Upgrading using points from Business to First
 

Hi, I am new to Emirates.

If I have bought a business class ticket using $$ and then wanted to upgrade to First using points. Am I able to upgrade if no award seats are available to upgrade but $$ are available?

Thanks

Hi,

Unfortunately not, there has to be award availability.

Thank you.
If an award seat is available, can I upgrade as soon as I book my business class flight?

Cash upgrade is purely the fare difference and depends solely on there being seats for sale in F. Miles Upgrades are at EK's discretion and not always readily available

Yes - and even if there's no award availability now, it *may* become available later.

As usual, I'd recommend a subscription to ExpertFlyer and set an alert to watch for award availability.

Which fare class for award availability?
 

Can someone advise what fare class to search for in Expert Flyer for award availability in Business and First?

D for Business and Z for First. Though they don't appear in the regular Availability search, better use the award finder which automatically searches for those classes

All - didn't find a wiki regarding mileage upgrades, but did come across this thread.

1. Newbie. Blue status.
2. JFKMXP J ticket, waitlisted for F using miles transferred in from AMEX. Flight in a couple of weeks.
3. EF alerts set up for Z.

My question relates to the upgrade process. If I do not clear in advance of OLCI window, does the upgrade list go away? Can one be added back to a list at the airport? Do they fill the cabin with mileage upgrades if there's space (like most U.S. airlines), or allow seats to go out empty despite mileage standby's (like CX/SQ)?

Given how rarely I fly EK, I'm simply looking to better understand the process. Thanks in advance - Jamie

If there is no Z availability, then you won't automatically get upgraded. They will allow the flight to go with empty seats.

However... if there are seats, you can upgrade at the airport using points. Just ask at check in. Even if there are seats at this point, they still may say no - as they may fill them before departure. So, you'd then need to ask again in the lounge, and finally at the gate.

I believe [MENTION=592613]m3red[/MENTION] has had this a couple of times. He's only be able to upgrade at the gate, so missed out on the F lounge at DXB.

Very helpful. So it sounds like it may occur on the battlefield at JFK. I'm planning to use OLCI and actually flying in on Delta (same terminal), so probably won't be visiting check-in. I'll try at the lounge and again at the gate. At least it doesn't matter on the ground at JFK since the lounge commingles the classes, if I recall. Please correct me if wrong.

Many thanks - Jamie

But, although sometimes on the EK website, there's no "availability" on F, I ask at the airport at check-in, and almost always have gotten the upgrade (for miles)

Yes, at the airport/check-in it no longer depends on Z availability but is on the basis of space being available