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 27, 2017, 1:03 pm
#481
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AY Silver
Posts: 240
To answer my own question, I just spotted on an upgrade offer today that was in € that it also says
'If you’re a Finnair Plus member, you can also pay for the upgrade using your points.**
** If there are available seats on the flight, as a Finnair Plus member you can upgrade your travel class for a fixed point charge by contacting our customer service.'
What's not clear is whether that is just the typical 10000 points upgrade or the lower 7k, 7.5k, 8k, 9k points offers some people seem to get for EU flights (I only ever seem to get cash offers)...
'If you’re a Finnair Plus member, you can also pay for the upgrade using your points.**
** If there are available seats on the flight, as a Finnair Plus member you can upgrade your travel class for a fixed point charge by contacting our customer service.'
What's not clear is whether that is just the typical 10000 points upgrade or the lower 7k, 7.5k, 8k, 9k points offers some people seem to get for EU flights (I only ever seem to get cash offers)...
Jan 29, 2017, 9:47 am
#483
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
City-pair: BRU-HEL
Price: 109€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Light
Advance: 7 days and 2 hours
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
I don't know how Finnair prioritizes offers. Assuming that the timings are 10 days, 8,5 days and 7 days, I would be in the third batch, whereas I was in the first batch on the outbound.
Price: 109€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Light
Advance: 7 days and 2 hours
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
I don't know how Finnair prioritizes offers. Assuming that the timings are 10 days, 8,5 days and 7 days, I would be in the third batch, whereas I was in the first batch on the outbound.
Jan 30, 2017, 2:31 am
#484
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,111
Same offer again. (I've lots of points but none of them is expiring in the near future. Y was almost full on both flights.)
Jan 30, 2017, 3:05 am
#485
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: London
Programs: AY+, HH Gold
Posts: 161
I'm quite jealous of the regular offers between HEL and LHR you guys get. Many years ago I lived in Stockholm and would regularly get upgrade offers for ARN-HEL by text, but after over 4 years in London I have yet to receive one!
Jan 30, 2017, 4:12 pm
#487
Join Date: May 2016
Location: BLL
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 405
Jan 30, 2017, 4:53 pm
#488
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,757
Jan 31, 2017, 12:13 am
#489
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: AY+ Plat, A3*G
Posts: 672
City-pair: MXP-HEL
Price: 109€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Value Corporate
Advance: 10 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
Seems that Milan has moved to 109€ club, don't want to pay that only for food on Norra flight.
Price: 109€
FF tier: AY+ Platinum
Ticket type: Value Corporate
Advance: 10 days
Validity: 36 hours
Conveyance: Email
Seems that Milan has moved to 109€ club, don't want to pay that only for food on Norra flight.
Jan 31, 2017, 9:39 am
#492
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
I do not know about A350 specifically. bBut as far as I can tell, the offer is sent if there is free space in J. Y does not have to be oversold.
Jan 31, 2017, 11:06 am
#493
Join Date: May 2016
Location: BLL
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 405
I've actually never even seen the Y cabin on the A350. Will definitely take a look next time. I hardly believe it would have been full on a Saturday morning. Maybe they just want to give the flight attendants something to do?
Jan 31, 2017, 11:09 am
#494
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,111
I don't know why but I haven't received these points offers (or any other upgrade offers for that matter) for the return flight from LHR back to home. On these flights, J didn't look very crowded. Once when I flew in J from LHR without upgrade offer, I was the only one in the cabin. Another time there were a couple of other travelers. These has been on the last flight, AY996. Y has been pretty empty, too.
Jan 31, 2017, 12:33 pm
#495
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
I don't know why but I haven't received these points offers (or any other upgrade offers for that matter) for the return flight from LHR back to home. On these flights, J didn't look very crowded. Once when I flew in J from LHR without upgrade offer, I was the only one in the cabin. Another time there were a couple of other travelers. These has been on the last flight, AY996. Y has been pretty empty, too.