Finnair, stop waitlisted upgrades!
Feb 27, 2019, 4:07 am
#196
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Germany, Bavaria
Programs: AY+ Plat, SAS Gold (butt in seat)
Posts: 350
As I wrote, I had a waitlisted upgrade for 2 pax on HEL-FRA on a sunday evening - heavy flight always.
On T-7 and T-1, me still being wailisted, there were 4 resp. 3 seats in Business available.
During CI I asked the agent to upgrade me with the chosen vouchers, which worked out simply fine
She explained later, they are keeping these remaining seats (and where is this threshold at) for late incoming/connecting higher tiers, and latest upgrade possibility for a low gold like me would be at boarding gate.
My bottom line here is: Always ask for your upgrade proactively!
Caro
On T-7 and T-1, me still being wailisted, there were 4 resp. 3 seats in Business available.
During CI I asked the agent to upgrade me with the chosen vouchers, which worked out simply fine
She explained later, they are keeping these remaining seats (and where is this threshold at) for late incoming/connecting higher tiers, and latest upgrade possibility for a low gold like me would be at boarding gate.
My bottom line here is: Always ask for your upgrade proactively!
Caro
Feb 28, 2019, 8:50 am
#197
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
So, this Gold is currently waitlisting upgrades for HEL-SIN and SIN-HEL. My guess is they won't clear until I reach Plat again, but we'll see. Plat in early May, SIN in mid-June.
By the way, I was not allowed to choose Y+ seats without paying for them right away. I'll have to wait until Plat to assign myself Y+ seats.
By the way, I was not allowed to choose Y+ seats without paying for them right away. I'll have to wait until Plat to assign myself Y+ seats.
Feb 28, 2019, 9:06 am
#198
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY LUMO
Posts: 6,055
Feb 28, 2019, 9:08 am
#199
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Germany, Bavaria
Programs: AY+ Plat, SAS Gold (butt in seat)
Posts: 350
So, this Gold is currently waitlisting upgrades for HEL-SIN and SIN-HEL. My guess is they won't clear until I reach Plat again, but we'll see. Plat in early May, SIN in mid-June.
By the way, I was not allowed to choose Y+ seats without paying for them right away. I'll have to wait until Plat to assign myself Y+ seats.
By the way, I was not allowed to choose Y+ seats without paying for them right away. I'll have to wait until Plat to assign myself Y+ seats.
Mar 1, 2019, 4:04 am
#200
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Going around Russian airspace
Posts: 621
Mar 1, 2019, 4:11 am
#201
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
Mar 1, 2019, 4:52 am
#202
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.
Actually 13/13 for upgrades with points and vouchers now, incl one HEL-SIN.
Mar 1, 2019, 5:41 am
#203
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: 14,172
That is today's reality, loyalty upgrades are not first in line. They prefer getting ancillary revenue over clearing the liabilities from vouchers/points off of balance sheet.
Mar 1, 2019, 3:52 pm
#205
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: HEL
Posts: 29
I got one direction (HEL-SIN) cleared using vouchers within hours, but the SIN-HEL upgrade with points is still waitlisted. Last time I had the same approach and both legs were cleared, HEL-SIN (with vouchers again) within hours and SIN-HEL (with points) one hour after calling CS and asking about it (had been in the waitlist for three weeks or so). Pure luck I guess...
Mar 2, 2019, 6:20 am
#206
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Priority Club Plat Amb, Miles and Smiles Elite
Posts: 5,294
First post to the forum, whii...
I got one direction (HEL-SIN) cleared using vouchers within hours, but the SIN-HEL upgrade with points is still waitlisted. Last time I had the same approach and both legs were cleared, HEL-SIN (with vouchers again) within hours and SIN-HEL (with points) one hour after calling CS and asking about it (had been in the waitlist for three weeks or so). Pure luck I guess...
I got one direction (HEL-SIN) cleared using vouchers within hours, but the SIN-HEL upgrade with points is still waitlisted. Last time I had the same approach and both legs were cleared, HEL-SIN (with vouchers again) within hours and SIN-HEL (with points) one hour after calling CS and asking about it (had been in the waitlist for three weeks or so). Pure luck I guess...
Mar 2, 2019, 7:45 am
#207
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: 14,172
I was about to suggest we call it Waste-listing but realised the pun was much better spoken than written (the simple misspell waistlist doesn't really convey my message!)
Mar 2, 2019, 9:42 am
#208
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: BGO (Temporarily HEL)
Programs: AY+ Gold, SK EBG
Posts: 400
Mar 2, 2019, 10:02 am
#209
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
Very often we are tempted to ask CSC to reveal what is going on behind the waistline, which can, for some reason, interpreted wrongly...
Mar 2, 2019, 2:45 pm
#210
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
