Upgrades at check in
 

Seems they aren't space available anymore - they are when EK can be bothered to release them as they are desperate for revenue.

Pretty bad as platinum you can't get space available after check in has opened

Is that a new 'rule', or your experience?
And I presume the space available upgrade on board still exists?
(come to think of it, is there an option in between, upgrade in the lounge?)

Mine and a few others recent experiences.

Just confirmed actually but it's getting harder to confirm seats - just my experience

As recently as December 21st, I asked about upgrade space at check in and the agent almost immediately offered me the option to pay the $1000 for JFK-DXB just like the email offers to which I then clarified I meant I wanted to use miles to upgrade and after a quick check my upgrade was processed. Not sure if something is different now. I should add that I checked for upgrade availability everyday and even had auto upgrade on.

I've seen a few occasions where people have been made to wait til the gate to process a miles reward.

I find that totally unacceptable , the whole points is a upgrade at check in not at the gate ! :mad:

Is it a published benefit?

Yes i am aware that you can update at the gate and onboard , but i was referring to when people are made to wait until they are at the gate when wanting to upgrade at check in , so EK can try sell upgrades to generate revenue then losing a sell due to a miles upgrade ...

To answer my own question...

Instant upgrades with Miles available at check-in

There's no *, so it seems you should be able to do it as long as there is space.

Haha sorry misunderstood what you were saying above :D:cool:

This isn't right anymore.

Take our man flight at Xmas...we had 2 seats in F that I'd bought months earlier, there were 2 seats left on ek17. I met a nice flyertalker off here who is platinum and he was not able to confirm the seat at check in or in the lounge - they said they'd let him know at the gate. Him and another chap who was gold were upgraded at the gate with miles being deducted.

It's happened to me twice now - for tonight's flight to Dubai from Phuket and on the way back from MRU where despite space being available upgrades are being denied until the last minute.

Strikes me as a tacky approach by EK - and a pretty narrow-minded one too :(

The line was consistently "waiting for possible revenue passengers".

Hmm..... well, yes I can see their motive. But .....the number of last minute "possible revenue passengers" (across the whole range of departures on any given day) is, realistically, going to be very small ; whilst the number of loyal EK pax liable to become irked by the process could potentially be very large.

Not really new...

I've experienced the "standby upgrade" perhaps 3 times over the past twelve months. Asked at check-in and was told "maybe possible" even though I knew space was available. Once at JFK, for example, I was told to fill out a slip of paper authorizing the upgrade. Upgrade was eventually processed in the lounge or at gate. Just last night, my spouse was told to try on board!

IIRC, each of these experiences were at outstations, so don't know if it's partly a question of contract staff not having authority or not knowing how to do it without the EK supervisor.