Upgrade Prioritisation

[33rpm]

I was curious to know about upgrade prioritisation. Not long ago, I was upgraded from a discount business class fare up to first class on SYD-LAX with the A380. It was one of those pleasant surprises to get to the gate and to find that your boarding pass does not work and that you have to see the first class boarding staff. On the very same flight, I had a colleague who is a gold FF and he had made an application to pay for an upgrade with points. I got this upgrade without asking for it (I am WP)nand he missed out in spite of requesting it and offering to pay with points. Does this make sense?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Did you recently hit any milestones before the flight?

Another 450 SC... Partner Gold.... LTG... requalification to platinum?

Certainly interesting knowledge though... were you both on the same ticket type?

 

[33rpm]

Did you recently hit any milestones before the flight?

Another 450 SC... Partner Gold.... LTG... requalification to platinum?

Certainly interesting knowledge though... were you both on the same ticket type?

No milestones of any sort. Have had LTG for a couple of years now. My ticket was the nastiest cheapest business class ticket you can get - it was in fact ineligible for an upgrade request. So you can see my surprise - my colleague was not particularly pleased. I presume he paid a higher fare as he bought his ticket a month earlier and I bought mine 5 months earlier. May be this was something out of the ordinary but if WP get priority over SG even with points payment, it would be interesting indeed.

 

[simongr]

Points upgrades get processed 24 - 5 hours before the flight. At that point I expect that they didnt have any seats in first class that they wanted to use for upgrades as they thought they might get a late and very expensive sale. Qantas also try and maintain the exclusivity of First class and thus do not upgrade people just because seats are empty.

Then between 5 and 0 hours before the flights they needed to jiggle seating and the only way to do that was to bump you to first class, making a seat available in business that could cascade all the way back to making sure an angry family of four who hadn't booked seats together actually ended up sitting together.

My understanding is that the QF systems can NOT process an international upgrade close to the departure.

 

[serfty]

I was curious to know about upgrade prioritisation. Not long ago, I was upgraded from a discount business class fare up to first class on SYD-LAX with the A380. It was one of those pleasant surprises to get to the gate and to find that your boarding pass does not work and that you have to see the first class boarding staff. On the very same flight, I had a colleague who is a gold FF and he had made an application to pay for an upgrade with points. I got this upgrade without asking for it (I am WP)nand he missed out in spite of requesting it and offering to pay with points. Does this make sense?

Yes, it makes sense. You received an "Operational Upgrade" (AKA "op-up", "involuntary upgrade"). This happens when Qantas wants one or more Business/PE class seats for PAX booked in lower classes.

Qantas have access to an Altea facility called the "Proactive Onload List". Staff can (and are supposed to) use this when op-ups may be deemed necessary.

For more on "Proactive Onload", see these threads:

• http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/op-up-protocol-16409.html
• QF Op Ups / Qantas Operational Upgrades for AA elites (consolidated) - FlyerTalk Forums
• http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/the-science-of-op-up-20232.html

... Have had LTG for a couple of years now. My ticket was the nastiest cheapest business class ticket you can get - it was in fact ineligible for an upgrade request. ...

I do not believe any revenue Business class fares on Qantas flight number operated by Qantas metal are ineligible for points upgrades, even I class. There have been reports of some of these fares showing as not eligible for points upgrades when attempted on-line - in these cases a quick telephone call to QFF seemed to queue the upgrade requests properly. In any case this is not relevant as you appear to have received an op-up.

 

[oz_mark]

There have been instances where a requested points upgrade have been denied, but a free op-up has subsquently been given . I take it to mean that the need for a seat has arisen after the point upgrades have been processed.

 

[anat0l]

Most people here have answered the question. As said, I believe when the points upgrades were processed (which is not when op-ups are processed), there was no upgrade inventory remaining for your SG colleague to upgrade into (either QF didn't make any available, or other QFF members also requesting points upgrades trumped him in priority). As others have said - and this is important - just because a seat is free doesn't mean QF will let you upgrade into it. Op-ups are done out of necessity (hence the name), and as a WP you hold a priority over your SG colleague when it comes to these, even if you didn't ask for an upgrade.

The key to the situation is that both kinds of upgrades are not considered / processed at the same time.

It never hurts to check with QF if a Business fare can be upgraded even if the online system says it won't register you for one. I had an I fare once as a result of the first 2-for-1 sale and got knocked back on online request. However, a call to QF confirmed it was possible, so we registered (and later got the upgrade). Mind you, your MMB might look pretty screwed up when this happens, but not a big deal.

 

[Sprucegoose]

status, type of fare and then if it comes to the toss, the length of membership ie, four digit over five digit over six digit FF membership.

Not sure where LTQC and LTG fit into the mix, but they would figure somewhere i believe.

Serfty has posted the appropriate threads for some initial reading.

I love the beeps at the gate!!!

 

[serfty]

status, type of fare and then if it comes to the toss, the length of membership ie, four digit over five digit over six digit FF membership.

Not sure where LTQC and LTG fit into the mix, but they would figure somewhere i believe. ...

That is relevant for Frequent Flyer Award Upgrades (using Points).

The OP was Operationally Upgraded; I was referring the the process available to QF staff for prioritisation should such op-ups be necessary.

 

[33rpm]

Thanks to all of you for the explanation - fantastic explanation - it does now make sense. Also, in future, I will try giving QF a call if my discounted business class fare is not allowing upgrade on the website.

I think I have been fairly lucky with what I now understand to be "operational upgrades" over the years. Have had several in domestic between Sydney and Melbourne and a couple of business to first class as well as economy to premium economy. Also was very grateful to have one from economy to business on the redeye back from Perth to Sydney. Another stands out in particular, with one from Melbourne to Sydney, they upgraded only me and not my wife - we were on our way back following a wedding anniversary break and they organised for her to be upgraded as well - we had to hover around for a while but the staff were fantastic and really moved heaven and earth to get my wife upgraded as well. Once I even got a first class upgrade with Cathay at the gate - it was just before they stopped using the 744s to Sydney. Oveall, QF/OW has served me well. Not that I know if it makes any difference but I have never asked for an upgrade apart for the one for my wife.