Chance of upgrade 3 Pax

[Shark bait]

Question from a noob... we have an upcoming trip SYD - SIN on A380 (QF1). We have 3 persons on the booking travelling J. Was wondering what the chances, or peoples experience of a points upgrade from J -> F.

All 3 passengers on booking are WPs. I understand its zippo upgrading 3 pax normally but if we are all WP’s, is there any real chance.

Thanks for feedback. Cheers

 

[Hvr]

Three people on one booking. Not likely I'm afraid.

 

[docjames]

Will also depend on loadings.

What date?

 

[Shark bait]

Mar 30th

 

[mviy]

Would be relevant to also look at SIN-LHR loadings. If SIN-LHR has less free seats then there will likely be some upgrades that they will only give to passengers not flying onto LHR.

 

[docjames]

Loads still looking light. So possible numerically at this stage.

There also appears to be some issue with J availability (not showing online for QF1 when it shows for other flights.).

QF1 SYD-SIN

F - 9
A - 9
J - 9
C - 9
Y - 9
B - 9
H - 9
K - 9
M - 1


QF1 SYD-LHR
F - 9
A - 9
J - 7
Y - 9
B - 9
H - 9
K - 9
M - 9
L - 4

QF1 SIN-LHR

F - 9
A - 9
W - 2
Y - 9
B - 9
H - 9
K - 9
M - 9
L - 9

 

[mviy]

You'll get a better idea looking at loadings from about a week (or less) before you fly.

P1 upgrades get processed up to about a week out.

There's always the possibility of last minute sales too.

 

[Shark bait]

I never considered that.. thanks mviy. I don’t have paid expert flyer, but their seat alert shows a near empty F for both SYD-SIN and SIN-LHR. Whereas J is 80% full. SO I’m unlikely to see an upgrade as I’m assuming they will upgrade P1/CL first, then solo/couple travellers (particularly if they are travelling on to LHR).
*sigh* first world problem always travelling with a party of 3.
At least we got to select F seats as J passengers on recent SYD-HKG A380. So a half experience

 

[mviy]

then solo/couple travellers (particularly if they are travelling on to LHR).

Well the thing is they will only upgrade passengers travelling onto LHR on the same flight number on the same day for the SYD-SIN leg if they can upgrade them for both legs. If they can't then they will miss out on the upgrade. So if passengers connecting from e.g. MEL-SIN (more likely as there's a flight with F albeit with a six hour stopover if connecting to SIN-LHR), BNE-SIN flights fill some F seats from SIN-LHR then that can affect things.

I don’t have paid expert flyer, but their seat alert shows a near empty F for both SYD-SIN and SIN-LHR.

docjames posted the loads and there is a thread for asking about that. You could certainly ask again closer to the flight. F9 means there's at least 9 F seats for sale (they stop counting at 9). Note they may be willing to oversell J forcing them to approve some upgrades to F (or if there are not enough requests give a P1 an op-up).

SO I’m unlikely to see an upgrade

Yes 3 passengers is pushing it, but you have to be in the lottery to have a chance. If you don't get it you keep the points to try another time.

At least we got to select F seats as J passengers on recent SYD-HKG A380. So a half experience

Well flying F you get the F Pyjamas (and slippers) and amenity kit and the F champagne. Apart from that I don't think you'd find the difference would be that great from what you experienced SYD-HKG. The better seat and the novelty of being able to eat facing your travelling companion (when not travelling solo) are the main things. Apparently these days the F and J menus have a lot of items in common.

 

[mviy]

The loads/upgrade thread is
Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

Also coming home they do upgrade some passengers SIN-SYD that they can't upgrade LHR-SIN. They won't upgrade passengers on the first leg but not the second, but they will upgrade some on the second leg that they can't upgrade on the first.

So all else being equal it might be harder to get an upgrade on the way home. Though there are of course factors like different flight loads, whether you only see value in upgrading to F if you get the FLounge experience beforehand (no QF FLounge in SIN), whether you see more value in the better rest (hopefully) from flying F on the way to SIN or the way home etc. There's a lot of variables.

 

[Shark bait]

On the way home SIN-SYD, travelling on QF82 in J and its usually an A333. I usually have to pick flights that all of us are seated together or in close proximity due to our 3yo. On the way over QF81 was heavily booked in J with nil seats together hence the flight on QF1, but on the way home WP status opened up some more seats for us on QF82 so chose that flight.

I prefer the J seats on an A333 because the suites keep our 3yo contained and happy with more space to place his ‘toys’, whereas the a380 has less shelf space. BUT the little man prefers the A380 (because it’s BIG) and the floor space in J and F is bigger so he can play his toys if if wants. The life of a child is tough

 

[amaroo]

I got the 4 of us upgraded from J > F QF 11 (A380 SYD-LAX) .... so it does happen.

 

[Shark bait]

Awesome amaroo. So it does happen. I honestly thought is was impossible.

I’m not too concerned if they upgraded us at the gate, since we can still enjoy FLounge in Sydney. We have a 5 hour transit in SYD, so could think of worse places to be.

 

[mviy]

Requests for an upgrade to be processed as late as at the gate can only be made if you're travelling solo. Though of course QF could choose to go above and beyond what their rules are if it suits them.

You "just" have to get very fortunate with the F loads on the day you happen to be travelling, though it's a big "just". I would think 3/4 from J to F would be a lot more likely than from Y/Y+ to J, but still a low chance.

I've been on a DXB-MEL flight that was less than half full in F and I was upgraded (travelling solo) about 60 hours before the departure from LHR. It was an off-peak time of the year and an off-peak day. The cabin crew reckoned it was the overall load on the plane was the lightest they'd seen for years.

 

[Shark bait]

I do agree with you mviy that an upgrade is unlikely even for 1 pax. The flight QF2 on the date we are travelling home from SIN-SYD F was nearly full. J had only 6 seats unallocated.

I have no experience of a 3 pax upgrade on INT, hence asking on here. I have however 8 years ago, had an op upgrade from CBR-MEL for 3 PAX for Y to J. J was empty, Y full, and I helped a passenger on a previous Qantas flight for medical reasons. Funny thing was on that flight, I was travelling with my 2 sons and they also upgraded 2 UM (on the plane) so the kids could keep each other occupied. I believe there were some unhappy Y pax that J had 4 kids in it. I didn’t ask for it, but I didn’t complain. I don’t think these sort of things happen anymore that I’m aware.

 

[straitman]

Requests for an upgrade to be processed as late as at the gate can only be made if you're travelling solo. Though of course QF could choose to go above and beyond what their rules are if it suits them.

You "just" have to get very fortunate with the F loads on the day you happen to be travelling, though it's a big "just". I would think 3/4 from J to F would be a lot more likely than from Y/Y+ to J, but still a low chance.

I've been on a DXB-MEL flight that was less than half full in F and I was upgraded (travelling solo) about 60 hours before the departure from LHR. It was an off-peak time of the year and an off-peak day. The cabin crew reckoned it was the overall load on the plane was the lightest they'd seen for years.

With QF anything is possible so I wouldn't be surprised either way. We had 3 X Gate UG from HKG to MEL a few years ago. Admittedly it was Y to J but it reinforces the the only thing predictable thing about Qantas is their unpredictability.

 

[kelvedon]

Question, does having a toddler in the party effect the chances of an upgrade to F?

 

[amaroo]

Awesome amaroo. So it does happen. I honestly thought is was impossible.

I’m not too concerned if they upgraded us at the gate, since we can still enjoy FLounge in Sydney. We have a 5 hour transit in SYD, so could think of worse places to be.

Best of luck! FWIW our 4 x upgrade was Dec 2013 .... great Xmas present.

 

[serfty]

Best of luck! FWIW our 4 x upgrade was Dec 2013 .... great Xmas present.

Ahh! Upgrade season - where economy is oversold with planned use of premium seats on economy fares.

Mar 31 is smack bang in the middle of Easter so a slightly improvement in chances.

 

[serfty]

Loadings are indicative of the season:



Interesting PE is zilched.