Thoughts about AY's new upgrade voucher policy?
Aug 9, 2007, 2:09 pm
#1
Ambassador: Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,268
Thoughts about AY's new upgrade voucher policy?
What do you think, was the change upgrade or downgrade from the old days? Generally I think this new system is an improvement, especially the 4+12 vouchers (long haul / short haul) for Plats. There's of course the question about different type of travelling patterns, there might be some downsides for people who only fly short hauls, for example..anyway, interested to hear what others think...
Aug 9, 2007, 11:59 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: HEL
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 152
As a lowly gold I don't get long haul upgrades at all. And sometimes it's really difficult to use those europe -upgrade vouchers because I mostly fly long haul or to destinations in Europe that don't have business class. Sometimes I even book cheap economy to destinations in Europe that have business class service just to use my vouchers. But sometimes that doesn't sound very smart 
Hopefully I'll get plat card some day.
Thumbs up for Finnair Plus that I can upgrade long haul with points even from deep discount fares. And also vouchers are valid for any fare ^
Hopefully I'll get plat card some day.Thumbs up for Finnair Plus that I can upgrade long haul with points even from deep discount fares. And also vouchers are valid for any fare ^
Aug 10, 2007, 12:02 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: HEL, Finland
Programs: AY Plat, SK Silver, FB Gold
Posts: 604
I haven't really experienced it yet, but for my flying habits, I don't think it's going to be a major change. I fly mostly direct long-haul from HEL or then connecting long-haul via LHR and CDG, which are often on BA or AF codeshares. One exception are my flights to CPH, but I don't see the benefits of being in J class for such a short flight.
I'll try to use the long-haul vouchers on my next HEL-DEL-HEL flights in September.
I'll try to use the long-haul vouchers on my next HEL-DEL-HEL flights in September.
Aug 10, 2007, 12:11 am
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LON, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 373
My first impression is that it is an improvement. It no longer seems to be tied to a calendar year, but your re-qualifying period instead, which for Plat is 24M. That suggests that I can use two years worth vouchers in one if I so chose, although haven't tried this yet so remains unconfirmed.
I do recall when I first qualified to Platinum from Gold around july time in a calendar year, I was given the Plat vouchers for Aug-Dec. Having already used all the Gold vouchers this was of course a good bonus, but in the end didn't manage to use all of them because my travel is not that much with AY. This 'bonus' benefit might still be there, but only those about to move from Gold to Plat or soon to renew Plat can confirm.
I do recall when I first qualified to Platinum from Gold around july time in a calendar year, I was given the Plat vouchers for Aug-Dec. Having already used all the Gold vouchers this was of course a good bonus, but in the end didn't manage to use all of them because my travel is not that much with AY. This 'bonus' benefit might still be there, but only those about to move from Gold to Plat or soon to renew Plat can confirm.
Aug 12, 2007, 8:51 am
#5
Ambassador: Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,268
My first impression is that it is an improvement. It no longer seems to be tied to a calendar year, but your re-qualifying period instead, which for Plat is 24M. That suggests that I can use two years worth vouchers in one if I so chose, although haven't tried this yet so remains unconfirmed.
Aug 13, 2007, 12:52 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: BA/OW Sapphire, TK/* Gold
Posts: 130
For gold it is not an improvement since you would get 4+4+4 intra European upgrades with the old system and only 4+4 with the new system. An improvement is of course that you can use the vouchers whenever you want.
Aug 13, 2007, 1:28 am
#7
Ambassador: Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,268
Yep, this was my first thought as well and this is true for folks whos tracking period started nowhere near new year so with this new policy all members get the same amount of vouchers, no matter when their period starts/ends.
Oct 2, 2007, 12:09 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: HEL
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 152
I'm about to get Platinum card during winter, but I can't use all my gold upgrade vouchers before that. Do I lose my current vouchers? My gold period would be until next summer if I didn't get the platinum.
Oct 2, 2007, 1:32 am
#9
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LON, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 373
When this happened to me, I got to keep the yet unused Gold vouchers and was given the Platinum vouchers as well... Not sure if this has changed. At the time the vouchers were tied to a calendar year and as I moved from Gold to Platinum at the end of the year, a lot of my new vouchers expired unused...
Oct 16, 2007, 11:32 am
#10
Ambassador: Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,268
Anyway, the new Plat vouchers are valid until the end of you qualification period so they'll be good for 24 months and you'll get them all at once, not at the start of every calendar year as earlier.
Oct 17, 2007, 11:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: HEL
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 152
You'll lose all old calendar year based vouchers as their expire on 31.12.2007. If you qualify for plat only well after New Year you should get something for 2008 based on your old Gold status, though..not sure how that goes now but in theory you should expect to get 4 new short haul vouchers for expiry on 31.12.2008 based on your old Gold status. If you qualify before New Year than it'll be clear and just the Plat stuff that day onwards.
Anyway, the new Plat vouchers are valid until the end of you qualification period so they'll be good for 24 months and you'll get them all at once, not at the start of every calendar year as earlier.
Anyway, the new Plat vouchers are valid until the end of you qualification period so they'll be good for 24 months and you'll get them all at once, not at the start of every calendar year as earlier.
Last edited by BlackBird; Oct 17, 2007 at 11:21 pm Reason: I can't spell