ETHIOPIAN Airlines has
introduced a programme that
gives passengers the option to
bid for an upgrade from economy
class to Cloud Nine (business
class). SAA introduced a similar
programme – Step Up – last year.
Using ‘Upgrade to Cloud Nine’,
customers with a valid Ethiopian
Airlines economy-class ticket can
make an individual bid for an
upgrade. If they are not successful
in their bid, they will retain
their economy-class ticket. The
programme is now available on
selected Ethiopian Airlines routes.
How does it work?
Eligible passengers who have
booked an economy-class ticket
will receive an email about seven
days prior to their trip inviting them
to submit an offer. Passengers
can also submit an offer by going
to ‘Book’ on Ethiopian Airlines’
website and selecting ‘Upgrade to
Cloud Nine’. If their flight qualifies
for an upgrade, they will be
directed to the ‘Upgrade to Cloud
Nine’ page where a bid can be
placed.
Bids can be edited and retracted
up to 50 hours before the
scheduled departure time. After
that, the bid becomes binding.
Prior to the flight, Ethiopian
Airlines will select the passengers
who will be upgraded to Cloud
Nine. Selection criteria will take
into account the bid amount,
original ticket price as well as
other criteria, including the amount
of seats available in Cloud Nine
and the number of bids that have
been placed.
All passengers who have placed
a bid will receive email notification
within 24 hours prior to departure,
informing them whether or not the
bid has been accepted. If their
bid is accepted, the credit card
on file will be charged with the
corresponding amount and they will
also receive an updated e-ticket.
If the bid is not accepted,
passengers will fly economy class
as planned and will not incur any
additional costs.
Bid for business-class upgrades – Ethiopian
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