Colleague Upgrades

[bashworth]

I don't have a problem with Qantas restricting points transfers to family members . . . but when it comes to upgrades for people travelling with me it seems ridiculus.

My situation is I have Gold Status and plenty of points from personal travel, but a couple of times a year travel internationally as a volunteer for an international aid charity.

The charity has a policy, which I agree with, that it will only pay for economy travel.

I am quite happy using my personal points to get an upgrade for myself.

However an issue arises when I am travelling with another volunteer.

I am not going to go for an upgrade myself if my fellow traveller is stuck in economy.

I am more than willing to use my points to get my fellow traveller an upgrade but according to the Qantas policy; as they aren't family I can't even apply!

Is this a common problem?

 

[bam71]

Aren’t we all cousins in one way or another?

 

[bashworth]

Aren’t we all cousins in one way or another?

That did occur to me but I like being honest, even when it finisheds up with me being uncomfortable.

 

[RichardMEL]

Aren’t we all cousins in one way or another?

Only when visiting the HBA lounge...

I'll see myself out.

 

[sudoer]

There's a bit to unpack here but...

Do you travel on the same PNR? Most corporate TAs book colleagues on separate PNRs in my experience, and if you're not on the same PNR the upgrade priority will be different anyway, and it's highly unlikely an NB upgrade request will clear while yours may - then you're going to end up in the same situation.

I am not going to go for an upgrade myself if my fellow traveller is stuck in economy.

I find this interesting and I think this would be a minority view, especially when it comes to long haul international.

Would you usually sit directly next to the colleague?

If yes, your upgrade could be considered an incidental upgrade for them too, as they'll have a bit more personal space with a probable empty seat next to them.

If no, does you being in J really have any impact on them? Non frequent flyers would probably assume it's something that the airlines just do for status pax (which they'd know you are because you've invited them into the lounge) and I can't imagine they'd be particularly put out by it...

 

[jpp42]

I spend enough time with my colleagues (whether it's work colleagues or travelling for international aid, which I have done also). Unless I was specifically trying to use this time to get some discussions done, why would I care if I sat next to them? I'm mostly going to be reading, watching videos, or sleeping - things I don't need my colleague for. Travelling on the same flight I get so that we can coordinate transportation etc, but otherwise I agree this would be a minority view.

 

[VPS]

@admin or a mod please fix the spelling in the title - my OCD can't cope - thanks

 

[Quickstatus]

@bashworth even if it was allowed, 2 upgrades are a lot rarer than a single upgrade if not impossible.

 

[bashworth]

There's a bit to unpack here but...

Do you travel on the same PNR? Most corporate TAs book colleagues on separate PNRs in my experience, and if you're not on the same PNR the upgrade priority will be different anyway, and it's highly unlikely an NB upgrade request will clear while yours may - then you're going to end up in the same situation.



I find this interesting and I think this would be a minority view, especially when it comes to long haul international.

Would you usually sit directly next to the colleague?

If yes, your upgrade could be considered an incidental upgrade for them too, as they'll have a bit more personal space with a probable empty seat next to them.

If no, does you being in J really have any impact on them? Non frequent flyers would probably assume it's something that the airlines just do for status pax (which they'd know you are because you've invited them into the lounge) and I can't imagine they'd be particularly put out by it...

Same PNR - One booking for both people.

Minority View - I don't need to be next to the colleague. . . . but we are all volunteers so I prefer to avoid being considered elitist by travelling in a better class, while they are stuck in economy.

 

[bashworth]

@bashworth even if it was allowed, 2 upgrades are a lot rarer than a single upgrade if not impossible.

I agree but as the charity is Disaster Aid Australia there is probably a better than average chance of vacant seats as the disaster may mean a number of people cancelling their trips!

Post automatically merged: Jan 25, 2024

@admin or a mod please fix the spelling in the title - my OCD can't cope - thanks

Sorry.....done

 

[p--and--t]

On a personal level, if I was going to be spending a lot of time overseas with a colleague, maybe even having to share accommodation etc as is common with both work and charity gigs, the last thing I would be wanting to do is sit next to them long haul where I will be needing some rest before the onslaught.

 

[Quickstatus]

alia there is probably a better than average chance of vacant seats as the disaster may mean a number of people cancelling their trips!

Depends on where the disaster is and whether the airport also serves as a major international hub to other non affected areas - BKK for example.

Good luck but I would say chance of 2 people getting upgrades will always be less than 1 person getting an upgrade when both are on the same PNR.

 

[RichardMEL]

I certainly empathise with the situation and desire to not be an "elitist." My rule when flying with friend or whoever is that they fly in the same cabin. To that end I've redeemed two seats in J or F so not an issue (and no requirement they sit next to or by me lol). I wouldn't personally chance on upgrades clearing or not though.

(The example I am using is I flew a mate and I to PRG using UA miles on TG and LH - something I couldn't do with QFF .. unless they were a "cousin" )

More general principle though, I reckon pax on same PNR, even if not relared, should be able to go up for upgrade. Separate ones becomes more problematic, but other programs do allow for sponsored upgrades of anyone (I've done it a heap for UA for example).

I've always felt the whole "family member" thing for points transfer, upgrade sponsorship etc to be a bit odd. I get the idea to reduce pitential fraud, but specially if the member is flying with the pax, why not allow it?

I can definitely see both sides of this.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Same PNR - One booking for both people.

Minority View - I don't need to be next to the colleague. . . . but we are all volunteers so I prefer to avoid being considered elitist by travelling in a better class, while they are stuck in economy.

If they are on the same PNR then you can’t request an upgrade for yourself.
You would only be able to do it for both pax and nominate their relationship to you at the time of request.
If the colleague is not a relation then you need to split the PNR and request the upgrade for yourself.

QF are unlikely to change this policy. It helps prevent wholesale abuse / selling / trading of FF points. You need to decide if you want to keep being stuck in Y with all those points or put in the upgrade requests for yourself or perhaps a cousin who is also working for the charity.