Questions and Answers

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.

Myself and my better half are due to fly one-way from Johannesburg to Buenos Aires (via Dubai) at the start of May with Emirates. It’s the A380 to Dubai then a triple 7 to BA.

I’ve flown on my own twice with Emirates now and on both occasions about a week before the flight was due to leave they contacted me offering me an upgrade to business class at a reduced rate, 600 dollars from Dublin to Dubai and 700 dollars from Nairobi to Dusseldorf. I gladly accepted both times.

This time however as it’s two of us I’m wondering if ill get the same chance? The cost to upgrade at the minute directly through Emirates is 1000 dollars each which is obviously still the same price as booking business class direct this far out.

So what I’m wondering is should I just go ahead and book the upgrade (so we can choose seats etc) as I don’t think it’s bad value or wait until closer the time and hope for the deal and risk it end up being booked out?! I really don’t want to have fly that 19hr flight from Dubai to BA in coach LOL

I also have 20,000 British Airways Avios miles burning a hole in my pocket if anyone can think of some way to use them…

Hi Jonathan. If you’re comfortable at 600 or 700, and the current offer is 1,000… you’re basically gambling $300 to sit in business class for 19 hours. That’s an easy choice for me!

Sure, you could wait and hope it goes down, but that’s a very reasonable price for almost a full day of flying.

Hi [USER=2876]@JonathanK[/USER], and welcome!

If you haven’t already purchased your tickets, it could be worthwhile to go ahead and just buy business class. Fares are super reasonable out of South Africa currently due to the exchange rates.

Cheers guys , think I will just go ahead and purchase them. Just wanted to see if this “one week before” thing was normal or just a coincidence it happened me twice!

Hmmm…. the temptation! I went back in to purchase the upgrade to business as it was the only one available so far, now this time they’ve offered an upgrade to first class! 2500 dollars each. Now I just have to convince the boss LOL

[QUOTE=”JonathanK, post: 27464, member: 2876″]Hmmm…. the temptation! I went back in to purchase the upgrade to business as it was the only one available so far, now this time they’ve offered an upgrade to first class! 2500 dollars each. Now I just have to convince the boss LOL[/QUOTE]
The business class upgrade made sense at the time, but the first one doesn’t. 2200$ is not worth it and I assume it is just for temptation as they try to get you to impulse buy. Since you’re already in business class and you upgraded early, I’d roll the dice on the first class one and wait until closer to departure, if they really want you to upgrade, their algorithms should make it cheaper closer to departure. Heck, you can even ask at check in ornin the lounge, thats when they really try to sell them.

Anyways, good luck and enjoy the trip!
-GottaFly

[QUOTE=”Gottafly, post: 27559, member: 2580″]The business class upgrade made sense at the time, but the first one doesn’t. 2200$ is not worth it and I assume it is just for temptation as they try to get you to impulse buy. Since you’re already in business class and you upgraded early, I’d roll the dice on the first class one and wait until closer to departure, if they really want you to upgrade, their algorithms should make it cheaper closer to departure. Heck, you can even ask at check in ornin the lounge, thats when they really try to sell them.

Anyways, good luck and enjoy the trip!
-GottaFly[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that. Yeah I didn’t go for it in the end. I was just tempted to go for it as I will not get a chance to go first class too often , I normally buy my business class tickets, Ireland is absolutely terrible for earning miles on anything like credit cards or that.