Okay here's again a question for the experts.

I have an upcoming trip connecting in DXB, which I want to upgrade.
While there is no availability on the first leg currently, there is on the second.
I would however like to upgrade the whole trip (two segments).
According to the mileage calculator the difference between upgrading the two segments seperately is more expensive by 5k miles, than to upgrade it as a whole.
So now I am stuck between
- securing at least one upgraded segment, but that might be more 'expensive' if the first segment also clears
- or waiting for the first segment to become available and save 5k, but risking the (currently) secure upgrade on the second segment.

Is EK customer-friendly and charges only the cheaper 'whole upgrade rate' if one segment was already upgraded in advance ? Or do they simply charge in such an event segment by segment ?

Cheers
TheAirman

You could use your miles to secure than 2nd segment.
If the first one clears, it's a matter of calling skywards, cancelling the upgrade on the 2nd, and requesting the upgrade for both of the segments.

They should do it on the spot, no hassle.

AFAIK you only have to 'pay' the miles 24 (or 48 I forget) hours before departure, and you can keep the upgrade booking on hold indefinately. I would put the first segment on hold and call back / add the second segment if /when it becomes available.

Cheers,

Thanks, I didn't know that the upgrades don't get charged until 1 or 2 days before departure. I'll then go ahead and secure the second segment.

The flight which is currently not available is JNB-DXB. Interesting because EK zeroed out all BC seats, but on the codesharing SA flight number, there the C,D,J seats show 7-9. I'll check daily regarding the availability.

Cheers
TheAirman

From my experience, some times miles are deducted overnight (with travel still weeks away); some other times it would take few days.

Sorry for my lack of clarity in the previous post: As soon as you confirm your upgrade the miles will be deducted soon after. However, you can put the upgrade on hold, I did so this past summer. It might have been an anamoly but I don't think so:

I called EK and made a booking. The upgrade was on hold until the paperwork was completed (which was over a period of about 7 days I left it till the night before) and then the miles were deducted. However, the agent had no problem just creating an upgrade and not deducting any miles.

Cheers,

Did you call reservations or skywards?

Just remembered, the guys at Skywards gave me a hard time to secure an available seat (without debiting of miles); the few agents I spoke to did not budge and they insisted that once an upgrade is booked, miles are debited.

I did not have enough miles, and was planning to purchase more to get this upgrade; I spent 2 days on the phone with Skywards in Dubai, and $$ on phone calls and failed faxes until it was sorted out.

My upgrade was charged to my Skywards account immediately!

Dot

I called Skywards in Karachi - really nice and helpful; a refreshing change!

Cheers,

UPDATE:

Just to let you know. It worked out fine with my "2 segment upgrade".
First I had only the second leg upgraded, but now as the first one also became available, they redeposited the miles and upgraded the whole trip (at the cheaper rate).

I am now just a bit puzzled, cause in my eticket receipt it says BC, but the luguage limitation is still 20kgs. Is that true or just a glitch ?

Cheers
TheAirman

Just wondering if anyone has done this recently? I have an upcoming trip JNB-DXB-JFK where JNB-DXB is available for online upgrade with miles while DXB-JFK is not.

If I upgrade the first segment, will the system automatically charge me the lower JNB-JFK rate when I upgrade the 2nd segment? Or will I have to call? Are the phone agents able to do this?

Thanks.

You have to call, the agent will cancel and rebook the whole upgrade or you will be charged for separate segments. Best tactic is certainly to snag the upgrades when you can these days and sort out the miles after!