EY Upgrade Auction

[lobo76]

Thanks guys

 

[rooleyes]

I'm flying out of Singapore on Monday to Europe and received an upgrade offer yesterday. Mine's an upgrade to business class though.

I've put a bid in to upgrade one sector on the way home, Abu Dhabi to Melbourne, and placed a bid of $1500 each. What do you reckon my chances are of being successful?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I'm flying out of Singapore on Monday to Europe and received an upgrade offer yesterday. Mine's an upgrade to business class though.

I've put a bid in to upgrade one sector on the way home, Abu Dhabi to Melbourne, and placed a bid of $1500 each. What do you reckon my chances are of being successful?

I think you have way overbid so seems a good chance

 

[RAM]

I'm flying out of Singapore on Monday to Europe and received an upgrade offer yesterday. Mine's an upgrade to business class though.

I've put a bid in to upgrade one sector on the way home, Abu Dhabi to Melbourne, and placed a bid of $1500 each. What do you reckon my chances are of being successful?

One tip - always try a dummy booking for the flight before lodging a bid AND check what the upgrade-at-airport cost is.

I think you'll find the AUH-MEL upgrade at airport from econ to bus is USD735

So AUD1,500 sounds like a certainty provided its not a full flight.

That is why you should try doing a dummy booking or use a flight seating availability site to find out BEFORE making your bid.

I checked for the SYD-AUH leg and the min bid was ABOVE the upgrade-at-airport cost so I just upgraded the 5 of us at the airport. It was a rip-off exchange rate they used (worse than Travel-Ex etc) of 0.99 vs actual mid rate at the time of 1.058. Nor would they charge my credit card in USD.

But upgrade was worth it.

One word of warning - if travelling singly then make sure you get the window not centre seats as centre seats have you right up against your neighbour (on B777) so if they or you are a restless sleeper you get to know your neighbour really well through frequent physical contact.

If travelling as a couple then make sure you are not split up into different centre seats - if you want to be split then ensure they're the window seats which have individual access AND are totally separated.

 

[eckorock]

One tip - always try a dummy booking for the flight before lodging a bid AND check what the upgrade-at-airport cost is.

I think you'll find the AUH-MEL upgrade at airport from econ to bus is USD735

So AUD1,500 sounds like a certainty provided its not a full flight.

That is why you should try doing a dummy booking or use a flight seating availability site to find out BEFORE making your bid.

I checked for the SYD-AUH leg and the min bid was ABOVE the upgrade-at-airport cost so I just upgraded the 5 of us at the airport. It was a rip-off exchange rate they used (worse than Travel-Ex etc) of 0.99 vs actual mid rate at the time of 1.058. Nor would they charge my credit card in USD.

But upgrade was worth it.

One word of warning - if travelling singly then make sure you get the window not centre seats as centre seats have you right up against your neighbour (on B777) so if they or you are a restless sleeper you get to know your neighbour really well through frequent physical contact.

If travelling as a couple then make sure you are not split up into different centre seats - if you want to be split then ensure they're the window seats which have individual access AND are totally separated.

good advice!

 

[IrishPete]

I'm flying out of Singapore on Monday to Europe and received an upgrade offer yesterday. Mine's an upgrade to business class though.

I've put a bid in to upgrade one sector on the way home, Abu Dhabi to Melbourne, and placed a bid of $1500 each. What do you reckon my chances are of being successful?

I also think you have overbid so you should be a shoe-in. I paid about $850 for mine in early July. When you say "each" I presume there are two or more of you traveling?

The trouble with upgrading at the airport, though, is that you are taking a gamble against all the other people who might have done an online upgrade, plus anyone who gets to the airport before you.

Not sure about the other person's advice on seats - it definitely depends on the aircraft. My last flight in Business from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, I am pretty sure the people in the centre seats were not very close to each other. Rather any seat adjoining the aisle was annoying because of people (mostly crew) brushing past you. I also had a lovely view of the guy-across-the-aisle-from-me's big bare feet, just about level with my head so always visible - I hate bare feet.

Window seats are definitely the go. Frankly I'd probably go for window seats even if I was traveling with a companion, unless it was our honeymoon and we couldn't bear to spend any time apart!

Pete

 

[rooleyes]

Thanks everyone - great advice, really appreciate it.

I've reduced the bid to $1,250 per person for the segment, and will just see how we go. If it's meant to be it will be!!

 

[Blinky]

I had two J return tickets from MEL to LHR return on Velocity points earlier this year. I was able to purchase upgrades to F on the MEL to AUH for $A800 each on departure, and got status credits and points. I did the same on return for $500 each, but without credits and points. An absolute bargain in my opinion.

I believe that the best deal you will ever get is to pay cash at the counter. You won't get upgraded lounge access, but that's not a big deal.

 

[Atleastonce]

Blinky, out of interest, how many points were the MEL to LHR J tickets?

 

[IrishPete]

I had two J return tickets from MEL to LHR return on Velocity points earlier this year. I was able to purchase upgrades to F on the MEL to AUH for $A800 each on departure, and got status credits and points. I did the same on return for $500 each, but without credits and points. An absolute bargain in my opinion.

I believe that the best deal you will ever get is to pay cash at the counter. You won't get upgraded lounge access, but that's not a big deal.

I like the certainty of traveling to the airport knowing I am already upgraded, can check in at the Business counter, and can also generally take my time, and be certain that I am going to have comfortable flight (notwithstanding my neighbour's feet).

Pete

 

[Blinky]

Blinky, out of interest, how many points were the MEL to LHR J tickets?

250k each, return. Much less than redemption on Singapore, for example. We felt we got a bargain.

 

[Blinky]

I like the certainty of traveling to the airport knowing I am already upgraded, can check in at the Business counter, and can also generally take my time, and be certain that I am going to have comfortable flight (notwithstanding my neighbour's feet).

Pete

Fair enough. We had confirmed J tickets, so were going in comfort whatever happened.

 

[Jack_OC]

250k each, return. Much less than redemption on Singapore, for example. We felt we got a bargain.

I assume you just mean much less than redeeming Velocity points on SQ, as you can get a MEL-LHR return in J with SQ for 161,500 Krisflyer points. Obviously that's irrelevant if you only have Velocity points, but if you have credit card reward points that could be transferred to either Krisflyer or Velocity it's a different story.

 

[day-heg]

I had two J return tickets from MEL to LHR return on Velocity points earlier this year. I was able to purchase upgrades to F on the MEL to AUH for $A800 each on departure, and got status credits and points. I did the same on return for $500 each, but without credits and points. An absolute bargain in my opinion.

I believe that the best deal you will ever get is to pay cash at the counter. You won't get upgraded lounge access, but that's not a big deal.

This is excellent news... doing LHR-MEL in Oct... now fingers crossed to get the offer and to persuade the missus that's it's worth it!!

 

[Blinky]

This is excellent news... doing LHR-MEL in Oct... now fingers crossed to get the offer and to persuade the missus that's it's worth it!!

When I made the offer, my wife nearly had a fit! "I need a lounge suite" was the comment. So in the end, the upgrade cost me $800 and a lounge suite.

 

[RAM]

I had two J return tickets from MEL to LHR return on Velocity points earlier this year. I was able to purchase upgrades to F on the MEL to AUH for $A800 each on departure, and got status credits and points. I did the same on return for $500 each, but without credits and points. An absolute bargain in my opinion.

Was that the amount they quoted you at the transfers counter at AUH or check-in counter at AUH?

 

[Blinky]

Was that the amount they quoted you at the transfers counter at AUH or check-in counter at AUH?

Checkin counter at FNK actually.

 

[mikenz]

Hi,

Can I confirm that subject to availability you can upgrade at the airport from Econ to Bus?
I'm travelling MEL to LHR in October and would like to upgrade the long legs. Can I upgrade the long leg when I check in at LHR? Or do I need to do it at Abu Dhabi?

 

[EuroFlyer]

Hi,

Can I confirm that subject to availability you can upgrade at the airport from Econ to Bus?
I'm travelling MEL to LHR in October and would like to upgrade the long legs. Can I upgrade the long leg when I check in at LHR? Or do I need to do it at Abu Dhabi?

If theres availability you can upgrade at the checkin desk, just be there early to insure your first in.
Also you will have to upgrade each leg separately so would need to ask at Abu Dabhi for the long leg to melbourne.
Iv done this a few times myself

 

[mikenz]

Thanks Euroflyer