EK Upgrades
Jun 20, 2009 | 9:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Programs: KE Skypass, Asiana, Virgin, PC, HHonors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 90
EK Upgrades
Hi, a newbie at EK. I am flying my first EK flight soon from Shanghai via Dubai then from Dubai to London. Since I am connecting right away, I seem to be flying a long time.
Any thoughts on how to upgrade my seats to business? I see that need around 80k miles to upgrade for round trips. But since on the way back, I am staying a day in Dubai, I won't be suffering as much as on my way there.
Would one way upgrade be possible or even from Shanghai to Dubai route and is buying mileage (either from Skywards or from someone else) worth it? I see some ebay sort of listing selling upgrades but are they credible?
Thanks in advance.
Any thoughts on how to upgrade my seats to business? I see that need around 80k miles to upgrade for round trips. But since on the way back, I am staying a day in Dubai, I won't be suffering as much as on my way there.
Would one way upgrade be possible or even from Shanghai to Dubai route and is buying mileage (either from Skywards or from someone else) worth it? I see some ebay sort of listing selling upgrades but are they credible?
Thanks in advance.
Jun 20, 2009 | 10:45 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: EK Gold, EY Gold, BA Gold OW Emerald, A3 *G, SV Skyteam Elite
Posts: 972
1. Yes, you can upgrade singe segments of the flight, say PVG - DXB only.
2. No clue about ebay purchase of mileage but you should know that miles are not transferable which implies that you need to trust the seller to do the upgrade for you.
2. No clue about ebay purchase of mileage but you should know that miles are not transferable which implies that you need to trust the seller to do the upgrade for you.
Jun 20, 2009 | 2:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,146
How hard is it to get a points confirmed upgrade on EK?
Jun 20, 2009 | 10:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 215
Not too difficult. You can call EK before purchasing the ticket to confirm availability. I have not done SPG -> EK though so not sure how many days/weeks it takes to transfer.
Jun 22, 2009 | 11:45 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Calgary
Programs: WestJet Platinum
Posts: 773
How can I tell what kind of ticket class a quoted fare is in economy? I have the fare name and looked at the rules, but cant seem to find the information I need. What I am trying to find out BEFORE purchasing this fare is if I can use my Skywards Miles to upgrade the return leg to business class. I have just enough miles to do so.
The ticket is YYZ-DXB 23rd Oct returning 26th Oct on EK 242 and EK 241, respectively. It is the return leg I would like to upgrade. The fare is RB3MPCA1. The Skywards Website says I need 45000 to upgrade but I dont know if this is an upgradable ticket???
If no-one can help I may have to phone Skywards...
The ticket is YYZ-DXB 23rd Oct returning 26th Oct on EK 242 and EK 241, respectively. It is the return leg I would like to upgrade. The fare is RB3MPCA1. The Skywards Website says I need 45000 to upgrade but I dont know if this is an upgradable ticket???
If no-one can help I may have to phone Skywards...
Jun 22, 2009 | 3:16 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Calgary
Programs: WestJet Platinum
Posts: 773
Thanks for the reply to my question above, now lets hope I can get this upgrade using my Skywards points before they expire...... Business class on the 380 will be an amazing ride!
Last edited by DavidYYC; Jun 22, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Jun 23, 2009 | 1:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752
Icidentally, I and a fellow FT'er travelled on the 380 in First, we went to the bar, and asked them to bring up the Dom to the back, the crew obligued and treated some of the J passengers to our DOM - It was such a good trip...
Jun 24, 2009 | 2:52 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: M&M Freq, BA, Emirates, KLM, CSA
Posts: 46
It sure is, quiet, spacious (request window seat for even more room and privacy) and a great few hours stood at a free bar too.
Icidentally, I and a fellow FT'er travelled on the 380 in First, we went to the bar, and asked them to bring up the Dom to the back, the crew obligued and treated some of the J passengers to our DOM - It was such a good trip...
Icidentally, I and a fellow FT'er travelled on the 380 in First, we went to the bar, and asked them to bring up the Dom to the back, the crew obligued and treated some of the J passengers to our DOM - It was such a good trip...
Not sure if this is a deliberate Emirates policy or just that the 380 is so popular now.
Jun 24, 2009 | 12:18 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Calgary
Programs: WestJet Platinum
Posts: 773
From my experience it seems to be far harder to get an upgrade to Business availability using miles on the 380 than all other EK aircraft where an upgrade is generally always available.
Not sure if this is a deliberate Emirates policy or just that the 380 is so popular now.
Not sure if this is a deliberate Emirates policy or just that the 380 is so popular now.
I am on EK242 YYZ-DXB in Y, spend a day and two nights there, then back on EK 241 in J in seat 23K. I had no trouble doing the upgrade, but then the plane looks very empty, perhaps because it is so far in the future, this is in October. I had to do it now as all my Skywards Miles would expire in August.
I am looking forward to the whole A380 experience.
Jun 24, 2009 | 12:57 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752
3 of us have managed today to upgrade from y to j on the ek001 on 14th august. 3 spearate skywards accounts, 3 separate bookings. However we were told that we had the last upgrade seats for that day. 2of ushave managed to upgrade on the return portions too.
Last week, on the dxb-bkk on the 380, we had f seats booked, J was full but there were only 5 of us in first.......... I did not go downstairs so not sure how busy Y was!
Last week, on the dxb-bkk on the 380, we had f seats booked, J was full but there were only 5 of us in first.......... I did not go downstairs so not sure how busy Y was!
Jun 24, 2009 | 4:15 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 21 mls sw of ABZ
Programs: EK Siver, Dusit Gold, Cycling Proficiency Test, Tufty Club Member and Le Club Accorhotels Platinum
Posts: 312
3 of us have managed today to upgrade from y to j on the ek001 on 14th august. 3 spearate skywards accounts, 3 separate bookings. However we were told that we had the last upgrade seats for that day. 2of ushave managed to upgrade on the return portions too.
Last week, on the dxb-bkk on the 380, we had f seats booked, J was full but there were only 5 of us in first.......... I did not go downstairs so not sure how busy Y was!
Last week, on the dxb-bkk on the 380, we had f seats booked, J was full but there were only 5 of us in first.......... I did not go downstairs so not sure how busy Y was!
Jun 24, 2009 | 7:46 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752
Jun 28, 2009 | 2:35 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Programs: KE Skypass, Asiana, Virgin, PC, HHonors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 90
Just arrived in Dubai from Shanghai. They bumped me up to business for free without any mileage. This was my first trip on Emirates. I am extremely satisfied!!!
Jun 28, 2009 | 4:28 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752