Dec 29, 2019, 9:55 am
Last edit by: Saltire74
Please post your 2020, 2021 & 2022 Operational Upgrade Experiences in this thread for EK & FZ.
Around the middle of 2016, Emirates modified their Operational Upgrade Policy favouring type of ticket over status holders, giving non status passengers on Flex and Flex Plus tickets an advantage over (for example) Silver members on a Saver ticket.
As of Sep. 2019 Upgrading Ranking: (See this thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emir...cedure-11.html and this post https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31526987-post217.html
IO
Any Plat ranked by fare type (Flex Plus etc) (Some exceptions reported in this post https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31526987-post217.html)
Flex Plus ranked by status
Flex ranked by status
Saver ranked by status
So status does still provide priority within the fare type, and IO/Plats are usually ahead of everyone although some anomalies have been reported.
Link to the 2019 thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emir...st-here-9.html
Please use the following format for ease of reading and of course, discussion is still welcome.
Example:
Upgrade given: J - F
Upgrade location: Check in desk 5min before flight closure
Route: DXB - LHR
Flight number: EK1
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 12 December 2019
Tier status: Plat
Tier miles to date: 388k
Skywards miles balance: 402k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Safe & Happy Travels and May The Upgrade Gods Look Favourably Upon You.
Saltire74
EK Forum Co-Moderator
Around the middle of 2016, Emirates modified their Operational Upgrade Policy favouring type of ticket over status holders, giving non status passengers on Flex and Flex Plus tickets an advantage over (for example) Silver members on a Saver ticket.
As of Sep. 2019 Upgrading Ranking: (See this thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emir...cedure-11.html and this post https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31526987-post217.html
IO
Any Plat ranked by fare type (Flex Plus etc) (Some exceptions reported in this post https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31526987-post217.html)
Flex Plus ranked by status
Flex ranked by status
Saver ranked by status
So status does still provide priority within the fare type, and IO/Plats are usually ahead of everyone although some anomalies have been reported.
Link to the 2019 thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emir...st-here-9.html
Please use the following format for ease of reading and of course, discussion is still welcome.
Example:
Upgrade given: J - F
Upgrade location: Check in desk 5min before flight closure
Route: DXB - LHR
Flight number: EK1
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 12 December 2019
Tier status: Plat
Tier miles to date: 388k
Skywards miles balance: 402k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Safe & Happy Travels and May The Upgrade Gods Look Favourably Upon You.
Saltire74
EK Forum Co-Moderator
Your Operational Upgrade Experiences 2020 /2021 & 2022 - Please Post Here
May 26, 2022, 3:50 am
#76
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: Skywards Gold, AerClub Silver
Posts: 11
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: Boarding Gate beep but noticed seat change on Manage Booking 30 mins before boarding
Route: KUL - DXB
Flight number: EK449
Type of ticket: Flex Plus
Date of travel: 21 May 2022
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 12k
Skywards miles balance: 103k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Upgrade location: Boarding Gate beep but noticed seat change on Manage Booking 30 mins before boarding
Route: KUL - DXB
Flight number: EK449
Type of ticket: Flex Plus
Date of travel: 21 May 2022
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 12k
Skywards miles balance: 103k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Jul 24, 2022, 4:37 am
#77
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: EK Gold
Posts: 47
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: Boarding Gate beep but noticed seat change on Manage Booking 90 mins before boarding
Route: FRA - DXB
Flight number: EK48
Type of ticket: Flex
Date of travel: 22 June 2022
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 40k
Skywards miles balance: 163k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Upgrade location: Boarding Gate beep but noticed seat change on Manage Booking 90 mins before boarding
Route: FRA - DXB
Flight number: EK48
Type of ticket: Flex
Date of travel: 22 June 2022
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 40k
Skywards miles balance: 163k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Aug 1, 2022, 8:27 am
#78
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 79
Upgrade given: Y to Premium Economy
Upgrade location: Boarding Gate
Route: DXB to SYD
Flight number: EK412
Type of ticket: Economy Flex Plus
Date of travel: 31 July 2022
Tier status: Blue
Tier miles to date: 25k after this trip
Skywards miles balance: 25k after this trip
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 2 + infant
Upgrade location: Boarding Gate
Route: DXB to SYD
Flight number: EK412
Type of ticket: Economy Flex Plus
Date of travel: 31 July 2022
Tier status: Blue
Tier miles to date: 25k after this trip
Skywards miles balance: 25k after this trip
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 2 + infant
Aug 23, 2022, 1:40 am
#79
Join Date: Jun 2021
Programs: Skywards Plat, Qatar Gold
Posts: 40
First op up in a long time on a completely full flight. J was having lots of issues, my ICE didn’t work properly (faulty touchscreen, kept jumping to search - basically unusable), lots of problems with seats too it seemed like - one gent took his mattress and tried to lie down in front of the exit door.
Crew were great trying to resolve it and the supervisor did eventually give up and say she would note on my profile. I didn’t complain as it was an OPUP and I was happy to sleep with a long drive ahead of me but EL wrote me an apology anyway & credited 20k miles
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: Check in desk but noticed it on the app on route to DXB
Route: DXB - MAN
Flight number: EK17
Type of ticket: Flex Plus
Date of travel: 19 Aug 2022
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 127k
Skywards miles balance: 410k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Crew were great trying to resolve it and the supervisor did eventually give up and say she would note on my profile. I didn’t complain as it was an OPUP and I was happy to sleep with a long drive ahead of me but EL wrote me an apology anyway & credited 20k miles
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: Check in desk but noticed it on the app on route to DXB
Route: DXB - MAN
Flight number: EK17
Type of ticket: Flex Plus
Date of travel: 19 Aug 2022
Tier status: Gold
Tier miles to date: 127k
Skywards miles balance: 410k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Oct 9, 2022, 8:41 am
#80
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 1
First ever opp up
Was checking the emirates app & expert flyer en route to the airport, the flight was showing as full.
At Islamabad airport whilst checking in at the priority check in/business counter for emirates I was told I’ve been selected for an operational upgrade & that I will be given a new boarding pass at the gate. Emirates app wasn’t allowing me to see my seat for my next flight either (DXB-MAN) and was told there’s a chance I may get upgraded on that leg too.
Upon arriving at the gate I was given a new boarding pass with the seat 6A in business class- pretty chuffed as it was my first ever operational upgrade! (flown business several times before either by purchasing the full fare, upgrading with miles or cash)
The flight was really packed & 5 other people were upgraded too.
Upon arriving in DXB whilst in the emirates lounge I checked the seat map on the app and it still wasn’t allowing me access to see my seat. Sadly once I checked in I was told I was on the list but beaten by golds who were on flex plus fares who had been upgraded ahead of me.
Thankfully I was seated on the upper deck (two class config) and with a window seat so it didn’t work out too bad.
Flying again to DXB & then ISB in a couple of weeks and then JFK over Christmas so should hit Gold comfortably by then.
Upgrade Given: Y-J
Route: ISB-DXB
Flight Number: EK613
Type of ticket: Flex
Date of Travel: 6th October
Tier status: Silver
Tier Miles to date: 35,303
Skyward Miles Balance: 41,475
Number of Pax on the same PNR: 1
At Islamabad airport whilst checking in at the priority check in/business counter for emirates I was told I’ve been selected for an operational upgrade & that I will be given a new boarding pass at the gate. Emirates app wasn’t allowing me to see my seat for my next flight either (DXB-MAN) and was told there’s a chance I may get upgraded on that leg too.
Upon arriving at the gate I was given a new boarding pass with the seat 6A in business class- pretty chuffed as it was my first ever operational upgrade! (flown business several times before either by purchasing the full fare, upgrading with miles or cash)
The flight was really packed & 5 other people were upgraded too.
Upon arriving in DXB whilst in the emirates lounge I checked the seat map on the app and it still wasn’t allowing me access to see my seat. Sadly once I checked in I was told I was on the list but beaten by golds who were on flex plus fares who had been upgraded ahead of me.
Thankfully I was seated on the upper deck (two class config) and with a window seat so it didn’t work out too bad.
Flying again to DXB & then ISB in a couple of weeks and then JFK over Christmas so should hit Gold comfortably by then.
Upgrade Given: Y-J
Route: ISB-DXB
Flight Number: EK613
Type of ticket: Flex
Date of Travel: 6th October
Tier status: Silver
Tier Miles to date: 35,303
Skyward Miles Balance: 41,475
Number of Pax on the same PNR: 1