Upgrade chances - Dubai
Discussion
MikeF86 said:
Flying to Dubai in November with Emirates, standard flights booked. What are the chances of upgrading at the airport? Is it still a thing?
In my experience with Emirates over the past 18mths is that they push all the upgrades through via email / app offers in the few days before departure on a first come/first served basis effectively leaving nothing for airport upgrades.I have had some great app offers though - flew GLA-DXB-GLA in October last year and it was £550 to upgrade from Economy to Business for 2 adults, 1 child ... one way which was a bit of a bargain and no-brainer.
Some of the busier routes like the NCL flight tend not to have these offers as they're already fully sold in that cabin.
Chances slim - its down to two factors with Emirates now - first is ticket price paid and then you need to add in status.
But there are good options to pay - but remember if using skywards points you haver to pay tax in the UK - So normally I just upgrade on the way home (no tax)
Depends on how busy the flight is too - over subscribed in economy then the seats get moved - see above though.
But there are good options to pay - but remember if using skywards points you haver to pay tax in the UK - So normally I just upgrade on the way home (no tax)
Depends on how busy the flight is too - over subscribed in economy then the seats get moved - see above though.
gtidriver said:
My first time going to Dubai with Emirates I asked how much to upgrade?? The lady at check in said £500 each to business, like the dick I am I said no.. we where on a brand new A380.. grrrrrrrrrrr
£500 each one way isn’t necessarily a great deal unless a night flight, it’s not a long flight after all. The DXB to XXX legs can often be had a lot cheaper, I was offered HCMC for less than £200 once but was travelling with friends so said no, as you say, dick. My dad upgraded himself and my sister on the way to my other sisters wedding in Sydney on the DXB-SYD leg really cheap which was surprising. On that ~14hr flight it’s a great thing to do.As to the chances now, well that’s anyones guess. If they email and offer a deal you’ll just have to weigh it up. At airport upgrades have always seemingly had a fairly fixed price with EK so not sure it’s worth waiting if an email arrives.
I’ve upgraded a couple of times at the airport with them this year and it’s been about £500. Worth it on an A380 but the layout in the 777s has been the old one and it’s s
t - way behind the times now and not worth it unless long haul at night.
Thankfully the service has improved. It was horrific last year and back at the start of this. Utterly abysmal. But I flew three biz class sectors with them last week and it was now ‘ok’. Still no smiles but the service is ok now and the bar is open again! They also took no notice of people not wearing masks which, for me at least, is worth the extra cash and almost felt like the olden days. All three sectors were pretty pleasant. They’ve also got a cracking dessert wine on the menu now which was a nice little surprise.
t - way behind the times now and not worth it unless long haul at night. Thankfully the service has improved. It was horrific last year and back at the start of this. Utterly abysmal. But I flew three biz class sectors with them last week and it was now ‘ok’. Still no smiles but the service is ok now and the bar is open again! They also took no notice of people not wearing masks which, for me at least, is worth the extra cash and almost felt like the olden days. All three sectors were pretty pleasant. They’ve also got a cracking dessert wine on the menu now which was a nice little surprise.
Crumpet said:
I’ve upgraded a couple of times at the airport with them this year and it’s been about £500. Worth it on an A380 but the layout in the 777s has been the old one and it’s st - way behind the times now and not worth it unless long haul at night.
Thankfully the service has improved. It was horrific last year and back at the start of this. Utterly abysmal. But I flew three biz class sectors with them last week and it was now ‘ok’. Still no smiles but the service is ok now and the bar is open again! They also took no notice of people not wearing masks which, for me at least, is worth the extra cash and almost felt like the olden days. All three sectors were pretty pleasant. They’ve also got a cracking dessert wine on the menu now which was a nice little surprise.
I found the service is much improved since last October, smiles and better wine for sure!t - way behind the times now and not worth it unless long haul at night. Thankfully the service has improved. It was horrific last year and back at the start of this. Utterly abysmal. But I flew three biz class sectors with them last week and it was now ‘ok’. Still no smiles but the service is ok now and the bar is open again! They also took no notice of people not wearing masks which, for me at least, is worth the extra cash and almost felt like the olden days. All three sectors were pretty pleasant. They’ve also got a cracking dessert wine on the menu now which was a nice little surprise.
More on upgrades, the planes are too full for upgrades, especially In business. They told me it was overbooked and one of the reasons I was upgraded to first, being willing to spend miles.
Crumpet said:
I’ve upgraded a couple of times at the airport with them this year and it’s been about £500. Worth it on an A380 but the layout in the 777s has been the old one and it’s st - way behind the times now and not worth it unless long haul at night.
Thankfully the service has improved. It was horrific last year and back at the start of this. Utterly abysmal. But I flew three biz class sectors with them last week and it was now ‘ok’. Still no smiles but the service is ok now and the bar is open again! They also took no notice of people not wearing masks which, for me at least, is worth the extra cash and almost felt like the olden days. All three sectors were pretty pleasant. They’ve also got a cracking dessert wine on the menu now which was a nice little surprise.
Emirates have ignored the mask thing from day one as soon as you are aboard.t - way behind the times now and not worth it unless long haul at night. Thankfully the service has improved. It was horrific last year and back at the start of this. Utterly abysmal. But I flew three biz class sectors with them last week and it was now ‘ok’. Still no smiles but the service is ok now and the bar is open again! They also took no notice of people not wearing masks which, for me at least, is worth the extra cash and almost felt like the olden days. All three sectors were pretty pleasant. They’ve also got a cracking dessert wine on the menu now which was a nice little surprise.
At the height of the madness, when the crew were being forced to wear hazmat suits etc, they still didn't enforce the mask b
ks.As for upgrades, I've done LHR DXB (380) in First a number of times over the last 6 months and the plane has been pretty full in Biz/1st; I wouldn't bank on their being any availability at the airport.
Alorotom said:
Saweep said:
Emirates have ignored the mask thing from day one as soon as you are aboard.
Have they bks - especially not in economy - I saw them bk numerous people several times last summer and late last year, even in Jan it was still being done.b
ks to you sir!MikeF86 said:
Thanks for the replies.
Fully expecting to pay & happy to do (to a point). Will just keep checking email/app nearer the time.
Where are you departing from? there is talk of Emirates going back to A380s on some routes that have B777's. Better to get business on the A380 than the 777s imo.Fully expecting to pay & happy to do (to a point). Will just keep checking email/app nearer the time.
We flew Gatwick to Dubai and back on Emirates in an A380 in March/April as part of our 50th Wedding Anniversary trip to the Dubai and the Maldives.
I asked about the possibility of upgrades at check in and the gate and was told to ask on board, on the way out I was quoted $1400 each and on the way back it was $1500 each,. It was made clear to me that we would not sitting together and our food would be the economy stuff as they only loaded 1st class food for the number of passengers booked, we declined and were actually quite comfortable in economy.
I'm just about to book another holiday with the money saved.
I asked about the possibility of upgrades at check in and the gate and was told to ask on board, on the way out I was quoted $1400 each and on the way back it was $1500 each,. It was made clear to me that we would not sitting together and our food would be the economy stuff as they only loaded 1st class food for the number of passengers booked, we declined and were actually quite comfortable in economy.
I'm just about to book another holiday with the money saved.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff