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 9, 2019, 7:31 am
#1111
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: C2
Programs: AY ex-Lumo, TK Elite, BT VIP, ITA Executive
Posts: 1,157
Need to say, this is not complaining about the price - I consider it a good deal. Personally though, I'm more likely to use the money on 1 STO turnaround as it brings better value than the "I fly J!" feeling
Jan 28, 2019, 2:29 pm
#1112
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,753
This is completely unrelated to AY, but I two weeks ago I received an Optiontown offer to upgrade a VN flight, BKK-SGN, duration approx. 90 minutes. The offer does not include extra bags (which I don't need) or fast track at BKK (which I'd be happy to have) or lounge access (which'd be great), but only the seat (which is a real J recliner seat) and inflight service (I suppose hot meal, as even Y tend to get hot meals on flights of similar lenght in SE Asia). The price? €68. And yes, I'm actually very much thinking about buying this upgrade. I will have a largeish carry-on and I've never flown VN before, so I have no idea what their carry-on policy is like. In J, they'd probably be more lenient. As I don't have any status, and probably have slim chances of getting an exit row seat, I'd like the J seat very much – on the other hand, it's only a 90 minute flight.
So what I find interesting here is that while €68 is, IMO, an outrageous price to pay as a status member for, say, HEL-CPH on AY, I'm simultaneously actually considering it as a non-status member on VN...
So what I find interesting here is that while €68 is, IMO, an outrageous price to pay as a status member for, say, HEL-CPH on AY, I'm simultaneously actually considering it as a non-status member on VN...
Jan 28, 2019, 11:57 pm
#1113
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat and several other cards
Posts: 645
The offer does not include extra bags (which I don't need) or fast track at BKK (which I'd be happy to have) or lounge access (which'd be great), but only the seat (which is a real J recliner seat) and inflight service (I suppose hot meal, as even Y tend to get hot meals on flights of similar lenght in SE Asia). The price? €68. And yes, I'm actually very much thinking about buying this upgrade. I will have a largeish carry-on and I've never flown VN before, so I have no idea what their carry-on policy is like. As I don't have any status, and probably have slim chances of getting an exit row seat, I'd like the J seat very much – on the other hand, it's only a 90 minute flight.
Jan 29, 2019, 12:27 am
#1114
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
I had quite a similar thing recently. It was my first time on BR (an airline that's been on my radar for a long time) and I flew the 1,5h-ish route CAN-TPE-HKG. First leg was exorbitant so I stayed in Y. Second leg, there was award space in J on short notice and it seemed like a given to me. Not the best redemption value with such a short flight, but I am very happy for my choice, as I don't know when I'll be on BR next time.
Then again, I do upgrade HEL-CPH, so I am a bad example...
Feb 6, 2019, 8:48 am
#1117
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,753
Feb 6, 2019, 10:16 am
#1118
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE)
Posts: 85
The offer I posted was actually for the flight today, I just posted it a bit late.
Well, anyways, didn't take the offer, but the after checking in and dropping off the luggage, I settled (and am still settled) down to the lounge and started to sip on a G&T. While enjoying the bitter delight, I decided to check the Finnair app for any flight updates and what do I see: "fare class Business". Needless to say, my trip just got a whole lot better!
Well, anyways, didn't take the offer, but the after checking in and dropping off the luggage, I settled (and am still settled) down to the lounge and started to sip on a G&T. While enjoying the bitter delight, I decided to check the Finnair app for any flight updates and what do I see: "fare class Business". Needless to say, my trip just got a whole lot better!
Feb 20, 2019, 6:43 pm
#1124
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,753
Not an offer per se, but I asked the check-in counter here at NRT if they sell upgrades. They do, and the set fee is €900/1100 depending on the day. Weekends are more expensive.
Feb 20, 2019, 10:11 pm
#1125
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
Lowest I've seen in a while, actually little bit tempted as one could skip breakfast in the lounge and eat in the plane...what is the value of 15mins additional sleep
Last edited by Post Scriptum; Feb 20, 2019 at 10:20 pm