Upgrade J to F with miles
Dec 9, 2022, 12:36 am
#76
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
Is there a J to F bucket that is different from F simply being available?
I'm looking to upgrade a J award, which is set to auto-upgrade, and have been further searching online for any F availability in the event the auto-upgrade feature doesn't work. But, should I be calling into EK to see if there is some other upgrade availability?
I'm looking to upgrade a J award, which is set to auto-upgrade, and have been further searching online for any F availability in the event the auto-upgrade feature doesn't work. But, should I be calling into EK to see if there is some other upgrade availability?
Dec 9, 2022, 2:02 am
#77
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
Many problems with this :-
1. After you cancel the F booking, you'd then need to book a last minute J (probably at Flex Plus pricing). That could be eye-wateringly expensive.
2. Hope that J actually has some availability.
3. Hope that there was nobody waitlisted to get an F ticket.
4. Hope that there was nobody waitlisted to get an F upgrade.
If you were hoping to have both a J & F booking on the same flight, and then cancel the F booking, then this would probably get picked up as a duplicate booking. One of the bookings would be automatically cancelled.
Dec 9, 2022, 7:46 am
#78
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: N/A
Posts: 823
So, you want to book an F seat, cancel at the last minute, and then use points to upgrade?
Many problems with this :-
1. After you cancel the F booking, you'd then need to book a last minute J (probably at Flex Plus pricing). That could be eye-wateringly expensive.
2. Hope that J actually has some availability.
3. Hope that there was nobody waitlisted to get an F ticket.
4. Hope that there was nobody waitlisted to get an F upgrade.
If you were hoping to have both a J & F booking on the same flight, and then cancel the F booking, then this would probably get picked up as a duplicate booking. One of the bookings would be automatically cancelled.
Many problems with this :-
1. After you cancel the F booking, you'd then need to book a last minute J (probably at Flex Plus pricing). That could be eye-wateringly expensive.
2. Hope that J actually has some availability.
3. Hope that there was nobody waitlisted to get an F ticket.
4. Hope that there was nobody waitlisted to get an F upgrade.
If you were hoping to have both a J & F booking on the same flight, and then cancel the F booking, then this would probably get picked up as a duplicate booking. One of the bookings would be automatically cancelled.
Dec 9, 2022, 2:32 pm
#79
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: AS MVP, EK Silver, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 921
I think what they are going for is purchase with cash a "fake" F ticket in a name that is not yours in order to take that seat out of inventory. Then just before you check in cancel it, thereby putting that seat back into inventory and opening it for an upgrade. I suppose there is nothing in theory from stopping you from doing this, but if Emirates catches on that could be an issue for you, and could ruin the current generous upgrade policy for everyone else if they feel people are gaming the policy.
This policy is the only reason I've gotten to fly EK F.. except for the 50% off miles sale they did in Q1 2017.
Dec 10, 2022, 9:50 am
#80
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: DFW
Programs: OWE AA EXP;*A TK Gold; Marriott LTT; Hyatt Globalist; IHG Plat; National VIP
Posts: 3,097
J to F wish cash
We booked J awards on a fairly short DXB AMM flight with Aeroplan. Is it possible to upgrade to F with cash at check in and what is the process? Any guesses on cost?
Dec 11, 2022, 4:06 pm
#82
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
Yes, Z bucket for both (assuming classic awards, not Flex+ awards). That’s why trying to book an award to check on miles upgrade works.
Dec 15, 2022, 3:17 pm
#83
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
Dec 16, 2022, 7:57 pm
#84
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 35
I have an upcoming RUH-DXB-JFK in business (cash saver). On the EK site it’s offering me to upgrade the leg to DXB for about 12000 points. For the leg to JFK it’s telling me “Unfortunately this segment cannot be upgraded.” On EF it’s telling me both of my flights are F2 A1 although an earlier connection from RUH is showing F3 A3 for both flights.
Any thoughts on my odds of being able to upgrade the flight to JFK? Is there a timing element to this in terms of how long before the flight the upgrade may be available?
If I get the upgrade on the flight to DXB, will I have F lounge access at DXB as an arriving pax in F?
Any thoughts on my odds of being able to upgrade the flight to JFK? Is there a timing element to this in terms of how long before the flight the upgrade may be available?
If I get the upgrade on the flight to DXB, will I have F lounge access at DXB as an arriving pax in F?
Dec 16, 2022, 9:16 pm
#85
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
I have an upcoming RUH-DXB-JFK in business (cash saver). On the EK site it’s offering me to upgrade the leg to DXB for about 12000 points. For the leg to JFK it’s telling me “Unfortunately this segment cannot be upgraded.” On EF it’s telling me both of my flights are F2 A1 although an earlier connection from RUH is showing F3 A3 for both flights.
Any thoughts on my odds of being able to upgrade the flight to JFK? Is there a timing element to this in terms of how long before the flight the upgrade may be available?
If I get the upgrade on the flight to DXB, will I have F lounge access at DXB as an arriving pax in F?
Any thoughts on my odds of being able to upgrade the flight to JFK? Is there a timing element to this in terms of how long before the flight the upgrade may be available?
If I get the upgrade on the flight to DXB, will I have F lounge access at DXB as an arriving pax in F?
upgrade availability is a lottery at this time of the year
Dec 17, 2022, 2:53 am
#86
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 770
Just a data point today. In the business lounge today I was able to upgrade my business award ticket to a first class ticket on Dxb to jfk for 54k miles. As soon as I got to the lounge I put my name down on the waitlist and an hour before my flight they told me it cleared.
Dec 17, 2022, 6:02 am
#87
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 35
Just a data point today. In the business lounge today I was able to upgrade my business award ticket to a first class ticket on Dxb to jfk for 54k miles. As soon as I got to the lounge I put my name down on the waitlist and an hour before my flight they told me it cleared.
Dec 17, 2022, 6:04 am
#88
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 770
Nice! How early were you at the lounge? Do you know what EF availability showed for your flight? Is this something I could do at RUH when I check in? Does it matter if I have the miles in the account to get the offer (don’t want to transfer them if I’m not getting the upgrade). TIA.
Dec 17, 2022, 9:40 pm
#89
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 462
I have been looking for F award availibility for a HKG-DXB-ORD trip... when doing a straight forward flight search, it searches assuming classic awards....and I have not been finding any availability, which I suspect is due to it assuming only to search for a classic award... but if I were willing to bite the bullet for a Flex+ award... how do I search for availability through the EK search engine??
Last edited by Brostman; Dec 21, 2022 at 8:59 pm