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
Mar 27, 2019, 7:47 am
#496
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
Mar 27, 2019, 8:46 am
#497
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: 13,040
Indeed, this is very disappointing. But the way I read TK's response is that I class availability is still irrelevant for upgrades (it was speculated earlier in this forum that both I and J need to be available in order to upgrade). J class availability is a prerequisite but not anymore a guarantee for an upgrade.
Mar 27, 2019, 9:07 am
#498
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: TK E+, AC 25K, A3 S, UA S, BoNVoY TE
Posts: 103
I just noticed that ExpertFlyer shows an "R" class listed as a business-class fare category. I do not see R-class on the TK website as a revenue class, therefore I am wondering if this could be a new fare bucket relating to upgrades? I don't recall seeing R-class on EF in the past, but I could be mistaken.
From a very quick search of random flights and dates on EF, it would appear that availability of R-class is somewhat correlated to I-class. Any time R>0, I is greater than 2. On days where it is showing I=3, R was 1, and where I<=2, R=0. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge if this might be significant or is it a completely unrelated fare bucket? Does anyone remember seeing R as either a revenue fare on TK or previously posted on EF?
From a very quick search of random flights and dates on EF, it would appear that availability of R-class is somewhat correlated to I-class. Any time R>0, I is greater than 2. On days where it is showing I=3, R was 1, and where I<=2, R=0. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge if this might be significant or is it a completely unrelated fare bucket? Does anyone remember seeing R as either a revenue fare on TK or previously posted on EF?
Mar 27, 2019, 9:18 am
#499
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO, DUS
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emer), TK ELPL (*G), Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 528
I just noticed that ExpertFlyer shows an "R" class listed as a business-class fare category. I do not see R-class on the TK website as a revenue class, therefore I am wondering if this could be a new fare bucket relating to upgrades? I don't recall seeing R-class on EF in the past, but I could be mistaken.
From a very quick search of random flights and dates on EF, it would appear that availability of R-class is somewhat correlated to I-class. Any time R>0, I is greater than 2. On days where it is showing I=3, R was 1, and where I<=2, R=0. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge if this might be significant or is it a completely unrelated fare bucket? Does anyone remember seeing R as either a revenue fare on TK or previously posted on EF?
From a very quick search of random flights and dates on EF, it would appear that availability of R-class is somewhat correlated to I-class. Any time R>0, I is greater than 2. On days where it is showing I=3, R was 1, and where I<=2, R=0. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge if this might be significant or is it a completely unrelated fare bucket? Does anyone remember seeing R as either a revenue fare on TK or previously posted on EF?
I like your earlier suggestion that people with successful upgrades kindly share here in this forum the available fare buckets (J, I , R) for the individual and married segments. Hopefully we can then figure out a pattern
Mar 27, 2019, 2:55 pm
#500
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
...
From a very quick search of random flights and dates on EF, it would appear that availability of R-class is somewhat correlated to I-class. Any time R>0, I is greater than 2. On days where it is showing I=3, R was 1, and where I<=2, R=0. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge if this might be significant or is it a completely unrelated fare bucket? ...
From a very quick search of random flights and dates on EF, it would appear that availability of R-class is somewhat correlated to I-class. Any time R>0, I is greater than 2. On days where it is showing I=3, R was 1, and where I<=2, R=0. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge if this might be significant or is it a completely unrelated fare bucket? ...
If R class is really the new upgrade class then they switched it around and it is a real downgrade from my perspective
Mar 27, 2019, 3:01 pm
#501
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
I would add to this, log the classes (J, I & R) before and after issuing a J award ticket or an upgrade.
Mar 28, 2019, 1:52 am
#504
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: 13,040
If it weren't for the critical mass of Flyertalkers with E+ and E willing to share their experiences... many of us would have given up long ago.
P.S. Perhaps we should redesign the wiki so that it includes data points. At the moment, I'm most keen on actually hearing how many people saw J for sale on the TK website but then COULDN'T upgrade.
Mar 28, 2019, 9:26 am
#505
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I had no trouble upgrading my flights which were J4 I0 R0 earlier this month. I wouldn't be surprised if the restriction is something along the lines of flight is J6 or higher (as a poster above said the TPE office told him/her) - unfortunately, the public can't see above J4, but we can call TK and ask how many seats are available in the J bucket prior to booking.
Mar 28, 2019, 10:49 am
#506
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
Mar 28, 2019, 11:59 am
#507
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I don't think the website will let you create a booking with more than 4 people in business class. And regardless, it only would work if there is a fare filed which books into J...
Mar 29, 2019, 6:07 am
#508
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
So make 2 reservations (one of them will have to get a PNR to block the seats).
Or just make a single reservation with a PNR and then have a look at EF.
Last edited by flyerby; Mar 30, 2019 at 4:19 am
Apr 1, 2019, 7:12 am
#509
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Zurich/St.Gallen/Hamburg
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BA Silver, HHonors Gold, LeClub Accor Plat., Veteran of the EK Shower
Posts: 387
How long after the end of the first membership year does it take them to credit the account with the vouchers for the 2nd membership year?
My 1st one ended 31.03.2019 and I called today but none credited yet. Any experiences?
My 1st one ended 31.03.2019 and I called today but none credited yet. Any experiences?