Upgrades

[Coomera]

I am probably pulling at strings but is there any way to get an upgrade from economy to business with Qantas. They are the only airline I fly when heading international but they dont want to budge when i ask the question.

Cheers

 

[moa999]

On most flghts, there are probably 200 people down the back who would like to fly up front but won't.

Two ways.
1. Pay for it.
2. Try and upgrade using Qantas points.

And Status helps, particularly with the much desired op-up.

 

[ejb]

I am probably pulling at strings but is there any way to get an upgrade from economy to business with Qantas. They are the only airline I fly when heading international but they dont want to budge when i ask the question.

Cheers

Hi Coomera and welcome to AFF!

There are 3 ways to get an upgrade from Y to J:

• Pay the difference in the fare.
• Use points and hope the upgrade comes through.
• Pray for a op-up.

They are in order of likelyhood. The only way to be sure of traveling in the J cabin is to pay for it. points upgrades can be good but unless you are SG or WP you have little hope and finally the op-up, so rare some people think they do not exist.

ejb

 

[gilby08]

Only real way is having status with QF, such as Gold, Platnium or Chairmans Lounge members...
If you have no frequent flyer status or a Bronze, Silver frequent flyer member then chances are very very slim...

As for you asking them, of course they would say no. I'm sure they get asked that question atleast 30 times each international flight!!!

 

[JohnK]

Everyone wants an upgrade from economy to business but there are only so many upgrades available.

Pray for a op-up.

These are so rare you have probably got a better chance of winning a major prize in the lottery.

Unless you have top tier status with an airline and you have a reasonable understanding of airline loads, reading seat maps etc then you should not even be praying for op-ups and just expect to sit in the seat you paid for when making the booking.

 

[ejb]

Everyone wants an upgrade from economy to business but there are only so many upgrades available.


These are so rare you have probably got a better chance of winning a major prize in the lottery.

Unless you have top tier status with an airline and you have a reasonable understanding of airline loads, reading seat maps etc then you should not even be praying for op-ups and just expect to sit in the seat you paid for when making the booking.

I was trying to give them hope. Praying seemed like a good idea.

ejb

 

[samh004]

I was trying to give them hope. Praying seemed like a good idea.

ejb

To which deity?

 

[JohnK]

I was trying to give them hope. Praying seemed like a good idea.

Aaahh! Hope! That is where you pray (and constantly think) something good will happen on your next flight only to be disappointed and dumped back down to earth when you have the same poor experience over and over. I think they call them nightmares....

 

[ejb]

To which deity?

If you find a good one let me know

Aaahh! Hope! That is where you pray (and constantly think) something good will happen on your next flight only to be disappointed and dumped back down to earth when you have the same poor experience over and over. I think they call them nightmares....

We all need hope John.

I think by now the OP would have realised that paying Y and expecting J will result in sadness everytime.

ejb

ejb

 

[Smackbum]

Your chances of an upgrade are proportional to your amount of travel with a fair bit of luck thrown in.

I have never received a domestic upgrade (the bulk of my flying) but have had a handful of international upgrades - some whilst Silver but most whilst Gold.

BTW - I have never asked for an upgrade.

 

[JetLagged]

• Pray for a op-up.

ejb

Is this a case of a hope, a wing, and a prayer?

 

[equus]

points upgrades can be good but unless you are SG or WP you have little hope

It is really very route / flight dependent as far as the points upgrades goes. Kangaroo route or to the US may be difficult, but over the last 3 years, my partner and I have flown to Hong Kong 3 times. Applied for points upgrades on each occasion using PS status - and have a 6 for 6 success rate (I know it can't last), with success every time.

This included QF127 on Sunday 02/05, which turned into a real mess. Plenty of seats when they did the upgrade, then a 3 hour delay departing, when they switched the aircraft for the one going to Jo'burg (apparently needed longer range to get to SA due to winds). Result was less J seats to HK, and overbooked. Quite a few op-ups to F, and apparently a few down grades from J as well. We remained in J (even on U tickets), but the seat allocations were shot. It may have helped that our booking was linked to another which was full paid J. CSM managed to arrange a few seat shuffles after take off (probably helps that not many people really want the section of 3 seats, and when offered 3 different scattered aisles, it makes little difference).

 

[JetLagged]

Applied for points upgrades on each occasion using PS status - and have a 6 for 6 success rate (I know it can't last), with success every time.).

Well done - that is a good average. Must say that while have never been offered a free op-up, have also received a points upgrade whenever I have put in for one on long-haul flights - and that is quite a few as well by now. Hopoe luck continues in a fortnights time on SIN - LHR and then return!

This included QF127 on Sunday 02/05, which turned into a real mess.

Sorry you had such a bad time - can see where switches in planes for unforseen reasons can play havoc with ones travel - but nice to see that they did the best they could in a difficult situation - that's the red roo for you!

 

[purplegez]

Your chances of an upgrade are proportional to your amount of travel with a fair bit of luck thrown in.

I have never received a domestic upgrade (the bulk of my flying) but have had a handful of international upgrades - some whilst Silver but most whilst Gold.

BTW - I have never asked for an upgrade.

I have never asked for an upgrade either but have received two on international flights LHR-SIN (whilst Silver). I have also received points upgrades when requested HKG-PER.

 

[trooper]

So we aren't going to tell the OP about the secret handshake?

OK..... I suppose it IS a secret.....:mrgreen:

Sorry.. couldn't resist. Hopefully the OP will get the message that there are no shortcuts.......

 

[Sprucegoose]

Anyone been u/g from Sale or Red e deal tickets????

Highly status dependent one suspects - where do we think the status (versus prayer) sits in all this?

Cheers

SPRUCE

 

[Logan^]

Got one upgrade from Y to J on SIA on Xmas Eve last year, guess the check in girl liked me, cause she went away and came back with the upgrade and with United once a few years back when we were flying LHR-ORD, asked for emergency exit seats thinking we were in Y and the check in girl turned round and was like "I can move you to bulkhead in business if you wish" at which point I was like ummm nah your ok, business is great.

In short as the other guys have said, unless you get lucky or you have points and get the upgrade its very unlikely to happen.

After my trip in J with SIA I wont go back to Y, even if it costs 3x as much, imo thats a worthy price for coming off the other end relaxed and not jet lagged with a decent amount of sleep, fortunatly I only do SYD-LHR-SYD every year or so currently at the moment.

 

[Fantic125]

To which deity?

My personal order of preference is;

1. The Flying Spaghetti Monster (bless his noodly appendages), or
2. The Invisible Pink Unicorn (blessed are her hooves).

Good luck!

 

[pfish]

Anyone been u/g from Sale or Red e deal tickets????

Highly status dependent one suspects - where do we think the status (versus prayer) sits in all this?

Cheers

SPRUCE

i have once from y to j travelling hong kong to melbourne. went to board, not looking forward to the economy flight when my boarding pass was rejected and i was handed a business boarding pass.

all other op ups (all being only one from J to F Bkk - SYD and then one from y to j sydney to melbourne) have not been sale or red-e deal tickets.
have had a few with BA and cathay though.

 

[Archphoto]

Anyone been u/g from Sale or Red e deal tickets????

Highly status dependent one suspects - where do we think the status (versus prayer) sits in all this?

Cheers

SPRUCE

Yes, I have twice:

- HKG-SYD. Never asked for it, was expecting to fly "crush class". Myself and my colleague were thrilled to up-graded at the gate! We were both Bronze FF.
- SYD-BKK last year just before NY. Myself and my partner were upgraded - I was Platinum, my partner was bronze. We were upgraded upon check-in in ADL.

I have *never* been upgraded with a points request, ever! And I've asked up to 8 weeks prior to my flight.