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
Jan 14, 2018, 6:49 am
#316
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: TK E+, AC 25K, A3 S, UA S, BoNVoY TE
Posts: 103
Hello,
I will be a first time TK E+ this year and I have two questions regarding the TK E+ upgrade vouchers:
1) Does anyone have any experience using their E+ upgrade voucher on a TK ticket (ie. 235-) that includes an interline connection?
Example: YOW-YUL-IST-SIN (using AC-TK-TK) or JFK-IST-JNB-DUR (using TK-TK-SA), where the ticket is issued by TK and one is trying to upgrade the TK-TK portions (only) of the trip?
2) Follow on posts by LH4116, has anyone actually successfully upgraded an economy class ticket where there has been J bucket availability, but NO published J fare on the routing?
Example: Currently, using Expert Flyer, one can find J2 on ATL-IST-JNB on some days; however, there is NO current published J fare on this route. The lowest published fare is KV3BX. This means while you can find J2 on Expert Flyer, one cannot book a J fare on TK. Will the E+ upgrade work in such a situation?
I will be a first time TK E+ this year and I have two questions regarding the TK E+ upgrade vouchers:
1) Does anyone have any experience using their E+ upgrade voucher on a TK ticket (ie. 235-) that includes an interline connection?
Example: YOW-YUL-IST-SIN (using AC-TK-TK) or JFK-IST-JNB-DUR (using TK-TK-SA), where the ticket is issued by TK and one is trying to upgrade the TK-TK portions (only) of the trip?
2) Follow on posts by LH4116, has anyone actually successfully upgraded an economy class ticket where there has been J bucket availability, but NO published J fare on the routing?
Example: Currently, using Expert Flyer, one can find J2 on ATL-IST-JNB on some days; however, there is NO current published J fare on this route. The lowest published fare is KV3BX. This means while you can find J2 on Expert Flyer, one cannot book a J fare on TK. Will the E+ upgrade work in such a situation?
Jan 14, 2018, 9:12 am
#317
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DSS
Posts: 827
Hello,
I will be a first time TK E+ this year and I have two questions regarding the TK E+ upgrade vouchers:
1) Does anyone have any experience using their E+ upgrade voucher on a TK ticket (ie. 235-) that includes an interline connection?
Example: YOW-YUL-IST-SIN (using AC-TK-TK) or JFK-IST-JNB-DUR (using TK-TK-SA), where the ticket is issued by TK and one is trying to upgrade the TK-TK portions (only) of the trip?
2) Follow on posts by LH4116, has anyone actually successfully upgraded an economy class ticket where there has been J bucket availability, but NO published J fare on the routing?
Example: Currently, using Expert Flyer, one can find J2 on ATL-IST-JNB on some days; however, there is NO current published J fare on this route. The lowest published fare is KV3BX. This means while you can find J2 on Expert Flyer, one cannot book a J fare on TK. Will the E+ upgrade work in such a situation?
I will be a first time TK E+ this year and I have two questions regarding the TK E+ upgrade vouchers:
1) Does anyone have any experience using their E+ upgrade voucher on a TK ticket (ie. 235-) that includes an interline connection?
Example: YOW-YUL-IST-SIN (using AC-TK-TK) or JFK-IST-JNB-DUR (using TK-TK-SA), where the ticket is issued by TK and one is trying to upgrade the TK-TK portions (only) of the trip?
2) Follow on posts by LH4116, has anyone actually successfully upgraded an economy class ticket where there has been J bucket availability, but NO published J fare on the routing?
Example: Currently, using Expert Flyer, one can find J2 on ATL-IST-JNB on some days; however, there is NO current published J fare on this route. The lowest published fare is KV3BX. This means while you can find J2 on Expert Flyer, one cannot book a J fare on TK. Will the E+ upgrade work in such a situation?
2 ) To be absolutely sure,make a reservation for your desired flight in Y,call the TK E+ hotline and ask. If yes ,book the flight and give them the your booking code or ETIX number.
If no,try with other dates if possible.
Jan 14, 2018, 9:29 am
#318
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
2) Follow on posts by LH4116, has anyone actually successfully upgraded an economy class ticket where there has been J bucket availability, but NO published J fare on the routing?
Example: Currently, using Expert Flyer, one can find J2 on ATL-IST-JNB on some days; however, there is NO current published J fare on this route. The lowest published fare is KV3BX. This means while you can find J2 on Expert Flyer, one cannot book a J fare on TK. Will the E+ upgrade work in such a situation?
Example: Currently, using Expert Flyer, one can find J2 on ATL-IST-JNB on some days; however, there is NO current published J fare on this route. The lowest published fare is KV3BX. This means while you can find J2 on Expert Flyer, one cannot book a J fare on TK. Will the E+ upgrade work in such a situation?
Last edited by Gnopps; Jan 14, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Jan 14, 2018, 3:22 pm
#319
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
I've seen the ticketing office processing upgrades by booking with both J and revenue Y fare (can be any combination), without both the upgrades can not be processed.
Jan 14, 2018, 9:24 pm
#320
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
And just a data point. I last week got upgraded from cheapo eco to J with vouchers (finally, after problems), while I could see no J inventory available, lowest biz available was K
Jan 17, 2018, 4:46 am
#321
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: TK Elite, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver
Posts: 967
I've booked an economy ticket from Stockholm to Singapore and back from Hong Kong and was able to upgrade using the voucher. The agent was very strict with the name as I did not include my middle name on my booking (third party site) and was told it should be exactly the same as my name on my account. I was able to sort it out by requesting that they change my name on my TK account (removing the middle name as per my passport). Thanks for all the tips 
Jan 17, 2018, 2:51 pm
#322
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
For the 2nd time in as many years, I was able to use 2 eVouchers painlessly via the contact center to upgrade a round trip with 2 segments per direction. It almost feels like a "normal" process these days.
The successful approach seems to be picking Y class flights on THY.com, putting them on "pay later and fly", then calling to confirm upgrade space, pay for the ticket online while the agent holds, and have the same agent process the upgrade.
The successful approach seems to be picking Y class flights on THY.com, putting them on "pay later and fly", then calling to confirm upgrade space, pay for the ticket online while the agent holds, and have the same agent process the upgrade.
Jan 17, 2018, 3:04 pm
#323
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
But, indeed, you can't really go wrong if you have the same agent that confirms upgrade space actually follow through with the upgrade.
Jan 18, 2018, 9:39 am
#324
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, TK*G E+, ALL/Accor Plat
Posts: 644
It is often possible to obtain upgrades without there being J class availability. The conditions are: (1) you need to do the transaction at your local TK airport office; (2) there needs to be a TK member of staff (not agency) present with reasonable authority (preferably the duty manager); (3) you need to have a personal relationship with the TK staff (which comes from frequent contact through flying regularly with the airline). Normally, it takes only a short e-mail to be sent or a telephone call to Istanbul and a seat will be released after a short wait (provided that there is still reasonable availability in other business booking classes). If TK staff believe that you are a good customer, they will ofter go the extra mile to help you out.
Jan 19, 2018, 6:58 am
#325
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
Jan 19, 2018, 9:44 am
#326
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
Jan 19, 2018, 6:52 pm
#327
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
Jan 20, 2018, 8:46 pm
#328
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
I want to upgrade using an E+ voucher but I’m not going to have one only in a couple of months.
Can I upgrade now with miles and when I get a voucher switch to the voucher and redeposit the miles back in to my account?
Jan 21, 2018, 12:58 am
#329
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
I know it’s relatively painless and not very expensive to cancel an award ticket and get miles redeposited, but I don’t know if an un-upgrade option even exists.
Jan 21, 2018, 1:27 am
#330
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
I am currently fighting with the fact that I upgraded flights with vouchers, someone errouneously drew miles upgrade but then corrected to vouchers, but they have not redeposited the miles back and I must fight for that. TK customer service at best