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 14, 2020, 11:23 am
#1291
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,757
Well, that's a good price! They must be heavily overbooked in Y. I checked my upcoming HEL-DEL, UG available for 300€. I won't take it since it's a MR and I already paid 300€ for the return UG.
Jan 14, 2020, 11:30 am
#1292
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: BGO (Temporarily HEL)
Programs: AY+ Gold, SK EBG
Posts: 400
Jan 15, 2020, 12:52 am
#1293
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: TMP
Programs: AY+ Plat, SK Gold, BT VIP, Radisson Premium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 794
Just checked my app:
Itinerary: HAM-HEL
Fee: 98€
Fare: Light
Tier: Platsku
Validity: unspecified
Advance:5 days
Conveyance: app
Itinerary: HEL-LHR
Fee: 125€
Fare: Light
Tier: Platsku
Validity: unspecified
Advance: 9 days
Conveyance: app
LHR the cheapest I've seen so far
Itinerary: HAM-HEL
Fee: 98€
Fare: Light
Tier: Platsku
Validity: unspecified
Advance:5 days
Conveyance: app
Itinerary: HEL-LHR
Fee: 125€
Fare: Light
Tier: Platsku
Validity: unspecified
Advance: 9 days
Conveyance: app
LHR the cheapest I've seen so far
Jan 16, 2020, 12:33 pm
#1294
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NUE
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, SK Diamond, ITA Volare Club Executive, TK Elite
Posts: 365
Itinerary: HEL-MUC
Fee: 90€
Fare: Basic (Q)
Tier: OWS
Validity: unspecified
Advance: 9 days
Conveyance: e-mail
At the time of the offer:
J9 C9 I2 U8 Y9 B9 H9 L6 X9
Fee: 90€
Fare: Basic (Q)
Tier: OWS
Validity: unspecified
Advance: 9 days
Conveyance: e-mail
At the time of the offer:
J9 C9 I2 U8 Y9 B9 H9 L6 X9
Jan 17, 2020, 10:30 am
#1297
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AY+ Platinum / FlyingBlue Gold
Posts: 836
Upgrade prices seem to have become a lot more reasonable lately. I reported a €61 AMS-HEL cash upgrade offer earlier, now seeing HEL-AMS for only €51. This is more like it! Then all the €250-300-ish longhaul upgrades.. perfect!
Jan 17, 2020, 10:35 am
#1298
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
I'd rather say the prices have become much more variable. I've seen short-haul prices competing with long-haul ones too.
And 61€ is not that far off the original 69€ offers in the very beginning.
And 61€ is not that far off the original 69€ offers in the very beginning.
Jan 17, 2020, 10:53 am
#1299
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AY+ Platinum / FlyingBlue Gold
Posts: 836
Jan 17, 2020, 12:46 pm
#1300
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,757
This is now down to 200€. Must be the lowest I’ve seen for long haul. Tempting, especially with catering ex HEL. I wonder if I should just count on an op-up on this plat-light route...
Jan 17, 2020, 1:04 pm
#1301
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: C2
Programs: AY ex-Lumo, TK Elite, BT VIP, ITA Executive
Posts: 1,157
I have seen Prague for 64€ from HEL, and 67€ / 105€ on return (which went up, disappeared, and back down within a couple of weeks). Also had KIX for 364€ and 314€. Progress? Sure. But until there is more points in the game, specifically on narrow-body flights, the airplane food doesn't bring much value. Obviously, this changes for non-status pax - whoever travels just few times a year, such prices are well worth the experience.
Possibly, AY shouldn't be trying to upsell just any passenger by a fixed priced, but rather using status as an obvious division criteria setting the price. Good start could be daily last rotation with seat capacity and meals that would otherwise go wasted upon landing in Helsinki. And again - throw the points in, and you can keep the price higher.
Possibly, AY shouldn't be trying to upsell just any passenger by a fixed priced, but rather using status as an obvious division criteria setting the price. Good start could be daily last rotation with seat capacity and meals that would otherwise go wasted upon landing in Helsinki. And again - throw the points in, and you can keep the price higher.
Jan 17, 2020, 2:11 pm
#1302
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Jan 17, 2020, 2:56 pm
#1303
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,757
I checked and the flight shows 9 seats in most classes down to S. N7 Q1. So it doesn’t seem overbooked after all. Yeah, I couldn’t resist it. Looking forward to the reindeer... Had to settle for 4A, though, as 6A was taken. How can I live with this?
Jan 17, 2020, 3:18 pm
#1304
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Just make sure it's not in the oven too long! I also like 6A as it's the best when deplaning from door 2L. Usually ex-HEL I do 6A but 1L to HEL.
Jan 17, 2020, 3:26 pm
#1305
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,757
Yes, actually, with the Indian crew, I might be better off ordering something else instead. Thanks for reminding me! This should be an easy MR, with U class both ways. Originally, I was prepared to sit in 21A.