Do free upgrades exist?

[medhead]

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.

The first difficulty is resolving the type of public servant in each case. One refers to all public servants the other refers to executive level. If we only consider executive level public servants then it is likely they will pay for a higher class fare. They are entitled to that for work travel in the first place. They also receive generous pay and retirement benefits. So it is very likely for a public servant to be in a paid premium seat. And this matches my experience

Business owners on the other hand are very cost aware. My experience tells me they are more likely to be on cheap fares or possibly use points/upgrades to good effect. Granted points = cash.


Sent from the Throne

 

[JohnPhelan]

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.

I used to work for the government and was always flown First or Business. That got me into the habit, so now I buy my own tickets (for both work and leisure) in J (or even occasionally in F!).

Senior public servants and government people are very likely to buy J or F for their leisure travel, in my experience.

 

[amaroo]

I recall reading a few stories about Billionaires that always fly economy - Chuck Feeney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia who knows?

Saying Public Servants will never use their own money to purchase F or J - IMO is a loose & incorrect statement.

These days there are probably more miners (FIFO) that earn WP or WP1 and splash the coins to sit up the pointy end!

 

[fairhsa]

My Australian experience is somewhat dated - but when I flew every week (on the same flight there and back) from MEL-ADL as a Platinum paying FULL Y fare, I was upgraded about 50% of the time. I think paying Y had something to do with it. Plus getting to know the staff at the MEL Lounge!

However, these day I live in HK and fly Cathay everywhere. As a Diamond MP member, I get upgraded on both long and short-haul routes all the time. Again, easily 50% of the time or more. Two weeks ago, flew I class (deeply discounted biz) to UK, upgraded to F in both directions.... Short haul to Manila - upgrades up to about 80% of the time; Singapore, about 30% of the time.

They exist.

 

[johnscarborough]

Was sitting at Port Hedland on board for quite a while and the FAs started going through the cabin and grabbing people and sending them up to J.
I assume they were all Platinums as I was gold at the time and didn't get asked.
I don't know if they got the J treatment or just the seat.

 

[wadoyle]

They certainly do exist, but it's very much so a luck of the draw thing...
I've had a few, and all on long haul (so the flights you want to get them on). My best effort was getting an op-up from both SYD-SFO and then back again SFO-SYD. It basically turned it into a return SFO J flight for around $800 .

Polite works wonders. I checked in at LAX heading for SYD and said that I was retired U.S. Air Force and if possible, could I have a seat near an escape hatch, near a toilet and on the aisle. In my 70's I was really chuffed when she put me in first on the top deck. From economy to first at no extra cost. Couldn't happen twice.

 

[danny09]

Was sitting at Port Hedland on board for quite a while and the FAs started going through the cabin and grabbing people and sending them up to J.
I assume they were all Platinums as I was gold at the time and didn't get asked.
I don't know if they got the J treatment or just the seat.

when was that?

 

[johnscarborough]

when was that?

Hmmmm...
Maybe two years ago.

 

[beaglex]

When I used to travel quite a lot with work back in the mid 90's and reached the dizzy heights of Silver I was often upgraded but since then no luck, although I am only Bronze now.

 

[Para Port Junkie]

I always smile and chat to the lovely Qantas staff. I have had 3 operational upgrades this year alone. + One upgrade from a politician who wanted to sit next to a friend and swapped seats with me.

 

[danny09]

Hmmmm...
Maybe two years ago.

Ahh okey. There is a very nice female CSM that does that route quiet abit & i saw last week they put a WP in J, but he was the only one. They were on a first name basis. It would be nice if she did that all the time though, haha.

 

[Kiwi Kid]

Could not believe our luck when all 3 of us were upgraded from LAX to SYD last month - Economy to Business. Especially when 2 were purchased with FF points - not dollars! Status is Gold - did wonder if it was because we were one of the many affected by the fact that Qantas no longer fly direct to AKL - which is what we had originally booked. Or perhaps because I hadn't flown with them at all during the year they were trying to make an impression?? Regardless, we were delighted, but has spoilt our 16 year old who would like to fly that way "forever" - sorry kid, not on our dime

 

[bigfoot786]

They do exist, I've flown about 9 times in the last 2.5 years between MEL - KUL and KUL - DXB and KUL - DOH, been upgraded to J 4 times, once with 2 of us and the other 3 travelling on my own.
No reason was given, although I didnt mention it other than to say thank you very much!

It should also be noted that the 1st upgrade came when I had only just joined QR privilege club!

 

[BrianG]

I've had numerous free upgrades to J, but always on International. Mainly HKG SYD, BKK SYD, SYD SIN, and SYD AKL AKL SYD.Aloson on BA SYD SIN, SIN SYD.
It seems to depend on the fare type; if you have a full economy and unrestricted fare, then in my experiebce it seems that you are quite likely to be upgraded
Have also been upgraded to J together with my wife and son on an economy reward ticke SYD to SKL.

 

[dsotm]

I've been upgraded on Virgin domestic a few times, but only once on Qantas from economy to premium MEL-LAX. They also upgraded my wife and two sons.

 

[serfty]

Welcome to all the new members.

While there will always be anecdotes of non status/low fare passenger being upgraded, such is becoming rarer these days, no matter how one is dressed.

I think a lot of people should consider the following: (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-flyer-program/upgrades-26221.html#post370651)

There is a facility in Altea called a "Proactive Onload List". It lists passengers in a prospective order based on their perceived value to Qantas.

As for how it's done, there are several ways that might be employed. The priority can vary depending on who's actioning it and whether they follow 'the book'.

Qantas staff have had this facility available to them for about two years.

Here's a post by an FTer who lists their occupation as "Analyst for Airline Industry":

QF Op Ups for AA Plat? - FlyerTalk Forums

I have seen that post and cited it several times.

I was not aware that post which indicated the new philosophy in seat allocation also related to operational upgrade priority.

Well to put it simplistically, the value that is given to a customer (called a PCV) for ranking can apply to any way in which QF wants to use it. In the system, there's a feature called 'Proactive Onload' that calculates the pax booked vs estimated to check in and board. From that screen, the system makes recommendations of which pax are to be oped-up. Now, keyword is RECOMMENDATIONS, the staff and supervisor make the ultimate decision but in essence the system is designed to choose who gets Oped-Up and who stays put.

Such a "Proactive Onload" list may include weighting refernce to one or more of the following:

• Pax FF Tier
• Booking status (confirmed, waitlisted, space-a, etc.)
• Value to QF - a value to the customer independent of any other business process, and is taken from QF's loyalty database
• Direct revenue value (e.g. fare class W>Y>B>M>O...)

More here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uestions/op-up-protocol-16409.html#post220627

Of course, none of this will stop the odd 'battlefield upgrade' where an agent needs a seat and needs it now!

Since the introduction of Altea, the only time I have not received an op-up as a WP transpacific in an obvious oversold situation was when on an award X class.

 

[vt01]

I've had a few OP upson QF over the years and one on Malaysian (Y->J very late arrival for my flight). Mainly when I was WP and I think one when I was SG.
Aukland - Syd Y - J
Syd - Mel Y->J
Mel - Syd Y->J
Syd - Hkg Y->Y+ twice and Y->J once (these were all around the same time when I think QF was down one 747 for a few months due to repairs)
Syd - Lax Y -> J
Mel - Syd Y -> J

Last upgrade was about 2 years ago now. Most on cheap fares.

I have a colleague who received J->F LHR-SYD (before A380).

Best of course was Syd to LAX.

Cheers

 

[wingspan]

4. Travelling alone or with wife.

I have seen people not married to women who have been considered for upgrades too!

 

[get me outta here]

Twice - I was very happy to receive on Finnair when I asked nicely at check in / in the lounge when I was on points in Y.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Upgrades once the doors close are entirely upto the crew on-board..