Upgrading LGW-DXB - taxes?
Jul 7, 2019, 10:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 18
Upgrading LGW-DXB - taxes?
Hi,
I have an Economy Flex fare and want to upgrade from LGW-DXB. Instead of saying no availability it says "no eligibility" and says something about taxes.
I have never seen this before - is it new?
Hoping a seat might come up but is LGW-DXB really hard to upgrade on? Flying in 5 days time.
Thanks
I have an Economy Flex fare and want to upgrade from LGW-DXB. Instead of saying no availability it says "no eligibility" and says something about taxes.
I have never seen this before - is it new?
Hoping a seat might come up but is LGW-DXB really hard to upgrade on? Flying in 5 days time.
Thanks
Jul 7, 2019, 11:01 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Dubai
Programs: EK Gold
Posts: 213
Hey purplevikki,
Upgrading any flight out of the UK prior to boarding the plane will incur local surcharges and taxes.
Unfortunately the only way around this is to upgrade on board - however this is only eligible for skywards tiers silver & above (I see that you're skywards blue in your profile).
As long as you're willing to pay taxes, your best bet will be to upgrade at check-in if space is available.
Hope this helps.
Upgrading any flight out of the UK prior to boarding the plane will incur local surcharges and taxes.
Unfortunately the only way around this is to upgrade on board - however this is only eligible for skywards tiers silver & above (I see that you're skywards blue in your profile).
As long as you're willing to pay taxes, your best bet will be to upgrade at check-in if space is available.
Hope this helps.
Jul 7, 2019, 1:16 pm
#3
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,272
In the UK, the ADP (I think that’s what it is called, basically the airport tax) is higher for any other cabin but the lowest (i.e even for premium economy where it exists). So you have to pay this additional amount prior to upgrading, unless you do it on board. If there is availability, you can phone the EK call centre and upgrade, alternatively you can try at check in (but then the availability may have disappeared)
Jul 7, 2019, 1:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
In the UK, the ADP (I think that’s what it is called, basically the airport tax) is higher for any other cabin but the lowest (i.e even for premium economy where it exists). So you have to pay this additional amount prior to upgrading, unless you do it on board. If there is availability, you can phone the EK call centre and upgrade, alternatively you can try at check in (but then the availability may have disappeared)
Jul 7, 2019, 2:16 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Jul 8, 2019, 6:27 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 581
I don't think ME3 can sustain their current model as is. There is no domestic market in any of GCC countries, they rely purely on global economy. If there is global contraction - they all get impacted. It's about how well their business model can manage the changes in global economy. EK doesn't have any choice but to adapt their business model. Etihad has learnt this the hard way.
Jul 8, 2019, 9:38 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
I don't think ME3 can sustain their current model as is. There is no domestic market in any of GCC countries, they rely purely on global economy. If there is global contraction - they all get impacted. It's about how well their business model can manage the changes in global economy. EK doesn't have any choice but to adapt their business model. Etihad has learnt this the hard way.
Jul 8, 2019, 12:22 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 581
KSA has a decent domestic market. Etihad spent all their money on terrible airlines and I don't see redemption rip-offs that are pretty unique to BA being a necessary response to global economic contraction (which I'm not denying exists and impacts EK, but in other ways)
Jul 8, 2019, 9:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
BA have adapted their business model to sustain (to a certain degree) global downturn, be it by not upgrading their interiors, not sponsoring football teams, charging for WiFi, extending the fleet use as long as possible, being creative with cleaning services, etc, etc. My point is, like it or not, ME3 will start taking some of the pointers from EU3 and maybe US3 at a stretch. Yes they will still have newer fleet, cleaner planes, better lounges at home station, but I'm sure a regular traveller of ME3 (willing to look at it objectively) will notice the differences
Jul 9, 2019, 5:47 am
#13
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,611
Jul 9, 2019, 8:22 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 581
Yes - in a pure sense sure. But if you're tied to a FFP then the choices get limited. And also, the destination along with preferred times steer the decision as well. I'm sure you knew that ;-)
Jul 9, 2019, 2:00 pm
#15
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,611
I agree about the FFP... but generally preferred times would be as good if not better on non-BA flights. I'd much prefer Easyjet over BA for short haul.