Dilemma...flying in whY immediately after lots of F flights

[Keith009]

I am starting an LLGLOB26 in September, and will "suspend" it in HKG with a nested aaward in J back to MEL. I head back to HKG on the aaward in Dec. It was going to be a simple 'there and back' trip, using the last bit of the LLGLOB26 to come home.

But I've been talked into demolishing my bmi miles to go on a trip to Europe and South America with a mate. With diamond club being turned into the UK regional chapter of Miles and More as early as Nov and hence drastically lowered in value this seemed attractive. Wasn't convinced that it was a brilliant idea but then I also wasn't convinced that it was a bad idea. As it stands I've ticketed some long haul F awards that take me practically around the world (HKG-SIN-LHR-ARN-AMS-MUC-GRU for now - will redeem back to HKG eventually) on a variety of *A carriers. That leaves the last bit of my LLGLOB26 to take me back home....

Ever get the feeling of dread going back behind the curtain after having experienced the pointy end? Well, how about doing it IMMEDIATELY (almost) after all that F travel? :-|

A couple of options I have pondered over:
1) Suck it up and use the last bit of my LLGLOB26 to get home. Would be kinda like luxuriating in a nice spa then working in a coal mine immediately after...

2) Transfer SPG points over to my QFF account and try for an upgrade to J... as a QF NB I have v low hopes of the upgrade clearing. Will be flying the sector a few days before Christmas if that makes any difference? And any difference as to upgrade availability whether it's QF30 or QF86?

3) Redeem back to MEL from HKG in F/J and throw away the LLGLOB26... and bear the remote risk of my TA getting dinged with a debit memo.

4) Redeem back to MEL in F/J, save last segment of the LLGLOB26 for a quick weekend trip in the middle of the semester some time next year. This will involve either a one way ticket up to HKG in whY/PE or a one way redemption in J - i guess much more palatable doing a quick flight up in J and coming back down in whY than the present scenario.

So... if you were me, what would you do? :shock:

 

[openseat]

Suck it up and help matters by taking a daytime flight.
However things could be complicated by the new QF seating arrangements based on fare more than status. Just imagine that crowded middle seat.

 

[Keith009]

Just imagine that crowded middle seat.

You're not helping...:shock:

But with an international flight I could preassign my seat in advance couldn't I?

 

[MelUser]

QF 30 is a day flight so won't be too hard to bear.

What are the change costs to jump between flights and days? If you keep an eye on seat counter and it says J9C9D9 then even a NB especially one that registered 90 days out can get an upgrade!

 

[Keith009]

QF 30 is a day flight so won't be too hard to bear.

What are the change costs to jump between flights and days? If you keep an eye on seat counter and it says J9C9D9 then even a NB especially one that registered 90 days out can get an upgrade!

It's a GLOB fare so changes are free... but there must be availability in L. It can be hard to get L on QF.

I'm guessing I stand a better chance if the flight is showing availability in award and cheap buckets (indicating that the flight is not selling well in J and yield mgmt might be amenable to doling out more seats for "free" at the last minute)?

 

[MelUser]

My view is that the seat map on expert flyer is a good guide. IE if showing empty then chances are a lot of seats. NB: the QF planes from LHR-HKG-MEL have less J seating than the US flights. The other thing not in your favour is that it is less points to upgrade the HKG flight so more people might do it. US is 72000 or 96000 if flying from JFK-SYD. Point levels that high scare off a lot of people who prefer totally free Y redemption seats which are less.

 

[Keith009]

I remember reading that if someone with a high QFF status (say, CL) apply for the upgrade on my behalf, the upgrade will clear based on their status? Is that still the case?

 

[Shano]

I remember reading that if someone with a high QFF status (say, CL) apply for the upgrade on my behalf, the upgrade will clear based on their status? Is that still the case?

Nup. There is anecdotal evidence that it may have been the case in the past, but I believe that UG requests are now based on the status of the pax that the UG is for, not who submitted the request.

 

[Keith009]

Thanks Shano. There goes that thought...

Just worked out that points needed to upgrade to J OW (40 000) is more than a full return award in J using bmi (37500miles + GBP255). I'd need to transfer at least 35k Starpoints (that's taking into account the 5k bonus with a 20k transfer) into QFF and even then I might not get the upgrade and the points will be stuck in an account I might never use. That's a couple of Wonderful nights I could otherwise redeem on. :-|

I'm beginning to like the quick weekend trip idea.

 

[serfty]

Suck it up and help matters by taking a daytime flight.
However things could be complicated by the new QF seating arrangements based on fare more than status. ...

A daytime flight's a good idea; I've taken QF30 though and it's an early morning start; especially if somewhere on Hong Kong Island itself.

As an AA Plat; QF009 can access premium seating for pre-allocation, just not exit rows.

Aside from that, the mooted changes you mention would have more of an effect on domestic travel in Oz and NZ rather than this type of international travel.

 

[serfty]

Actually, that time of year does increase the odds of an upgrade; Qantas see all seats as saleable - not necessarily in line with the aircraft's configuration.

This is due to there being a greater demand ratio for WHY seats than premium seats than normal.

e.g. Depending on Sales, Yield management may see a 14 First; 52 Business; 315 Economy configuration as really being 6 First; 35 Business; 340 Economy with 25 passengers being upgraded. First those with award upgrades waitlisted would be processed, then the OP-ups start id still required.

 

[simongr]

However things could be complicated by the new QF seating arrangements based on fare more than status.

Does this refer to the anecdotal evidence that some people on lower class fares are getting seated further back since teh introduction of the new check in system?

 

[openseat]

Does this refer to the anecdotal evidence that some people on lower class fares are getting seated further back since teh introduction of the new check in system?

Yes. I was under the impression, mistaken or otherwise, that this was the new reality of seating. I don't intend to be a scaremonger.

 

[NM]

Nup. There is anecdotal evidence that it may have been the case in the past, but I believe that UG requests are now based on the status of the pax that the UG is for, not who submitted the request.

I believe otherwise . I know what is printed in the Terms and Conditions, but my recent personal experience indicates otherwise. Though the new check-in software may prove different in the future.

 

[simongr]

Could expand a little NM? You are a LT SG so either a WP upgraded someone ahead of you or you got upgraded by a CL ahead of a WP who you know made the request?

 

[NM]

Could expand a little NM? You are a LT SG so either a WP upgraded someone ahead of you or you got upgraded by a CL ahead of a WP who you know made the request?

You have PM .

 

[docjames]

Nup. There is anecdotal evidence that it may have been the case in the past, but I believe that UG requests are now based on the status of the pax that the UG is for, not who submitted the request.

I diagree with this having been the beneficiary of CL upgrade requests multiple times (and i'm far from CL).

It depends more on relative availability and in my experience they will try and help the CL member to upgrade someone.

 

[simongr]

You have PM .

As do you

 

[Keith009]

And the answer.... lies in a one way F award EZE-MEL for 40 000 bmi miles (+GBP270). It's 50 000 (+GBP340) to do EZE-HKG, go figure. Only caveat is I hope they'd let me have the enroute stop in HKG, which is a bit of a detour. Then again given my success with the HKG-ARN award, we'll see.

That gives me a year to decide what to do with the HKG-MEL. An Easter break trip beckons... I shall remember the redeem up there in no higher than J...

 

[Happy Dude]

Does this refer to the anecdotal evidence that some people on lower class fares are getting seated further back since teh introduction of the new check in system?

I'll add my anecdote to that evidence.....

Tuesday, I was booked on the cheapest fare MEL to Hobart to travel yesterday. Our company has BFOD (Jetstar "won"). When I pre-selected seats (on Tuesday) there was no access to anything in the first, say, 15 rows. Not even the centre seats. Both ways.

Entirely different story when the plane took off. Plane was reasonably full but way too many empty seats near the front of the plane to believe that they were no-shows/cancellations, etc.

I didn't realise that QF (or OW) status counted on Jetstar. QF codeshare was printed on the boarding pass though. So I would agree that lower class fares do resign you to the back of the bus.