Chances of points upgrade BNE-SYD on Friday afternoon and SYD-BNE on a Sunday night

[cdp88]

Good evening all

I have a trip planned for my birthday in May from BNE to SYD. I'm thinking of upgrading one or both of the legs to business. I know it is a short flight but I reckon if I choose flights over lunch or dinner it is probably worth it. Also, it will be my birthday so i think that is justification enough.

I have some credit from a cancelled flight last year that will buy us two one way supersaver tickets. I've also got about 33000 points but would probably have another 15000 or so by the time we fly. We don't fly qantas internationally so I consider using these points to upgrade domestically to be worthwhile.

So, i'm wondering which of these options would be better for a Friday lunchtime flight BNE to SYD, QF525 or 529 and Sunday night return QF546. I am a lowly bronze QFF.

1. Buy 2 x supersaver ticket from BNE to SYD and then use 32000 points for two business flights from SYD - BNE. Try to upgrade BNE to SYD flight closer to the date.

2. Use 2 x business awards from BNE to SYD then buy 2 x supersaver SYD to BNE and try for points upgrade.

3. Use 2 x economy awards from BNE to SYD then buy 2 x supersaver SYD to BNE and try for points upgrade.

I'm interested to know whether I have any chance of getting the points upgrade or whether I should just book a business award. I'm assuming that business wouldn't be that full on a Sunday night flight but would be full on a Friday lunchtime flight. If I did up in for the upgrade i'm guessing I wouldn't find out until about a day before the flight?

Thanks

cdp88

 

[opusman]

Re: Chances of points upgrade BNE-SYD on Friday afternoon and SYD-BNE on a Sunday nig

The best thing is to do a dummy award booking for a business class flight. If there's business class availability for an award booking you know there is availability for Y->J upgrades. So you can then book your Y flights and immediately upgrade them online.

If I did up in for the upgrade i'm guessing I wouldn't find out until about a day before the flight?

The upgrade lottery is for international flights only - for domestic, you can get a confirmed points upgrade online as soon as the flight is ticketed.

 

[cdp88]

Re: Chances of points upgrade BNE-SYD on Friday afternoon and SYD-BNE on a Sunday nig

The best thing is to do a dummy award booking for a business class flight. If there's business class availability for an award booking you know there is availability for Y->J upgrades. So you can then book your Y flights and immediately upgrade them online.

Thanks opusman, so when you say immediately upgrade online does that mean it would be confirmed immediately?

There was business availability for both flights so I should be able to choose either for the upgraded flight.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Chances of points upgrade BNE-SYD on Friday afternoon and SYD-BNE on a Sunday nig

Thanks opusman, so when you say immediately upgrade online does that mean it would be confirmed immediately?

Domestic upgrades are confirmed immediately

 

[Heleigh]

Re: Chances of points upgrade BNE-SYD on Friday afternoon and SYD-BNE on a Sunday nig

Agree with above but would like to offer another option which is to contact qff (I would hope even as NB they would assist) and ask if the flights you are interested in have available seating.

My choice of metal would be 767-300/300ER as they have a larger number of J seating.

 

[cdp88]

Re: Chances of points upgrade BNE-SYD on Friday afternoon and SYD-BNE on a Sunday nig

Agree with above but would like to offer another option which is to contact qff (I would hope even as NB they would assist) and ask if the flights you are interested in have available seating.

My choice of metal would be 767-300/300ER as they have a larger number of J seating.

Yes, I think I will stick with the 767 flights, it looks like a better product. Thanks everyone for your advice. I'll make a booking soon and look forward to trying domestic J for the first time. We fly international J, but not on Qantas, so it always feels a bit of a let down flying Y domestically.