So Expert Flyer info looks to be useless and now EK's own info appears to be the same. What chance have us poor flyers got to predict anything?

Current load for BKK-DXB flight...

F4 A4 J7 C7 I0 O0 P0 Y4 E4 R4 W0 M0B0 U0 K0 Q0 L0 T0 V0 X0

Been checking this daily from 10 days out of interest, flying on a Y flex+.
All numbers have remained the same except for Y,E and R

10 day out 0
9 days out 2
8 days out 7
7 days out 4

Flying to London so an Op-up on at least one segment would certainly be welcomed!

ExpertFlyer Upgrade Availability Not Accurate
 

ExpertFlyer is showing Z class availability to upgrade from Business to First on several dates but when I call Emirates I am advised that no upgrades are available. Has anyone else experienced this? Is the ExpertFlyer upgrade information inaccurate for Emirates?

As we noted in our direct reply to your email:
That is what Emirates seems to be publishing for April 8th, 9th, and 10th. We can also see the same in the Qantas award search (of which Emirates is a partner). Airlines can have issues with how they publish award inventory from time to time, but it will reset itself.

Check for F Saver awards, if they're available on the EK website then Z is available

EF now showing -

F4 A0 J0 C0 I0 O0 P0 Y0 E0 R0 W0 M0 B0 U0 K0 Q0 L0 T0 V0 X0 for an upcoming flight.

This is for both segments even when I search the second flight independently.

So my connection is 1 hour 15 mins, which, some might say is tight, but I have done a similar connection three times over the last two years, once from UK to SYD and twice BKK to Man. This time it is to LHR.

The question I am pondering... whilst I have made every flight so far with a similar connection, one of the flights my luggage did not make it. On this occasion, if assuming the flight is way over booked.. will EK look to offload me as an easy option rather than trying to keep me on the flight?

Not if you have status. However if there's a later flight you can take and are willing to take you may wish to volunteer and get a free return ticket for your troubles.

I could actually try and take this up as I am sure there is another flight only half an hour later and failing this, they are quite regular to London. Do they offer the free return ticket or is this something you have to chase?

​​​​​​They're generally quite upfront about it and don't try and hide it. Just mention it though that you're willing to volunteer to be bumped if you get an IDB/free return ticket so they know you're expecting it

So as expected I got bumped from my connection. During my first flight I got the following... Dear customer,We're pleased to inform you that you've been accepted on flight EK0001 to London (LHR).... boarding ends at 07.25.
I landed at 1pm and still headed for my connection, arriving there 45 minutes prior to departure and of course lots of people were still boarding. My ticket beeped (not in a good way) and I was told I had been put on the next flight. No apologies just simply told go to the lounge and get the next one.

So whilst on board I was led to believe I would have to stay in Dubai until the following morning then at the gate I was told I had been put on another flight leaving in a couple of hours.

In the grand scheme of things you could argue that the delay wasnt that big of a deal, however, it cost me a pre booked taxi fare and I arrived home a lot later than I had planned. It is rather annoying how it was dealt with. I made it to the gate and it was a flight the EK had allowed me to purchase. I have had short connections in the past and have never been taken off the flight even when delayed, whereas in this case I knew the flight was overbooked so it seems like it was just an easy way to free up a seat.

For my troubles I was given a missed connection meal ticket... Does the IDB route work in this situation or should I not expect anything?

You should have asked them then and there for your free IDB return ticket.

I have two tickets for Shanghai booked for the next couple of months.

When I go to manage booking and click on the first booking, I get the following message:
Upgrade with Skywards Miles and maximise your Emirates experience.

The other booking doesn't show this, is this an indicator that the flight is going to be busy / oversold hence they are trying to get people to upgrade?

No