Mar 12, 2015, 3:34 pm
Last edit by: Marschel
Background
From time to time, AY will make the Y traveller an offer to upgrade. This thread lists when, how and and how much the upgrade is.
Selection process is unknown, but it is likely that neither fare class on original ticket nor tier status of traveller is a selection criteria, at least not to travellers advantage. From the reports made so far, both travellers with and without FF# in the reservation have gotten offers.
Offers are likely made only when Y is oversold or nearly full. Some travellers have reported declining offer and being upgraded for free later ("op-up").
Offers are fixed price offers, either in € or in AY+points. The latter kind is only valid for members of AY+, while €-offers are directed to all kind of travellers.
Offers are made either in mail or via text message and recipient has 72 hours to repspond. Some reports says this time is now shortened to 48 hours. Text message offers typically arrive close to departure and may not state a last time to reply.
Offers in text message can be replied to and upgrade is instantly processed. Offers in mail has occasionally not cleared (said to be "sold out" when accepting offer too late).
If offer is accepted and upgrade clears, new ticket is issued in F, so a confirmed upgrade with all perks of business class included. Mileage earning is according to original fare class however.
Development
In august 2015 AY announced a trial to let travellers bid for upgrades, initially on AY89 and AY90. It is likely that bidding will affect the number of fixed price offers.
The trial has been made permanent, and the bidding for upgrade has been extended to more longhaul routes.
The program has also led to a consolidation of upgrade options to one webpage
https://www.finnair.com/int/gb/upgrade-options
where you can upgrade by bidding, by using AY+ points or by accepting last minute cash offers. The latter ("Last minute" offers) are the same as have been discussed in this thread.. Finnair still pushes those offers via e-mail and text-message, but now also shows them on this webpage.
Offers made
Here is a condensed list of offers made, processed including post #213.
Figures are in € unless otherwise stated. Each destination's offers are recorded in a single line in time order.
Longhaul
SIN-HEL 248, 348, 348
HEL-SIN 499, 499, 348, 349€
JFK-HEL 48k points, 348€, 348€, 499
HKG-HEL 248
HEL-HKG 348
BKK-HEL 298, 348, 348
HEL-BKK 48k points, 348€, 348€ (290€ on phone? Not yet confirmed)
HEL-HKT 348
NRT-HEL 498
HEL-KIX 348, 375 (12/19, 01/20)
KIX-HEL 391 (12/19, 01/20)
ICN-HEL 248, 318
HEL-PVG 298
PVG-HEL 448, 498
CKG-HEL 228
XIY-HEL 248
HEL-DEL 198
HEL-DEL 300 (4/19)
YYZ-HEL 225€, 225
Shorthaul
DXB-HEL 99
HEL-VNO 7k points
HEL-BUD 69€
BUD-HEL 69, 8k points, 69
HEL-PRG 69€
PRG-HEL ≈70€
CPH-HEL 7k points, 7k, 69€, 7k, 69€
HEL-CPH 69€, 69, 69
HEL-ARN 7,5k points, 41€
HEL-GOT 7k points
GOT-HEL 7k points
HEL-VIE 69€
HEL-CDG 69€, 69€, 69
CDG-HEL 89€
HEL-MXP 69
HEL-TXL 9k points, 9k
HEL-DUS 69
HEL-HAM 69,69
HAM-HEL 69
HEL-FRA 69€
FRA-HEL 69€, 89, 89€
BRU-HEL 69
GVA-HEL 69
HEL-GVA 69, 89
HEL-LHR 9k points
HEL-LHR 109€
HEL-MAD 89€, 9k points
HEL-SVO 69€
HEL-WAW 79€
WAW-HEL 79€
DUS-HEL 69€
HEL-OSL 42€
HEL-MUC 90 (01/20)
MUC-HEL 115€ (01/20)
From time to time, AY will make the Y traveller an offer to upgrade. This thread lists when, how and and how much the upgrade is.
Selection process is unknown, but it is likely that neither fare class on original ticket nor tier status of traveller is a selection criteria, at least not to travellers advantage. From the reports made so far, both travellers with and without FF# in the reservation have gotten offers.
Offers are likely made only when Y is oversold or nearly full. Some travellers have reported declining offer and being upgraded for free later ("op-up").
Offers are fixed price offers, either in € or in AY+points. The latter kind is only valid for members of AY+, while €-offers are directed to all kind of travellers.
Offers are made either in mail or via text message and recipient has 72 hours to repspond. Some reports says this time is now shortened to 48 hours. Text message offers typically arrive close to departure and may not state a last time to reply.
Offers in text message can be replied to and upgrade is instantly processed. Offers in mail has occasionally not cleared (said to be "sold out" when accepting offer too late).
If offer is accepted and upgrade clears, new ticket is issued in F, so a confirmed upgrade with all perks of business class included. Mileage earning is according to original fare class however.
Development
In august 2015 AY announced a trial to let travellers bid for upgrades, initially on AY89 and AY90. It is likely that bidding will affect the number of fixed price offers.
The trial has been made permanent, and the bidding for upgrade has been extended to more longhaul routes.
The program has also led to a consolidation of upgrade options to one webpage
https://www.finnair.com/int/gb/upgrade-options
where you can upgrade by bidding, by using AY+ points or by accepting last minute cash offers. The latter ("Last minute" offers) are the same as have been discussed in this thread.. Finnair still pushes those offers via e-mail and text-message, but now also shows them on this webpage.
Offers made
Here is a condensed list of offers made, processed including post #213.
Figures are in € unless otherwise stated. Each destination's offers are recorded in a single line in time order.
Longhaul
SIN-HEL 248, 348, 348
HEL-SIN 499, 499, 348, 349€
JFK-HEL 48k points, 348€, 348€, 499
HKG-HEL 248
HEL-HKG 348
BKK-HEL 298, 348, 348
HEL-BKK 48k points, 348€, 348€ (290€ on phone? Not yet confirmed)
HEL-HKT 348
NRT-HEL 498
HEL-KIX 348, 375 (12/19, 01/20)
KIX-HEL 391 (12/19, 01/20)
ICN-HEL 248, 318
HEL-PVG 298
PVG-HEL 448, 498
CKG-HEL 228
XIY-HEL 248
HEL-DEL 198
HEL-DEL 300 (4/19)
YYZ-HEL 225€, 225
Shorthaul
DXB-HEL 99
HEL-VNO 7k points
HEL-BUD 69€
BUD-HEL 69, 8k points, 69
HEL-PRG 69€
PRG-HEL ≈70€
CPH-HEL 7k points, 7k, 69€, 7k, 69€
HEL-CPH 69€, 69, 69
HEL-ARN 7,5k points, 41€
HEL-GOT 7k points
GOT-HEL 7k points
HEL-VIE 69€
HEL-CDG 69€, 69€, 69
CDG-HEL 89€
HEL-MXP 69
HEL-TXL 9k points, 9k
HEL-DUS 69
HEL-HAM 69,69
HAM-HEL 69
HEL-FRA 69€
FRA-HEL 69€, 89, 89€
BRU-HEL 69
GVA-HEL 69
HEL-GVA 69, 89
HEL-LHR 9k points
HEL-LHR 109€
HEL-MAD 89€, 9k points
HEL-SVO 69€
HEL-WAW 79€
WAW-HEL 79€
DUS-HEL 69€
HEL-OSL 42€
HEL-MUC 90 (01/20)
MUC-HEL 115€ (01/20)
Please post your upgrade offers
Jan 24, 2015, 2:11 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,520
City pair: HEL-SIN-HEL , AY 81/82
Price offered: 348€ per segment, both ways
Flight date: 19. / 26. Jan. 29015
FF tier on reservation: AA EXP/ OWE
Original ticket type: R fare
When the offer was made: Directly after ticketing
How the offer was made: eMail
Price offered: 348€ per segment, both ways
Flight date: 19. / 26. Jan. 29015
FF tier on reservation: AA EXP/ OWE
Original ticket type: R fare
When the offer was made: Directly after ticketing
How the offer was made: eMail
Jan 28, 2015, 9:46 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: BA GfL & GGL, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 32
* City-pair: HEL-PVG / AY057
* Price offered: 298€
* Flight date: 12-Feb-2015
* FF tier on reservation: BA Gold
* Original ticket type: W
* When the offer was made: 14 days before take off (offer valid for 48hrs)
* How the offer was made: email
* Price offered: 298€
* Flight date: 12-Feb-2015
* FF tier on reservation: BA Gold
* Original ticket type: W
* When the offer was made: 14 days before take off (offer valid for 48hrs)
* How the offer was made: email
Feb 1, 2015, 12:18 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, SK Gold
Posts: 952
City-pair: HEL-DEL AY21
Price offered: 198€
Flight date: 16-Feb-2015
FF tier on reservation: AY Basic
Original ticket type: Campaign
When the offer was made: 14 days before take off
How the offer was made: email
Price offered: 198€
Flight date: 16-Feb-2015
FF tier on reservation: AY Basic
Original ticket type: Campaign
When the offer was made: 14 days before take off
How the offer was made: email
Feb 2, 2015, 3:02 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: International
Programs: AY Silver, SQ KrisFlyer
Posts: 6
City-pair: HEL - KIX / AY 077
Price offered: 348€
Flight date: 11th Feb
FF tier on reservation: AY Basic
Original ticket type: Q w/ Economy Comfort
When the offer was made: 1st Feb
How the offer was made: Email
Price offered: 348€
Flight date: 11th Feb
FF tier on reservation: AY Basic
Original ticket type: Q w/ Economy Comfort
When the offer was made: 1st Feb
How the offer was made: Email
Feb 2, 2015, 3:28 am
#21
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
Feb 20, 2015, 1:41 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Finland
Programs: BA gold, OWE
Posts: 373
•City-pair: DXB-HEL
•Price offered: 99€ (upgrade with 10000 points also available)
•Flight date: 2015-03-02
•FF tier on reservation: AY Basic / BA Gold
•Original ticket type: NVA0AE
•When the offer was made: 10 days before
•How the offer was made: e-mail'
Edit: After 8 hours of the e-mail, sold out.
•Price offered: 99€ (upgrade with 10000 points also available)
•Flight date: 2015-03-02
•FF tier on reservation: AY Basic / BA Gold
•Original ticket type: NVA0AE
•When the offer was made: 10 days before
•How the offer was made: e-mail'
Edit: After 8 hours of the e-mail, sold out.
Last edited by temppa; Feb 20, 2015 at 4:40 am Reason: New info
Feb 20, 2015, 5:56 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,110
* City-pair: CPH-HEL
* Price offered: 7000 points
* Flight date: 24 Oct 2014
* FF tier on reservation: AY Silver
* Original ticket type: R
* When the offer was made: 12 hours before departure
* How the offer was made: SMS
* City-pair: HEL-TXL
* Price offered: 9000 points
* Flight date: 21 Feb 2015
* FF tier on reservation: AY Silver
* Original ticket type: R
* When the offer was made: 24 hours before departure
* How the offer was made: SMS
* Price offered: 7000 points
* Flight date: 24 Oct 2014
* FF tier on reservation: AY Silver
* Original ticket type: R
* When the offer was made: 12 hours before departure
* How the offer was made: SMS
* City-pair: HEL-TXL
* Price offered: 9000 points
* Flight date: 21 Feb 2015
* FF tier on reservation: AY Silver
* Original ticket type: R
* When the offer was made: 24 hours before departure
* How the offer was made: SMS
Last edited by wkndtraveler; Feb 20, 2015 at 9:01 am
Feb 20, 2015, 1:08 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
It has been standard practice for AY to offer slightly discounted point upgrades at 24 hours notice for at least 4 years (in my experience). For Europe, most typically 9k.
Feb 21, 2015, 1:33 am
#27
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,166
Well, I guess it is because these offers are not appealing to ay+members they now decided to auction the seats instead... Dont think we will see many of these in the future..
While these SMSoffers are not very discounted I have found them easy to use. Reply to text and seat is upgraded.
While these SMSoffers are not very discounted I have found them easy to use. Reply to text and seat is upgraded.
Feb 21, 2015, 8:42 am
#28
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Priority Club Plat Amb, Miles and Smiles Elite
Posts: 5,282
Well, I guess it is because these offers are not appealing to ay+members they now decided to auction the seats instead... Dont think we will see many of these in the future..
While these SMSoffers are not very discounted I have found them easy to use. Reply to text and seat is upgraded.
While these SMSoffers are not very discounted I have found them easy to use. Reply to text and seat is upgraded.
Feb 22, 2015, 6:26 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
City-pair: CKG-HEL
Price offered: 228€
Flight date: xth March
FF tier on reservation: AA OWS
Original ticket type: W
When the offer was made: 51h32m after ticketing
How the offer was made: Email
Comment: Why only CKG-HEL and not HEL-CKG? According to the EF seatmap, only 1 seat has been selected on both segments.
Price offered: 228€
Flight date: xth March
FF tier on reservation: AA OWS
Original ticket type: W
When the offer was made: 51h32m after ticketing
How the offer was made: Email
Comment: Why only CKG-HEL and not HEL-CKG? According to the EF seatmap, only 1 seat has been selected on both segments.
Feb 22, 2015, 7:18 am
#30
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,166
If AY flew A380s out of CKG, they still would find a way to oversell Y and sell zero J tix. There is (was) a ticket lottery running where AY gave away Y tix....