Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28144773)

All - searched for a few minutes, didn't see a sticky specific to upgrade waitlist basics. Here's my issue:

1) SIN-DXB-JFK, revenue J
2) Colleague with Gold upgraded me to F SIN-DXB. DXB-JFK not currently available, I'm flying on a Saturday on the flight that leaves DXB around 0230.
3) Colleague tells me I'm waitlisted on DXB-JFK segment for an upgrade to F. I trust him, though res on website/app doesn't indicate this.
4) I've set up ExpertFlyer alerts. No awards released just yet. I've monitored every Saturday for the past several months and have NEVER seen awards released.
5) I'm contemplating booking away, but that's not really important.

What I was hoping to understand includes:

1) Is EK good at managing waitlists? AA, CX & SQ are not, in my experience. Quite often awards are released but waitlists aren't cleared simultaneously, so I've needed to call in to get the upgrade.

They have this auto upgrade thing now and recently a few people are not getting their seat until the gate - they are making it hard to upgrade and I've failed to wait list for a few flights recently.

2) When does the WL drop off? Inside of 24 hours? Once checked in but not upgraded?

As above auto upgrade stays until the gate but the true waitlisted where on the booking it states "waitlisted" drops off when you check in

3) Can upgrades be accomplished during/after the first segment is flown?

Yes

4) In the event nothing happens, how do cash upgrades work at DXB and is one eligible after the first segment is flown?

You pay the SIN JFK fare difference to F

Basically, if this was any of the U.S. airlines, or CX, or SQ, I wouldn't be wasting your time. But my searches didn't yield many specifics about EK. Put yourself in my shoes and advise!!

I'd be looking at loads - if it's quiet you'll get it if there's one or two seats left and you want F fly an alternate airline. There's tons of plats and golds who will all be above you should they wish to use miles to move to F

Thanks in advance - Jamie

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28146356)

Should one's res details show any sort of upgrade status, either on the EK site or the app?

Originally Posted by Stephenk82 (Post 28146467)

Waitlists as you describe don't really exist the same way outside of the US. EK have wait-lists that you may get on by phoning through, but these aren't normal process, and for many reasons people can jump over the hidden wait-lists. It is all designed to protect revenue possibility, so a wait list can mean nothing.

You'll not see a waitlist screen at the gate in Europe or the middle East as you do in the US. As such, there's nothing in Manage My Booking or the App to capture this, as it's just not custom and practice outside the US.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28146598)

I'm torn whether to take this flight, and not being able to enjoy myself in F on the first leg knowing of the pending downgrade once I get to DXB. Flying J on QR all the way through would at least eliminate this heartache.

Originally Posted by ft101 (Post 28149510)

J all the way is fine - not too much different from F. What I've quoted here just makes you sound stupid.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28150222)

Such a statement just makes you sound stupid. Or, unaware of the facts.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28150222)

F private, J not private.
F shower, J no shower.
F caviar, J no caviar.
F top-shelf liquor, J mid-shelf.
F dine on demand, J dine when FAs tell you to.
F pajamas, J no pajamas.

Granted, F and J humidity is the same, and neither class offers a urinal. LH A380s would address those topics.

So, want to share how J is "not too much different than F?" Such a statement just makes you sound stupid. Or, unaware of the facts.

Jamie

Originally Posted by ft101 (Post 28150275)

There wouldn't be any sense in letting an upcoming flight spoil my enjoyment of the one I was currently on.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28150565)

You're a stronger man/woman than I. I can't sit in the CX mini-cabin because I can usually hear the "Caviar Six" yucking it up in front.

FYI - Colleague called EK, I'm not waitlisted, and agent didn't know how to do it. So basically I have to hope that an award is released (EF alert set). But I'm not hopeful.

Jamie

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28150565)

FYI - Colleague called EK, I'm not waitlisted, and agent didn't know how to do it. So basically I have to hope that an award is released (EF alert set). But I'm not hopeful.

Originally Posted by ft101 (Post 28152894)

Auto Upgrade?

Maybe not available if you are using someone else's miles.

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 28150642)

Keep checking - I've had seats open up 2 weeks before

Originally Posted by thijsseh (Post 28167123)

I recently did a bit of a 'study' on this for EK147 (DXB/AMS), J>F.
Awards opened up between 45 and 4 days before the flight.

Sadly not for 11/4, so we had to sit in J after a really nice first sector (CPT/DXB) in F (which had opened up almost 60 days out). Even got an airbridge gate in concourse A for arrival!
And there were even 2 empty F seats on that CPT/DXB leg, so opening it up was a good move by EK.

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 28167743)

Load management is one of eks strengths, however they are being tighter with upgrades to F

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28168932)

FWIW I booked away from Emirates, as I couldn't stomach the risk. But I still value the contributions from folks on this thread.

Jamie

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 28170795)

You bailed well too early!

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28168932)

FWIW I booked away from Emirates, as I couldn't stomach the risk. But I still value the contributions from folks on this thread.

Jamie

Originally Posted by simons1 (Post 28185658)

You couldn't stomach the risk of what? Having half a journey in F and half in J?

Poor you. You should have posted in the DYKWIA thread.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28185753)

Correct. I have reticketed on JL in F. Less stress, now I can look forward to my flight, still get to use QF lounge in SIN, and HND F lounge easily compares to DXB facilities, in my opinion.

Not sure why trying to maximize my comfort qualifies as DYKWIA behaviour, particularly on a site significantly devoted to premium travel.

Jamie

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 28185809)

HND F lounge isnt' as good as EK F lounges IMO, its nice but I know where I'd rather be.

And I get the F point. I have a flight to Beruit in J and I'm debating spending the miles although I'm on a flex/flex plus J and probabaly have a good shout an an op up.

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 28185809)

HND F lounge isnt' as good as EK F lounges IMO, its nice but I know where I'd rather be.

And I get the F point. I have a flight to Beruit in J and I'm debating spending the miles although I'm on a flex/flex plus J and probabaly have a good shout an an op up.

Originally Posted by skywardhunter (Post 28185869)

Spend the miles, op-ups are non-existant these days. I've gone from op-ups every other flights to none in the last 6 months.

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 28185908)

if there was availablity I would!

Jamie - go to Tokyo - even if i had 3 hours I'd do that...go to the hedgehog cafe in Harajuku :)

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 28186598)

My layover is something like 0500 to 1000, besides being a bit of a haul to Harajuku, the cafe opens daily at noon. Still, at the hour, I could try to head to Tsukiji for breakfast, I suppose.

Jamie