Auto upgrade
Mar 26, 2017, 12:42 pm
#61
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,584
Mar 27, 2017, 12:56 am
#62
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards Blue :-(, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, GHA Platinum
Posts: 2,531
Heavily agree , really noticed a change from trying to extort your miles to now trying to get you to wait until you are at the gate before the even consider doing a upgrade with miles. This obviously allows them to now try and squeeze every bit of opportunity to try get pax with cash to cash in on a upgrade which = profit.
Mar 27, 2017, 1:46 am
#63
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
I am waiting for an upgrade on a DXB/AMS leg. And to try to understand how they release these, I have set a number of alerts on EF. Apart from a few days, where the upgrades were available up to 30 days before departure, they are all released 4 days before. And there is a clear correlation with the seat map (which is not that surprising as most F travellers will book their seat at the time they book the trip).
On cue: the alert for F award availability on 31/3 has just come in!
Mar 27, 2017, 3:07 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
Have you checked (or are you checking) availability via Expert Flyer? Maybe the 'auto upgrade' feature has a different trigger point than just 'upgrade availability'? Or there is a bug in the system?
I am waiting for an upgrade on a DXB/AMS leg. And to try to understand how they release these, I have set a number of alerts on EF. Apart from a few days, where the upgrades were available up to 30 days before departure, they are all released 4 days before. And there is a clear correlation with the seat map (which is not that surprising as most F travellers will book their seat at the time they book the trip).
On cue: the alert for F award availability on 31/3 has just come in!
I am waiting for an upgrade on a DXB/AMS leg. And to try to understand how they release these, I have set a number of alerts on EF. Apart from a few days, where the upgrades were available up to 30 days before departure, they are all released 4 days before. And there is a clear correlation with the seat map (which is not that surprising as most F travellers will book their seat at the time they book the trip).
On cue: the alert for F award availability on 31/3 has just come in!
EF is really lagging - used to be good - no longer do I trust it as much. Auto -upgrade is a waste of time - has anyone seen it work?
Mar 27, 2017, 3:59 am
#66
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Further observation that doesn't seem to have been mentioned upthread - auto-upgrade is not applicable on ex-UK sectors, where a little explanation appears to say that 'auto upgrade is not available for taxable sectors'. Is the UK the only place for EK where upgrades also have a cash cost for tax?
This post from a few years ago indicates another couple of countries where this might happen.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...l#post23446354
Mar 27, 2017, 3:22 pm
#68
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1,095
Auto-upgrades do work - don't confuse seat availability in general with upgrade availability (I believe advance ones come from the saver award bucket).
(As a bonus I once had a misconnect on one award, the miles were refunded but I was rebooked into the upgraded class.)
Jul 8, 2017, 8:52 pm
#69
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,584
First time actually using the auto upgrade function and I have a question that I hope someone will be able to answer. Currently stuck in Y on the BKK-DXB-CPT (13/07) sector. Not going to spend the miles ( open for upgrade using miles) on the BKK-DXB sector as I'm wanting the DXB-CPT ideally. Does the auto upgrade function only last until online check in or is it more when i actually show up at the airport/ boarding gate.
Got a feeling EK waiting until the last minute so they don't have to fork out a CD reservation for me, wish they would just open seats up for upgrade for J as there is plenty of seats and Y oversold as well it looks ....
Got a feeling EK waiting until the last minute so they don't have to fork out a CD reservation for me, wish they would just open seats up for upgrade for J as there is plenty of seats and Y oversold as well it looks ....
Last edited by Flame3601; Jul 8, 2017 at 9:03 pm
Jul 9, 2017, 7:56 am
#70
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
First time actually using the auto upgrade function and I have a question that I hope someone will be able to answer. Currently stuck in Y on the BKK-DXB-CPT (13/07) sector. Not going to spend the miles ( open for upgrade using miles) on the BKK-DXB sector as I'm wanting the DXB-CPT ideally. Does the auto upgrade function only last until online check in or is it more when i actually show up at the airport/ boarding gate.
Got a feeling EK waiting until the last minute so they don't have to fork out a CD reservation for me, wish they would just open seats up for upgrade for J as there is plenty of seats and Y oversold as well it looks ....
Got a feeling EK waiting until the last minute so they don't have to fork out a CD reservation for me, wish they would just open seats up for upgrade for J as there is plenty of seats and Y oversold as well it looks ....
You probably know as well as I do that upgrade awards on the DXB/CPT sector are quite rare. So my guess is that there will be no upgrades. I can't answer your question about the auto upgrade, it's an answer I would be interested in!
As F availability seems to be ok (especially on 778), there might be some lucky Flex+ ticket holders in J who get an op up.
Jul 9, 2017, 8:13 am
#71
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
You are not specifying whether you are on 770 or 778, but looking at ExpertFlyer: They are still selling Y seats on both, but 770 is Y4 (all the way up to B4) and 778 is Y9. For both flights, it is J7 C7, but looking at the seat map they are overbooking quite heavily as all seats are taken (with exception of the blocked seats that are always there).
You probably know as well as I do that upgrade awards on the DXB/CPT sector are quite rare. So my guess is that there will be no upgrades. I can't answer your question about the auto upgrade, it's an answer I would be interested in!
As F availability seems to be ok (especially on 778), there might be some lucky Flex+ ticket holders in J who get an op up.
You probably know as well as I do that upgrade awards on the DXB/CPT sector are quite rare. So my guess is that there will be no upgrades. I can't answer your question about the auto upgrade, it's an answer I would be interested in!
As F availability seems to be ok (especially on 778), there might be some lucky Flex+ ticket holders in J who get an op up.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28532677-post111.html
Jul 9, 2017, 8:31 am
#72
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,584
Thanks for the updated flight load via EF , been doing dummy bookings all day to get a indication of loads( EK will sell me 7 J tickets ) . You are correct it is EK770. I tried to get a answer via live chat with various agents and all of them actually couldn't give me a solid answer in regards to the auto upgrade question above , I did not call as I didn't wanna get hammered with international calling fees. This is the one time I really would like to get out of Y due to a mother in law from hell in tow !
Sadly cannot not justify the 22 thousand rand price tag for a paid upgrade.
Sadly cannot not justify the 22 thousand rand price tag for a paid upgrade.
Jul 9, 2017, 8:40 am
#73
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Thanks for the updated flight load via EF , been doing dummy bookings all day to get a indication of loads( EK will sell me 7 J tickets ) . You are correct it is EK770. I tried to get a answer via live chat with various agents and all of them actually couldn't give me a solid answer in regards to the auto upgrade question above , I did not call as I didn't wanna get hammered with international calling fees. This is the one time I really would like to get out of Y due to a mother in law from hell in tow !
Sadly cannot not justify the 22 thousand rand price tag for a paid upgrade.
Sadly cannot not justify the 22 thousand rand price tag for a paid upgrade.
Jul 9, 2017, 8:59 am
#74
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,584
Where are you calling from? In SA just dial 0860 123 155, most counties have a local number, and then there's always Skype.