Last minute miles upgrade
#16
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
IME each station can only upgrade the flight from that station for a miles upgrade.
So IAH can only upgrade you on the IAH-DXB. For DXB-BKK you’ll need to try at DXB.
My only experience with this is JFK and DXB. DXB they made us wait until check in closed to clear the upgrade in the lounge.
JFK they took the request at check in, and processed them and called my name to pick up new boarding pass in the lounge about 1.5 hrs before departure. Not sure how it’ll work at IAH since they don’t have their own lounge, might be same process though.
btw, has it always been procedure that blue members could upgrade at airport? I thought it was silver and above only?
#18
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,825
It’s not a given you will be able to upgrade at online check in given how many seats I’m guessing you need so you may have to wait until you are at the airport and then if you are in dxb they may not process it until you are at the gate
#19
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Orange Beach Alabama
Posts: 28
I only need 2 seats in F out of IAH, because we already booked the other 3 in F. It will be interesting to see if Emirates makes us wait till the gate in IAH. There are only 3 of 14 seats booked in F (our 3 seats). The phone rep seemed to think they would open them up prior to check-in. We can do an OLCI 3 days from now.
The Dubai to IAH flight has a totally empty F cabin right now, but thats another 3 weeks away.
The Dubai to IAH flight has a totally empty F cabin right now, but thats another 3 weeks away.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA MM, AA EXP; OW Emerald, EK silver
Posts: 928
Flying JFK to JNB early August. Am upgraded to F for the second flight but anticipate, if there is space, not getting an upgrade till the last moment. My account has enough miles for the upgrade if given for the whole trip (ie 87,750 from business saver). My DXB - JNB leg 'cost' 46,800 miles. When upgrading on line I've got the total mileage has been correctly recalculated and wonder if this will also be the case if I can't upgrade until the day I fly or whether I'll have to submit more miles for two separate legs.
Last edited by dwugson; Jul 18, 2018 at 12:53 pm Reason: typo
#22
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,471
sadly this was the case when i upgraded the second leg at DXB airport.. would have cost less if both flights were available to do upgrade online, but the second leg wasnt available until i arrived in DXB so i had to pay the price as if it were being done as 2 seperate flights.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA MM, AA EXP; OW Emerald, EK silver
Posts: 928
Thanks for both your replies. Probably better saving the miles for the return when both flights seem wide open and I can hope to upgrade online before checking in. Still hope it'll come through in advance (looks promising at the moment) however not going to throw away miles!
#25
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 14
Having similar "issue" flying parents TPE-> DXB -> CDG, have first leg upgraded already from J to F, but would like to upgrade second leg as well (no current availability)
Is there any way to upgrade DXB-> CDG leg during check in at TPE? I am afraid my parents would have difficulty with the upgrading with points process themselves at DXB.
Is there any way to upgrade DXB-> CDG leg during check in at TPE? I am afraid my parents would have difficulty with the upgrading with points process themselves at DXB.
#26
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Having similar "issue" flying parents TPE-> DXB -> CDG, have first leg upgraded already from J to F, but would like to upgrade second leg as well (no current availability)
Is there any way to upgrade DXB-> CDG leg during check in at TPE? I am afraid my parents would have difficulty with the upgrading with points process themselves at DXB.
Is there any way to upgrade DXB-> CDG leg during check in at TPE? I am afraid my parents would have difficulty with the upgrading with points process themselves at DXB.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards Blue :-(, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, GHA Platinum
Posts: 2,527
I think one of our members here (I think it was mrtdxb) was told that he could only upgrade someone else at the airport if you were also travelling on the same flight.
Not sure if the rules are still the same as this was around 2 years ago.
I will try to search for that thread and post.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards Blue :-(, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, GHA Platinum
Posts: 2,527
Found the thread where mrtdxb had issues while trying to upgrade. It is 2.5 years old and therefore please check if rules have changed now..
Using miles to upgrade someone else at airport?
Using miles to upgrade someone else at airport?