Domestic upgrade request at the lounge

[Soulighter]

Hi all, just want to hear what your experiences are when requesting upgrade at the Qantas lounge for domestic flights.

i fly mostly from Cairns so I can only speak of my experience from here. I know that from experience, when I rock up to the lounge here and ask for a points upgrade to business, more than 9 out of 10 times there is an unwillingness to even look at the computer to check, and the default answer is just about always "oh that route is usually busy and business is always full". So over time I learn to look at the business seats availability before I show up, so I can tell them I know there are seats available, and only then they will begrudgingly look at the system for me.

so today I did the same, but the dragon lady behind the desk told me there are seats available but only if I pay for the upgrade and couldn't use points because they are different class tickets, which I never heard of before. Just wondering for people in the know, is there any truth to this? She was on a social call and I thought it was more a case of her wanting to get back to the call rather than do her job which was to help customer.

oh, before anyone asks, I usually try to request upgrade before I fly, but sometimes I only book the flights with less than 24hours before flight time so couldn't request it online.


Would love to hear your experience. Thank you.

 

[TomVexille]

My one and only ODU was processed immediately at SYD.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have only done it once, at Brisbane. Asked for two (to Canberra) and it was processed immediately and pleasantly, with a warning that catering was not assured.

 

[mannej]

Yes there are different fare types within each class. For QF the upgrade/points fare type for Business is generally U, whilst D,I,C and J are paid fare types.

If you are looking at the number of seats for sale, you aren't looking at the right fare type as upgrade seat inventory generally doesn't come from here.

 

[opusman]

ODU's should be available if there are any empty seats in J, irrespective of the fare buckets still available for sale.

 

[Ansett]

Have done ODU Upgrades several times and if they were not processed immediately then it was normally leave it with us and we will see what we can do and most of the time Bingo get the call to come to the desk and there is my shiny new BP.

I agree that it would appear that the Lounge Dragon is being lazy and didn't bother to look properly. Not good for you nor QF who could have sold a seat all be it for points.

I do to tend to find the Cairns crew most unfriendly at the best of times.

 

[Soulighter]

While it's true there are different classes of business, my experience is that 24 hours before departure all upgrade requests are usually granted if there are seats available, regardless of what class seat they are!

certainly for on departure upgrade request at the lounge, the any unoccupied seats are no longer for sale anyway and are should be available for points upgrade.

i wish there are ways to improve the standard of lounge dragons manning the front desk, they seem to be able act on their accord and no accountability!

 

[neil179]

Recently I flew from Melbourne toBrisbane. I put in a request for business class about 4 weeks beforethe flight but received a “no go” e-mail about 24 hrs beforeflying.

Before the flight I spent about 1 hour in the Qantas loungeand asked if it was possible to upgrade on points. I was informedthat at that time all seats were allocated but if a seat becameavailable she would let me know. Just before boarding time I wascalled to the desk and presented with my business class ticket andinformed that the points had been deducted from my account.

I havealways found the Melbourne counter staff very helpful. Occasionally Ihave struck staff at other locations that lacked the courtesy theirpositions require.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Use expert flyer to search for U class availability. If it is there, go up to the counter and ask for an upgrade to business as there are "uniform" seats available. They will raise an eyebrow at your intimate knowledge of their operation, and usually upgrade you. If not, ask to speak to their supervisor.

If still not successful, PM RedRoo as it's clear some retraining may be necessary.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Use expert flyer to search for U class availability. If it is there, go up to the counter and ask for an upgrade to business as there are "uniform" seats available. They will raise an eyebrow at your intimate knowledge of their operation, and usually upgrade you. If not, ask to speak to their supervisor.

If still not successful, PM RedRoo as it's clear some retraining may be necessary.

But as mentioned it doesn't matter if U is available or not. Spare seats can be released for lounge ODU's.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

But as mentioned it doesn't matter if U is available or not. Spare seats can be released for lounge ODU's.

Yes, and typically that is done by yield releasing U class. If it's available, they can move you right away. If it is not, they can request it, but it is not guaranteed.

 

[serfty]

Contrary to the "any seat" belief, an unsold seat may not mean an ODU will be granted. (although Qantas are doing more than they used to.)

Some years ago on a 763 BNE-MEL, I knew E/F was showing about half the seat allocated before the flight - the flight was showing J1.

As party of four, we requested ODU's for us all - we were advised there was only one available. On discretely asking about unallocated seats I was advised they were only planning for so many and with that, seats in business would indeed be going out empty that evening.

We did take the one seat and the subsequent first hand report from the occupant indicated that indeed the cabin was only half full.

It may be somewhat different on 73H's.