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
Nov 15, 2016, 6:23 am
#408
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BRU/TAY
Programs: AY+ Plat Basic
Posts: 22
My flight is on an E90 (by Norra) = 'nuff said.
Nov 15, 2016, 7:54 am
#412
Join Date: May 2012
Location: GVA (HEL)
Programs: AY Plat (OWE)
Posts: 536
Nov 21, 2016, 1:46 am
#413
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: 14,178
HEL-AMS offered at 89€. E-mail sent exactly 7 days before departure.
I think this was my first ever upgrade offer conveyed by email.
The text was pretty silly: "As a thank you for choosing to travel with Finnair, we would like to offer you an exclusive travel class upgrade". The word "exclusive" seemed to be the buzzword and was in the headline too.
I did not receive any e-mail-offer on the longhaul segments, despite open seats. On one segment there were 4 seats available and they had opened the auction. T-7days, when auction closed, there was 0 seats available. The other longhaul segment has and still has 8 seats. No auction and no cash offer, only open to upgrade via points/vouchers.
I think this was my first ever upgrade offer conveyed by email.
The text was pretty silly: "As a thank you for choosing to travel with Finnair, we would like to offer you an exclusive travel class upgrade". The word "exclusive" seemed to be the buzzword and was in the headline too.
I did not receive any e-mail-offer on the longhaul segments, despite open seats. On one segment there were 4 seats available and they had opened the auction. T-7days, when auction closed, there was 0 seats available. The other longhaul segment has and still has 8 seats. No auction and no cash offer, only open to upgrade via points/vouchers.
Nov 21, 2016, 1:53 am
#414
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: 14,178
More observations - The HEL-AMS I got e-mail offer on has 2 seats available in the search enginge. The other short haul leg, where I didn't get an offer, has 9 upgrade seats available. Go figure.
Nov 21, 2016, 10:24 am
#415
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: AY Platinum
Posts: 287
Same thing when they talk about the fantastic products they sell. They sound like used car salesmen. If you want to hype a product, use adjectives related to what it actually does. "Fantastic" is generic and is up to the customer's judgment.
Sometimes it feels like someone just puts these features on a roadmap and then forgets about it until the IT department has to come up with the text too. Surely the company has at least one advertising expert!
Last edited by heatsink; Nov 21, 2016 at 10:34 am
Nov 21, 2016, 12:27 pm
#416
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: 14,178
Yes, if I was a corporate flyer, bound to cheapest fares and without status, then 89€ of my private money could be enticing. But to present a paid upgrade offer as something "exclusive" is slightly insulting.
I try not to be a part of the easily offended crowd, so personally I don't care that much. But from a communications perspective, it is pretty clear that the copy-writer isn't aware of what context the text is used in.
Nov 21, 2016, 12:27 pm
#417
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,756
I was bothered by these stupid wordings as well, but I've started to think of it this way:
The whole shorthaul buy-upgrade system is aimed at very casual travellers. If you fly once a year to Rhodes, or once in a lifetime from Chongqing to Paris, then Euro-J will really feel exclusive and eg. lounge access with free wine and fantastic scrambled eggs is really worth some money. This is the target group of the Euro-upgrades.
For a frequent traveller who gets all J perks except the inflight meal every time they fly, the upgrade is completely useless, of course. But instead of excluding us from the offers (which would probably be frowned upon, too) they send us the emails as a sort of cc – they don't intend us to really pay up, but don't want to have us feel left out, either.
I don't know if I'm making much sense here, but either it's like this or then AY marketing is really incompetent – and I hope that's not the case
The whole shorthaul buy-upgrade system is aimed at very casual travellers. If you fly once a year to Rhodes, or once in a lifetime from Chongqing to Paris, then Euro-J will really feel exclusive and eg. lounge access with free wine and fantastic scrambled eggs is really worth some money. This is the target group of the Euro-upgrades.
For a frequent traveller who gets all J perks except the inflight meal every time they fly, the upgrade is completely useless, of course. But instead of excluding us from the offers (which would probably be frowned upon, too) they send us the emails as a sort of cc – they don't intend us to really pay up, but don't want to have us feel left out, either.
I don't know if I'm making much sense here, but either it's like this or then AY marketing is really incompetent – and I hope that's not the case
Nov 21, 2016, 12:32 pm
#418
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: 14,178
ffay005, that is all too true.
However, they could so easily create a few versions of the offer, and make something attractive for the different groups.
As it is, they don't even separate AY+ members and non-members. They just added one line of text saying "If you are a member, you can also pay for the upgrade with points, by calling our customer service"...
However, they could so easily create a few versions of the offer, and make something attractive for the different groups.
As it is, they don't even separate AY+ members and non-members. They just added one line of text saying "If you are a member, you can also pay for the upgrade with points, by calling our customer service"...
Nov 21, 2016, 4:06 pm
#419
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 212
ffay005, that is all too true.
However, they could so easily create a few versions of the offer, and make something attractive for the different groups.
As it is, they don't even separate AY+ members and non-members. They just added one line of text saying "If you are a member, you can also pay for the upgrade with points, by calling our customer service"...
However, they could so easily create a few versions of the offer, and make something attractive for the different groups.
As it is, they don't even separate AY+ members and non-members. They just added one line of text saying "If you are a member, you can also pay for the upgrade with points, by calling our customer service"...
Nov 22, 2016, 12:15 am
#420
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: Finnair (AY) Platinum, Air France Silver, Tallink Club One Silver :)
Posts: 1,655