Free upgrade if already checked in

Sarah1916

We have the option to check in and select our seats with Emirates.
We fly on our honeymoon next week and we plan to chance our arm at the checkin desk and ask for an upgrade to business.
I know the chances of them saying yes are slim but if we have checked in and picked our seats does that mean there is no way we can be upgraded or does that even make a difference? Thanks for any advise

conor_ie

You can chance it but I'd be willing to bet it won't happen for a couple of reasons:

Airlines don't like letting their premium seats go to waste so they've been offering buy up's to business class for a while now. I've done it a few times, Adelaide to Dubai, Dublin to JFK and Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. Most will offer it a day or two before check-in opens so if you haven't been offered it when you check in online then chances are business class is full already. The few times I've traveled on Emirates into and out of Dublin, there's never been any free business class seats.

If they have frequent fliers travelling they may also get first dibs as a thank you for flying so often with the airline!

Having said all of that, you could rock up to check-in and find that yes! They do have free business class seats but you have to pay for them.. easily €600-800 each and that's only to Dubai... Having done the upgrade from Adelaide to Dubai (14 hour flight...) the experience was worth it! Emirates do look after you very well!


Let us know how you get on!

NORWOOD1

I was checked in and had seats selected when I flew to Singapore a few weeks ago. We asked at the info desk in Paris for prices for upgrade to buisness, €409 each. Got the upgrade in the way home for the same price. If there are seats available, they will sell them to you. Chances are they won't give them free, even though it's you're honeymoon but still worth it to ask.

If you can, get to the airport early as they will sell first come first serve if available.

coylemj

Not sure about Emirates but I've heard it reported that Virgin's strict policy is that they never upgrade anyone who asks for it.

jjbrien

jamodonna AdriannaK

coylemj wrote: »

Not sure about Emirates but I've heard it reported that Virgin's strict policy is that they never upgrade anyone who asks for it.

Virgin have big signs up at check in offering upgrades for a fee if space is available, no freebies anymore unless you got status in flying club.

Mostly its the bid to upgrade if you want an upgrade but nothing is guaranteed

wandererz

The days of free upgrades are all but gone unless you have elite status.
Go ahead and check-in. Around 72hrs before the flight, you may receive an upgrade offer.
This will occur if the flight is undersold. I chose not to but asked at the desk on the day.

For us, flying to Bangkok it worked out to about €1100 at check-in on the day.
It was a great idea. The entire experience suddenly changed!
Our bags were suddenly whisked away. An attendant returned with our luggage tags...

Dublin to Dubai was good.
Dubai to Bangkok was great!

My difference in description is purely down to the difference in planes used and the layout in Business class between the two.

Dublin to Bangkok was on the A380, and the layout there made all the difference.

We chose not to upgrade on the return journey as they were 2 x 6hr journeys (short enough) and we had a 3 day stopover in Dubai in between.

If i was just flying to Dubai on holiday, would i upgrade??... No way, not worth it on the planes they currently use on this route.

But for longer journeys that use the A380, definitely.

If you're going to be checking in anyway, make sure to use SeatGuru to check the actual layout of the plane and to see which seats are the best. For example, two seats only rather than 3 or 5 side by side.

Sarah1916

Thanks everyone I will let you all know how we get on.

endofrainbow

Also depends on your purchased ticket which may or may not allow upgrades.

oops sorry - I just saw you were looking for a FREE upgrade