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
Sep 20, 2019, 5:18 am
#1246
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 231
Itinerary: HEL-BRU
Fee: 190€
Ticket type: Light
Tier: AY Plat
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 7 days
Conveyance: e-mail
Itinerary: BRU-HEL
Fee: 180€
Ticket type: Light
Tier: AY Plat
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 10 days
Conveyance: e-mail
double no
Fee: 190€
Ticket type: Light
Tier: AY Plat
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 7 days
Conveyance: e-mail
Itinerary: BRU-HEL
Fee: 180€
Ticket type: Light
Tier: AY Plat
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 10 days
Conveyance: e-mail
double no
Sep 23, 2019, 3:25 am
#1247
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: London
Programs: AY+, HH Gold
Posts: 161
I received this email yesterday:
Itinerary: HEL-LHR
Fee: 190€
Ticket type: Light
Tier: AY Basic
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 7 days
Conveyance: e-mail
The app does not show the option at all for paying it in cash, only by points.
For the outbound flight I did not receive an email, but the app showed 180€ yesterday, 200€ today.
Itinerary: HEL-LHR
Fee: 190€
Ticket type: Light
Tier: AY Basic
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 7 days
Conveyance: e-mail
The app does not show the option at all for paying it in cash, only by points.
For the outbound flight I did not receive an email, but the app showed 180€ yesterday, 200€ today.
Last edited by Eyrie; Sep 23, 2019 at 3:31 am
Oct 1, 2019, 3:09 am
#1249
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,756
I'm considering upgrading my return from DEL in Feb. But using 50 000 points for this doesn't seem like a good idea. I believe offers on this route are rather moderate in €€ so it's probably better to wait.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:11 am
#1250
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: BGO (Temporarily HEL)
Programs: AY+ Gold, SK EBG
Posts: 400
Oct 1, 2019, 3:16 am
#1251
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,756
Oct 1, 2019, 3:21 am
#1252
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: BGO (Temporarily HEL)
Programs: AY+ Gold, SK EBG
Posts: 400
€200 upgrade that was taken
50k point that Silver perhaps doesn't have/doesn't feel that short flight to DEL is worth spending on
More "regular" LH upgrade price of somewhere around €400.
I don't know if they will get enough additional sales from €200 upgrades to offset lost revenue per sale, but I assume AY has some data on customer price elasticity and thinks this is worth it.
Oct 1, 2019, 4:37 am
#1253
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat
Posts: 865
It is better for them than having to op-up someone at the gate as many DEL flights are quite full (or overbooked) in Economy. I have one in less than two weeks for which they are currently selling only J and C fares ( not even pro is available).
Oct 1, 2019, 5:15 am
#1254
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Finnair , Marriot Gold
Posts: 183
Its really difficult Del-HEL without points, I have tried often but no chance. Have paid 50,000 points for return and waitlisted for Nov return.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:21 am
#1255
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Finnair , Marriot Gold
Posts: 183
€200 is definitely a much better deal than 50k points, I agree. But would AY Silver spend (have?) 50k points to begin with? As I see it, the options are:
€200 upgrade that was taken
50k point that Silver perhaps doesn't have/doesn't feel that short flight to DEL is worth spending on
More "regular" LH upgrade price of somewhere around €400.
I don't know if they will get enough additional sales from €200 upgrades to offset lost revenue per sale, but I assume AY has some data on customer price elasticity and thinks this is worth it.
€200 upgrade that was taken
50k point that Silver perhaps doesn't have/doesn't feel that short flight to DEL is worth spending on
More "regular" LH upgrade price of somewhere around €400.
I don't know if they will get enough additional sales from €200 upgrades to offset lost revenue per sale, but I assume AY has some data on customer price elasticity and thinks this is worth it.
Oct 1, 2019, 10:09 am
#1258
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,602
And the low-ACV pleb Lumo here again bumped out of this circus. I have done all updates and that, and however I cannot get any upgrade instruments anywhere seen. I am sure the question is again the same as with seat selection -> if you already have upgrade request waitlisted, you cannot access your booking. Dumb fail berserk dough.
Oct 1, 2019, 1:51 pm
#1259
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Finnair , Marriot Gold
Posts: 183