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Originally Posted by planet_erg
(Post 30613233)
I heard from a flight attendant today that EK's complimentary upgrade policy is based on $ spend on that particular ticket. She told me that someone who has paid for a flex ticket will get upgraded before any elite who paid less for their ticket for that flight.
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Originally Posted by DYKWIA
(Post 30613590)
Note that it's not a "complimentary upgrade" in the US sense, but an "operational upgrade". They won't upgrade unless they absolutely need to , and after they've made monetary offers.
The mantra is: if you want to fly up front (or upstairs on the A380), you need to book the ticket using $$$ or upgrade using miles |
Just OLCI for a flight this week DXB-LON FlexPlus at reduced price at OLCI of 19,500 miles-- Y is Zeroed out so prob had a good chance at an Op-UP (Gold) but didn't want to risk it over the reduced mileage as I would of paid the 30K on board if needed.
Question now becomes- ticket now shows Business FlexPlus. Does it stay like that for the J to F Op-Ups? I did see in the upgrade thread of a Plat who upgraded with miles to J get the J to F op-up but figure that is on the Plat status. F4 A4 J7 C7 I7 O0 P6 Y0 E0 R0 W0 M0 B0 U0 K0 Q0 L0 T0 V0 X0 |
@ yyzlhr - EK personnel and their systems will be aware that you are travelling in J by virtue of a miles (as opposed to cash) upgrade, and as such it is unlikely you would be considered for J-F op-up..... although stranger things have happened of course. Seem to remember reading at the time of the particular case you highlight. It was unusual and I think (?) even the beneficiary himself regarded it as a fortunate one-off. And yes, the Plat status was probably the key factor. |
Originally Posted by subject2load
(Post 31145743)
@ yyzlhr - EK personnel and their systems will be aware that you are travelling in J by virtue of a miles (as opposed to cash) upgrade, and as such it is unlikely you would be considered for J-F op-up..... although stranger things have happened of course. Seem to remember reading at the time of the particular case you highlight. It was unusual and I think (?) even the beneficiary himself regarded it as a fortunate one-off. And yes, the Plat status was probably the key factor. |
Hi BadoRas - not sure we can call Gold ‘lowly’ (though I know what you mean !). And to earn - and then maintain Plat - you certainly have to be an EK regular. Nowadays you’re well-accustomed to the pleasures of EK F by the sound of it and I wonder whether that lucky incident from 13 years back was your very first taste of the pointy end on EK ?? Either way, you remember it well so it was clearly a very positive experience ..... ;) |
Originally Posted by subject2load
(Post 31145985)
Hi BadoRas - not sure we can call Gold ‘lowly’ (though I know what you mean !). And to earn - and then maintain Plat - you certainly have to be an EK regular. Nowadays you’re well-accustomed to the pleasures of EK F by the sound of it and I wonder whether that lucky incident from 13 years back was your very first taste of the pointy end on EK ?? Either way, you remember it well so it was clearly a very positive experience ..... ;) I apologise if any offence was taken by my use of the word "lowly". It was not meant to be taken as a putdown. I'm definitely not the sort of person who uses their level of membership in anything to make a statement about some illusory importance. Equally, I have never used my past gold membership as a reason to feel intimidated by or envious of others in higher tiers. I'm platinum by virtue of my frequency of travel, and I attach no importance to that at all. What makes us worthwhile as people is not how we position ourselves with irrelevant markers of status. It's what we do for our fellow humans, how selfless we strive to be. Returning to the topic, I was simply pointing out that, contrary to an earlier statement, it's NOT only plats that get the very rare double upgrade. Lower tiers may also get it, and therefore don't give up hope. |
Hi BadoRas - no apology needed (but thank you anyway), and certainly no offence taken. Like you, I don’t see airline FF programmes (and the various status levels) as especially important in the wider world. They are, after all, just shiny cards given to us according to criteria determined by the airline concerned ; and equally can be taken away at any time, at their own discretion. They don’t issue the cards because they like us as individuals. The only thing they really like is the money we choose to spend with them. Your point concerning the true value of human interaction is well made. I have flown Emirates - on and off - almost since their creation, back in the mid-eighties. They are a quality carrier and they have been very good to me over the years. But equally I am under no illusion that I am only of interest to them for as long as I continue to give them some business ; and they certainly won’t miss me if / when I stop. Safe travels ^ |
Originally Posted by BadoRas
(Post 31147330)
I
Returning to the topic, I was simply pointing out that, contrary to an earlier statement, it's NOT only plats that get the very rare double upgrade. Lower tiers may also get it, and therefore don't give up hope. |
Originally Posted by Dave Noble
(Post 31148175)
In 2006, I do not think that platinum was a tier level within the Emirates FF programme and at that time Gold was the highest offered status
I firmly believe that if EK found it necessary to move pax up for operational reasons, they would not stop at platinum members if they still had more seats to free up in Y and J. |
Originally Posted by subject2load
(Post 31145985)
Hi BadoRas - not sure we can call Gold ‘lowly’ (though I know what you mean !). And to earn - and then maintain Plat - you certainly have to be an EK regular. Nowadays you’re well-accustomed to the pleasures of EK F by the sound of it and I wonder whether that lucky incident from 13 years back was your very first taste of the pointy end on EK ?? Either way, you remember it well so it was clearly a very positive experience ..... ;) |
Originally Posted by BadoRas
(Post 31151039)
That is correct, and I did make the same point. However, it's still uncertain whether the chance of a double upgrade is only there for platinum members. And that is why I said those on other tiers should not lose hope.
I firmly believe that if EK found it necessary to move pax up for operational reasons, they would not stop at platinum members if they still had more seats to free up in Y and J. Anyone can get an upgrade in the right situation - as far as a normal process driven approach, should be easy for the airline to avoid Seems like the sort of thing to be holding out hope for is something that will lead to disappointment |
Originally Posted by Dave Noble
(Post 31155526)
Outside of strange situations, cannot see a need for this unless there are less passengers booked in business than there are 1st class seats available
Anyone can get an upgrade in the right situation - as far as a normal process driven approach, should be easy for the airline to avoid Seems like the sort of thing to be holding out hope for is something that will lead to disappointment |
Originally Posted by skywardhunter
(Post 30613345)
Yes, this is well known and has been the case for approximately 2 years now. It's not based on actual $ spend but it is ranked as follows:
Any Plat ranked by fare type (Flex Plus etc) Flex Plus ranked by status Flex ranked by status Saver ranked by status So status does still provide priority within the fare type, and Plats are ahead of everyone, even if they are on the cheapest ticket. On an average flight there might be fewer than 5 pax in Y on Flex Plus tickets, around 30-50% on Flex and the balance on Saver or Specials (my guesstimate), so as a Gold on a Flex ticket (which is what I usually am) you're still probably in the top 10. That being said, FAs have no involvement in the operational upgrade policy and whatever this FA knows is anecdotal at best. EK doesn't make this information public |
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