LAX-MEL upgrade - what happened?

[nessjez]

I recently flew MEL LAX return with Qantas and requested a points upgrade on both legs about 3 weeks out. On the forward journey the upgrade came through as expected - although a little early - with the website showing an upgrade about 12 hours from departure.

On the return journey I checked the website about 10 hours out and it had the upgrade as still pending, but it also said my flight had been cancelled. I checked and it hadn't. When I checked-in and asked about the upgrade I was asked if I was "definitely flying today". Then the guy disappeared out the back for a bit and came back smiling saying the upgrade was fine.

I now see on my activity statement that I received no points or status credits for the return journey, but nor have any points been deducted from my account for the upgrade. What happened?

 

[v8Statesman]

I now see on my activity statement that I received no points or status credits for the return journey, but nor have any points been deducted from my account for the upgrade. What happened?

Do you need the SC for Status??? If not "Shhhh"

 

[haydensydney]

I too would be on the "hush hush" bandwagon

 

[Must...Fly!]

Do you need the SC for Status??? If not "Shhhh"

What he said

 

[nessjez]

That's why I thought I'd ask here. I have no intention of calling Qantas and asking "why haven't you taken 72000 points off me?"

My only guess is something stuffed up with my ticket (hence the "are you flying today" question), and the bloke went and sorted it as a complimentary upgrade. I'm a Platinum member and he did comment that "we make sure we look after you". Strange though that I got zero points from the flight, but I'm not complaining.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On the return journey I checked the website about 10 hours out and it had the upgrade as still pending, but it also said my flight had been cancelled. I checked and it hadn't.

I think the issue here is the actual flight was not cancelled but your economy reservation on that flight was, leaving you only with a waitlist in J and no back up seat in Y.

When I checked-in and asked about the upgrade I was asked if I was "definitely flying today".

Uh oh trouble. The penny has dropped & they realise that you still think you've got a seat on the flight when it's been cancelled and they're thinking "cough we can't tell him he hasn't got a booking anymore" & panic sets in.

Altea in its wisdom makes it really easy to cancel a flight when you don't want to ie checking in someone when they're waitlisted in J and confirmed in Y it used to say more or less choose one or the other option where you obviously wanted your Y seat held until such time your J waitlist cleared.

Then the guy disappeared out the back for a bit and came back smiling saying the upgrade was fine.

Almost like a duck calmly floating on the water whilst beneath the surface it's paddling like hell. Not sure if your flight was full in Y but he's gone to a supervisor told him what's happened & they've bumped you up to J because of their stuff up. Maybe they could justify the op-up due to oversale.

Don't know whether the waitlist in J actually came through & that was accidentally cancelled as well as the Y sector. As a wild guess I would say it was, hence your ff no. dropped out of the system and there was no flight to keep it 'live' in your pnr. In all the 'excitement' they didn't add it back in when they reinstated your booking so therefore wasn't on boarding pass & you didn't receive the points & SC.

If you do follow up the 'missing' points via the web link via the f/flyer section of the QF website you'd need to consider the following:

a) You might receive points & credits as though it was a paid J sector

b) They realised it was meant to be a points upgrade & they credit you with Y points/credits for the fare paid & then deduct points for the upgrade

"So you've gotta ask yourself do you feel lucky"?

 

[notzac]

Given the odds, I sure wouldn't be trying my luck

 

[straitman]

Given the odds, I sure wouldn't be trying my luck

Unless of course the SC earn is more important to you than the points burn.

 

[notzac]

Unless of course the SC earn is more important to you than the points burn.

Valid point - however 45 SCs vs. 72k points. I can fly an extra 45 SCs worth for a bit less than what I'd value 72k points..

 

[MikedOut]

For the uninitiated...could i ask a question thats been on my mind for a while......If I book and pay for a Y seat....and request an upgarde on points and get it......I still get the Y status credits for the flight?

 

[straitman]

For the uninitiated...could i ask a question thats been on my mind for a while......If I book and pay for a Y seat....and request an upgarde on points and get it......I still get the Y status credits for the flight?

Yes.

You get Y status credits.

 

[MikedOut]

Thanks Straitman

 

[JohnK]

Who knows what really happened? Keep the QFF points and don't worry about the flight crediting. I know someone who's award booking had to be changed at the last minute and they received full Y SCs and QFF points. Occasionally staff end up using wrong fare classes when rebooking.

Valid point - however 45 SCs vs. 72k points. I can fly an extra 45 SCs worth for a bit less than what I'd value 72k points..

I guess it is more like 45 SCs vs ~56,000 QFF points (isn't a paid fligjt with Platinum bonus ~16,000 QFF points?) but still no comparison which option I would choose even if I needed the 45 SCs. I would find another way to get the 45 SCs.

 

[nessjez]

Thanks for your insights ozbeachbabe. That makes a lot of sense. Everyone else can relax! There was never a question of me chasing 45 measly status credits. I just wanted some info on what might have transpired.

JohnK I think the point made is that if I chase 45 SCs I'd have to cough up 72000 points to pay for the upgrade. I'm happy just to take the win.

 

[notzac]

JohnK I think the point made is that if I chase 45 SCs I'd have to cough up 72000 points to pay for the upgrade. I'm happy just to take the win.

That's the one - my English at times leaves a bit to be desired. :shock: Sorry for the confusion!

 

[JohnK]

JohnK I think the point made is that if I chase 45 SCs I'd have to cough up 72000 points to pay for the upgrade. I'm happy just to take the win.

And it is a good win. Cherish it.

Sorry. I was just being pedantic as the net cost for the upgrade would have been ~56,000 QFF points not 72,000 QFF points assuming you had a paid ticket in a valid fare class that would have earned you ~16,000 QFF points as a Platinum.