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 9, 2020, 3:06 am
#1366
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: EFHK - HEL
Programs: AY, LH, KL, SK, D8, Marriott, Melia.
Posts: 609
2. For 4h 15min flight 62€ business upgrade is definitely worth it. Quiet cabin, mostly middle and aisle seat free on this route on my experience. Good meal, stress free travel.
3. For departure 22:00 fast track and basic lounge might not be needed but makes travel convenient.
Dec 5, 2020, 8:05 am
#1369
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,661
Dec 5, 2020, 8:40 am
#1370
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AY+, SK EB
Posts: 2,958
Dec 5, 2020, 9:50 am
#1371
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY+ Plat basic
Posts: 430
Isn't the ug right now a pretty nice deal since you get all the service and booze + free seat. Better than normal since there's no lounge or plat drink in Y?
Dec 6, 2020, 4:24 am
#1372
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: AY+ Lumo, HH Diamond
Posts: 503
While MUC does have an open lounge for oneworld, status gets you there anyway.
No lounge at HEL. Nothing at HEL.
In J you're gonna be the last to board and last to disembark. IME on evening HEL returns often only the rear door is open for disembarkation (+ bus) while the front door is used for boarding. For me this doesn't matter, in fact I prefer waiting in row 1 instead of outside.
Basically, 79 eur for a flying restaurant with a 2-hour dinner.
Dec 22, 2020, 1:56 am
#1374
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
Sep 29, 2021, 6:37 am
#1375
Join Date: May 2020
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 209
- City-pair: MUC-HEL
- Price offered: €98
- Flight date: Oct-21
- FF tier on reservation: OW Emerald, no AY status
- Original ticket type: Cheapest econ (basic?)
- When the offer was made: 10 days before/directly after booking
- How the offer was made: Email
Dec 25, 2021, 10:02 pm
#1376
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Finnair Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Former Asiana Diamond
Posts: 34
- City-pair: MIA-ARN
- Price offered: €550 (price per pax for 2 pax) - no J meal
- Flight date: Dec-19
- FF tier on reservation: AY Gold (for one pax, other pax AA Gold)
- Original ticket type: AA codeshare - low economy (only got 25% of kms flown)
- When the offer was made: Asked agent at boarding counter 2 hours prior to flight
Dec 25, 2021, 11:17 pm
#1377
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,661
- City-pair: MIA-ARN
- Price offered: €550 (price per pax for 2 pax) - no J meal
- Flight date: Dec-19
- FF tier on reservation: AY Gold (for one pax, other pax AA Gold)
- Original ticket type: AA codeshare - low economy (only got 25% of kms flown)
- When the offer was made: Asked agent at boarding counter 2 hours prior to flight
Dec 25, 2021, 11:21 pm
#1378
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Finnair Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Former Asiana Diamond
Posts: 34
Quite reasonable considering they wanted almost double ex-JFK as per a previous report. If Y was very full I'd consider the above, it's not like AY's current catering is something to look forward to so I don't view the meal being a huge loss as long as you get J drinks.
Not sure how full Y was - we moved from 41 J/L, but J was less than 50% full
Dec 26, 2021, 12:36 am
#1379
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: C2
Programs: AY ex-Lumo, TK Elite, BT VIP, ITA Executive
Posts: 1,157
- City-pair: MIA-ARN
- Price offered: €550 (price per pax for 2 pax) - no J meal
- Flight date: Dec-19
- FF tier on reservation: AY Gold (for one pax, other pax AA Gold)
- Original ticket type: AA codeshare - low economy (only got 25% of kms flown)
- When the offer was made: Asked agent at boarding counter 2 hours prior to flight
Dec 26, 2021, 1:05 am
#1380
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: 14,171
I can see how they end up in that situation, but in these times of "unbundling of productt" I hope we won't see a trend where upgrades are treated like a second class business. "Hey, let's process our upgrade waitlist at T-7days and tell customers it was too late to arrange for meals, that would save us a bundle"