Upgrade questions
Dec 11, 2023 | 7:08 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC -- UA 1K; SPG Platinum; HH Diamond.
Posts: 3,257
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?
No one can tell you the chances, especially not this much in advance. Once you get to 1 week / a few days before the flight, the picture will be much clearer.
Dec 11, 2023 | 7:49 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Programs: EK skywards Gold, BA, VS silver
Posts: 285
[QUOTE=NYC1;35813209]You have no justifiable reason to be miffed. EK is looking to maximize $ for its F seats, not upgrades from C using miles. If they offered these seats as miles upgrades (2 months in advance), people would be less likely to actually buy F tickets for $.
You obviously did not read my post - the DXB/LGW leg was upgraded with miles at the time of booking ( in March\) so your argument is pointless. Also it is J not C in EK speak!
You obviously did not read my post - the DXB/LGW leg was upgraded with miles at the time of booking ( in March\) so your argument is pointless. Also it is J not C in EK speak!
Dec 11, 2023 | 2:37 pm
#33
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,804
He did read your post... LGW-DXB is not a premium route, so upgrades will be made available earlier. There are lots of flights per day from LON to DXB.
DXB--SYD has fewer flights, so fewer seats will be made available for upgrades.
DXB--SYD has fewer flights, so fewer seats will be made available for upgrades.
Dec 11, 2023 | 5:31 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC -- UA 1K; SPG Platinum; HH Diamond.
Posts: 3,257
You have no justifiable reason to be miffed. EK is looking to maximize $ for its F seats, not upgrades from C using miles. If they offered these seats as miles upgrades (2 months in advance), people would be less likely to actually buy F tickets for $.
You obviously did not read my post - the DXB/LGW leg was upgraded with miles at the time of booking ( in March\) so your argument is pointless. Also it is J not C in EK speak!
You obviously did not read my post - the DXB/LGW leg was upgraded with miles at the time of booking ( in March\) so your argument is pointless. Also it is J not C in EK speak!
Dec 11, 2023 | 11:51 pm
#36
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,804
Dec 12, 2023 | 2:50 am
#37
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,847
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?
As also mentioned by DYKWIA, LGW is a completely different proposition, it is not really that much of a 'premium' route (LHR is) and I have never struggled to get an upgrade there (in either direction). So, as mentioned by others, don't try to draw to many parallels between those two stations.
Impossible to predict your chances. Do not count on auto upgrade, it is unreliable. if they make more seats available, it will most likely be in the last 2 or 3 days. Otherwise try at the airport, although you will then not be able to get the 'though upgrade' mileage rate.
Dec 12, 2023 | 4:40 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,932
Dec 15, 2023 | 2:09 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,887
Their willingness to clear an upgrade is directly related (inversely) to their belief that they can sell the seat for cash. That varies significantly by route, but also by how far in advance the flight is. And they have lots of historical data on ticket purchase patterns by which to gauge that likelihood. Presumably they already found 4 people willing to buy the seat to SYD, and today, they think they will find more. If they dont, theyll open the seat(s) for rewards and upgrades.