Hi All,

New to the forum

I have just booked my first flight with Emirates next month from MAN to TPE via DXB on a Flex ticket. I've signed up for Skywards but obviously starting from 0 miles. On 3 out of the 4 sectors, 68K is available on the A380 in Economy for £75 per sector but I am wondering if I would be better risking not booking a seat, not checking in online and arriving early in the hope that as a solo traveller, I may get an upgrade. I can do the smart casual dress and all the other recommended tips but if the likelihood that someone with miles will get the upgrade first then I don't stand a chance. There's a fair bit of room in economy at the moment and looking on the Expedia seat preview for business, a fair chunk of room in there as well.

Is it worth taking a punt that I could get a push up or just swallow the money and take the nice seat in economy?

Thanks

Adam

Unfortunately, none of those factors play any role in determining an upgrade. Upgrades are done purely for operational reasons, typically handed out by Top Tier Status (Plats) and then by fare class.

Unless the flight is oversold no one gets an upgrade, if it is oversold, it's Plats, then flex plus, then flex but within flex it'll be gold and silver before you, so no it's not worth it if you ask me.

Cheers both! Sounds like the chances of an upgrade are a none-starter then unless there is a ridiculous influx of bookings last minute that will fill up the plane!

Ah well - 68K here I come!!!

You could buy up?

Good choice - have a safe and pleasant journey.

I managed to get 68K on MAN to DXB, DXB to TPE and TPE to DXB.

Unfortunately it was booked on DXB to MAN but as it's a 2-class A380, I went for 29K on the upper deck and fingers crossed the seat next to it remains empty

I'm not up to speed with what seats are being charged for. As an EK virgin, did you have to pay for any of these?

How much was 29K to prebook please?

Oops.

I just can't fathom people paying that for a seat unless they're just too tall.

29K which is known as a "Twin Seat" upgrade are £65 so total extra cost is £290 but to be honest even with the seat upgrade it works out cheaper than flying with Cathay.

The flight price alone from Cathay was £500 more and they wanted £112 each way (MAN-HKG) for an exit row seat on top of the more expensive fare.

BA was £2400 for economy flights on an A380 for the same period :O and the reports of the seats on KLM were very off-putting which is a shame as the flight times and connections were better than Emirates.

China Airlines had a great fare on Premium Economy on the route back from TPE to MAN via AMS but the outbound option was not good and stupidly more expensive for some reason

EK is not the only airline frequent flyer program that you could get ff miles
http://www.wheretocredit.com/emirates

Enjoy the trip

I personally would not have paid to select seats, as you can request them at check-in if they are still available. Of course, if those seats are imperative for you, by all means. but £290 doesn't seem worth it to me. I'd rather take my chances at check-in and if I'm unlucky spend that £290 on Moet Piccolos But then again, I am a gambling man

Normally I probably would not bother either but it's the first time I've done a flight like this - previous long-haul has always been LHR to PHL or BOS.

Will give me a chance to work out what the normal space is like and then not bother next time