Award Upgrade and Hints

[David Crowley]

Hi all

I was looking for some advice before I proceed to book a holiday for my partner and I. We are planning the following trip in December 2016 BNE - Honolulu - New York (via Dallas Fort Worth) & return. I will be QFF Gold when I book with approximately 200k points.

My question is, I am looking at upgrading both of us to Business, but what's the best way to organize this to ensure we get the flights we want? Any tips when organizing a trip like this to maximize points and status?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mattg]

The first comment I would make is that you would need to book on Qantas marketed and operated flights in order to use your QF points to upgrade to Business. For the trip you're looking at doing, that would only be possible on the Brisbane-Honolulu leg, and only if you travel via Sydney to take the Qantas flight to Hawaii. If you're travelling on from Honolulu to New York via DFW, that most likely would be on American Airlines. You'll earn points & status credits for those flights, but won't be able to upgrade.

To maximise flights on Qantas aircraft, you could possibly do a multi-city booking Brisbane-Honolulu-Los Angeles-New York (flying QF on the Los Angeles-New York leg) and return New York-Dallas-Sydney-Brisbane (flying QF from Dallas onwards). Or some variation of this.

Once you've decided on a route, you can be somewhat strategic about choosing flights with the highest chances of getting the upgrade. For example, booking flights during the middle of the week, and outside of peak travel periods like Christmas helps. (If you have a few dates in mind, post them on here and I could probably check on Expert Flyer for an indication of likely loads.)

Another option would be to book with points outright, but I suspect you would struggle to find availability booking this late, and you won't earn any points or status credits on award flights.

 

[mviy]

For upgrades you are looking for Y to be oversold, some unsold seats in J and not too many higher status passengers putting in for an upgrade.

Between booking and the actual flights the numbers will change a lot so it's about being strategic and picking the dates where there are likely to be less travellers paying for J seats or with higher status in the pecking order for upgrades.

Travelling as a couple your upgrade chances would be lower than for a solo passenger with the same status. If you have the higher status and both are on the one booking you should use your points to request the upgrade. If you don't have enough points then get your partner to do a family transfer to you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all

I was looking for some advice before I proceed to book a holiday for my partner and I. We are planning the following trip in December 2016 BNE - Honolulu - New York (via Dallas Fort Worth) & return. I will be QFF Gold when I book with approximately 200k points.

My question is, I am looking at upgrading both of us to Business, but what's the best way to organize this to ensure we get the flights we want? Any tips when organizing a trip like this to maximize points and status?

Thanks in advance.

The only certainty you will have to travel in the business cabin is to book it from the outset. Qantas operates a semi-lottery system based on status, and for gold that = 'expect to travel in the class you have booked' category.

 

[mviy]

and for gold that = 'expect to travel in the class you have booked' category.

I agree


I'm hoping to get some upgrades as PS one way then SG the other travelling alone on a long-haul international flight, but in the likely event one/both of the upgrades fails I will get to experience travelling in PE.

Book a class you'd be happy to fly and expect to fly and try to upgrade to J which you'd really like to fly but don't need to.

 

[bsb]

Very tall order there. Be gone and back by mid December, anything later will be pointless to try.

Alternatively, pay for fares because your 'gold' won't be of any value. Go JQ to HNL in Biz and then pay for AA from HNL inF which will be a lot cheaper than you think.

Best of luck, I hope you're lucky

 

[Flying mermaid]

I would agree with mid week being better for upgrades to and from mainland USA. I have been quite successful requesting ugrades for Master FM and his partner and they have generally been silver and gold - maybe even once bronze. Where requests have failed it was usually a weekend.

 

[David Crowley]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the advice.