Check in before flying

[daneander]

Need some expert advice on my forthcoming trip in Oct. First of all would you suggest checking in at home before leaving for airport? Also i have checked my details on Qantas website and they have allocated us seats in row 60 on the new jet flying to LA, when i rang them to see if i could be allocated something better they said have to wait to check in! Is this correct as i have been reading a lot of threads saying you can pre book a good seat. Could someone also tell me does QF17 to LA on 14/10 look to be heavily booked, would be nice if we could score an upgrade to PE.

 

[simongr]

Can we assume that you will have luggage to check in? As a QF Silver you will be able to check in at the business class counter thus wont be stuck in a massive queue so personally I wouldnt bother with OLCI from home unless trying to score a "better" seat.

I always check in for int'l flights at the airport as seats are always sorted and the queue isnt big.

As a QF Silver - why do you think you might score an upgrade to E - do you mean a points upgrade or a free upgrade? I would expect silver to be lower down the QF food chain for upgrades...

 

[Maca44]

Could someone also tell me does QF17 to LA on 14/10 look to be heavily booked, would be nice if we could score an upgrade to PE.

Here is the seat buckets for QF107 on 14OCT

F3 A2 J9 C9 D9 I0 W9 T9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N6 QC OC XC E0

 

[daneander]

We will have check in luggage, and are travelling economy, just dreaming how nice it would to be upgraded, probably not in reality. Also MACA44 could you decipher the code for me as i don't understand, sorry.

 

[serfty]

... could you decipher the code for me as i don't understand, sorry.

See these threads:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/understanding-expert-flyer-9314.html

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/how-accurate-is-seatcounter-18546.html

 

[harvyk]

The best chance you have for an op-up is by checking in at the airport, don't use OLCI...

They do give them to silver (I'm a silver, and I have received two of them in the last couple of months, plus offered a points upgrade on an un-upgradeable fare)

But don't hold your breath, op-up's are rare beasts...

 

[Leumas]

The best chance you have for an op-up is by checking in at the airport, don't use OLCI...

Why do you say that? There isn't a (known) method to the madness of op-ups, is there?

We can also say that if you use OLCI, you're saying you're definitely flying, so if they have to move people, they will move those that are definitely flying.

Of course, there's also the opposite theory where checking in as late as possible will mean the airline may not have a seat in your booked class to give you and have to op-up you.

While there probably is a method to the madness, I don't think anyone knows... Or do you...?

As mentioned before, you can choose a better seat if there are available when you use OLCI.

 

[Dave Noble]

The best chance you have for an op-up is by checking in at the airport, don't use OLCI...

I would disagree . All international involuntary upgrades which I have received have been after check in and have either involved being given a new boarding pass in the lounge or at the gate when boarding

Dave

 

[simongr]

But Dave had you done OLCI first? That was the point being made that OLCI somehow stopped upgrades.

 

[obrienja]

I've OLCI'd for international flights (SYD-SIN-LHR) and gotten an op-up at the gate in SIN when that happy little light shows red

That was on a non-upgradeable fare (and I'm a WP). I generally OLCI if I'm able to just to check that I've still got seats but usually don't print the BP (I like the regular ones like some of the other people on here).

 

[daneander]

Thanks everyone for good info much appreciated. Looks like plane is going to be reasonably full. Will check in at airport.

 

[simongr]

Actually my interpretation of the stats was the flight was not full - except for first class...

J/C/D9 all indicate that Business is wide open including lots of discount J seats

W/T9 - again PE is "empty"

in whY - on Q class is blocked out meaning that lots of discount whY seats are available.

I personally would not be expecting any op-ups on this flight and a smaller than normal chance of a points upgrade to F.

 

[NM]

I would disagree . All international involuntary upgrades which I have received have been after check in and have either involved being given a new boarding pass in the lounge or at the gate when boarding

Dave

But Dave had you done OLCI first? That was the point being made that OLCI somehow stopped upgrades.

My most recent op-up was from Y to PE on QF127 last month. I used OLCI and received the pre-assigned Y seat allocation. When I arrived at SYD for bag drop, I was given a new boarding pass for PE (real PE product, not just Y service in PE seat).

So upgrade was after OLCI and before the gate.