Do free upgrades exist?

[vyaw2003]

I am a Qantas platinum FF. All from domestic, economy tickets. That is hard to do. Roughly 150-200 flights in the past 2 years. I never take a Virgin flight. I have never got an upgrade to business for free, what gives?

 

[medhead]

You probably also travel at peak times. For someone in your position, like me, the answer is: No free upgrades don't exist. I've had one completely free upgrade 2 years ago when they wanted my seat on a packed aircraft.

I also had about 3 upgrades as part of the Grounding apology. I don't consider those to be free. At least 2 out of the 3 were on mid afternoon flights.


Sent from the Throne

 

[simongr]

I have had two on QF - purely operational upgrades as flight ahead was cancelled and they flowed people onto my flight.

 

[coyote25]

Had 2 opups from Y to Y+ on the Melbourne to LA route and one from Auckland to Syd Y to J all from awards as a Platinum.

One Dom I've received 4 free upgrades, 3 of them from Brisbane to Melbourne (paid flights). Now that I'm a Gold member I haven't received anything in the last 18 months.

I used to fly a huge amount of Y Dom flights so 4 wasn't a high number. Good luck in the future

 

[drewbles]

What routes do you fly the most and at what times? If you're on the Triangle or CBR flights, chances are, half the a/c is WP, hence your chances of an upgrade are next to none.

I've been WP for 4 years, and I've not yet had an opup domestically (and only had upgrades on BA and CX internationally; The only QF opup I had was QF73/74 SYD-SFO and vv; usually to Y+ in J seats as it was premium pax light and leisure pax heavy).

 

[richie9x]

Domestically operational upgrades with Qantas are very rare. Likely because because they can fill their business cabins with paying passengers, points upgrades, on departure upgrades with points and staff travel. I have had a lot more sucess on international flights.

Out of about the 200 domestic flights I have done with Qantas I have only received two true opups. Late last year Qantas were giving out some free upgrades due to the grounding/disruption. I received 5 free upgrades which I don't consider opups.

Qantas are very good at yield management. When a flight starts to sell out the price will start to rise. Making people consider taking other cheaper flights. Thereby spreading passengers over many flights, reducing the odds of an opup.

There are a few factors that influence the odds of an opup.

The route you fly - routes with less business traffic are more likely to give opups
Frequency of the route - lower frequency routes increase your odds. On popular routes it is easy for Qantas to justify putting on an extra flight to deal with excess demand so no need for opups.
Type of plane - 7% of seats on a 737 are Business class versus about 12% on a 767 or A330. It is easier for Qantas to fill the business seats on a 737 before having to resort to opups. On the other hand from a numbers basis it is easier to fill economy class on a 737.
Disruptions - passengers from cancellations of other flights and late passengers on connecting flights can be moved on to your flight, which may result in opups for status passengers. But these are hard to predict.
Time of year/special events - school holidays and other events (sports events, concerts) can generate excess demand from passengers who don't normally fly business.

But on the whole best to keep you expectations down.

 

[GDV 747-24/7]

I've had a fair few op-ups with my favourite being LHR-MEL J to F on the A380. I'm expecting less in the future though as the new system seems to allow points upgrades to be posted as late as when the passenger is boarding. More points upgrades means fewer op-ups....

 

[harvyk]

They certainly do exist, but it's very much so a luck of the draw thing...
I've had a few, and all on long haul (so the flights you want to get them on). My best effort was getting an op-up from both SYD-SFO and then back again SFO-SYD. It basically turned it into a return SFO J flight for around $800 .

 

[medhead]

International experiences are all very interesting. Still the OP said all their flying was domestic.


Sent from the Throne

 

[TonyHancock]

I have never had a domestic op-up before, and don't really expect one.

 

[baggyred]

Any tips on getting an int'l op-up?

Or just smile and bat your eyes a lot? Would asking from the QP help?

 

[simongr]

First up never think you are guaranteed an OpUp because no matter what strategies you employ there are no guarantees. But you can put yourself in a theoretically more likely to get an OpUp position*:

- Travel during school holidays (less business more leisure travellers)
- Book flights that have low Biz loads and high whY loads (if using expert flyer or seatcounter look for flights like this J9 D9 C9 I9 Y0 B0 K0 V0...)
- Have high status with the airline
- Have higher status with the airline
- Have even higher status with the airline
- Rub the lamp and ask the genie


* Not all of these suggestions will have the desired effect.~
~ Some may in fact have an adverse effect**
** There are probably some missing too<
< Although I can't think if them at the moment

 

[munitalP]

I don't know what everyone's problem is...



:rolls eyes:


:ducks from whatever simongr throws:


I am extraordinarily lucky with opups, golden triangle and in and out of DRW

 

[simongr]

Duck.

 

[scheps]

I dont even think about that, coz I suspect will never happen to me.

 

[Jkyn]

I'm WP (hard earned also on economy dom flights) and have had a few upgrades this year, haven't really kept count and I mostly fly in the triangle. Tend to upgrade with points on the longer flights as mostly work flights and can only book Y.


Sent from my iPad using AustFreqFly app

 

[Fantic125]

Don't expect them and be happy when they do happen.

 

[trooper]

I think the question that must be asked is "What free upgrades do QF promise they will give?"

..and go on from there....

As a Gold Elite on NZ I can ask the same question.... and the answer is (no doubt) the same.. "None"

 

[Pleb Status]

It took three full years as a WP+ before I received my first Op-Up (no WP1 back in those days).

Only once have I been upgraded without Y being completely full and that was straight after AJ's meltdown last year.

 

[amaroo]

It's similar to other things in life, some people get heaps - others don't