No upgrade available for AY+ points - a first
Jul 16, 2014, 4:20 am
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,103
No upgrade available for AY+ points - a first
This seems to be a first for me - tried to u/g my BUD-HEL flight. They put me on the waiting list for two weeks, didn't clear even at check-in ("we have two standbys for one place") and at the gate the rather unfriendly lady just told me "we filled up". There were only 6 C seats assigned (1AC, 2ACDF) but they didn't move the curtain to accomodate upgrades. 
Wonder what card the lucky winner had that trumped my OWE - AY Plat?
I got my prebooked exit seat with free middle seat (I get more and more convinced that this is an unpublished perk, as it's been the case for several flights) so I ended up with 2 glasses of champers poorer and 5k points richer. Points were re-deposited within 8 hrs after landing. ^
Wonder what card the lucky winner had that trumped my OWE - AY Plat?
I got my prebooked exit seat with free middle seat (I get more and more convinced that this is an unpublished perk, as it's been the case for several flights) so I ended up with 2 glasses of champers poorer and 5k points richer. Points were re-deposited within 8 hrs after landing. ^
Jul 16, 2014, 4:53 am
#2
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,164
It is probably due to ongoing campaign for shorthaul upgrades eating all inventory (but it has been immensely hard for me to find upgrade availability for longhaul this autumn. I sure do hope they have not killed the only valuable perk on the program by limiting availability).
I have been told that the date you were put on waitlist counts too. If they still prioritize plats, it might just be a plat with earlier waitlisting.
I have been told that the date you were put on waitlist counts too. If they still prioritize plats, it might just be a plat with earlier waitlisting.
Jul 16, 2014, 7:03 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
This has happened to me twice during these campaign months - but never during the previous years! 
On an overbooked DUS-HEL flight some people were upgraded at the gate, including a teenager whose mother remained in economy... obviously without any points.
I was on the "waiting list" with points, but no place for me. I wrote AY asking for explanation, but no reply has arrived.
On an overbooked DUS-HEL flight some people were upgraded at the gate, including a teenager whose mother remained in economy... obviously without any points.
I was on the "waiting list" with points, but no place for me. I wrote AY asking for explanation, but no reply has arrived.
Jul 17, 2014, 2:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,600
I wonder if the demand for better service has also gone up. Similar offers have also been available during the last few years. Maybe the fares offered by LH and BA (C class for 400 - 800 € could also be sold intra-European instead of the standard 1800 €). In a recent flight there were over 30 passengers in C, so there really is some need for better service. A rather annoying feature is that the upgrades used to clear up in a couple of hours, no it is nearly five days. A reduction of the team or an increase of the requests? Only AY knows the truth.
Last edited by nordic; Jul 17, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Jul 18, 2014, 1:28 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
Jul 18, 2014, 3:34 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,461
I think there would definitely be demand, as currently the 1800€ fares you speak of are really only feasible for business travellers looking for flexibility and LH connects. Finnair is ignoring the higher end "luxury" SH traveller, which is a market segment I think e.g. BA has managed to capture quite well with their rather reasonable CE pricing i.e. HEL-LHR €400 vs AY's price x3-4 that.
Jul 18, 2014, 5:06 am
#8
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At least the lady at BUD checkin said - "there are two of you for the one available seat" The sour faced supervisor at the gate simply said "we filled up"
Jul 18, 2014, 5:09 am
#9
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I think there would definitely be demand, as currently the 1800€ fares you speak of are really only feasible for business travellers looking for flexibility and LH connects. Finnair is ignoring the higher end "luxury" SH traveller, which is a market segment I think e.g. BA has managed to capture quite well with their rather reasonable CE pricing i.e. HEL-LHR €400 vs AY's price x3-4 that.
Jul 19, 2014, 7:43 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AY Platinum
Posts: 87
Same here two weeks back.. Called for an upgrade one week prior and they put me on waiting list. Was surprised the upgrade did not happen. Anyway, short EU flight so not a biggie..
On another occasion 3 weeks back checked in my luggage and asked for an exit seat. At the priority counter they told unfortunately all were gone and the flight was overbooked to Y. Tried my luck and said I would not mind if she would put me then to the front and tadaa.. 1A OP upgrade
Made me very happy
On another occasion 3 weeks back checked in my luggage and asked for an exit seat. At the priority counter they told unfortunately all were gone and the flight was overbooked to Y. Tried my luck and said I would not mind if she would put me then to the front and tadaa.. 1A OP upgrade
Made me very happy
Jul 19, 2014, 11:05 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,103
On another occasion 3 weeks back checked in my luggage and asked for an exit seat. At the priority counter they told unfortunately all were gone and the flight was overbooked to Y. Tried my luck and said I would not mind if she would put me then to the front and tadaa.. 1A OP upgrade Made me very happy
Made me very happy
Jul 22, 2014, 3:56 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
What's the point in launching a 5000-point intra-European upgrade campaign and reducing at the same time F class availability?
On a recent flight - once again - they had received only 4 seats for J, although there was some place in Y.
On a recent flight - once again - they had received only 4 seats for J, although there was some place in Y.
Jul 22, 2014, 5:39 am
#15
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,164
But the "cheap" J-upgrades for points have been launched every summer and probably is something marketing just do every year without ever speaking to anyone about it.
F availability however is something that is under the control of revenue management and from what we've heard (like from the capital markets day) AY has new revenue management in place and also has "launched some activities that soon will give us better revenues". No details told, so it is anyone's guess.
