Upgrade Woes / Availability?
 

Hi all,

Never had an issue upgrading before (luckily I guess?) but I've been on the auto upgrade option (and checking manually, and having alerts) for a few months now on EK203 on 29th Apr. Trying to get my wife an upgrade using my miles but nothing. EF shows availability in the cabin (J7) and the seat map shows plenty of space.

Tried to call and they won't release / wait-list or do anything other than offer the cash upgrade or suggest asking at the airport.

Anyone got any thoughts / experiences on this? They told me its first-come first serve at the airport in DXB and opens 4hrs before - is my best shot being in the queue 4hrs before for check-in? Unfortunatley are are on separate bookings, I am in J and she is in Y - as you can imagine it looks to be an unhappy start to our trip.

auto upgrade is very buggy / hit and miss

alerts is also the same. i have seen upgrades manually checking the website, as opposed to being notified

on other occasions i have been notified at 5am by sms

Sorry to hijack the thread but along a similar vein I’ve run into no luck waiting for auto upgrade - For outstations with multiple EK flights per day, can I only request a physical check in upgrade 4 hours before? Or can I show up to the airport early assuming there’s check in staff there for a different flight and try and improve my chances that way?

Can't really say. These 'upgrades at check-in' are really 'space available' upgrades and the airline can decide what they feel they can no longer sell the seats. On two occasions I have been told that they have loaded the request and will process the upgrade request when the flight is closed (T-60). Both attempts were successful, once I was handed the new BP when leaving the lounge (outstation), the other occasion at the gate (in DXB, I cheekily asked at the F lounge reception and they let me into the lounge even though at that stage I only had a J BP). If F is really quite empty you may get the upgrade earlier but it is definitely not a given.