I’ll be trying to upgrade France-DXB-France. Just concerned that EK will ask for additional carrier imposed charges, similar to the surcharges they’re asking for on award tickets.

On a separate note, it seems these reward surcharges aren’t added to every flight. For example I was looking at MXP-JFK return in J in November and EK want the miles plus only about 200-300 euros. Whereas from France-DXB they want the miles plus almost 1000 euros 🤷‍♂️

I can confirm that they process upgrades without requiring payment of the higher Carrier Imposed Surcharges. Otherwise, auto upgrades would be impossible to implement.

The only variable is government/airport taxes, as highlighted above.

Correct. And that’s all why auto upgrade from Y to J ex UK is disabled. J to F is fine as the tax is the same for all cabins above the lowest ons.

Seeking some clarification. If I pay for a cash upgrade from Biz to First via the website/app, will I get the Tier miles for First?

Yes, it simply becomes a paid F ticket with all the 'bells and whstles'.

Many thanks

Just be aware that this is only when you upgrade via the website / app (as you mentioned) and therefore pay the fare difference. If you use a ‘special offer’ (which you normally get via email), you get J miles, luggage allowance etc.

I have a paid J ticket and was told that I could upgrade to F with miles but would not be able to access the F lounges in DXB.

Is that a new(ish) policy? I could have sworn that I was always able to use F lounges when I’d upgrade with miles in the past (the last time was probably a year ago).

Who told you that?
Last time I upgraded with miles (admittedly a few months ago), I certainly got access to the F lounges (and the ‘meet and greet’ on arrival in DXB)

How to check upgrade availability?
 

Newbie to Emirates - trying to check whether I’ll be able to upgrade a TA booking at the point of purchase.

If there is O class availability, and reward tickets are showing available on the EK website, will it definitely be possible to upgrade a Y flex booking to J?

The EK staff at check-in at DXB. She was adamant about that point, which I had never heard about before. I hope that she was just mistaken and that Emirates haven’t further upped their stinginess.

So what happened? I guess you didn't upgrade and test it out?

I’m wondering too… (But more about J to F)
Anyone? :)

This needs a bit of clarification:
When you look for award tickets on the website, you should be shown the 'classic awards', which are booked in 'D' bucket, not in 'O'. Sometimes though, it appears to show 'Flex Awards' when there are no classic awards available, those are the ones which book into 'O', but unsurprisingly cost a lot more miles.
I have successfully upgraded J to F on a TA bought J ticket several times, but always to a 'classic award', which for F books into 'Z' bucket. You don't even need the TA to do that, it's one of the few changes you can do yourself (either via the website or the call centre) on a TA bought ticket.

I have to say that I am feeling slightly miffed that as a Gold member (on my own dollar), I have been unable to upgrade from J to F on a Flex ticket booked back in March for travel at the end of January (SYD/DXB with DXB/LGW already upgraded to F).. I have auto upgrade enabled and have called EK on many occasions to check but even when Expert Flyer showed F wide open there were still no upgrades available. This is still the case, although there are now 4 seats reserved in the F cabin. What do you reckon are my chances?