How full is the aircraft?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: Emirates
Posts: 12
How full is the aircraft?
Hey guys,
I've seen a few of you post about likelihood of an op upgrade based on how booked / overbooked a plane is. I was wondering how you can tell whether a plan is in fact overbooked?
I have a trip coming up and want to see whether it is worth it to book Flex Plus hoping for an upgrade.
Thanks in advance guys!
I've seen a few of you post about likelihood of an op upgrade based on how booked / overbooked a plane is. I was wondering how you can tell whether a plan is in fact overbooked?
I have a trip coming up and want to see whether it is worth it to book Flex Plus hoping for an upgrade.
Thanks in advance guys!
#2
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: YXU, ON Canada
Programs: AC LT E50K; AC*MM; SPG LT Gold
Posts: 4,665
Your best bet is to use a service like ExpertFlyer or KVS that shows availability in the different fare classes. When Y is showing 1 or 0 that's usually an indication that Economy is overbooked.
PS. Do you have any status on EK? The probability of an op-up increases as you move up the tiers.
PS. Do you have any status on EK? The probability of an op-up increases as you move up the tiers.
Last edited by Academic; Feb 26, 2017 at 2:55 pm
#3
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,272
Your best bet is to use a service like ExpertFlyer or KVS that shows availability in the different fare classes. When Y is showing 1 or 0 that's usually an indication that Economy is overbooked.
PS. Do you have any status on EK? The probability of an op-up increases as you move up the tiers.
PS. Do you have any status on EK? The probability of an op-up increases as you move up the tiers.
Anecdotally: the mrs and I got a J -> F upgrade on Flex+ tickets as Blue members (after that flight we were actually Silver, but I'm sure that does not count).
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Since around september or so last year, the op-up list seems to be ranked on fare classes, i.e. Flex+ , then Flex, then Saver. Apart from IO, which trumps everything (or so I have been told). I would guess that if there are multiple Flex+ ticket holders, status will come into it next.
Anecdotally: the mrs and I got a J -> F upgrade on Flex+ tickets as Blue members (after that flight we were actually Silver, but I'm sure that does not count).
Anecdotally: the mrs and I got a J -> F upgrade on Flex+ tickets as Blue members (after that flight we were actually Silver, but I'm sure that does not count).
i.e. Flex Plus > Flex, Gold > Silver within Flex Plus, and Y > R within Golds in Flex Plus
I wouldn't buy a Flex+ just to get an op-up as you never know if there will be op-ups or how many are ahead of you. Even EK staff only see oversell status 72 hours before departure and even when a flight is oversold at T-24 it may go out without op-ups (had this happen to me a few weeks ago)
#5
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
#7
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,272
.......
I wouldn't buy a Flex+ just to get an op-up as you never know if there will be op-ups or how many are ahead of you. Even EK staff only see oversell status 72 hours before departure and even when a flight is oversold at T-24 it may go out without op-ups (had this happen to me a few weeks ago)
I wouldn't buy a Flex+ just to get an op-up as you never know if there will be op-ups or how many are ahead of you. Even EK staff only see oversell status 72 hours before departure and even when a flight is oversold at T-24 it may go out without op-ups (had this happen to me a few weeks ago)
We did not buy the Flex+ with ug in mind at all, we had a family emergency and had to make a last minute change to the inbound flight and Flex+ was all that was available. When the gate agent tore up the old BP's and gave me new ones, I did not even realise that it was an ug, I thought that we had been reassigned seats again (long story). On the way down the airbridge, I looked at the BP's to see where we were now I noticed 1E/F and then said to the mrs "You know what just happened? We are in F",
As I said at the time, the ug helped to cope with the stress a bit easier.
The effect of course is that I am now frantically looking for miles ug opportunities.....
Same happened to my parents long ago. They once got an opup from KLM (CPT/AMS). Never flew Y again, best investment KL ever made...