Upgrade J to F with miles
Aug 8, 2023, 8:40 am
#241
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
Yes, you can use your miles to upgrade someone else, that’s no problem. There is a way to do it via the website, but I have done it through the call centre more than once.
Aug 9, 2023, 8:03 am
#242
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Aadvantage
Posts: 6
also, would the website MMB section show any availability if there’s only one upgrade seat available even if my booking reference is for two people?
Aug 9, 2023, 11:47 pm
#244
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
Aug 10, 2023, 2:41 am
#245
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
Aug 10, 2023, 11:32 am
#246
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 556
I am pretty sure that the answer is no. You’d have to call them to split the booking and then upgrade one of the bookings.
And if you want to be ready to do it online immediately when you see that there is upgrade availability, then you should call ahead of time to just split the bookings now.
And if you want to be ready to do it online immediately when you see that there is upgrade availability, then you should call ahead of time to just split the bookings now.
Something interesting is that after I split them, the auto upgrade option was available even though our points balance is zero. I did set it to auto upgrade, as I could also add the SMS notification option. But what happens if an upgrade does become available but we don't have points in our accounts? Will it send us a failure message or something?
Is there a way to save another PNR under my account? Or will I have to manually enter the PNR for my wife's ticket to pull up her reservation?
Aug 10, 2023, 12:56 pm
#247
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: N/A
Posts: 823
I just now split the booking for me and my wife in the hopes of making it easier to upgrade one at a time, or even just one of us. I was able to do it via chat.
Something interesting is that after I split them, the auto upgrade option was available even though our points balance is zero. I did set it to auto upgrade, as I could also add the SMS notification option. But what happens if an upgrade does become available but we don't have points in our accounts? Will it send us a failure message or something?
Is there a way to save another PNR under my account? Or will I have to manually enter the PNR for my wife's ticket to pull up her reservation?
Something interesting is that after I split them, the auto upgrade option was available even though our points balance is zero. I did set it to auto upgrade, as I could also add the SMS notification option. But what happens if an upgrade does become available but we don't have points in our accounts? Will it send us a failure message or something?
Is there a way to save another PNR under my account? Or will I have to manually enter the PNR for my wife's ticket to pull up her reservation?
I have found once I add a PNR under my account it stays in there both in the app and website even if it is not associated with my account. Just add it manually the first time and see if it sticks.
On a side note, I am glad people are using this singular thread about upgrades, it was getting a little obnoxious every day someone would start a new thread on how to upgrade. I don't know if mods hang out here but a consolidated thread would be nice.
Aug 12, 2023, 10:06 am
#248
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 3
successful upgrade
booked one reward ticket 1st class and one bizz class (all there was) Ewr to Athens flight late last year to leave next week. I had auto upgrade for the business class to first from day one and also checked almost every day over the remaining months. A couple days ago I got the confirmation that the biz flight was upgraded to first. Event though this is the older 777 I still feel lucky to be able to do this with my wife for the first time and that we got them at the pre-devaluation miles amounts. My first class was 87k (I believe) and her business was like 65k? + the 30k to upgrade. So it does work!
Aug 12, 2023, 11:07 am
#249
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 462
booked one reward ticket 1st class and one bizz class (all there was) Ewr to Athens flight late last year to leave next week. I had auto upgrade for the business class to first from day one and also checked almost every day over the remaining months. A couple days ago I got the confirmation that the biz flight was upgraded to first. Event though this is the older 777 I still feel lucky to be able to do this with my wife for the first time and that we got them at the pre-devaluation miles amounts. My first class was 87k (I believe) and her business was like 65k? + the 30k to upgrade. So it does work!
Aug 12, 2023, 3:49 pm
#250
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC -- UA 1K; SPG Platinum; HH Diamond.
Posts: 2,922
booked one reward ticket 1st class and one bizz class (all there was) Ewr to Athens flight late last year to leave next week. I had auto upgrade for the business class to first from day one and also checked almost every day over the remaining months. A couple days ago I got the confirmation that the biz flight was upgraded to first. Event though this is the older 777 I still feel lucky to be able to do this with my wife for the first time and that we got them at the pre-devaluation miles amounts. My first class was 87k (I believe) and her business was like 65k? + the 30k to upgrade. So it does work!
Aug 14, 2023, 5:46 am
#251
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, Hilton, National
Posts: 841
I have exactly the same situation, although a different flight route. What I learned from others here on FT is that you should just book the second ticket in J, and then monitor for availability to upgrade the second tkt to F. Several FTers have advised that the auto upgrade function is not always reliable, so do check MMB regularly. Regarding points, it will cost more points in total to book J and upgrade (in my case, about 40% more points) than what you booked the F award for. And each segment gets upgraded independently, unless a full IAH-DXB-MLE award were opened up (which I have also been checking for regularly). The other thing I learned here, if you first get one segment upgraded (which you can do either online or through CS) and then the second leg become available for upgrade.... do not execute the second upgrade online through MMB.... rather call CS and have them see your reservation with the one leg upgraded and the availability open for the other leg... The CS should be able to then book the full flight route at the same miles you booked your first tkt... if you first grab the upgrade online yourself, the CS can not undo your upgrades and book at the lower points. A last point of information, others here have also told me to not necessarily expect a second award seat to open up until close to departure, and possibly not until day of departure when you should be able to grab the upgrade when you are checking, or even on-board.... assuming there are unsold seats of course.
Aug 14, 2023, 7:49 am
#252
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 3
haha thanks! Been awhile since I flew out of newark its almost always jfk for us. I didn't even see that there is an emirates lounge at Newark, just access to the SAS lounge? Not expecting much either way in that regard.
Aug 14, 2023, 8:32 am
#253
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 462
In this exact scenario, if you are successful in getting one leg to upgrade say 30 days out, and then at the airport on the day of departure there is space, are you charged the full amount for that second leg in points - or does the agent see you have already upgraded one leg and do it for no points (or only the difference in points if you had upgraded the shorter leg)?
Aug 14, 2023, 8:49 am
#254
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
Not sure about the situation if upgrading the second leg occurs at the airport..... what other here have advised about upgrading the two legs independently, as inventory becomes available, assumes the upgrade availability for the second leg occurs at a time when you can call CS to request the upgrade for the second segment and get the full trip booked at an award redemption level for the "through flight" number of miles.
Aug 14, 2023, 11:07 am
#255
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, Hilton, National
Posts: 841
When you upgrade the second of the two legs at the airport, you will be charged the full amount of points for that leg. The airport agent cannot combine the two leg upgrades. This requires an on the ball agent in the call centre, possibly even one with extended authority. When I have done it, the agent always ’had to check’ and then came back with a positive response.