Any Emirates staff here

dmg24

annie123 wrote: »

I had an emirates upgrade in 02.
I booked through ebookers first half emirates to Dubai then Thai airways to bangkok.
I was standing in the queue and was approached by a gentleman who had been greeting people at 1st class check in. he asked if I was traveling alone, I was, and he asked me to follow him.
I did to the check in where he was previously.
He informed me that economy looked over booked, everyone seemed to have turned up but there was space in business class.
only time I have had an upgrade without paying for it.
not my birthday, not smartley dressed, maybe I have a nice smile:D no idea why I got offered it. I flew mid week dont remember what day.

The air industry has changed a great deal since 02. You were much more likely to get upgraded for no particular reason several years ago.

Incapuppy

Plus Annie, you say yourself that the guy said your flight looked overbooked - the OP was asking about a free upgrade on a flight that wasn't busy.

meester

dmg24 wrote: »

The air industry has changed a great deal since 02. You were much more likely to get upgraded for no particular reason several years ago.

That's a perfectly standard operational upgrade, hasn't changed or gone away. A sensible airline will offer the upgrade to frequent flyers first.

Voyager2002

meester wrote: »

That's a perfectly standard operational upgrade, hasn't changed or gone away. A sensible airline will offer the upgrade to frequent flyers first.

Yes, the difference now is that in that situation it will be the computer that picks out the lucky traveller for the upgrade, and s/he will be told about it at the departure gate rather than approaching check-in. I have had this pleasant experience twice in recent years.

dmg24

meester wrote: »

That's a perfectly standard operational upgrade, hasn't changed or gone away. A sensible airline will offer the upgrade to frequent flyers first.

Several years ago, upgrades were much more random. That just does not happen now.

Tojo_Ralph

duchy wrote: »

To be fair I do get first class for a cheapskate price on some flights.

To be fair also, when flying first class internally within the USA on the likes of NWA, Delta and Continental, one is getting first class in name only and for folk who may not be familiar with what domestic first class in the USA equates to on the likes of an A319, 737, 757, MD90, etc .... An upgrade to first class would come as a disappointment.

budgetflyer

Choose your seat online, but get to BHX really early for check in and ask if still avail ,can you get an exit row seat ?. These are only asigned at checkin as the staff have to see that you are fit and able for these seats and no medical issues.
On our last trip although these had (just) been taken, but as it wasnt a full flight the girl sorted us so we had a seat between and assured us the middle wouldnt be taken.
It made so much difference.
The second leg from Dubai onwards was full though so we had to just "rough it, with 1 seat wach

odowdchr

porsche289 wrote: »

Im flying from BHX to Osaka on the afternoon of Tues Nov 11th this year.
Im flying alone and just wondered how busy these flights are on Tuesdays and whether Emirates ever upgrade if the flight isnt busy.
I know the upgrade thing has been covered before but im looking for specific info on Emirates. Cheers.

The Birmingham flights are normally packed both ways. You might get lucky on the Osaka leg, especially if the return flight is in the dead hours.
I last got one in 2007 on Emirates, but this was offered on the flight itself after take-off....economy wasn't full but I was on the front row, and there were all these crying babies so i think they took pity.