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 6, 2019, 6:03 am
#1096
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: JOE
Programs: AY+ Silver
Posts: 45
Itinerary: ZRH-HEL
Fee: 178 EUR
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Basic
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 15 days ahead
Conveyance: email
Itinerary: ZRH-HEL
Fee: 176 EUR
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Basic
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 10 days ahead
Conveyance: email
Itinerary: HEL-ZRH
Fee: 165 EUR
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Basic
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 15 days ahead
Conveyance: email
Fee: 178 EUR
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Basic
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 15 days ahead
Conveyance: email
Itinerary: ZRH-HEL
Fee: 176 EUR
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Basic
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 10 days ahead
Conveyance: email
Itinerary: HEL-ZRH
Fee: 165 EUR
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Basic
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 15 days ahead
Conveyance: email
Jan 8, 2019, 12:59 pm
#1098
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Itinerary: HEL-DUS
Fee: 177 EUR (!)
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Lumo
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 10 days ahead
Conveyance: email
with the concurrent offer of 7000 points, this just makes absolutely no sense
Fee: 177 EUR (!)
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Lumo
Validity: 36 hours offer
Advance: 10 days ahead
Conveyance: email
with the concurrent offer of 7000 points, this just makes absolutely no sense
Jan 8, 2019, 3:52 pm
#1101
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: AFKL PLT, BA Gold, SK Gold, AY Gold, A3 Silver, LH FTL, IHG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 408
Itinerary: HEL-ARN
Fee: 7500 points
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Platinum
Validity: Up to 2 hrs before departure
Advance: 25 hours
Conveyance: SMS
I say nay!
Fee: 7500 points
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Platinum
Validity: Up to 2 hrs before departure
Advance: 25 hours
Conveyance: SMS
I say nay!
Jan 8, 2019, 10:13 pm
#1102
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, GC Jade
Posts: 102
I wonder how they choose the targets for the offers. Reading this thread, it seems that a lot of people get email offers. I’ve flown my fair share with AY (Platinum for more than a decade, now Lumo), but I’ve never ever gotten an email offer. An SMS every now and then (infrequently), but never an email.
Jan 9, 2019, 2:20 am
#1103
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: London
Programs: AY+, HH Gold
Posts: 161
I wonder how they choose the targets for the offers. Reading this thread, it seems that a lot of people get email offers. I’ve flown my fair share with AY (Platinum for more than a decade, now Lumo), but I’ve never ever gotten an email offer. An SMS every now and then (infrequently), but never an email.
However, now over Christmas I noticed that the app showed the option for upgrade both on outbound and inbound. For both legs the upgrade availability tool showed no upgrades when checking periodically over 2-3 months, and CS told me there was a waitlist for the outbound. The app offer only showed there briefly, 1-2 days before the flights, so since I didn't tap on it immediately, it had already disappeared by the time I thought to see what it was. I wonder if they are moving towards offering upgrades through the app?
There's been already some discussion on the change in availability on the website. It would be interesting to see if the way they proactively offer them is also changing. I'm of course getting a little worried because upgrades are the main way for me to use my points.
Jan 9, 2019, 4:26 am
#1104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Jan 9, 2019, 4:28 am
#1105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
I wonder how they choose the targets for the offers. Reading this thread, it seems that a lot of people get email offers. I’ve flown my fair share with AY (Platinum for more than a decade, now Lumo), but I’ve never ever gotten an email offer. An SMS every now and then (infrequently), but never an email.
Jan 9, 2019, 5:18 am
#1106
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: HEL
Programs: Drawer of Cards
Posts: 423
I wonder how they choose the targets for the offers. Reading this thread, it seems that a lot of people get email offers. I’ve flown my fair share with AY (Platinum for more than a decade, now Lumo), but I’ve never ever gotten an email offer. An SMS every now and then (infrequently), but never an email.
For me, Email offers seems coming about couple weeks before departure. SMS upgrade usually 36h, 48h before
Jan 9, 2019, 5:23 am
#1107
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: C2
Programs: AY ex-Lumo, TK Elite, BT VIP, ITA Executive
Posts: 1,157
Itinerary: HEL-OSL
Fee: €40
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Lumo
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 2 weeks
Conveyance: email
I don't know - it's cheap for a J upgrade. But it's of a very low value without J points. So I guess rational decision will be to ignore this one.
Fee: €40
Ticket type: Light
Tier: Lumo
Validity: 36 hours
Advance: 2 weeks
Conveyance: email
I don't know - it's cheap for a J upgrade. But it's of a very low value without J points. So I guess rational decision will be to ignore this one.
Jan 9, 2019, 5:54 am
#1108
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,530
I'd take it would it be my decision.
Jan 9, 2019, 6:10 am
#1109
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
Jan 9, 2019, 6:43 am
#1110
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,530
I value the additional space (at least in Airbus, not sure if OPs service is operated by E190, which would change everything), the quieter cabin and of course then a couple of drinks. I've spent 40€ on more stupid things!