I am flying Emirates from JFK to Dubai and then to India next week. Cheapest economy ticket ($970) - I can't figure out the fare class. Is there anything at all I can do to get bumped up to business? I have continental miles which appear to be no use. This is my first time on Emirates. Do they sell upgrades at the airport. I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable amount for a one way upgrade.

You can pay, but it will be the difference between Y & J class. Assuming there is availability.

Cheers,
Rick

Understood I can pay the Y / J diff. I was wondering if I might get the opportunity to get, say, a one sector upgrade (JFK-DXB) for somewhere between $500-700. If I were to fish for such an opportunity, should I be doing it at the time of check in or at the gate?

I would call up and check the load on business... just pretend you are making a reservation for four pax. If there is v.little availability do ur upgrade before hand. If its wide open then upgrade at the gate. Not sure if you can actually pay cash to upgrade at the gate?

My original response still stands. Emirates don't offer 'cheap' upgrades at check-in AFAIK. You can only upgrade using points.

Cheers,
Rick

I second this, be prepared to pay the diference in taxes once you have used your miles.

In the future, if you just want to upgrade, or pay for different sectors - when making a booking on line, do it in Business, it gives all classes available, when doing the search by schedule, I have just done a KHI-DXB-BKK-HKG-DXB-KHI in both Business and First, worked out to be only 1000 AED extra.

Ah KHI fares. I remember reading somewhere they don't sell F seats on KHI route, only F (although I remember the pilot on a DXB-BEY flight saying we were delayed due to the aircraft (a 3 class A332) arriving late from KHI).
Anyhow, the only 3 countries in EK network where a difference in taxes is payable (for segments originating in those countries that is), are UK, Pakistan and Lebanon.

So if you want to upgrade DXB-KHI, no extra; but tax difference applies for KHI-DXB.

Yeah if you book as different flights via DXB and do it online, search via schedule, you can pickl and mix, F and J.

I have paid on the LHR-DXB sector, from J to F on the 380! Well worth the 25'000 miles!

Does EK do airport paid upgrades, which is a fixed price, and does not take into account the price difference between the paid economy fare, and cost of a business class. Sometimes upgrades at airport works out cheaper

Thanks for all the replies. I was offered an upgrade for USD 2800 (JFK-DXB) which I didn't take. It was a full flight in all classes apparently but was a fairly comfortable flight. Read my trip report on my blog.
http://eone.vox.com/library/post/may...dxb-dubai.html

Ah, I've been wondering about this UK tax difference. I've been booked out of London in Y on occasion over the past few years, and always used miles to upgrade to J over the telephone. Approximately half the time, I've been informed of a tax difference, to be paid to EK at the airport - the other half, no mention of it. I've even been quoted a tax difference when upgrading J to F two or three times. No apparent pattern to when I am or am not told this.

Come check-in time, there's never been any hint that I'd have to pay extra, no matter what I was told when upgrading. Naturally, I've never brought it up...

Also, regarding KHI. Flights are sold and operated as J/Y, but EK not uncommonly substitute 3-class aircraft onto the route, presumably for operational reasons. Which is a nice surprise if you're in the first few rows...

Just week landed an upgrade to business class last week during my trip to a South Asian country. When I checked in with Emirates counter at JFK, I just asked if I had a chance for an upgrade to Business class. I was told they were offering a promo offer of $990 for an upgrade to Biz class for JFK to DXB route. I couldn't decline that offer of flying on Emirates A380. All I can say it was all worth it. Flat bed, gourmet food,lounge access, amazing service!!!

That's a great deal. May I ask what economy fare you originally paid?

they offer this from time to time. in 3 yrs i've been asked if i want to upgrade at the counter in nyc. from $500-$750 the 4 times i've been asked. i've always been on flex tickets since they introduced the diff options.

Paid in R class fare $1898.