DUBAI // Travellers who have booked flights on Etihad Airways can now take part in an auction for seat upgrades with fellow passengers.
Under the new online system, customers who have bought Coral economy or Pearl Business class tickets will be eligible for the new service.
Confirmed passengers will be sent an email 10 days before their flight if a seat becomes available in a higher class.
"Guests will be notified on email about potential availability of seats for upgrades, following which they can make their offer," the Etihad website said. "The success of an offer will depend on the amount offered for an upgrade, other competing offers as well as the guest's status within the Etihad Guest program. As always, the higher the offer, the greater the chances."
To take part in the auction, customers must click on the "upgrade now" button on the email. This will take the customer to the main auction website managed by PlusGrade.
Users will then choose how much they want to pay for the upgrade and submit their credit card details. The money is only deducted if the bid is successful.
A bidder's final status will be confirmed two days before the departure date.
nhanif@thenational.ae
For more information, log on to Etihad Airways website
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
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