Upgrade Dilemma

[clifford]

I've tried to distill an answer for my questions from this forum, but have failed.

I have a paid one-way economy S class ticket CBR-SYD-MNL for late March, to "connect" with an EY business class ticket to Milan the next day. This was booked with Amex travel to use my $450 credit. I'm now having a little buyer's remorse, in that I'm not sure I could enjoy 8 hours in Y on a 330, sitting next to someone unknown. Could be a reasonable experience, or possibly not. I've had both in the past.

So, I'm looking at a couple of options. One is to request an upgrade using points (65,400). There is no U class available, but 5 x I class. What would my chances be of this clearing fairly quickly?

The other option would be to cancel the booking for a refund of about $430 and rebook in premium economy on another airline. I'm thinking that this might be the better option, as 65,400 points seems an awful lot for this upgrade (it's almost enough for a J reward CBR-CGK), and a PE ticket on a quality airline can be had for approx $1,300 SYD-MNL.

So I'd appreciate any thoughts.

 

[opusman]

International upgrades don't "clear quickly", even as a Plat you'll find out at most a week before the flight.

Personally I would never book Y in the first place but if I were you and those were the only two options I'd be looking at the cancellation and booking PE myself.

 

[muppet]

..
So, I'm looking at a couple of options. One is to request an upgrade using points (65,400). There is no U class available, but 5 x I class. What would my chances be of this clearing fairly quickly?

The answer to this bit is simple. The chances are zero.

International upgrades are processed at max a week before the flight for WP1. 60 hours is the norm for WP and 24 hours before for SG and below.

 

[sudoer]

Another option: call to add an EXST to the booking. Guaranteed seat free next to you in economy, and you earn points & SC on that seat too.

 

[justinbrett]

Maybe just buy a neighbour free seat?

 

[elanshin]

I've tried to distill an answer for my questions from this forum, but have failed.

I have a paid one-way economy S class ticket CBR-SYD-MNL for late March, to "connect" with an EY business class ticket to Milan the next day. This was booked with Amex travel to use my $450 credit. I'm now having a little buyer's remorse, in that I'm not sure I could enjoy 8 hours in Y on a 330, sitting next to someone unknown. Could be a reasonable experience, or possibly not. I've had both in the past.

When you say Economy S class, do you mean Saver? Sale? Booking Class S?
If it's Booking class S I do not believe is upgradable.

So, I'm looking at a couple of options. One is to request an upgrade using points (65,400). There is no U class available, but 5 x I class. What would my chances be of this clearing fairly quickly?

I5 means really nothing unless you're calling to ask them to release the seat for platinum release. For upgrades, Platinum are usually processed somewhere around T60 to boarding depending on how busy the flight is. J would be the number you'd pay more attention to (or have access to someone with Qantas STO login to check the load factors).

The other option would be to cancel the booking for a refund of about $430 and rebook in premium economy on another airline. I'm thinking that this might be the better option, as 65,400 points seems an awful lot for this upgrade (it's almost enough for a J reward CBR-CGK), and a PE ticket on a quality airline can be had for approx $1,300 SYD-MNL.

So I'd appreciate any thoughts.

65k is the new increased costs and it's always been that a brand new booking is CR booking is better value (for the most part) than upgrades are. On that note though, what airline are you even considering in PE? SQ with 2 connections? CX as well with 2 connections?
I think you have to weight up the extra connection as well whether that would be worthwhile.

The other thing you can do is keep an eye on the load factor in Y for SYD - MNL. Usually if its not super full the Platinum shadow in Y will stick for QF I find as long as you're a little bit proactive and move yourself if another WP decides to take the seat next to you. (also seems Aisle with window block is more likely than window with aisle block).

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

I would take an aisle seat in the middle section on the 330 that has an empty middle seat and someone on the other aisle and hope that the plat block on the empty middle seats holds

 

[muppet]

When you say Economy S class, do you mean Saver? Sale? Booking Class S?
If it's Booking class S I do not believe is upgradable.

‘S’ is Saver and is upgradable. Book it and upgrade all the time.

E, N, O and Q are ineligible classes.

 

[trooper]

I would take an aisle seat in the middle section on the 330 that has an empty middle seat and someone on the other aisle and hope that the plat block on the empty middle seats holds

Or an Exit row (on QF or any airline, Ive done SYD-MNL on PR that way to also meet up with a nice ex MNL J itin) Day flights are much easier IMO.

 

[clifford]

Maybe just buy a neighbour free seat?

Of course, but in that case I'd rather spend any extra money on a CX premium economy bulkhead seat, and also enjoy the three lounges at HKG, as well as the FCL in SYD.

Or an Exit row

Unfortunately the exit rows on the 330's are next to the toilets.

 

[clifford]

CX as well with 2 connections?

If I book CX, I'll be taking the train up to Sydney the day before and staying in a hotel overnight, so quite leisurely. It is fairly close to Easter, so I would expect a number expat Philippinos and others may be travelling back for the celebrations. Hence a concern.

I've looked at the seat maps for the CX flights and there aren't that many decent unoccpied seats left in PE, so if I want the Window bulkhead seat on the 350, I'll need to move quite soon. And I'd be very happy to spend a few hours in the Deck, the Bridge and the Pier lounges. The champagne is way better than Qantas' offerings for a start.

In any case, I should get my money back from the QF booking, which was done through Amex with the $450 credit.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If I book CX, I'll be taking the train up to Sydney the day before and staying in a hotel overnight, so quite leisurely. It is fairly close to Easter, so I would expect a number expat Philippinos and others may be travelling back for the celebrations. Hence a concern.

I've looked at the seat maps for the CX flights and there aren't that many decent unoccpied seats left in PE, so if I want the Window bulkhead seat on the 350, I'll need to move quite soon. And I'd be very happy to spend a few hours in the Deck, the Bridge and the Pier lounges. The champagne is way better that Qantas' offerings for a start.

In any case, I should get my money back from the QF booking, which was done through Amex with the $450 credit.

Have you flown CX PE before? It’s not bad, but the paper cups are a bit odd. And the IFE has had a serious downgrade in the last year or so.

 

[clifford]

Have you flown CX PE before? It’s not bad, but the paper cups are a bit odd. And the IFE has had a serious downgrade in the last year or so.

Yes, I flew CX in PE, HKG-SYD a couple of weeks ago in a new config bulkhead seat and it was fine.

The paper cups for the wine detracted from the experience somewhat, but was not a deal breaker. And the welcome prosecco drink was in a nice wine glass FWIW. Overall, quite a nice experience for the price. Hence my interest in doing it again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, I flew CX in PE, HKG-SYD a couple of weeks ago in a new config bulkhead seat and it was fine.

The paper cups for the wine detracted from the experience somewhat, but was not a deal breaker. And the welcome prosecco drink was in a nice wine glass FWIW. Overall, quite a nice experience for the price. Hence my interest in doing it again.

I suspected you might have

I did the same flight - also a couple weeks ago - in business. The food seems to also have taken a bit of a slide backwards Well below QF in all but the main course, which was on par. Plating excepted, of course

 

[elanshin]

I suspected you might have

I did the same flight - also a couple weeks ago - in business. The food seems to also have taken a bit of a slide backwards Well below QF in all but the main course, which was on par. Plating excepted, of course

Cathay Delight is still nice - Although I usually just get it at the Pier whenever I'm going through HKG.