Finnair, stop waitlisted upgrades!
Feb 6, 2019, 5:37 am
#151
Join Date: May 2016
Location: FRA
Programs: AY+ Silver, IHG Gold Elite
Posts: 62
My experience is from last year. Bought one of these cheapo ex-FRA USA tickets, but have only asked for the upgrades of the LH flights. Both of them, HEL-SFO and LAX-HEL has cleared (LAX-HEL had instant availability, HEL-SFO was waitlisted), while FRA-HEL and HEL-FRA remains economy.
Feb 6, 2019, 5:45 am
#152
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: AY+
Posts: 44
Also another reason why I thought this might be a bug is because for my return flight, only the LH had availability but not the short one, and in that case I could upgrade the LH flight only with no problem myself online. But when both flights have availability I have to call CS because there is no combined availability...
Feb 7, 2019, 2:47 am
#153
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
Sigh, I can add datapoint of call to CS not releasing the upgrade. In total 9 J seats are taken, no availability in the tool (I still assume that all those 9 J-seats are F-fare) but "the other department" can not release the upgrade, so assuming it will stay in the waitlist at least until the T-15?
Or has anyone observed any other patterns, I called CS on Monday so has anyone got better luck of making more frequent calls? I doubt it is worthwhile to call often but clearly the waitlist is truly a waitlist even if the business class is practically empty.
I would assume there would be a sale coming soon but at this stage, only business saver and business seats are available so no campaign fare for business.
Or has anyone observed any other patterns, I called CS on Monday so has anyone got better luck of making more frequent calls? I doubt it is worthwhile to call often but clearly the waitlist is truly a waitlist even if the business class is practically empty.
I would assume there would be a sale coming soon but at this stage, only business saver and business seats are available so no campaign fare for business.
Feb 8, 2019, 6:41 am
#154
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
If Finnair is so unwilling to release F seats for its SH flights, it could at least start selling affordable intra-European J fares (also one way)!
Until now those fares have been just ridiculous (especially for status pax)...
Until now those fares have been just ridiculous (especially for status pax)...
Feb 8, 2019, 1:50 pm
#155
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,186
Not sure why, historically, SH J cabin was a mix of SH and LH travellers, now I wonder if there are any revenue SH J at all.
Maybe they earn more money with {KMPT} fares than with {CDIJ}.
Feb 9, 2019, 2:16 am
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,110
That curtain thing is a mystery. I've flown recently several flights, with the curtain behind row 8 or 9, but only 2-3 pax in front of the bus.
Your reasoning must be a vicious circle for AY - high J prices ergo no-one buys the tix ergo better revenue when selling same (otherwise empty due to the high J-prices) seats for any actual money in Y.
Your reasoning must be a vicious circle for AY - high J prices ergo no-one buys the tix ergo better revenue when selling same (otherwise empty due to the high J-prices) seats for any actual money in Y.
Feb 9, 2019, 5:34 am
#157
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
Last year AY started to ”pack” Y class... I flew i.a. HEL-FCO. We were 5-6 pax in J, yet they had reserved at least 8 rows for J! Needless to say, there were certainly no empty seats in Y. It is hence even more amazing that AY is unwilling to release more F seats and/or sell affordable SH J tickets in Europe.
Feb 9, 2019, 6:55 am
#158
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AY+, SK EB
Posts: 2,966
Last year AY started to ”pack” Y class... I flew i.a. HEL-FCO. We were 5-6 pax in J, yet they had reserved at least 8 rows for J! Needless to say, there were certainly no empty seats in Y. It is hence even more amazing that AY is unwilling to release more F seats and/or sell affordable SH J tickets in Europe.
I would be great, if they would confirm in those cases waitlisted upgrade request latest within the last 24 hours to 12 hours before the flight so they can e.g. Adjust the catering in time.
Feb 9, 2019, 7:01 am
#159
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
Feb 19, 2019, 8:05 am
#160
Join Date: May 2016
Location: FRA
Programs: AY+ Silver, IHG Gold Elite
Posts: 62
As a "non-status 50k once-in-a-lifetime horder who doesn´t have the cash to pay for J", I don´t like the system at all.
Another funny thing about the "View availability for business class upgrade" -tool is that if you check the flights separately, the system shows space in business, but if you combine the whole while (feeder+long haul), then there is none.
I had that now for my trip to LAX. Checked the tool for FRA-HEL and HEL-LAX, both has availability separately, but FRA-HEL shows 0. Called CS and got put on a waitlist. Wife is a low silver, im non-status so going to be a nice trip with only handluggage to LAX!
I even told the CS that f*ck that feeder, there is availability for the HEL-LAX, just use 50k per person to upgrade that and I dont care about the 2,5h intra-european shorthaul. Not possible they said. Either everything or nothing. Cool.
"If you haven’t booked flights yet, check the upgrade availability for your desired route and make your booking. After that, you can request a travel class upgrade conveniently online." Yea, right. Nice and easy.
Another funny thing about the "View availability for business class upgrade" -tool is that if you check the flights separately, the system shows space in business, but if you combine the whole while (feeder+long haul), then there is none.
I had that now for my trip to LAX. Checked the tool for FRA-HEL and HEL-LAX, both has availability separately, but FRA-HEL shows 0. Called CS and got put on a waitlist. Wife is a low silver, im non-status so going to be a nice trip with only handluggage to LAX!
I even told the CS that f*ck that feeder, there is availability for the HEL-LAX, just use 50k per person to upgrade that and I dont care about the 2,5h intra-european shorthaul. Not possible they said. Either everything or nothing. Cool.
"If you haven’t booked flights yet, check the upgrade availability for your desired route and make your booking. After that, you can request a travel class upgrade conveniently online." Yea, right. Nice and easy.
I have an update for the matter. I sent complaint through feedback form and got first denied twice but then all of a sudden they just replied "I asked another department. We have now upgraded 3 legs of your 4 . Thank you."
Best was that they answered to me that one whole flight was fully booked (in September 2019) which obviously was a lie
So far no reason why 3 legs got approved but im fine with that. Last leg is a 2,5h jump so dont need the meal there.
Feb 19, 2019, 8:12 am
#161
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: try to stay home
Programs: AY, M&M, BAEC ...and don t care of status anymore
Posts: 2,047
I had that often on Lufthansa on flights like TXL-MUC/FRA - somebody explained to me that this is the way they keep the occupancy rate in Y high.
Feb 21, 2019, 1:52 pm
#164
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,186
Apparently they are ridiculous so that they can offer a 50% discount to a few corporations. Which brings us back to the point where we realise they don't really want to sell SH J.