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
Feb 27, 2020, 7:30 pm
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: EK1 ML5A ;-)
Programs: EK iO
Posts: 699
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: T-2 check in desk
Route: DXB-JFK
Flight number: EK 201
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 28 Feb 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 30k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Upgrade location: T-2 check in desk
Route: DXB-JFK
Flight number: EK 201
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 28 Feb 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 30k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Feb 27, 2020, 7:44 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE / EK*GOLD
Posts: 2,509
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: T-2 check in desk
Route: DXB-JFK
Flight number: EK 201
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 28 Feb 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 30k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Upgrade location: T-2 check in desk
Route: DXB-JFK
Flight number: EK 201
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 28 Feb 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 30k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Feb 28, 2020, 1:12 am
#33
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,267
Upgrade given: J - F
Upgrade location: Gate
Route: DXB-CPT
Flight number: EK 770
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 26 Feb 2020
Tier status: Gold (*2)
Tier miles to date: 40K
Skywards miles balance: 100K
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 2
Second J-F upgrade on a Saver ticket this year (first one was DXB/LGW on the outbound in January).
Could have knocked me over with a feather. Checked availability and seat maps at T-10 hours, Y was very light (selling all the way down to X9) so no op-ups there to fill up J. J was J2 with only two seats unallocated, F was F3A2. So given fewer than expected no-shows in J and maybe late sales, not impossible that people were going to be op-upped, but 2 people on Saver tickets? Maybe they (the system) are trying to woo us into buying F. GA asked mrs t (who was in front of me) if 'she had requested an upgrade'. "No, mrs t said but I'll accept one"
. I have never been op-upped without her, she has had three (all Y-J) without me, so I'm told that I have to travel with her. Our next trip (J again, but on Flex tickets) is on two different bookings, going to be interesting.....
Upgrade location: Gate
Route: DXB-CPT
Flight number: EK 770
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 26 Feb 2020
Tier status: Gold (*2)
Tier miles to date: 40K
Skywards miles balance: 100K
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 2
Second J-F upgrade on a Saver ticket this year (first one was DXB/LGW on the outbound in January).
Could have knocked me over with a feather. Checked availability and seat maps at T-10 hours, Y was very light (selling all the way down to X9) so no op-ups there to fill up J. J was J2 with only two seats unallocated, F was F3A2. So given fewer than expected no-shows in J and maybe late sales, not impossible that people were going to be op-upped, but 2 people on Saver tickets? Maybe they (the system) are trying to woo us into buying F. GA asked mrs t (who was in front of me) if 'she had requested an upgrade'. "No, mrs t said but I'll accept one"
. I have never been op-upped without her, she has had three (all Y-J) without me, so I'm told that I have to travel with her. Our next trip (J again, but on Flex tickets) is on two different bookings, going to be interesting.....
Mar 4, 2020, 1:20 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Dubai, Budapest, Colombo, London
Programs: EK Platinum, EY Silver
Posts: 139
Upgrade given: J-F
Upgrade location: Boarding gate
Route: DXB-BUD
Flight number: EK 111
Type of ticket: FLEX
Date of travel: Feb 2020
Tier status: Plat
Tier miles to date: 40K
Skywards miles balance: 55k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Upgraded at the boarding gate, flight was jammed in Y and J. I was the only op-up to F. Total 3 pax in F including me so had a whale of a time.
Upgrade location: Boarding gate
Route: DXB-BUD
Flight number: EK 111
Type of ticket: FLEX
Date of travel: Feb 2020
Tier status: Plat
Tier miles to date: 40K
Skywards miles balance: 55k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Upgraded at the boarding gate, flight was jammed in Y and J. I was the only op-up to F. Total 3 pax in F including me so had a whale of a time.
Mar 4, 2020, 1:31 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Dubai, Budapest, Colombo, London
Programs: EK Platinum, EY Silver
Posts: 139
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: Onboard
Route: KWI-DXB
Flight number: EK 858
Type of ticket: FLEX PLUS
Date of travel: Jan 2020
Tier status: Plat
Tier miles to date: 30K
Skywards miles balance: 40k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Flight seemed to be really full, asked for the priority list at check in, was told I was 8th on the list. Was waived through at the gate with no upgrade. Once settled in the seat the gate agent came with a new boarding pass.
Upgrade location: Onboard
Route: KWI-DXB
Flight number: EK 858
Type of ticket: FLEX PLUS
Date of travel: Jan 2020
Tier status: Plat
Tier miles to date: 30K
Skywards miles balance: 40k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Flight seemed to be really full, asked for the priority list at check in, was told I was 8th on the list. Was waived through at the gate with no upgrade. Once settled in the seat the gate agent came with a new boarding pass.
Mar 6, 2020, 3:05 am
#36
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: EK1 ML5A ;-)
Programs: EK iO
Posts: 699
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: T-10 mobile bp
Route: DXB-PEK
Flight number: EK 306
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 6 Mar 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 60k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Corona-free! So far..
Upgrade location: T-10 mobile bp
Route: DXB-PEK
Flight number: EK 306
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 6 Mar 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 60k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Corona-free! So far..
Mar 6, 2020, 1:23 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: EK Platinum, AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,138
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: T-10 mobile bp
Route: DXB-PEK
Flight number: EK 306
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 6 Mar 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 60k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Corona-free! So far..
Upgrade location: T-10 mobile bp
Route: DXB-PEK
Flight number: EK 306
Type of ticket: Saver
Date of travel: 6 Mar 2020
Tier status: Platinum
Tier miles to date: 60k
Skywards miles balance: 550k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Corona-free! So far..
Sep 4, 2020, 12:51 am
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: EK1 ML5A ;-)
Programs: EK iO
Posts: 699
Upgrade given: Y - J
Upgrade location: check in desk
Route: LHRDXB
Flight number: EK 8
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 4 September 2020
Tier status: IO
Tier miles to date: 80k
Skywards miles balance: 470k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Upgrade location: check in desk
Route: LHRDXB
Flight number: EK 8
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 4 September 2020
Tier status: IO
Tier miles to date: 80k
Skywards miles balance: 470k+
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Sep 4, 2020, 1:54 am
#39
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,471
WOW. Didnt think we would see this thread being ressurected for a while.
Any idea what prompted the upgrade? Hardly due to overselling?
Sep 4, 2020, 2:16 am
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: EK1 ML5A ;-)
Programs: EK iO
Posts: 699
Ek2 is usually quite full, and has been overbooked a few times since the relaunch. Ek8 usually is a bit more quiet but apparently not today. I was close to an upgrade 2 weeks ago on ek2, was certain I'd be able to post then but didn't happen.
Sep 4, 2020, 4:27 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,826
Oct 2, 2020, 11:03 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: EK1 ML5A ;-)
Programs: EK iO
Posts: 699
Upgrade given: D - F
Upgrade location: check in desk
Route: LHRDXB
Flight number: EK 2
Type of ticket: Flex Eco upgraded to D
Date of travel: 18 September 2020
Tier status: IO
Tier miles to date: can't recall, 80-90
Skywards miles balance: ~400k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Forgot to post when I was in banned camp
got upgraded from D. Trumped a gold on full J.
Upgrade location: check in desk
Route: LHRDXB
Flight number: EK 2
Type of ticket: Flex Eco upgraded to D
Date of travel: 18 September 2020
Tier status: IO
Tier miles to date: can't recall, 80-90
Skywards miles balance: ~400k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Forgot to post when I was in banned camp
got upgraded from D. Trumped a gold on full J.
Last edited by iFlyMoreThanYou; Oct 3, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Oct 3, 2020, 7:47 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,826
Upgrade given: D - F
Upgrade location: check in desk
Route: LHRDXB
Flight number: EK 2
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 18 September 2020
Tier status: IO
Tier miles to date: can't recall, 80-90
Skywards miles balance: ~400k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Forgot to post when I was in banned camp got upgraded from D. Trumped a gold on full J.
Upgrade location: check in desk
Route: LHRDXB
Flight number: EK 2
Type of ticket: Special
Date of travel: 18 September 2020
Tier status: IO
Tier miles to date: can't recall, 80-90
Skywards miles balance: ~400k
Number of pax on the same PNR (Including OP): 1
Forgot to post when I was in banned camp
got upgraded from D. Trumped a gold on full J.
Oct 3, 2020, 1:34 pm
#45
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,267
Generally in this tread we use ‘cabins’ (Y, J and F) rather than fare buckets. In the end one sits in a cabin and the fare bucket is of no significance by that time. Also, fare buckets are rather opaque to the general public. So although I certainly don’t presume to set the rules here, I would suggest we all stick to Y, J and F for op-up purposes!