EY Upgrade Auction

[Nizar]

So, lets say the min bid worked and it applied for all sectors, you are looking at approx $4400 to upgrade, add the fare ($1200-$2500 for economy) and you come up with, possibly more than the price to buy J outright during a sale. It's not good value.

Esp with QR offering sale fares to FCO, CDG, for bang on $6k return in J

 

[Peter78]

So, lets say the min bid worked and it applied for all sectors, you are looking at approx $4400 to upgrade, add the fare ($1200-$2500 for economy) and you come up with, possibly more than the price to buy J outright during a sale. It's not good value.

I never said it was good value, I was simply providing the information I received, hoping that it might be useful to some here. Anyway, I have flown the first sector to Europe now and the airport rates to upgrade to J were as follows:

EY451: approx. A$1,510 (converted from U$1,250 at the rates they used)
EY23: US$700 (not given in A$).

So the long sector slightly cheaper than the minimum bid, however no option to submit bid given in email last week. Flight AUH - DUS miserable, ten across in a 777 is as bad as everyone makes it out to be, particularly in a full Y cabin. But I am getting off topic!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I didnt say you did? Why so defensive. I was just running the figures.

 

[mikenz]

I think it's fair to say that anyone able/willing to pay the full $6k or $7k up front is better off doing that, with zero risk of missing out and immediate seat selection (for that coveted window seat). The airport upgrade or the bid upgrade seems cheaper than buying the mixed class fare for those who want to upgrade just the 14hr leg, but again it's a gamble.

I like the flexibility that the upgrade option gives you, especially if you've already bought the economy fare a few months back, helps with the cash flow!

I'm hoping to upgade to business on the A380 in March between AUH and LHR, although I realise this is the shorter leg, and in my opinion not good value, I'm looking forward to seeing the A380 product and hoping it will be even better than on the A340 which I think is the best I've ever experienced.

 

[IrishPete]

I think it's fair to say that anyone able/willing to pay the full $6k or $7k up front is better off doing that, with zero risk of missing out and immediate seat selection (for that coveted window seat). The airport upgrade or the bid upgrade seems cheaper than buying the mixed class fare for those who want to upgrade just the 14hr leg, but again it's a gamble.

I like the flexibility that the upgrade option gives you, especially if you've already bought the economy fare a few months back, helps with the cash flow!

I'm hoping to upgade to business on the A380 in March between AUH and LHR, although I realise this is the shorter leg, and in my opinion not good value, I'm looking forward to seeing the A380 product and hoping it will be even better than on the A340 which I think is the best I've ever experienced.

I agree - the paid upgrade (auction or at check-in) seems very poor value on the shorter legs. Points are a better option in my opinion.

Good comment about cash flow. I dislike paying in full for anything months before I "receive" it. So paying for a cheap economy class ticket months in advance, then paying for the upgrades at or near the time of use "feels" better. As it goes on the credit card, I don't really pay for it for another month or two!

Although the auction upgrade seems to be hit and miss, there always seem to be upgrades at check-in.

And upgrading to Business Class at any time, opens up the possibility of being bumped up to First Class. (Although a paid in advance Business ticket would allow points upgrade to first, which seems extremely good value to me.)

 

[bigfoot786]

Just wondering how long before a flight one might look to expect to get an email (assuming its forthcoming in the first place)? I imagine a lot would depend on capacity and how many J seats the airline believes it could sell normally anyway?

Have just booked for late Jan next year. Total of 12 flights on 4 different bookings, so would welcome an upgrade auction email

Regards

 

[alex_au]

Hi bigfoot786

Normally email arrive 10 - 14 days out from flight, however check out this link - you can email them directly to prompt for a email upgrade option: Etihad Select Upgrade

Also, I have just noticed that Etihad have what they call 'Push Upgrade' - My upgrade options I haven't heard of anyone using this service or if it is new or not.

Just make sure pricing of upgrade doesn't out weigh what the actual cost of the next class fare actually starts at.

Have a good trip!

 

[mikenz]

Interesting, I didn't know about the push upgrade either. Would love to hear the prices they offer and see how they compare to the bid and airport upgrade options.

 

[RAM]

Just wondering how long before a flight one might look to expect to get an email (assuming its forthcoming in the first place)? I imagine a lot would depend on capacity and how many J seats the airline believes it could sell normally anyway?
Have just booked for late Jan next year. Total of 12 flights on 4 different bookings, so would welcome an upgrade auction email
Regards

Once I had booked I rang Etihad direct and asked if my email address was on the booking. Curiously it was not. So I got them to add it. Time in advance for email seems to vary depending on how well sold a flight pair normally is.

 

[bigfoot786]

Thanks all for your replies and tips!

Looks like I'll just have to wait patiently until a couple of weeks before the flight.

 

[mikenz]

I've got a reward flight in EY economy early next year. Does anyone know if I can upgrade an award flight? I'm guessing I won't get the updage auction email but can I upgrade a reward ticket at the airport?
Thanks

 

[RAM]

I've got a reward flight in EY economy early next year. Does anyone know if I can upgrade an award flight? I'm guessing I won't get the updage auction email but can I upgrade a reward ticket at the airport?
Thanks

I would think so. They are happy to get the extra money for the empty J seat. But check your T&Cs so you don't get disappointed or ring Etihad at the airport and ask!

 

[bigfoot786]

Thanks all for your replies and tips!

Looks like I'll just have to wait patiently until a couple of weeks before the flight.

OK so I got the Upgrade Bid email fro flights in Feb.

KUL to AUH upgrade from Y to J starting at $595 up to $1090AUD

Only paid $730AUD for Y, so would make it under $1400 for J from KUL to AUH. Does anyone have any experience with cost of Upgrade at check in KUL?

Thanks

 

[bigfoot786]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience recently with cost of Push or Instant Upgrade from AUH to MEL or SYD?

I have a flight in a couple of weeks and wondering if the push/instant option will be cheaper than bidding? Bidding from AUH to MEL is currently set at minimum of $1405AUD, so seems a bit high.

Thanks.

 

[mikenz]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience recently with cost of Push or Instant Upgrade from AUH to MEL or SYD?

I have a flight in a couple of weeks and wondering if the push/instant option will be cheaper than bidding? Bidding from AUH to MEL is currently set at minimum of $1405AUD, so seems a bit high.

Thanks.

I havent done it for a while but that sounds about right. I think the min bid amount is linked to the US$ and that's why it seems to fluctuate a bit. It was around $1200 for that leg when the AU$ was a bit stonger a year or so ago. If you purchase at the airport please post what you paid (if you don't mind), I'm sure a few of us on here will be interested to see. Thanks and enjoy your flight, hopefully in an upgraded seat!

 

[bigfoot786]

No bag to check in at Abu Dhabi so looks like Im just going to the transfer desk after landing at Abu Dhabi.
Not sure will have the chance for instant upgrade, be but if it is available, I will advise the cost as a reference.
So far, online it looks like I have 3 seats to myself so may not be worth upgrading for me now.

 

[mikenz]

Be warned that many seats are allocated on the day as people arrive at the airport, so those three seats to yourself may not happen. I hope they do!

I'm doing SYD-AUH-LHR and back next week. I have a reward seat in economy to London and economy tickets for the return. I didn't receive the upgrade email for any of the journey so I'll see what the prices and availability is like at the airport and I'll report back.

 

[mikenz]

I just returned from a trip to the UK on EY.

I booked SYD - LHR in economy using my VA points. I didn't receive the upgrade offer email from Etihad and at the airport there was no availability to upgrade the first sector, and they said I could only upgrade the second sector at AUH - which I didnt have time to go to the transfer desk to ask.

On the return leg I booked direct through EY website and I did receive the upgrade offer email but only for the AUH - SYD leg. Minimum bid was GBP735, I bid GBP740 and was succesful. I think that's aobut $1500 so it's getting a bit pricey in my opinion. i think I remember Irish Pete quoting the same leg upgrade for about $550 three years ago. Unfortunately the service was the worst I've ever experienced in EY business, and it definitely wasn't value for money.

In all my previous bid upgrades (maybe 7 or 8 over the last 4 years) I've always been given lounge access. The only time I wasn't was when I upgraded at the airport, and that was stated when I bought the upgrade. At AUH this time they told me I wasn't entiteld to lounge access because I had upgraded through the bid. I'm not sure if they've changed the rules, or if I just got away with it all the other times. Luckily through VA Gold I have access to another lounge at AUH but it's not anywhere near the standard of the EY lounges.

 

[bigfoot786]

I just returned from a trip to the UK on EY.

I booked SYD - LHR in economy using my VA points. I didn't receive the upgrade offer email from Etihad and at the airport there was no availability to upgrade the first sector, and they said I could only upgrade the second sector at AUH - which I didnt have time to go to the transfer desk to ask.

On the return leg I booked direct through EY website and I did receive the upgrade offer email but only for the AUH - SYD leg. Minimum bid was GBP735, I bid GBP740 and was succesful. I think that's aobut $1500 so it's getting a bit pricey in my opinion. i think I remember Irish Pete quoting the same leg upgrade for about $550 three years ago. Unfortunately the service was the worst I've ever experienced in EY business, and it definitely wasn't value for money.

In all my previous bid upgrades (maybe 7 or 8 over the last 4 years) I've always been given lounge access. The only time I wasn't was when I upgraded at the airport, and that was stated when I bought the upgrade. At AUH this time they told me I wasn't entiteld to lounge access because I had upgraded through the bid. I'm not sure if they've changed the rules, or if I just got away with it all the other times. Luckily through VA Gold I have access to another lounge at AUH but it's not anywhere near the standard of the EY lounges.

The lounge access is still available, as it says so on bid page. Maybe just someone at the desk that did not know any better unfortunately.
A couple of years ago the AUH - MEL sector was around $600-$900 min bid but earlier this year was around $1415 min bid, I suspect the exchange rate will play a large factor in that?

As for EY J service, yes that has certainly slipped over the last couple of years it seems

 

[RAM]

I just returned from a trip to the UK on EY.

I booked SYD - LHR in economy using my VA points. I didn't receive the upgrade offer email from Etihad and at the airport there was no availability to upgrade the first sector, and they said I could only upgrade the second sector at AUH - which I didnt have time to go to the transfer desk to ask.

On the return leg I booked direct through EY website and I did receive the upgrade offer email but only for the AUH - SYD leg. Minimum bid was GBP735, I bid GBP740 and was succesful. I think that's aobut $1500 so it's getting a bit pricey in my opinion. i think I remember Irish Pete quoting the same leg upgrade for about $550 three years ago. Unfortunately the service was the worst I've ever experienced in EY business, and it definitely wasn't value for money.

In all my previous bid upgrades (maybe 7 or 8 over the last 4 years) I've always been given lounge access. The only time I wasn't was when I upgraded at the airport, and that was stated when I bought the upgrade. At AUH this time they told me I wasn't entiteld to lounge access because I had upgraded through the bid. I'm not sure if they've changed the rules, or if I just got away with it all the other times. Luckily through VA Gold I have access to another lounge at AUH but it's not anywhere near the standard of the EY lounges.

The cost for the ABU/AUST anywhere upgrade (or reverse) was USD 750 in 2012 and 2013. Early in the thread I recall there is a link to the EY site that explains the at-airport-upgrades. Have a search through to check it out.

Sorry to hear you did badly with your upgrade.

I agree at AUD1,500 or thereabouts it is not worth it. Effectively you have purchase a business class anyway.

If speed is not a necessity then business via Royal Brunei, Sri Lankan, or even Qatar can be a bargain if booked long enough in advance.