Can I upgrade a booking with points ?

[RichardMEL]

I'd just like to comment that as a Bronze (no status) QFF member the chances of upgrade on a prime route like SYD-DXB (and JFK-LAX-SYD) are going to be pretty difficult as you'd basically be at the bottom of the pile when it comes to seeking a seat in Business Class. Of course it's not at all unknown to occur, but if you're travelling at prime holiday times and/or busy times you may well have disappointment and even upgrading your fare to PE may not guarantee chances of an upgrade higher. So, if I were you I'd seek to research and upgrade to a PE fare with the idea that you may still only sit in that cabin.

Also note with upgrades you can select to put in for an upgrade to PE from Y if J does not clear and there's a chance that could clear also.

As Travelislife has commented above a "normal" fare could mean anything in the context of any particular flight. One would assume it's not a Flexible fare. It's often less about the dollar amount, as these can vary on availability and season, and more on the fare type (and also know that upgrades from flexible fare types are less expensive points wise).

I'm not trying to be a downer here but to be realistic in looking at the chances.

If you like you can always give more detail on the flights(eg dates) you are looking at (or go to the appropriate thread to ask) and we can give some indication of how the loads look (ie: if business has 3 seats left and the flight is showing 2 seats for sale with 3 months to the chances would be slim).

 

[auspal]

Thanks , will do that.

 

[big_RED]

I recenty flew to Dallas from SYD, and returned to SYD from LAX.
On both occassions (as Qantas Bronze) I did the "points upgrade lottery" and on the Syd to Dallas wasn't rewarded.

On the LAX to SYD return, I went to the counter to check in and said to the man "I'd be happy to use points to upgrade to business or first" and he said "we don't have the facilities/ability to award points upgrades from the LAX terminal". I'm not sure how this works, and I know it's a lottery etc, but I would have thought if the flight had space and I was willing to dish out the points they'd have that function at all their check in counters?

 

[eminere]

On the LAX to SYD return, I went to the counter to check in and said to the man "I'd be happy to use points to upgrade to business or first" and he said "we don't have the facilities/ability to award points upgrades from the LAX terminal". I'm not sure how this works, and I know it's a lottery etc, but I would have thought if the flight had space and I was willing to dish out the points they'd have that function at all their check in counters?

Are points upgrades able to be processed at any check-in counter? I wasn't aware that was possible at all.

 

[big_RED]

Are points upgrades able to be processed at any check-in counter? I wasn't aware that was possible at all.

I wouldn't have a clue sorry. I just assume any Qantas counter would be able to update a customers seat and see how many points they have to see if it was viable etc and who else was in line for an upgrade??

 

[eminere]

I wouldn't have a clue sorry. I just assume any Qantas counter would be able to update a customers seat and see how many points they have to see if it was viable etc and who else was in line for an upgrade??

I don't think that's how the upgrade process works.

 

[big_RED]

I don't think that's how the upgrade process works.

Sorry, yeh I know that's not exactly how it works, but I always try
I just would have thought that by check in time they'd know space availability on the plane and if there was space, and a customer was happy to offer up points for an upgrade they might say yes...?

 

[RooFlyer]

Sorry, yeh I know that's not exactly how it works, but I always try
I just would have thought that by check in time they'd know space availability on the plane and if there was space, and a customer was happy to offer up points for an upgrade they might say yes...?

No. That's not how Qantas works. Some airlines yes, not Qantas. They do NOT make 'empty seats' available for upgrades/points redemptions because they are 'empty'. For some reason they think they have an ultra premium product# and make it hard to get .. don't "give it away". There are frequently unfilled J and F seats where there have been unsuccessful upgrade requests.

A Plat/P1 (and maybe Gold) QFF member can call up and request a seat or seats be made available if there is no availability - the request goes to 'yield management' to decide. The fact there are seats available is only part of the matrix.

# edit - in many regards they do ... safety, pilots, many crew ... but not the overall experience, in my opinion

 

[big_RED]

No. That's not how Qantas works. Some airlines yes, not Qantas. They do NOT make 'empty seats' available for upgrades/points redemptions because they are 'empty'. For some reason they think they have an ultra premium product and make it hard to get .. don't "give it away". There are frequently unfilled J and F seats where there have been unsuccessful upgrade requests.

A Plat/P1 (and maybe Gold) QFF member can call up and request a seat or seats be made available if there is no availability - the request goes to 'yield management' to decide. The fact there are seats available is only part of the matrix.

Damn The staff's response is always "no it's a fully booked flight, but if you want to pay for an upgrade then you can" which obviously means, as you pointed out, that it isn't "fully booked".

 

[RooFlyer]

To be fair (-er), the airline will allocate a number of 'points seats' for each flight - may be more on one compared to another depending on the booking history. If they get a rush of paid bookings, they may transfer unused points seats into revenue ones. If they have allocated the points seats to applicants, then they won't normally feel obliged to allocate any more - but may, as mentioned above to status pax.

This is all the 'yield management' - they mix & match to maximise the airline's return. Also, if they have over booked Y, they may allow more upgrades to J to make room for the overbooked Ys

But this is a difference between QF and most US and Canadian airlines (amongst others) - these will pro-actively up-grade Y pax to J 'at the gate' (for points for those who have applied prior) to fill the J cabin, to reward status pax.

 

[Imw]

Have been absent from here for ages, too busy lol. That being said, I always enjoy reading through the posts. Regard to this post, we regularly fly Melbourne to South Africa, which of course have to go via Sydney and catch the Qf63 to Johannesburg. We always went cheapest economy fare possible, until we flew Premium economy with an award ticket. That became my minimum requirement for this flight. So always book PE as I would be okay, but always request points upgrade and for the last two trips (and my husbands last 4 trips) we have been successful. He is QF Gold which helps also in earning the points.
So I would book the minimum you would be happy with and if you dont get the upgrade, its okay.
That being said I am avidly watching the business seats on QF63 on 10th Feb via seataware. There are now 12 seats left, the only ones with "two together" are one set of the blocked airline ones, upstairs cabin 11 J and 11K. Would be ok to sit apart if so be, does anyone know if you have both upgraded whether they offer sep seats or only give them to single travellers?

 

[auspal]

We had an upgrade with points recently but fortunately checked in early, we found out we were seated seperately, and we were able to be seated together by shuffling around passengers who were seated on their own and had not checked in.

 

[Imw]

good to know, we normally "early" arrivals. As we have to book in Melbourne to Sydney they normally book all the way through. So wonder if this will apply?

 

[auspal]

Hopefully.

 

[RooFlyer]

We had an upgrade with points recently but fortunately checked in early, we found out we were seated seperately, and we were able to be seated together by shuffling around passengers who were seated on their own and had not checked in.

Oh oh. Sensitive subject here on AFF. The passenger who got seat bumped for you may have been someone like myself who had carefully selected their seat long ago, but hadn't yet checked in. Very annoying when it happens, but requesting pax probably unaware of the issue.

Don't take this personally, it's a general observation - but people should select seats beforehand. If not, take what they are given, and then ask nicely on board if someone would like to swap.

 

[auspal]

I hear what you are saying, but it is impossible to request a seat until you know a day before that your upgrade has been approved. And I dont take it personally but it is nice to be seated with your husband on a long flight and all business class seats are amazing, we are all very fortunate to be able to be afforded that privilege. And I was not given the option to ask nicely on board if someone would like to swap. It was done for me before boarding the flight .

 

[RichardMEL]

I hear what you are saying, but it is impossible to request a seat until you know a day before that your upgrade has been approved. And I dont take it personally but it is nice to be seated with your husband on a long flight and all business class seats are amazing, we are all very fortunate to be able to be afforded that privilege. And I was not given the option to ask nicely on board if someone would like to swap. It was done for me before boarding the flight .

I honestly think that in the case rather than QF moving preassigned seated pax around (because, as above, they may have selected a specific seat months before for their own reasons) that it should be left to ask nicely. Now yes, this is a PITA and rejection can be a bother, but you know what, I am sure passengers separated from their SO for a few hours (even if it's 12/14) can survive the ordeal. I'm also certain 95% of the time someone would swap, specially if like for like, to let a couple sit together. I certainly have and would unless it would be a big change down for me. I'd be pretty annoyed if I'd selected a specific seat and then I was moved "proactively" without asking (even moreso if I had paid a J fare - if I had upgraded I'd probably accept it as part of the upgrade lottery).

Everyone's different though I guess.

Now to the point of LAX (or any counter) staff not being able to process upgrade requests - this has been the way it is with QF for a long time. In years past it was decided an ODU (On Departure Upgrade) could only be processed by lounge staff.

Since the upgrade system was "enhahced" a few years back to only being processed close in to departure, rather than the prior system that allowed a points upgrade if available once ticketed, the ability has been there for that upgrade to be granted up to and at the gate by the system (and possibly by gate agents as opposed to check in staff).

Reality is that at places like LAX more likely than not the upgrade space is going to be filled with a long queue of requests anyway so even asking in the lounge or at the gate probably wouldn't get too far (but there's never any harm in asking of course since you never know ).

One thing is if misconnects are likely (eg from the QF12) that could be a source of very last minute seat availability.

 

[Imw]

Thanks for responses. I would be happy to have upgrade even if separated that's for sure. Just interesting to see how it works. I totally agree ieouldnt want to be moved when I had preselected and paid fir a business class seat.

 

[big_RED]

Now to the point of LAX (or any counter) staff not being able to process upgrade requests - this has been the way it is with QF for a long time. In years past it was decided an ODU (On Departure Upgrade) could only be processed by lounge staff.

Makes sense, unfortunately. Will always try for an upgrade. Worst they can say is no.

 

[RooFlyer]

I hear what you are saying, but it is impossible to request a seat until you know a day before that your upgrade has been approved. And I dont take it personally but it is nice to be seated with your husband on a long flight and all business class seats are amazing, we are all very fortunate to be able to be afforded that privilege. And I was not given the option to ask nicely on board if someone would like to swap. It was done for me before boarding the flight .

I don't know why MMB wouldn't have worked before check in, but no matter. It was nice of the check in agent to seat you together, but it might have been coughpy for the other party. They may have actually selected seats to be with a friend, ( or anyone but not on the same ticket) but the system wouldn't have known that, so they would have been separated.

because you were moved to sit together, no need to ask on board.