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
Nov 8, 2017, 2:21 am
#301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,047
Some people have reported success at upgrading into K. YMMV. But if there is truly nothing ever sold ex-ARN in the "J" bucket, you might have a better chance of success. All you can do is call and see and, if necessary, just upgrade the ex-IST long-haul leg.
Nov 8, 2017, 3:37 am
#302
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
Booking Class J is available on ExpertFlyer for the chosen flights.
However Turkish Airlines don't have any fares loaded in the GDS that book into J. So in other words will booking class J be used exclusively for upgrades since it is indeed available in the system, or will they simply refer to the fact that they're not selling it from Stockholm.
Nov 8, 2017, 4:25 am
#303
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: *G, used to be with TK but left due to their corruption and political ties
Posts: 4,406
However Turkish Airlines don't have any fares loaded in the GDS that book into J. So in other words will booking class J be used exclusively for upgrades since it is indeed available in the system, or will they simply refer to the fact that they're not selling it from Stockholm.
Nov 8, 2017, 12:07 pm
#304
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
There doesn't need to be a published J fare for your route, but there needs to be J class availability on the entire trip component you are looking to upgrade. Given that TK manages availability, this matters.
In other words, just seeing J class when looking at ARN-IST and when looking at e.g. IST-HKG is not enough. J needs to be available when looking at ARN-IST-HKG.
In other words, just seeing J class when looking at ARN-IST and when looking at e.g. IST-HKG is not enough. J needs to be available when looking at ARN-IST-HKG.
Nov 9, 2017, 1:30 am
#305
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,047
There doesn't need to be a published J fare for your route, but there needs to be J class availability on the entire trip component you are looking to upgrade. Given that TK manages availability, this matters.
In other words, just seeing J class when looking at ARN-IST and when looking at e.g. IST-HKG is not enough. J needs to be available when looking at ARN-IST-HKG.
In other words, just seeing J class when looking at ARN-IST and when looking at e.g. IST-HKG is not enough. J needs to be available when looking at ARN-IST-HKG.
Dec 15, 2017, 12:27 pm
#307
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
It’s not gonna be easy. I once tried to upgrade TK ticket immediately after purchasing ticket at the travel agency. Upgraded ticket couldn’t be issued for unknown reason. Agent said no problem, final ticket processing will be done at the departure airport. I didn’t trust that, cancelled ticket and purchased new one on the TK site. The latter was instantly upgraded by the phone agent.
Dec 15, 2017, 12:33 pm
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUN
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 11,230
I always buy my tickets though a travel agent and didn't have any issue as long as the ticket is issued and that you have the TK PNR (which is different from my travel agent's PNR)
Dec 15, 2017, 1:13 pm
#309
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: C2
Programs: AY ex-Lumo, TK Elite, BT VIP, ITA Executive
Posts: 1,157
I also got the ticket upgraded without any problem when booked through an OTA. J miles credited - I suppose I was just a lucky one in TK's jungle.
Dec 16, 2017, 4:31 am
#310
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
It’s not gonna be easy. I once tried to upgrade TK ticket immediately after purchasing ticket at the travel agency. Upgraded ticket couldn’t be issued for unknown reason. Agent said no problem, final ticket processing will be done at the departure airport. I didn’t trust that, cancelled ticket and purchased new one on the TK site. The latter was instantly upgraded by the phone agent.
Dec 16, 2017, 4:35 am
#311
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
Raising anew the discussion about J availability, which has been discussed here before: I have been looking into some economy bookings and double-checked then the business tix too in order to see what they sell on the same routes and I can only find K class, never J. Just like discussed before. Kind of annoying to guess if there is the "hidden J" available even though not seen by the TK booking engine. Well I just guess I need to call TK and do as in WIKI - book pay&fly, confirm by phone if there is J, and then pay and ticket.
I don't want to buy otherwise a W or P ticket which earns almost nothing just to find out I cannot even upgrade it
I don't want to buy otherwise a W or P ticket which earns almost nothing just to find out I cannot even upgrade it
Dec 16, 2017, 10:29 am
#312
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite+, HIlton Diamond, Delta Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 201
Also make sure that if a middle name appears on your miles and smiles card that you include that as part of the first name in the name field on Expedia. Expedia does not send along the middle name to airlines some times, and this prevents me from using a certificate because the ticketed name did not include my middle name and the TK call center and sales office could not perform the upgrade.
Dec 20, 2017, 8:44 am
#313
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Accra
Programs: Skywards Gold, TK Elite +, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 222
Also make sure that if a middle name appears on your miles and smiles card that you include that as part of the first name in the name field on Expedia. Expedia does not send along the middle name to airlines some times, and this prevents me from using a certificate because the ticketed name did not include my middle name and the TK call center and sales office could not perform the upgrade.
Dec 21, 2017, 2:08 pm
#315
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295