Last edit by: f0zzyNUE
Seems to be offered from outstations only. Examples:
Germany-IST Y->C EUR 200
Germany-Turkey Y->C EUR 250
TLL-IST: Y->C: EUR 150 (Dec.2017)
HEL-IST: Y->C: EUR 150 (2017 still the same 3/2022 )
MAN-IST: Y->C: USD 250 [173 GBP] (2016)
RIX-IST: Y->C: EUR 200 (2016)
TBS-SAW: Y->C: EUR 150 (2018)
TPE-IST: Y->C: USD 850 [TWD 29k] (2016)
DEL-IST: Y->C: USD 300 (2015)
DEL-IST: Y->C: USD 425 (2017)
BOM-IST: Y->C: USD 300 (2014)
BOM-IST: Y->C: USD 400 (2016)
ICN-IST: Y->Y+:EUR 250 (2015)
ICN-IST: Y->Y+:KRW 55k [about USD 500] (late 2016)
HAN-IST: Y->: USD 500 (2018)
HKG-IST: Y->C: EUR 750 (2018)
Germany-IST Y->C EUR 200
Germany-Turkey Y->C EUR 250
TLL-IST: Y->C: EUR 150 (Dec.2017)
HEL-IST: Y->C: EUR 150 (2017 still the same 3/2022 )
MAN-IST: Y->C: USD 250 [173 GBP] (2016)
RIX-IST: Y->C: EUR 200 (2016)
TBS-SAW: Y->C: EUR 150 (2018)
TPE-IST: Y->C: USD 850 [TWD 29k] (2016)
DEL-IST: Y->C: USD 300 (2015)
DEL-IST: Y->C: USD 425 (2017)
BOM-IST: Y->C: USD 300 (2014)
BOM-IST: Y->C: USD 400 (2016)
ICN-IST: Y->Y+:EUR 250 (2015)
ICN-IST: Y->Y+:KRW 55k [about USD 500] (late 2016)
HAN-IST: Y->: USD 500 (2018)
HKG-IST: Y->C: EUR 750 (2018)
HKG-IST: Y->C: EUR 750 (March 2016)
HKG-IST: Y->C: EUR 750 (2015)
HKG-IST: Y->Y+:EUR 400 (2014)
HKG-IST: Y->C: EUR 800 (2014)
KUL-IST: Y->C: USD 520 [MYR 2k] (2018)
MNL-IST: Y->: USD 500 (2018)
NRT-IST: Y->C: USD 570 [JPY 60k] (June 2016)
NRT-IST: Y->C: USD 300 (2014)
SGN-IST: Y->: USD 500 (2018)
IAD-IST: Y->C: USD 500 (2015)
JFK-IST: Y->C: USD 1000 (2015)
JFK-IST: Y->C: USD 500 (2016)
JFK-IST: Y->C: USD 1099 (2021)
ORD-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2015 and 2018)
IAH-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2015)
IAH-IST: Y->C: USD 750 (2014)
IAH-IST: Y->Y+:USD 300 (2014)
IAH-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2017)
LAX-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2016)
LAX-IST: Y->Y+:USD 350 (2015)
LAX-IST: Y->Y+:USD 300 (2014)
SFO-IST: Y->C: USD 1299 (2015)
SFO-IST: Y->C: 699 to 999 based on the C-class load (2017)
YYZ-IST: Y->Y+: CAD 361 (2016)
GRU-IST: Y->C: USD 749 (2017)
MRU-IST-MUC: Y->C: EUR 800 (June 2022)
HKG-IST: Y->C: EUR 750 (2015)
HKG-IST: Y->Y+:EUR 400 (2014)
HKG-IST: Y->C: EUR 800 (2014)
KUL-IST: Y->C: USD 520 [MYR 2k] (2018)
MNL-IST: Y->: USD 500 (2018)
NRT-IST: Y->C: USD 570 [JPY 60k] (June 2016)
NRT-IST: Y->C: USD 300 (2014)
SGN-IST: Y->: USD 500 (2018)
IAD-IST: Y->C: USD 500 (2015)
JFK-IST: Y->C: USD 1000 (2015)
JFK-IST: Y->C: USD 500 (2016)
JFK-IST: Y->C: USD 1099 (2021)
ORD-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2015 and 2018)
IAH-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2015)
IAH-IST: Y->C: USD 750 (2014)
IAH-IST: Y->Y+:USD 300 (2014)
IAH-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2017)
LAX-IST: Y->C: USD 999 (2016)
LAX-IST: Y->Y+:USD 350 (2015)
LAX-IST: Y->Y+:USD 300 (2014)
SFO-IST: Y->C: USD 1299 (2015)
SFO-IST: Y->C: 699 to 999 based on the C-class load (2017)
YYZ-IST: Y->Y+: CAD 361 (2016)
GRU-IST: Y->C: USD 749 (2017)
MRU-IST-MUC: Y->C: EUR 800 (June 2022)
THY Now Offering Paid Discounted Airport Upgrades
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 584
THY Now Offering Paid Discounted Airport Upgrades
THY has for the past week been offering paid upgrades from any Y fare to J on the BOM to IST route for a bargain $300. I upgraded today from a highly discounted P fare and even got a front row 'first class' cabin on their Jet Airways 777. Quite understandably, no business class mileage credit is applied. Is anyone aware of similar practices being adopted on other routes?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: TSE
Posts: 821
THY has for the past week been offering paid upgrades from any Y fare to J on the BOM to IST route for a bargain $300. I upgraded today from a highly discounted P fare and even got a front row 'first class' cabin on their Jet Airways 777. Quite understandably, no business class mileage credit is applied. Is anyone aware of similar practices being adopted on other routes?
300$ from P class is definitely a steal

#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: IST - NYC
Posts: 776
Was "Y" overbooked?
LH once offered my C > F BKK to FRA for $600. I declined and got an op up at the gate.
When airlines that usually don't sell airport upgrades offer them at cheap rates, it is an indication for an overbooked flight.
$300 is a very good deal especially for the seat you got ^
LH once offered my C > F BKK to FRA for $600. I declined and got an op up at the gate.
When airlines that usually don't sell airport upgrades offer them at cheap rates, it is an indication for an overbooked flight.
$300 is a very good deal especially for the seat you got ^
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 584
Y was only 80% full and business 50%. The BOM TK staff informed me that they got permission from Istanbul to offer the $300 upgrades on all flights where business seats are available.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 260
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 584
There were printed notices at all check-in desks and all economy passengers were eligible. Only a few people took up the offer. The gate agent informed me that only E+ passengers were being allowed that day into rows 1-2 (the first class cabins) which were around 40% full.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: TSE
Posts: 821
There were printed notices at all check-in desks and all economy passengers were eligible. Only a few people took up the offer. The gate agent informed me that only E+ passengers were being allowed that day into rows 1-2 (the first class cabins) which were around 40% full.

#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 621
Maybe, but not always
I just flew SKG-IST-JFK yesterday, and asked about a paid upgrade in SKG and IST, and was rejected both times.
In fairness, the handling at SKG is handled by Goldair, so they're probably not empowered to sell upgrades for $.
However, when I inquired about the upgrade in the massive TK lounge in IST (while in transit), the two supervisors both quickly said no. When I tried pushing a little bit, they told me to go speak to the ticket counter out in the departures hall. When I asked them to call the ticket counter on my behalf, so as to save me the cost and trouble of getting a Turkish eVisa (so as to enter Turkey and go landslide), they both shrugged and said no.
FWIW, there were 3x empty seats in C/J on the my flight from IST-JFK last night, so it was not an issue of capacity control.
In fairness, the handling at SKG is handled by Goldair, so they're probably not empowered to sell upgrades for $.
However, when I inquired about the upgrade in the massive TK lounge in IST (while in transit), the two supervisors both quickly said no. When I tried pushing a little bit, they told me to go speak to the ticket counter out in the departures hall. When I asked them to call the ticket counter on my behalf, so as to save me the cost and trouble of getting a Turkish eVisa (so as to enter Turkey and go landslide), they both shrugged and said no.
FWIW, there were 3x empty seats in C/J on the my flight from IST-JFK last night, so it was not an issue of capacity control.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
I would never count on paid upgrades at airports, especially any flights to/from North America. In fact, even J (upgrades using miles and E+ vouchers) is hard to come by, much less awards and last minute cheap upsells.
Odds for upgrades are much higher IST-KUL and IST-BKK where options are plentiful. Again, J fares to those cities are a lot cheaper to begin with.
Odds for upgrades are much higher IST-KUL and IST-BKK where options are plentiful. Again, J fares to those cities are a lot cheaper to begin with.
#10
fadynaime
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: TK Elite Miles&Smlies, Jet Blue, Platinum medallion, Marriott Gold
Posts: 550
back in March at LAX. they were offering upgrades to CC for 300$. but 2 weeks later that wasn't an option. I don't have much more info than that. but it is a good deal even if its just for CC.
a few weeks later my parents couldn't get the same offer.
on my flight on June 7th out of LAX. i couldn't get any kind of upgrades miles or cash, nothing was available. i overheard TK employee mention there was only 2 empty seats on the whole flight.
a few weeks later my parents couldn't get the same offer.
on my flight on June 7th out of LAX. i couldn't get any kind of upgrades miles or cash, nothing was available. i overheard TK employee mention there was only 2 empty seats on the whole flight.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
back in March at LAX. they were offering upgrades to CC for 300$. but 2 weeks later that wasn't an option. I don't have much more info than that. but it is a good deal even if its just for CC.
a few weeks later my parents couldn't get the same offer.
on my flight on June 7th out of LAX. i couldn't get any kind of upgrades miles or cash, nothing was available. i overheard TK employee mention there was only 2 empty seats on the whole flight.
a few weeks later my parents couldn't get the same offer.
on my flight on June 7th out of LAX. i couldn't get any kind of upgrades miles or cash, nothing was available. i overheard TK employee mention there was only 2 empty seats on the whole flight.
At this point, I'd just try to book LAX flight on CC as soon as possible once you know the dates, it's becoming more and more difficult to upgrade. Perhaps they should launch second daily flight, red eye, leaving IST 1-2 am and arriving LAX 5-6 in the morning would be ideal.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 200
THY has for the past week been offering paid upgrades from any Y fare to J on the BOM to IST route for a bargain $300. I upgraded today from a highly discounted P fare and even got a front row 'first class' cabin on their Jet Airways 777. Quite understandably, no business class mileage credit is applied. Is anyone aware of similar practices being adopted on other routes?