Dear friends working for AY or HEL airport check in here on a.net,

I am going to take my wife and two grown up children to HKG in the beginning of December for a special reason - our 25th wedding anniversary. We managed to get very cheap return tickets - just 440 euros per ticket - and they have been booked to Z class. When booking we automatically were seated in the rear most sector of the MD11. Now I wonder how hard it might be to be "upgraded" to the first sector of economy class (with the 3-4-2 seating) or even better - maybe get really upgraded, at least for me and my wife, to the business class sector - maybe for the overnight leg of the flights.

Regards,
LordHowe

I will share a little know secret with you concerning upgrades, here is what you do:

If you want to sit in a premium cabin.....pay for it either in money or arrange for an upgrade with miles. Rather innovative,huh?

Tell us why that you think, that with a very cheap ticket, you and your entire family should be seated in accommodation that you simply did not pay for? And, please tell us why you should be upgraded while the other 300 pax on the airplane, most of whom have paid more money for their tickets, should not be? Explain to us why Finnair should give you, your wife and kids a ""present"" worth thousands and thousand of dollars/euros? Because its your anniversary? I think not....happy anniversary, but really, grow up.

If Finnair must upgrade some pax due to operational and other reasons they will, but sorry, with your bargain Z bucket tickets, it will not be you.....Finnair will upgrade its most elite frequent flyers (if AY must give a very expensive gift to someone, they will give it to someone who has spent lots of money with AY in the past) and will easily find such pax via their computer system, in fact, the gate agent will be prepared with a list if the flight is oversold in Y. Or, AY will upgrade Y class pax paying full fare (or close to it) for the trip to HKG. The days of random upgrades are over....and gate agents must justify their decicions to supervisors.

Other nonsense approaches: Checking in late - wont work (especially with 4 pax) and you could be bumped if the flight is overbooked. Getting dressed up so that you are J class appropriate - nonsense, if AY selects you for the upgrade, you can be wearing jeans or a suit, it wont matter. Bothering the gate agent and telling them the story of your life - they could care less and they have other things to do.

Happy anniversary, and enjoy your flight in whatever seats that you were assigned......and forget about the upgrade, you are not entitled to it and wont get it.

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 1): Tell us why that you think, that with a very cheap ticket, you and your entire family should be seated in accommodation that you simply did not pay for? And, please tell us why you should be upgraded while the other 300 pax on the airplane, most of whom have paid more money for their tickets, should not be? Explain to us why Finnair should give you, your wife and kids a ""present"" worth thousands and thousand of dollars/euros? Because its your anniversary? I think not....happy anniversary, but really, grow up.

All he asked for was to be moved into a different section of economy FFS  

Quoting LordHowe (Thread starter): Now I wonder how hard it might be to be "upgraded" to the first sector of economy class (with the 3-4-2 seating) or even better - maybe get really upgraded, at least for me and my wife, to the business class sector - maybe for the overnight leg of the flights.

Quoting Gkirk (Reply 2): All he asked for was to be moved into a different section of economy FFS

No, he asked to go to J class.

Why not?

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 1): Other nonsense approaches

I'm really sorry to get you such irritated because of my question. I do not know in what way you consider yourself to be either "working for AY" or "HEL airport check in". My question was addressed only for them and I myself think, in a very polite manner.

I have learned that these flights in question are not 100 % booked, and there is a very good chance that there will be many seats empty - also in business class - that we will see later.

I have twice before been in a situation where I would have been upgraded to business class on HEL to Asia AY long haul flights, but unfortunately could not accept it, because I was then travelling together with quite many other people. So I know that AY does actually do some upgrades also to other than their "elite frequent flyers".

But maybe you know better ...

Quoting Gkirk (Reply 2): All he asked for was to be moved into a different section of economy FFS

That is actually what I did ask for.

Best regards,
LordHowe

Try to get seats on rows 22-28 36hrs before departure in on-linecheck-in service.

To move up in Economy, just check in Early. Or you could call FinnAir, ask them to move you....for up grade to J, miles, or if you have friends who have BA Gold up grades or AA Exec Plat. VIP upgrades that might work, depending on AY upgrade rules and fares.

All Y seats open on checkin regardless of fare type as Finnaviation says.

J class, use miles, the good thing is AY lets you upgrade Z. Many limit it to full fare.

Quoting Finnaviation (Reply 5): 36hrs before departure in on-linecheck-in service

Quoting Finnaviation (Reply 5): All Y seats open on checkin regardless of fare type

That was the idea - wasn't sure that they open all economy seats for online check-in.

Quoting Lufthansa747 (Reply 7): the good thing is AY lets you upgrade Z

Thanks! Exactly the kind of advice I was looking for - sorry if I couldn't formulate my question right! Thanks a lot guys!

Regards,
LordHowe

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 1): I will share a little know secret with you concerning upgrades, here is what you do: If you want to sit in a premium cabin.....pay for it either in money or arrange for an upgrade with miles. Rather innovative,huh? Tell us why that you think, that with a very cheap ticket, you and your entire family should be seated in accommodation that you simply did not pay for? And, please tell us why you should be upgraded while the other 300 pax on the airplane, most of whom have paid more money for their tickets, should not be? Explain to us why Finnair should give you, your wife and kids a ""present"" worth thousands and thousand of dollars/euros? Because its your anniversary? I think not....happy anniversary, but really, grow up.

Just print out reply 1 and take it with you; Most gate agents will feel bad for you that you have to deal with people like that and may bump you up lol.

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 1):

That is really unnecessary! I also do not know why you post here if you have no answer for him! Spare us with that.

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 1): and forget about the upgrade, you are not entitled to it and wont get it.

Says who? You? Why is he not entitled too? BTW his basic question was not if he could get upgraded.



Go check in early. That is the best option and I am quit sure if you tell them that you go on your 25th anniversary and I am sure that they will move you in the Y-class cabin.

Happy anniversary!