Upgrades
Feb 24, 2019 | 9:38 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,042
You can log on to your booking (if made direct with Emirates) and pay, no problem.
There is no bidding system, but there are what appear to be random email offers, which come out 4 - 7 days roughly before the flight, which may offer a discounted update, usually for one leg only and with no lounge or chauffeur drive services.
There is no bidding system, but there are what appear to be random email offers, which come out 4 - 7 days roughly before the flight, which may offer a discounted update, usually for one leg only and with no lounge or chauffeur drive services.
Feb 24, 2019 | 9:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: Emirates Skywards (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Radisson (Gold)
Posts: 376
The e-mail offers are not random. They come when Business loads are exceptionally light, or (more often) when Economy reaches capacity and there are still seats in Business, they try and squeeze out a bit more revenue before making op-ups.
If you manage your booking via either the app or the website you should see options to upgrade to Business. The only reason you would not see them is if Business is full already, or you have bought a special fare type ticket.
You can also updgrade at check-in. Skywards members also have the ability to upgrade on the plane (which can avoid taxes if you are departing from a country that imposes them such as the UK).
Again, all subject to availability.
If youre not a regular Business traveler, be prepared for a heafty price tag, the upgrade will typically cost 5-10 times the cost of an Economy ticket, but also if youre new to Emirates Business is 5 - 10 times better than Economy so it kind of works out.
If you manage your booking via either the app or the website you should see options to upgrade to Business. The only reason you would not see them is if Business is full already, or you have bought a special fare type ticket.
You can also updgrade at check-in. Skywards members also have the ability to upgrade on the plane (which can avoid taxes if you are departing from a country that imposes them such as the UK).
Again, all subject to availability.
If youre not a regular Business traveler, be prepared for a heafty price tag, the upgrade will typically cost 5-10 times the cost of an Economy ticket, but also if youre new to Emirates Business is 5 - 10 times better than Economy so it kind of works out.
Feb 24, 2019 | 10:23 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,042
That would certainly sound logical and was what I thought a while back, but I've now heard of them on lightly loaded flights too. When you think about it, that can make sense too as if you're not asked you might sit happily in Economy but if it's offered, some will succumb and pay for the upgrade.
Feb 24, 2019 | 11:11 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 10
Thank you for the replies, Im booked via a TA but have my email address on the booking.
We are flying BNE - BCN via DXB. I have read on here that EK charge $1000 at the gate for a paid upgrade Y to J. Is this USD?
Also 5-10 times our Y fare would be anywhere between $8000 to $16000 ?? Really?
Aircraft is A380 all flights
We are flying BNE - BCN via DXB. I have read on here that EK charge $1000 at the gate for a paid upgrade Y to J. Is this USD?
Also 5-10 times our Y fare would be anywhere between $8000 to $16000 ?? Really?
Aircraft is A380 all flights
Feb 25, 2019 | 1:17 am
#6
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,834
Thank you for the replies, I’m booked via a TA but have my email address on the booking.
We are flying BNE - BCN via DXB. I have read on here that EK charge $1000 at the gate for a paid upgrade Y to J. Is this USD?
Also 5-10 times our Y fare would be anywhere between $8000 to $16000 ?? Really?
Aircraft is A380 all flights
We are flying BNE - BCN via DXB. I have read on here that EK charge $1000 at the gate for a paid upgrade Y to J. Is this USD?
Also 5-10 times our Y fare would be anywhere between $8000 to $16000 ?? Really?
Aircraft is A380 all flights
As far as the difference between Y and J is concerned, I guess if you take the very cheapest Y Saver fare and compare it to a J Flex+ fare there might be a factor 10 in it. But my own experience (although not on an ex Australia route) is more like between 3 (Y Flex to J saver) and 5 (Y Flex to J Flex). Of course you can experiment with this using dummy bookings on the EK website. No need to use TA's
Feb 25, 2019 | 2:12 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,791
The e-mail offers are not random. They come when Business loads are exceptionally light, or (more often) when Economy reaches capacity and there are still seats in Business, they try and squeeze out a bit more revenue before making op-ups.
If you manage your booking via either the app or the website you should see options to upgrade to Business. The only reason you would not see them is if Business is full already, or you have bought a special fare type ticket.
You can also updgrade at check-in. Skywards members also have the ability to upgrade on the plane (which can avoid taxes if you are departing from a country that imposes them such as the UK).
Again, all subject to availability.
If youre not a regular Business traveler, be prepared for a heafty price tag, the upgrade will typically cost 5-10 times the cost of an Economy ticket, but also if youre new to Emirates Business is 5 - 10 times better than Economy so it kind of works out.
If you manage your booking via either the app or the website you should see options to upgrade to Business. The only reason you would not see them is if Business is full already, or you have bought a special fare type ticket.
You can also updgrade at check-in. Skywards members also have the ability to upgrade on the plane (which can avoid taxes if you are departing from a country that imposes them such as the UK).
Again, all subject to availability.
If youre not a regular Business traveler, be prepared for a heafty price tag, the upgrade will typically cost 5-10 times the cost of an Economy ticket, but also if youre new to Emirates Business is 5 - 10 times better than Economy so it kind of works out.
Feb 25, 2019 | 3:27 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: DPO
Programs: QF NB
Posts: 134
I last received the upgrade email whilst on a MEL-AMM return. I was flying in Y. Received an upgrade email a few days before my return to MEL. The offer was $1400 to upgrade the DXB to MEL leg only... That is the AMM to DXB leg would still be in Y. No lounge access in DXB.
So I think to OP's info regarding $1K upgrades to Business Class being available at Check in is incorrect on departures from Australia.
So I think to OP's info regarding $1K upgrades to Business Class being available at Check in is incorrect on departures from Australia.
Feb 25, 2019 | 5:28 am
#11
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,797
Feb 25, 2019 | 5:36 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: EK Gold
Posts: 30
My last upgrade offer was received 12 days before travel via email. I was flying LHR to BKK in Y and was offered an upgrade to J for the DXB to BKK sector for GBP269. I took it in an instant. I already had lounge access being gold and the chauffeur drive at BKK is of little value as a limo into city centre can be booked for about GBP25. My hope is that EK will offer such upgrades J to F in future. Haven't seen or heard of such a beast so far.
Feb 25, 2019 | 5:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: DPO
Programs: QF NB
Posts: 134
Correct, however offer was only available via special email and only for one leg of the journey, not the entire trip.
As an aside... one week prior I had rung Emirates to upgrade my entire return flight Y to J... which was quoted at AUD3500. I declined. The lady I spoke to did mention that I may receive an upgrade email closer to the flight... Perhaps a strategy to pursue?
As an aside... one week prior I had rung Emirates to upgrade my entire return flight Y to J... which was quoted at AUD3500. I declined. The lady I spoke to did mention that I may receive an upgrade email closer to the flight... Perhaps a strategy to pursue?