and Y in after signing in and selecting on the basis of price, it sometimes forces the EK website to combine the J saver (out) with a upgradable Y saver (return)

This Y saver on return does not usually have restrictions . This does not seem to work if you try it the other way ( Y out and J return). It may be route specific as well. (london-Del) . But has been working for me for the past few months.

Well.....I made use of my Virgin miles during their flash sale.

Using some miles (I only had 40k) and buying some additional during the 25% extra offer, I got 2 return tickets (PVG>LHR) outbound in premium economy and return in upper class for £2400 total.

Pretty happy with that.

I guess I'll just burn the Emirates ones on Business to First upgrades when available on my business flights. They don't expire until 2017 anyway.

Thanks for the help

interesting

I am looking to fly from Perth via Dubai to Zurich on 31 December this year, most likely using points to upgrade to Business - has anyone flown on New Years Eve with Emirates and had any experiences to speak of? We have saved all our points to use for an upgrade - just want to know if anyone has experienced flying in business with Emirates on NYE?

No experience of New Years Eve, but there is currently only J upgrade availability on EK423 from Perth on 31/12/14, and EK87 to Zurich on 1/1/15 which would involve a lengthy (almost 8 hours) stopover.

If upgrading is a clincher for you, don't book your Y flights unless your happy with this, or you see availability on your preferred flights.

Thanks for that..although I actually wanted to fly on the 10.05pm flight - and only the perth-dubai segment (if this is possible) to upgrade. Is it likely that Emirates release the upgrade option for this - the other consideration is that I am looking at both the FLEX and SAVER tickets, if it is unlikely that they will release upgrade option then no point (apart from higher earning of miles) to spend extra on FLEX ticket??

Emirates are now very stingy on their upgrades.. even looking online 6 months ahead their is nothing (route LHR to Dubai and vice versa)