Yea we are talking armchair maths and individual Plats absolutely generate more profit but I'm trying to lay out how EK is rationalising it likely.

One must see the average cost per pax to operate the flight to be able to determine the profitably for a specific pax. That numbers is gonna vary too much to speak with a great degree of accuracy

Talking to some staff today about the new op-up policy. They haven't had to use it yet, but expect enough complaints for it to be reviewed soon.

Why would people complain? Op ups are not an entitlement. There's nothing in the Skywards T&Cs that state will you receive priority ops ups.

I've personally witnessed 2 gold/platinum pax remonstrate with staff about this - in hospitality, perception is reality and some people clearly have the perception that status should mean more important and thus a higher priority for op-ups and thus complain about the removal of their perceived benefit (that was never there in the first place)!

Consumer psychology!

It was there, albeit undisclosed. We know for a fact status used to mean higher op-up priority, and that this is no longer the case.

Remonstrating that somebody else got upgraded instead of them?

I'm now sort of seeing the logic behind this. People in areas that have a lot of over selling seem to be more or less guaranteed an op-up if they are Gold/Plat. So, they can book the cheapest Y ticket and usually get into J.

BA have approached this in another way. 3 op-ups and that's your lot. So, even a GGL on the highest Y fare won't get upgraded if they've already had 3 op-ups.

As maybe, but I just booked a Business saver out and bound to Singapore from Manchester, and took the £300 change fee to come back earlier. The Business Flex change fee was guess what £300 so no benefit whatsoever in paying for flex over saver. (And no op up on any of the 4 sectors (as usual)).

As a recent renewal at gold not once was I welcomed, other than at the door, or offered my usual "post take off G&T", seems I've dropped SO far down the pecking order at Gold I'm not worthy of recognition. C'est la vie !

Typical. I must change my name to Jonah :p. Having just recently achieved Gold, had that little glimmer of hope that one day the Upgrade Gods would look down on me favourably but seeing as most of my fares have been and most likely will continue to be in the Saver range, I will not hold out much hope.......Where's the nearest smoking room? ;).

Safe & Happy Travels

S

Yes! It's almost as if they knew the flight was overbooked and they were expecting an upgrade :D

Don't worry, my "preferred drink" on the manifest is now "FQTV" whatever that is...I think it's 2 bottles of water and to be ignored until top of descent :D

I put beer as my favourite drink years ago, despite never drinking beer on a plane due to the effect on my bladder.

They always used to ask "Beer?" during the first drinks round.

Don't shoot the messenger - just passing on the comments from EK staff.

They must not read FT or they would understand. :)

I simply don't think this is true, status first and sort out through ticket type within status which as far as I am aware has been the case for ages.

If you read the one mile at a time blog on this someone replied in the comments claiming to work for EK saying that it's still done on status order.

Opups are ridiculously random - and loads fluctuate until the very last second so sometimes it won't be done on status it will be the first name they find in a list!

The skywards desk as DXB A J lounge confirmed new policy and others report the same from other EK sources.

Agree. The girl I spoke to in GLA knew what I was talking about straight away, and said the computer will spit out a list.

Last minute hiccups are bound to happen, but in general things will be as described.