Upgrading using points from Business to First
Jan 5, 2019 | 1:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Toronto, ON
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Posts: 689
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
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
Jan 5, 2019 | 2:03 am
#2
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,799
Unfortunately not, there has to be award availability.
Jan 5, 2019 | 2:19 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,930
Jan 5, 2019 | 2:25 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,791
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
Jan 5, 2019 | 2:29 am
#6
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,799
As usual, I'd recommend a subscription to ExpertFlyer and set an alert to watch for award availability.
Jan 5, 2019 | 4:27 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,791
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
Jan 10, 2019 | 9:37 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,809
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
Jan 10, 2019 | 9:42 am
#10
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,799
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
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
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.
Jan 10, 2019 | 9:53 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,809
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.
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.
Many thanks - Jamie
Jan 10, 2019 | 9:58 am
#12
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,835
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
Many thanks - Jamie
Jan 22, 2019 | 2:50 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Nairobi
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, LH Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Priority Pass, Global Entry, Clear
Posts: 184
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)
Jan 22, 2019 | 2:56 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,791
Yes, at the airport/check-in it no longer depends on Z availability but is on the basis of space being available