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
Mar 23, 2015, 3:05 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,111
Waiting for boarding to commence here at JFK. Declined this offer earlier and asked today at a check-in counter how much would an upgrade cost me. Price was now not more than 1292 dollars. Crazy price. Who would pay that?
Last edited by wkndtraveler; Mar 23, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Mar 23, 2015, 3:35 pm
#63
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: EB Diamond, M&M SEN, QR Gold, AY+ Gold, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,312
Well, that is not an upgrade, it is a normal ticket change from O to C. AFAIK check in counter does not have any upgrade for cash offers.
Mar 24, 2015, 2:07 am
#65
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,111
Mar 24, 2015, 9:48 am
#67
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,111
Mar 30, 2015, 4:30 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
Offered upgrade on HEL-VIE
Price: €69
Date: Apr 9
FF Tier: OWS with QR
Original Code: Z
When the offer was made: 11 days before
How the offer was made: Email
It says my new booking class is "F" - I'm a bit annoyed because that class doesn't credit at all to QR (thinking about just crediting it to my AY+). Does AY often book you into F? Is there a way to try to convince them to change it to something QR credits? :P
Price: €69
Date: Apr 9
FF Tier: OWS with QR
Original Code: Z
When the offer was made: 11 days before
How the offer was made: Email
It says my new booking class is "F" - I'm a bit annoyed because that class doesn't credit at all to QR (thinking about just crediting it to my AY+). Does AY often book you into F? Is there a way to try to convince them to change it to something QR credits? :P
Mar 30, 2015, 4:53 am
#70
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Helsinki
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 1,014
Quite likely you will get miles based on the original booking class. I have never bought paid upgrades but tickets upgraded with Finnair Plus points are also reissued to F. I have received miles from LAN, Iberia & BA based on the original booking class instead F.
Mar 30, 2015, 4:54 am
#71
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: EB Diamond, M&M SEN, QR Gold, AY+ Gold, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,312
Thanks for posting!
This is mentioned in the wiki above - finnair upgrades are always booked into F. As for mileage earning, the original fare class is used.
This is mentioned in the wiki above - finnair upgrades are always booked into F. As for mileage earning, the original fare class is used.
Apr 6, 2015, 7:43 am
#73
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
Apr 6, 2015, 8:48 am
#74
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,931
A family member has now been offered this twice:
HEL-CDG AY877
Price: €69
Date: Apr 10
FF Tier: AY+ basic
Original Code: Z
When the offer was made: 11 days and again 4 days before
How the offer was made: Email
I find it amusing that they make the offer twice; the second wording being something like "we value you as a Finnair Plus member and would therefore like to give you this offer..." Seems to me the plane might be heavily oversold at least in Y?
€69 would get you prio security at a time when the line is not open and the security line is 0 min anyway, lounge access that you don't need because you can arrive at the airport 30 min before boarding starts, an empty middle seat and a mediocre meal comparable to a Y meal 15 years ago. At this price, I would only consider this if I had more baggage than 1 pc.
By the way, what would be an acceptable price for a European one-way paid upgrade in your opinion? Most people here get lounge access and an extra bag anyway and the priority security doesn't apply to that many airports. So what is, in your opinion, an acceptable price for an empty middle seat in the forward part of the cabin + the meal?
HEL-CDG AY877
Price: €69
Date: Apr 10
FF Tier: AY+ basic
Original Code: Z
When the offer was made: 11 days and again 4 days before
How the offer was made: Email
I find it amusing that they make the offer twice; the second wording being something like "we value you as a Finnair Plus member and would therefore like to give you this offer..." Seems to me the plane might be heavily oversold at least in Y?
€69 would get you prio security at a time when the line is not open and the security line is 0 min anyway, lounge access that you don't need because you can arrive at the airport 30 min before boarding starts, an empty middle seat and a mediocre meal comparable to a Y meal 15 years ago. At this price, I would only consider this if I had more baggage than 1 pc.
By the way, what would be an acceptable price for a European one-way paid upgrade in your opinion? Most people here get lounge access and an extra bag anyway and the priority security doesn't apply to that many airports. So what is, in your opinion, an acceptable price for an empty middle seat in the forward part of the cabin + the meal?
Apr 6, 2015, 2:54 pm
#75
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: EB Diamond, M&M SEN, QR Gold, AY+ Gold, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,312
a) Rev management is not actively working on this - otherwise they would have lowered the price, since apparently not enough customers accepted the first offer. It seems pretty automated, with a formula that determines tiered offers based on number of seats, route and previous sales. *)
b) they have at least 2 different sets of criteria to select which customers are presented with an offer - and only in the second sweep they target AY+ customers! So the first offer was made to people that fit one kind of critera (unknown) and the second offer was directed to AY+ members. I guess sloppy programming is to be blamed for the duplicate, no one studies set theory anymore...
*) AY Revenue management system layout
