You being Blue is bizarre, that's the biggest shocker I've seen in this thread :D

I love my op-ups and get them relatively regularly, but somehow I don't feel too stressed about this change. 1. It's such a super-internal policy that I'm surprised it's even come out on here and 2. can't change it so why worry

+1

On the LHR to HKG route I can purchase a Business Class Saver Seat for £2083, a Business Class Flex seat for £3485 or a Business Class Flexible Plus seat for £4056 (which is £500 more expensive than a First Class saver incidentally).

So far as I am aware, I will be sitting in the same seat, eating the same food and drinking the same wine or scotch, whichever of the three tickets I will buy. I really cannot see that anybody in their right mind would shell out double for the Flex Plus seat.

There are rare occasions that I have seen a Y Flex Plus for ~$20-~$40 more than a Y Flex (being ~3-5% of the total cost of the Y Flex fare) in which case it makes absolute sense to buy Flex Plus. But it isn't the norm. Also some routes don't have Savers and the Flex fares are already very reasonable. Varies heavily by route.

Although it's before the policy change, I got an op-up as an EK blue earlier this year, on my third EK flight in five years. It was a Flex ticket.

I've instructed my TA to bias towards EK for work trips now. That op-up and BA "enhancements" worked in EK's favour, for now.

just a simple question -if you were paying for the ticket yourself what is the overiding factor in your decision, cost, reward miles or flexibility or any other factor ?

Routing(ie I live near Manchrstet and hate Heathrow so avoiding that is an attraction) followed by price. Will pay a slight premium to fly Emirates for personal travel but price is a major factor when buying 4 tickets.

Living in Dxb and being from man means there is little choice in who I use if want to fly direct.

I buy j or f savers only and use miles to go to f if I have them/can.

At Xmas I'm being forced to buy flex j or flex plus j due to demand which is annoying as I won't be able to upgrade nor will we have any chance of an opup.

I'm not sure anyone would buy flex/flex plus unless they needed the miles / flexibility. Some flex plus tickets still cost to move if there is a change fee...

Let's see how the new opup rules go but it doesn't make much sense to me as surely A plat has spent more than a flex plus j blue member over 12 months...

All mentioned above but also schedule and longing to fly specific airline I like (e.g. Emirates).
So usually I check different airlines and try to explain (to myself or also other in my group) that Emirates is best choice ;)

If all other factors were equal (or pretty close), I would previously choose EK with the potential for an op up influencing that decision. EK now do not have that advantage.

I recently acquired Gold on EY too, so EK might actually lose out in my situation.

Oh come on, you've got a choice :-

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...9454665%29.jpg

A combination... Cost, carrier and aircraft.

MAN-DXB I have a lot of choice. I would narrow it down to EK, QR or possibly EY. I'd then choose an A380 over a B777/A330.

I've recently booked a QR flight in J for £970, which is only about £200 more than I was paying EK in Y a few years ago. It will probably be an A330, but who knows with QR?

I avoid BA these days, having dropped from Gold down to Blue over the last few years. If I wanted to book BA and reserve a seat, that would be another £200 on top. And pay for snacks now that the "Club Kitchen" has more or less been enhanced away.

Going west, it again would depend on the destination. I'm quite keen to try the EK MXP-JFK flight at some point. There are also some good choices with Thomas Cook these days - their 'Premium' seats are perfectly adequate.

Virgin are also expanding west from Manchester. JFK/MCO/BGI/LAS/SFO/ATL/BOS and possibly adding DTW next year.

Well Gold on EY is like tww return J flights with all the tier bonus miles they throw at you. I got Silver from a single $1000 J return on EY, which is ridiculous. Completely devalues the program to me. It's like with dating, you want to have to work for the other's affection, someone who's "easy" isn't attractive (either gender, trying very hard to stay politically correct here).

Also enjoy EY ground service :D It's laughable

Yes I won't fly etihad! Also it's 1.5 hours away and not 15 mins.

Best post of the year!!!. However I don't think people from outside the UK would understand it though.

Don't think I'll see m3red in one of those aircraft.;-)