I dont want to list the route in case it gets anyone in trouble, but wanted to get your thoughts on something i witnessed today..

Checking in i was told flight was oversold in all cabins except F and there were 4 standbys so there was a likelihood of Op Up to F for me (i was on Business Flex Plus and im Gold). I thought nothing more of it until at the gate when i remembered what the checkin agent had said and was waiting to see if i got the magic beep on boarding pass scan. It didnt happen, and no big deal, was happy with the business class seat that i had paid for. However boarding through F overheard 3 passengers in F seats openly discussing with the captain who was saying hi to them (obviously friends) about how surprised they were to be given F seats on standby.

My deduction from this is that rather than do op ups, the flight controller decided to put the standby pax in F?

It's more likely to increase your chances if you do OLCI as the airline has more confidence you'll actually be travelling and they can plan accordingly.

Cool thanks I'll do that, I see the DXB to dps is allready sold out in business but hoping a business upgrade from Y for the JNB to DXB leg ,first time I'm in a flex+ I'm in blue so I know chances are very slim but miracles do happen:)

Well you don't know for which cabin they were standing by. If they were standby they're probably staff and there are certain groups of staff that have F as their travel entitlement (where available).

Perhaps what the check-in agent meant was there are 3 standby pax for F but should the flight end up fill with confirmed pax and op-ups be required then you'd be getting one. But as the lower classes weren't full in the end then no need for op-ups and the standby pax could travel.

Remember, there's no entitlement to op-ups.

While I agree with the logic I don't believe EK factors this in.

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forget it, JNB and CPT are notoriously hard for op-ups. Though being flex+ helps the route is fill of business travellers who buy flex plus because loads are high and also full of Plats who all trump you. I'm Gold and always fly on y flex and fly cpt-dxb or vice versa around 16 times a year and have never received an op-up

Scored a rare upgrade yesterday, that too on the only flight with F on the LGW route (EK11 no longer has F, I believe it's the same with EK9).

Upgrade given: J - F
Upgrade location: Gate
Route: DXB - LGW
Flight number: EK15
Type of ticket: Saver (O)
Date of travel: 21 Aug 19
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 61k
Skywards miles balance: 239k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Number of pax upgraded: 1

Most of my EK travel these days is in O or I class, so upgrades are a rare beast.

First time ever out of or into CPT! Saw the load a few hours ahead and Y was over by 16 and only 1 Plat and 7 Golds in Y total

Upgrade given: Y-J
Upgrade location: mobile BP updated in lounge
Route: CPT - DXB
Flight number: EK771
Type of ticket: Flex
Date of travel: 22 Aug 2019
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 68000
Skywards miles balance: 500
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Number of pax upgraded: 1

Was assigned a middle but saw a blocked window and sweet talked my way into it at the lounge entrance. My middle was quickly taken by another op-up

Flying Accra to Dubai on Sept 4 - Platinum member ......... What are the chances I get bumped up from J to F?

Too far ahead to tell. You should ask on the load check request thread closer to departure. As a Plat chances are good if the flight is full

Beautiful! Congrats

Thanks!!!

As a matter of interest, how are you able to determine the numbers of booked/checked in pax with a particular tier status? I'm amazed that's possible.

I asked an EK employee that I know