Upgrades at check in
Jan 29, 2017 | 1:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,931
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
Pretty bad as platinum you can't get space available after check in has opened
Jan 29, 2017 | 2:39 am
#2
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,836
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?)
Jan 29, 2017 | 3:14 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,931
Just confirmed actually but it's getting harder to confirm seats - just my experience
Jan 29, 2017 | 6:47 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA PP
Posts: 1,433
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.
Last edited by kq747; Jan 29, 2017 at 7:16 am
Jan 29, 2017 | 7:12 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,931
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. sure if something is different now. I should add that I checked for upgrade availability everyday and even had auto upgrade on.
Jan 29, 2017 | 9:38 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,581
Jan 29, 2017 | 11:57 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,581
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 ...
Jan 29, 2017 | 12:44 pm
#9
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,801
Jan 29, 2017 | 12:49 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,581
Jan 29, 2017 | 5:33 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,931
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.
Jan 29, 2017 | 6:10 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,931
Jan 29, 2017 | 7:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,798
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.
Jan 29, 2017 | 10:06 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DXB
Programs: EK, CX, AA, DL, UA, MAR, HGP, Amex
Posts: 1,211
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.
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.