voluntary upgrade

[Justinf]

Flying VA to LAX from MEL via Sydney next Tuesday and then return two weeks later also via Sydney.
Originally booked the outbound leg economy and the return leg PE. Decided three weeks ago that we would like the outbound flight to be PE as well and phoned the guest centre, only to be told that the price had gone up and it would cost $1500 each just to upgrade to PE.
Thought....ummm...no!
Then yesterday out of the blue I decided to try again. Got upgraded to PE for an additional cost of just $500. Immediately took it.
My question is obvious. Why, three weeks ago was this flight so expensive and why now was it not? I checked on seat availability yesterday and PE (O class) was listed as 9, which is 9 or more spare seats. After I upgraded my companion and I, it was 8.
I'm glad I phoned yesterday and changed it as we taking such a short trip and the extra comfort may assist in sleeping a bit more and arriving fresher.
But why the sudden change of heart (and price)?

 

[Travel Guru]

Not sure, may just have something to do with expected loadings given you're closer to departure, who knows with airlines.

You'll love Y+, I flew them from BNE in August and loved it, very comfortable, great service.

TG

 

[Justinf]

Thanks Travel Guru and anyone else who can care to comment...please.
And mods...this was meant for the Questions section. Can someone please move this thread with my apologies? Sorry.

 

[odysseus]

You did better than me.

First time I flew I called and was told that they wouldn't do it through the call centre, but you had to ask at check in.

I then asked at check-in and was told that they may have been able to do it, but you had to ask before you checked in!

Having got the definitive answer, I then tried when I was in the US a week and a half before return. She then told me it would cost $2000 a head to upgrade just for the way back, and asked if I was interested. Er, no thanks. Given I'd paid a moderately high price for the economy (way off the lows), I didn't think it was a very attractive offer.

 

[straitman]

Not sure, may just have something to do with expected loadings given you're closer to departure, who knows with airlines.

TG

It is all to do with the 'Black Art' called yield management.

At any given time the price and availability will vary with what they expect they can get away with versus actual seat availability.

 

[Justinf]

Not sure, may just have something to do with expected loadings given you're closer to departure, who knows with airlines.

You'll love Y+, I flew them from BNE in August and loved it, very comfortable, great service.

TG

Agree with you. PE is heaps better. Service on VA was awesome. Flight attendants even remembered me on the return leg. Only drawback was being diverted to Honolulu due a woman giving birth on the plane, but nobody's fault.
Food, legroom and service was great.
Would definitely fly them again, and the bonus was the fliught tipped me up to Silver on the Velocity scale. Woo hoo!

 

[odysseus]

Only drawback was being diverted to Honolulu due a woman giving birth on the plane, but nobody's fault.

Think it's someone's fault, since you're not permitted to fly without clearance after ~36 weeks pregnancy.

 

[zig]

Think it's someone's fault, since you're not permitted to fly without clearance after ~36 weeks pregnancy.

Don't forget that they don't all arrive when expected, hence lots of premature births.

 

[serfty]

Think it's someone's fault, since you're not permitted to fly without clearance after ~36 weeks pregnancy.

And how hard are 'clearances' to get?

 

[NM]

Think it's someone's fault, since you're not permitted to fly without clearance after ~36 weeks pregnancy.

If the comment is about the recent incident (probably the only VAustralia diversion to HNL for birth), I though the baby was born 10 weeks premature making the mother 30 weeks pregnant and hence well short of the 36 weeks mentioned for requiring clearance.

 

[Justinf]

If the comment is about the recent incident (probably the only VAustralia diversion to HNL for birth), I though the baby was born 10 weeks premature making the mother 30 weeks pregnant and hence well short of the 36 weeks mentioned for requiring clearance.

This is correct. The woman was at 29 weeks, and the baby was born 10 weeks prem. Thankfully all ended well and although it was an inconvenience, everything worked out OK.