Brisbane to Johannesburg upgrade using QF frequent flyer points

[auspal]

I am about to book a flight from Brisbane to Johannesburg return for August 2015 . I have looked on QF frequent flyer site but cant figure out how many points I need to upgrade from economy to business. Any help would be appreciated. Also any tips / hints on the booking and achieving the upgrade please.

 

[moa999]

See:
Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines - Points Calculators - Upgrade Points

SYD-JNB (no direct flights from Brisbane) is in Zone 7.
So either 35,000 or 56,000 points depending on which fare class you book in.

Note that on International Upgrades Qantas only effectively waitlists an upgrades and processes in the last 7-days (up until aircraft departure)

Higher tier members are processed first (so getting yourself to Platinum would help)

 

[auspal]

I wont be able to get to Platinum, so hopefully applying early might help? Thanks for the zone info, I have enough points for us to apply. Will have to cross fingers.

 

[samh004]

I wont be able to get to Platinum, so hopefully applying early might help? Thanks for the zone info, I have enough points for us to apply. Will have to cross fingers.

Applying earliest will put you at the top of the list in your respective status level, but all those who applied after you with a higher status are in front of you

 

[auspal]

That's fair enough. Every upgrade I have applied for so far I have got. Waiting till the last minute to find out is a bit stressful though. And my status level is probably the lowest.

 

[samh004]

That's fair enough. Every upgrade I have applied for so far I have got. Waiting till the last minute to find out is a bit stressful though. And my status level is probably the lowest.

That's pretty good!

 

[mickeyc747]

That's fair enough. Every upgrade I have applied for so far I have got. Waiting till the last minute to find out is a bit stressful though. And my status level is probably the lowest.

My WP1 upgrade from SYD to JNB next week came through at T- 7.1 days.

 

[auspal]

Good for you
The tour company in SA are offering to book the flights for me as part of the package, saying that if there are any delays/changed flights etc they will take care of that. I am wondering if this will be the better option, any thoughts?

 

[serfty]

Applying earliest will put you at the top of the list in your respective status level, but all those who applied after you with a higher status are in front of you

That is unlikely to be correct. It may have been true about a decade ago but almost certainly is no longer the case - see here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?p=694676

 

[auspal]

Can you put that into simpler terms for me please serfty?

Also I was hoping to book a stopover in Dubai but Qantas told me yesterday that I cannot do that unless I book with Emirates, in which case I have no chance of an upgrade. I will stick with Qantas, wonder if I should wait for a cheaper fare as I have been quoted around $2500 ?