Upgrading to Business Class
Jul 7, 2009 | 4:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 100
Upgrading to Business Class
Hi all:
I am traveling from LAX > Bangalore and then returning from Chennai > LAX. I am hoping to purchase an economy ticket on Emirates and then upgrade to Business Class using miles I transfer in from Starwood. In calling Emirates, there seems to be a disconnect between the people who one calls to buy the economy ticket and the people who administer the Skywards program. I'm worried that I'll buy the economy ticket and then be told there are no upgrades available. Any advice on streamlining this process and ensuring that if I pay the money for the economy ticket I will be able to actually get an upgrade would be most appreciated. Thanks!
I am traveling from LAX > Bangalore and then returning from Chennai > LAX. I am hoping to purchase an economy ticket on Emirates and then upgrade to Business Class using miles I transfer in from Starwood. In calling Emirates, there seems to be a disconnect between the people who one calls to buy the economy ticket and the people who administer the Skywards program. I'm worried that I'll buy the economy ticket and then be told there are no upgrades available. Any advice on streamlining this process and ensuring that if I pay the money for the economy ticket I will be able to actually get an upgrade would be most appreciated. Thanks!
Jul 7, 2009 | 9:17 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: EK
Posts: 358
Best option is to call skywards.. and check if there are seats available on the dates you are traveling..
ask them how many seats are available.. some will give you an idea.. some wont.. so call back until you have a rep who will cooperate with you.
keep in mind there is always a risk of losing the upgrade.. i was on the phone about to upgrade myself.. and before the rep finished her sentence.. she said "oops.. sorry someone just snatched it"
if your dates are flexible.. pick dates to travel that normally don't fill up so fast.. weekdays are easiest.
ask them how many seats are available.. some will give you an idea.. some wont.. so call back until you have a rep who will cooperate with you.
keep in mind there is always a risk of losing the upgrade.. i was on the phone about to upgrade myself.. and before the rep finished her sentence.. she said "oops.. sorry someone just snatched it"
if your dates are flexible.. pick dates to travel that normally don't fill up so fast.. weekdays are easiest.
Jul 8, 2009 | 1:13 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752
Maybe its just a gold perk but i have in the past held seats to upgrade, make the booking with them, in the class you purchase, and skywards can hold upgrade seats for up to a month if you call them direct rather than make it on line - however, i guess if you are using none EK miles you have to call the center.
Jul 8, 2009 | 1:20 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, EK Gold, GF Silver, IC Royal Ambass, Marriott Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 910
I've always found the ticket agents can tell you how many award seats are available although to do the upgrade you then have to contact skywards or do the upgrade online yourself.
Jul 8, 2009 | 1:51 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sydney
Posts: 5,775
Maybe its just a gold perk but i have in the past held seats to upgrade, make the booking with them, in the class you purchase, and skywards can hold upgrade seats for up to a month if you call them direct rather than make it on line - however, i guess if you are using none EK miles you have to call the center.
OP is transferring in from SPG that takes at least a week.the upgrades could be long gone and has EK miles they cant use
Jul 8, 2009 | 5:55 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: EK
Posts: 358
Maybe its just a gold perk but i have in the past held seats to upgrade, make the booking with them, in the class you purchase, and skywards can hold upgrade seats for up to a month if you call them direct rather than make it on line - however, i guess if you are using none EK miles you have to call the center.
Jul 8, 2009 | 6:40 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752
Fingers crossed, I have just done LAX-DXB in F class, and would hate to do that distance in Y!!!!!!!! The flight was chocker block too. DXB-SFO the same!
Jul 8, 2009 | 6:42 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: EK
Posts: 358
Jul 8, 2009 | 5:19 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 100
Thanks all. I appreciate your input. have no real interest in doing that trip in anything but Business Class - and the miles can take up to a MONTH to transfer in!
That said, I did a little research and it doesn't seem that Emirates has a great on-time percentage. Have you pros experienced many departure and arrival delays? A travel pro is trying to get me to fly British Airways instead of Emirates because of this...Thanks again.
That said, I did a little research and it doesn't seem that Emirates has a great on-time percentage. Have you pros experienced many departure and arrival delays? A travel pro is trying to get me to fly British Airways instead of Emirates because of this...Thanks again.
Jul 8, 2009 | 9:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752
Anna, I am in and out of India lots and have never had delays of more than 15 minutes. I have only done a handful of US trips and NONE have been delayed, in fairness, we have arrived early each time. The India/US routes are very popular and allow enough time with transit connections etc.
I much prefer EK's J class to BA's CW product, albeit the BA bed is indeed totally flat, but EK's is not far off.
If you sleep regardless, then go EK anytime over BA. Better crews, better lounges, easier to transit in DXB than LHR.
All my opinions!
I much prefer EK's J class to BA's CW product, albeit the BA bed is indeed totally flat, but EK's is not far off.
If you sleep regardless, then go EK anytime over BA. Better crews, better lounges, easier to transit in DXB than LHR.
All my opinions!
Jul 9, 2009 | 12:57 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, EK Gold, GF Silver, IC Royal Ambass, Marriott Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 910
And much better food on EK and plenty more of it! for example on BA in CW, it's dessert or cheese- EK has the trolley with choice of dessert (no choice on BA), fruit, cheese - have as much or as little as you like.
Choice of films, music is far superior on EK too.
Choice of films, music is far superior on EK too.
Jul 9, 2009 | 6:05 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: BA Emirates
Posts: 73
I was impressed and am now looking forward to MAN - AHM and return DEL - MAN in January.
Jul 9, 2009 | 11:13 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 373
Check seatcounter availability in C for your dates. As long as there are seats in C, you will be fine. Transfer from SPG to Skymiles should take about 7-10 days, mine took about 9 days. YMMV, but check this FAQ: How long for a points transfer to an airline? and general consensus has been that it takes about a week for the transfer.
Also, once the miles were in my account, I was able to do the upgrade online.
Also, once the miles were in my account, I was able to do the upgrade online.