Do free upgrades exist?

[esquire]

Was going to reply yesterday saying no - as a WP1 I have received no op-ups and then yesterday CNS-SYD (delayed 767) I was put from 23A into 1K.

 

[Deleted member]

What the lovely people at QF don't appear to realise is that they have many different types of travellers. A public servant with WP should not be treated the same as a business owner, even though they may hold the same status level. That gov employee will probably never pay for a premium cabin in their life, whereas the business owner has much more potential to spend higher amounts in the future. QF do ZERO segmenting (yes I have proof) and I bet my first born this is costing them hundreds of millions every year in lost opportunity that other carriers are exploiting at QFs expense.

Given the types of travellers on AFF and the combined knowledge, experience and business acumen - I'm honestly very confused why QF (yes, specifically QF because other airlines already do it - and it shows) does not tap into this incredible resource they won't find anywhere else.

Well said, while I am small beer in the FF stakes, my use of paid premium cabin has gone from zero to regular,
enabling me to be WP for the first time in August , (and all personally funded ) my sense of achievement is ( for me ) greater than if I were to get it via the serious frequency required in Y.
And the in flight experience has been so much better.
So much so, that I don't want to fly more regularly in Y.
On the other hand I greatly respect those that cope with the incredible grind associated with flying they do o achieve WP status. It can't be much fun.

 

[jojen]

Mr jojen & I are currently sitting in HKG lounge after being upgraded from Y to Y+ .We are travelling with friends, all on the same booking who were also upgraded. We are both silver ,one QC and friends no status. Flight is very full. Had previously selected 80 A, B, J, K,.

Yes , free upgrades do happen !!!!!

jojen

 

[medhead]

Mr jojen & I are currently sitting in HKG lounge after being upgraded from Y to Y+ .We are travelling with friends, all on the same booking who were also upgraded. We are both silver ,one QC and friends no status. Flight is very full. Had previously selected 80 A, B, J, K,.

Yes , free upgrades do happen !!!!!

jojen

Congratulations. Enjoy.

Of course the OP asked about domestic upgrades not international. 2 very different beasts


Sent from the Throne

 

[drross]

Mr jojen & I are currently sitting in HKG lounge after being upgraded from Y to Y+ .We are travelling with friends, all on the same booking who were also upgraded. We are both silver ,one QC and friends no status. Flight is very full. Had previously selected 80 A, B, J, K,.

Yes , free upgrades do happen !!!!!

jojen

excellent. And all 4 of you! Rather lucky

 

[AirKat]

Yes, I fly around 4 Dom Y flights a week and have an upgrade around every 3 weeks, most recent was last Thursday PER-SYD at the gate.... very happy

 

[jojen]

Congratulations. Enjoy.

Of course the OP asked about domestic upgrades not international. 2 very different beasts



Sent from the Throne

Sorry medhead. In my excitement I did not read the OP post correctly. Yes we did enjoy!!!!!

jojen

 

[jojen]

excellent. And all 4 of you! Rather lucky

Yes drross we were lucky. Really enjoyed the Y+ cabin. Service was amazing, seats much more comfortable than Y and food and drinks excellent. Now if only we could be so lucky on our flight to HKG in November !!!

jojen

 

[simongr]

Yes, I fly around 4 Dom Y flights a week and have an upgrade around every 3 weeks, most recent was last Thursday PER-SYD at the gate.... very happy

Has that changed since you hit P1? Are you getting more now than before? I don't fly that frequently (every two weeks SYD-MEL) but am hoping that P1 in late august might have some impact for next QF year's travel...

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Has that changed since you hit P1? Are you getting more now than before? I don't fly that frequently (every two weeks SYD-MEL) but am hoping that P1 in late august might have some impact for next QF year's travel...

Yes, things improved as P1 for me.

From 1 upgrade/year, to 2 upgrades this year. For me that is 50:1 flight:upgrade ratio.

You'll be loving that new P1 membership soon

 

[simongr]

Especially looking forward to the MCA Lounge

 

[medhead]

Sorry medhead. In my excitement I did not read the OP post correctly. Yes we did enjoy!!!!!

jojen

Don't be sorry. The excitement is great. It was more just a general reminder to readers that domestic and international can be different for upgrades.


Sent from the Throne

 

[penegal]

Especially looking forward to the MCA Lounge

You can sip your cup of tea safe in the knowledge that a glass door protects you from the maddening crowd of proletariat wandering the gallery.

Just remember only one biscuit per person.

 

[redslert]

I have been op-up on multiple occasions when flight was oversold.

LAX->SYD
HKG->SYD

 

[Rebekkap]

What the lovely people at QF don't appear to realise is that they have many different types of travellers. A public servant with WP should not be treated the same as a business owner, even though they may hold the same status level. That gov employee will probably never pay for a premium cabin in their life, whereas the business owner has much more potential to spend higher amounts in the future. QF do ZERO segmenting (yes I have proof) and I bet my first born this is costing them hundreds of millions every year in lost opportunity that other carriers are exploiting at QFs expense.

Given the types of travellers on AFF and the combined knowledge, experience and business acumen - I'm honestly very confused why QF (yes, specifically QF because other airlines already do it - and it shows) does not tap into this incredible resource they won't find anywhere else.

Govt employees can choose whether to fly Qantas or another airline, so I don't see why they should get any less love than others.

And why would a higher-level govt staffer or executive-level public servant "probably never pay for a premium cabin in their life"? What a ridiculous statement.

 

[straitman]

And why would a higher-level govt staffer or executive-level public servant "probably never pay for a premium cabin in their life"? What a ridiculous statement.

At this point I agree with trippin_the_rift but if you would care to elaborate as to why this is such a ridiculous statement I (and maybe others) might be swayed.

 

[Dalescott]

Travelling with EK in J a number of years ago, and spoke to the Cabin Manager about upgrades. He was a man in his 50's, and had been a FA for 25 years. His experience was that, with computer systems these days, and there ability to see all aspects of the passenger, a number of factor come in to play. Also my nephew is an excutive with an international airline, and in chatting to him, he agrees, that the point matter for upgrade.
1. Payment method, corporate or personal credit card. Yes airlines can tell this.
2. Regular flyer, or once a year
3. Was a regular then stopped, but now back and at economy, was Business.
4. Travelling alone or with wife.
5. Age of flyer. In 20's or 50's. Older people have more money(Baby Boomers)

In general upgrades are becoming less and less. People who have paid for a business class ticket, are none too pleased to hear that some one or a couple have got a free upgrade. Upgrades are generally used as a marketing tool.
Also my nephews parents (my Sister and Husband), book economy and always get an upgrade. Its not what you know but who you know

 

[simongr]

I think there are different thoughts here"

TTR: A public servant with WP
Rebekkap: higher-level govt staffer or executive-level public servant

Yes a high level staffer or exec is likely to purchase their own personal J flights given they will be in the higher income brackets.

This compared say to low level staffer who earns WP on basis of flights to/from CBR in economy and is less likely to spend personal cash on a J flight.

 

[Rebekkap]

At this point I agree with trippin_the_rift but if you would care to elaborate as to why this is such a ridiculous statement I (and maybe others) might be swayed.

Because it's based on zero evidence, and I can't think of a single cogent reason why a higher level public service employee or government staffer would never pay for a premium cabin - or indeed would be any less likely to do so than an equivalently paid employee or business owner in the private sector.

Making statements with no basis in fact, which seem to be based entirely on one's personal prejudices about govt employees is, IMO, ridiculous. Care to explain why you think it's not?

 

[Rebekkap]

I think there are different thoughts here"

TTR: A public servant with WP
Rebekkap: higher-level govt staffer or executive-level public servant

Yes a high level staffer or exec is likely to purchase their own personal J flights given they will be in the higher income brackets.

This compared say to low level staffer who earns WP on basis of flights to/from CBR in economy and is less likely to spend personal cash on a J flight.

That may be what the OP was thinking, but it's not what they posted. They said: "A public servant with WP should not be treated the same as a business owner, even though they may hold the same status level. That gov employee will probably never pay for a premium cabin in their life, whereas the business owner has much more potential to spend higher amounts in the future."

They made no attempt to distinguish between higher paid or lower paid public servants - who generally do not commute to Canberra, those are staffers, most of whom are young and will go on to higher paid careers either in government or in the private sector.

And who are not public servants.

Like I said, they have a choice - to fly Virgin instead. I fail to see why loyalty to Qantas should be rewarded differently just because people are employed in one sector over another.