Sep 8, 2017, 8:42 am
Last edit by: flyerby
E+ members receive two upgrade vouchers per membership year that can be used as system-wide upgrades. Vouchers are not delivered to E+ status holders in physical or electronic form and only exist on the screens of TK agents.
It is advisable to call TK to verify the number of vouchers you have prior to and after the upgrade (unless you have no vouchers left).
Upgrades are done by calling TK CS or a local TK office (by phone or email).
One voucher is needed to upgrade per direction. For example, the itinerary LHR-IST-BKK will need one voucher to upgrade, and the itinerary LHR-IST-BKK-IST-LHR will need two vouchers. If an agent tells you otherwise, HUCA.
How to find itineraries with availability for a voucher upgrade?
Find an itinerary in any class in Y that has 4 seats left in J booking class on the same itinerary as the Y. To be extra cautious, you may also check the individual legs (when applicable) for 4 seats left in J booking class. For example, for the itinerary LHR-IST-BKK, check at least that LHR-IST-BKK has 4 seats left in J booking class, and in addition, check LHR-IST and IST-BKK individually too.
You can no longer check for upgrade availability without having an e-ticket number.
A relatively low-risk method of proceeding is therefore...
1) Reserve a ticket online with TK but don't pay for the ticket yet. Just put it on hold for 48 hours for free for E+ members.
2) Book an economy class ticket on the same itinerary with a reputable USA-based OTA that offers a 24-hour cooling-off / full refund period.
3) Once you have received your e-ticket number, go to Manage Booking on the TK website and check if TK has offered a business upgrade with miles for your intineray. Any segment eligible for an upgrade with miles on the website is also eligible for an upgrade with E+ vouchers.
4) Another option would be to call TK CS and ask an agent to check if the ticket in (2) is upgradeable with your vouchers. Do not upgrade this ticket; just check.
5) Once availability is confirmed for your itinerary, pay for the ticket in (1). Upon payment and ticketing, call TK CS to ask an agent to upgrade this ticket.
6) Cancel for free the ticket in (2).
Another even lower-risk method would be to skip (1) and just upgrade the ticket in (2). If unsuccessful with the E+ upgrade, you can proceed to cancel your economy ticket within the 24-hour cooling-off period. Going with this route, you would then have to be in contact with the OTA and not TK in cases of schedule change, cancellation, or IRROP, which is not usually advisable unless you really have to.
You might be asked to enter a PIN number via an automatic system to access your vouchers; this is the PIN you use to log on to your TK M&S account.
It is advisable to call TK to verify the number of vouchers you have prior to and after the upgrade (unless you have no vouchers left).
Upgrades are done by calling TK CS or a local TK office (by phone or email).
One voucher is needed to upgrade per direction. For example, the itinerary LHR-IST-BKK will need one voucher to upgrade, and the itinerary LHR-IST-BKK-IST-LHR will need two vouchers. If an agent tells you otherwise, HUCA.
How to find itineraries with availability for a voucher upgrade?
Find an itinerary in any class in Y that has 4 seats left in J booking class on the same itinerary as the Y. To be extra cautious, you may also check the individual legs (when applicable) for 4 seats left in J booking class. For example, for the itinerary LHR-IST-BKK, check at least that LHR-IST-BKK has 4 seats left in J booking class, and in addition, check LHR-IST and IST-BKK individually too.
You can no longer check for upgrade availability without having an e-ticket number.
A relatively low-risk method of proceeding is therefore...
1) Reserve a ticket online with TK but don't pay for the ticket yet. Just put it on hold for 48 hours for free for E+ members.
2) Book an economy class ticket on the same itinerary with a reputable USA-based OTA that offers a 24-hour cooling-off / full refund period.
3) Once you have received your e-ticket number, go to Manage Booking on the TK website and check if TK has offered a business upgrade with miles for your intineray. Any segment eligible for an upgrade with miles on the website is also eligible for an upgrade with E+ vouchers.
4) Another option would be to call TK CS and ask an agent to check if the ticket in (2) is upgradeable with your vouchers. Do not upgrade this ticket; just check.
5) Once availability is confirmed for your itinerary, pay for the ticket in (1). Upon payment and ticketing, call TK CS to ask an agent to upgrade this ticket.
6) Cancel for free the ticket in (2).
Another even lower-risk method would be to skip (1) and just upgrade the ticket in (2). If unsuccessful with the E+ upgrade, you can proceed to cancel your economy ticket within the 24-hour cooling-off period. Going with this route, you would then have to be in contact with the OTA and not TK in cases of schedule change, cancellation, or IRROP, which is not usually advisable unless you really have to.
You might be asked to enter a PIN number via an automatic system to access your vouchers; this is the PIN you use to log on to your TK M&S account.
Elite Plus upgrade voucher
Sep 8, 2015, 7:44 pm
#196
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1
Experience upgrading
Like many people posted here is a matter of luck, depends one the knowledge of the rep. After calling 6 times for about 2 hours I was able to get a full upgrade one GRU- IST -ICN and return ussing only 2 vouchers. There was no place at begining, that somethung else was wrong, the line went down, etc. It was hard work and costy calling from Brazil, since I had to reissue my previous ticket because there was not mentioned one of my seccondary names. I was almost giving up when I got a experienced rep and all was ready in 10 minutes, at same time the booking class changed to J in the previous reservation.
Im wondering if miles will be credited accordingly to the original booking class or what they consider one such cases? One webpage it mentions only economy class miles!
Im wondering if miles will be credited accordingly to the original booking class or what they consider one such cases? One webpage it mentions only economy class miles!
Sep 9, 2015, 6:51 am
#197
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: IST
Programs: TK E+ | HHD | Marriott TE LTG | etc.
Posts: 286
Sep 9, 2015, 3:01 pm
#200
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: IST
Programs: TK E+ | HHD | Marriott TE LTG | etc.
Posts: 286
But, I tried to upgrade with my lap-infant daughter who were on the same ticket with me, succeeded without problem.
Sep 18, 2015, 12:07 am
#201
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 602
My experience upgrading today
This morning I noticed 1 available seat in J on my upcoming flight SGN-BKK-IST-OSL, so I rushed to my local TK ticketing office to get the upgrade, which they usually handles swiftly. However, today everyone was "on vacation", and the office was staffed by a girl that didn't know what Elite Plus was and she have never heard of the upgrade vouchers. However, she could see on her computer that I had "no vouchers left".
Anyway, due to my horrible experience with the TK call center, I have not used that method for several years, but I gave it a try today. I came to an agent that spoke well English and he was very polite as well. I had to confirm my email address, office address, M&S number, credit card number, enter my pin code and spell my name around 16 times, but after roughly 30 min. on the phone, the entire trip was upgraded and an email confirmation received. All in all not too bad, given that this is TK.
Downside is that I have to use 2 vouchers for the upgrade, while I usually manage with only 1, when I upgrade through my local ticket office.
Anyway, due to my horrible experience with the TK call center, I have not used that method for several years, but I gave it a try today. I came to an agent that spoke well English and he was very polite as well. I had to confirm my email address, office address, M&S number, credit card number, enter my pin code and spell my name around 16 times, but after roughly 30 min. on the phone, the entire trip was upgraded and an email confirmation received. All in all not too bad, given that this is TK.
Downside is that I have to use 2 vouchers for the upgrade, while I usually manage with only 1, when I upgrade through my local ticket office.
Sep 18, 2015, 2:50 am
#202
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PER
Programs: BA Gold, QF Gold, VA Gold, IC Diamond Amb., HH Diamond
Posts: 777
In the past I've always had agents tell me that I had to use 2 vouchers for say HKG-IST-MAD that I did several times in the past but seems I came up trumps recently with a booking I made the other day.
The interesting thing is that the agent seems to have little control over whether it's one or two vouchers, it's about putting in one for redemption and seeing if the system will accept it.
In my case I booked LAX-IST-LHR with a 20 hour stopover in IST and the agent asked me if I wanted to use "one or two vouchers" which I thought was an odd question.
I said one if the system will take it and he was unsure due to the stopover but in the end it was fine and I only had to redeem one voucher.
Guess this really is a YMMV situation redeeming these
The interesting thing is that the agent seems to have little control over whether it's one or two vouchers, it's about putting in one for redemption and seeing if the system will accept it.
In my case I booked LAX-IST-LHR with a 20 hour stopover in IST and the agent asked me if I wanted to use "one or two vouchers" which I thought was an odd question.
I said one if the system will take it and he was unsure due to the stopover but in the end it was fine and I only had to redeem one voucher.
Guess this really is a YMMV situation redeeming these
Sep 22, 2015, 1:10 am
#203
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,530
This morning I noticed 1 available seat in J on my upcoming flight SGN-BKK-IST-OSL, so I rushed to my local TK ticketing office to get the upgrade, which they usually handles swiftly. However, today everyone was "on vacation", and the office was staffed by a girl that didn't know what Elite Plus was and she have never heard of the upgrade vouchers. However, she could see on her computer that I had "no vouchers left".
Anyway, due to my horrible experience with the TK call center, I have not used that method for several years, but I gave it a try today. I came to an agent that spoke well English and he was very polite as well. I had to confirm my email address, office address, M&S number, credit card number, enter my pin code and spell my name around 16 times, but after roughly 30 min. on the phone, the entire trip was upgraded and an email confirmation received. All in all not too bad, given that this is TK.
Downside is that I have to use 2 vouchers for the upgrade, while I usually manage with only 1, when I upgrade through my local ticket office.
Anyway, due to my horrible experience with the TK call center, I have not used that method for several years, but I gave it a try today. I came to an agent that spoke well English and he was very polite as well. I had to confirm my email address, office address, M&S number, credit card number, enter my pin code and spell my name around 16 times, but after roughly 30 min. on the phone, the entire trip was upgraded and an email confirmation received. All in all not too bad, given that this is TK.
Downside is that I have to use 2 vouchers for the upgrade, while I usually manage with only 1, when I upgrade through my local ticket office.
Nov 16, 2015, 10:36 am
#204
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: RIX
Programs: SAS Lifetime Gold, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, TK*G Elite+, airBaltic VIP, Sixt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,079
Great success
Polite and knowledgeable THY agent upgraded my 4 segment flight RIX-IST-EZE-IST-RIX with 2 vouchers in less than 15 minutes. That's gonna be a very pleasant MR booked in Y+O, rebooked to J 
Nov 16, 2015, 11:09 pm
#205
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: TK Elite Plus; UA Gold Elite; Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 106
I recently had a good experience upgrading with my vouchers. I had a good English-speaking rep who took only about 15 minutes to upgrade my LAX-IST-CDG flight with one voucher each way. Also pleasantly surprised to have upgradeable seats available on the LAX flights, which I've found to be very limited in the past.
However, before we all get excited, I called the next day to get my wife upgraded with miles, and after an hour on the phone, finally completed everything, but it was like pulling teeth to get through each step.
I called the Elite line at the THY Call Center both times, but the first time (when everything went well), I called during Istanbul day hours, and the second, not-so-good time, I called during midnight hours. So I'm wondering if the "good" reps are working during the day, and the marginal reps have the graveyard shifts.
However, before we all get excited, I called the next day to get my wife upgraded with miles, and after an hour on the phone, finally completed everything, but it was like pulling teeth to get through each step.
I called the Elite line at the THY Call Center both times, but the first time (when everything went well), I called during Istanbul day hours, and the second, not-so-good time, I called during midnight hours. So I'm wondering if the "good" reps are working during the day, and the marginal reps have the graveyard shifts.
Nov 16, 2015, 11:16 pm
#207
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: TK Elite Plus; UA Gold Elite; Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 106
Actually, both reps were Indian. I don't think the India call center makes too much sense from a time point of view, since the time zones between Istanbul and India aren't off by much. They may still be using an India call center, but even there, their graveyard shift may be the newbies.
Nov 17, 2015, 8:21 am
#208
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 294
I really really hate dealing with the Indian call center. Really hate a lot. They seem to have no flexibility and often have no idea what they're talking about (eg claiming that my status miles became "expired" while miles earned prior to the flight in question had not).
Nov 17, 2015, 8:41 am
#209
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: TK Elite Plus; UA Gold Elite; Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 106
But you get Y mileage
I really really hate dealing with the Indian call center. Really hate a lot. They seem to have no flexibility and often have no idea what they're talking about (eg claiming that my status miles became "expired" while miles earned prior to the flight in question had not).
I really really hate dealing with the Indian call center. Really hate a lot. They seem to have no flexibility and often have no idea what they're talking about (eg claiming that my status miles became "expired" while miles earned prior to the flight in question had not).
Nov 17, 2015, 9:51 am
#210
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: RIX
Programs: SAS Lifetime Gold, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, TK*G Elite+, airBaltic VIP, Sixt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,079