Do free upgrades exist?

[mella2007]

I've been given an upgrade to VA Domestic Business once.
VA have also given me a considerable dollar amount in gift vouchers due to huge errors in a massive booking I had with them earlier in the year.

 

[Pixies]

Family (2ad,2ch) received free upgrade from business to first class, Syd to Johannesburg. Husband plat, children and I gold.
Believe bus class was overbooked, was very nice surprise from Qantas.

 

[darrenr01]

Just received two upgrades from Economy to Business on the MEL-SYD route. 2 in one week was pretty impressive since I think I have only had about 2-3 in 20 years of flying!

 

[sandiefran]

Yes, they do exist - though they are rare.

I flew Dragon Air/Cathay Pacific - Beijing to Hong Kong and then Hong Kong to Sydney last October (2011) and was not able to enter my Qantas FF Number when checking in on-line and forgot at check-in in Beijing.

At the Hong Kong boarding gate I asked if my details could be entered, but was told that for the Beijing to Hong Kng flight it was not possible as the records had closed, but they could go in for the Hong Kong to Sydney sector.

Michael, at the desk took my QFF card and boarding pass and when he handed them back, he said "I have given you a new boarding pass", I thanked him and walked away, and then looked at it.

Business Class - I went straight back and thanked him profusely.

Fussed over and flat bed back to Sydney - absolute bliss.

I am retired and only on the lowest level of any FF program as I only travel for holidays, so I have no "special" status.

Just lucky I guess, and for now it's back to economy and dream for another lucky break...................................!

 

[RAM]

I've gone from gold status earned on domestic flights (economy) to silver through domestic/intl ranging from the late 80s to date.

Upgrades on domestic were far more frequent pre-2001, possibly 1 in 5 flights from memory. From early 90s many flights I booked directly through cheap tickets rather than company TA (saved over $3k a month in first year for myself alone and $8k for rest of area). Post 2001 upgrades a lot scarcer but I've had no trouble getting onto earlier flights despite coming from lowest cost economy fare (Qantas or Virgin) despite T&C warning against it with fees.

Best ever upgrade was for wife & I from Frankfurt/SYD. Through muck up by BA wife came down with pneumonia (1st term pregnant, BA caused us to miss flight (then wait 9 hours for next flight) and then left us in Munich without promised assistance for railway connection on Dec 24 in -13C). Xmas day she could hardly get out 2 syllables. Boxing day ambulance from ski resort to Innsbruck (we did at least have a White Xmas).

After 8 days in hospital in Innsbruck & 4 days in hotel, travel insurance arranged for flight Innsbruck to Frankfurt to connect with Qantas to Syd. Qantas did not adjust for 24hr clock so we arrived 12 hours too early. TI put us up at airport hotel no problem.

TI had pre-cleared (sent Austrian doctor's statement to Q Syd) for wife to fly (sent me copy of fax from Qantas Sydney providing clearance).

Duly went to check in. Qantas staffer refused to check us in. I asked to see the duty supervisor. Gave same refusal, I asked why, "We don't fly unwell passengers." Quiet discussion later we were booked in (no journalists needed to be called).

No upgrade. Took my wife back to hotel room until 45 minutes before flight.

Then went through security to gate lounge. Queried how full flight. Told pretty empty. Asked about upgrade due to series of unfortunate events.

Local German Q uniformed staffer said no. Waited a few minutes and asked Australian stewardess. 90 seconds later given passes to 1A 1B and on board staff could not have looked after my wife better if she was their own sister. Even assisted with refueling stop.

After that have never asked for an International upgrade again - I figured we'd won the lottery when needed.

 

[anthonydc]

I'm also a QF platinum, all from domestic flights. Only got 2 free upgrades in the last 2 years, one just after the grounding and another on a full domestic flight, so they do exist,just don't expect them that often.

 

[lneesham]

Once when I was PS but had paid for QP membership I was checking in for JHB-VicFalls and was asked where we would like to sit. I said "somewhere up the front will be fine" and we got 2A & 2B, but didnt realise it was an opup until boarding. Nice.
Return flight was the day of the glasgow bombing - 3hrs late for a connection to Capetown - no opup though.

A year or so later I had just gotten my new GF (later to become my wife) to PG thanks to work sending me on a bunch of J flights with CX, SQ & MH (couldnt afford to pay 50% more for less service on QF). We were flying CX LHR-HKG-PER & she was feeling a bit delicate after 3 weeks of dodgy tucker in the middle east but I'd only stumped up for Y tickets (work had paid for my J's). I asked the lady in the CX lounge if there was any chance of an upgrade for my "wife", or if not - swapping seats. They said they couldnt do anything but if we asked when we went through boarding then we might be able to swap. Service in the lounge was great though, bringing blankets and panadols, etc... So I was asking if we could swap as we were going through boarding when an alarm went off on the boarding pass reader and the answer was "you've both got business seats". Very nice! Flatbeds upstairs. The missus reckoned it's the only time she's ever slept properly on a plane. Was even OK when the plane got smacked by lightning coming into HKG.
Didnt manage to get the same HKG-PER though. Had to sit cattle-class while she snored away in J. Bit of a shock to the system after the last 30 flights in J.

Only ever had one other opup - KGI-PER, which I've done 150+ times in the last 2 years. Still nice even if it is only a 45min flight that is late 2/3rds of the time. Was a bit of a bonus because that flight must average over 50% WP and I was only SG at the time.

 

[bjm76]

Has happened twice to me on QF, both from Y+ to J.
First time was in 2008 - QF128 from HKG to SYD was changed from B747 to A330 - I had booked fairly far in advance too - so QF called me some 3 months before my trip to advise me that the ticket was changed to J. I got full J points and SCs from memory too (it was class I?). I was PS at the time.

And I was upgraded again mid July 2012 - heading home from HKG again - work had booked me in Y+ (I am not important enough to fly J), and I had just come off a CX flight from MNL in Y... head to the transfer desk... ask for boarding pass... customer service rep tells me the flight is oversold and I have been upgraded to J, and I had been assigned a window seat, she asked if that was ok? I said "yes yes yes perfect thank you", and off to the J lounge for me. Great flight in J on the A380, managed 4 hours sleep and felt half-respectable the next day. I had just ticked over to PS after the SYD-HKG leg of my trip, so perhaps that played a part in the upgrade?

So I am very much a fan of QF and their upgrades (have had fairly good success with points upgrades too, 4 successful upgrades from 5 attempts - international).

Maybe I am lucky, which surprises me given my lowly PS status....

 

[Plane Jane]

It would appear that anyone other than Qantas are pretty reasonable at handing out upgrades if they have to room. Not sure why Qantas are so tight about it, but sadly they are!

 

[Jasecoop]

I average greater than 50% J to F syd to jhb. My wife and I both got freebies a few weeks ago heading over then we used points on the way home to guarantee

 

[straitman]

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 fail to see why you are getting so upset about this. I simply said I tended to agree with trippin_the_rift on the matter and asked you to explain your position and suddenly it is all about my 'supposed' prejudices. You have no idea of my background and prejudices.

For what it's worth my opinion is based upon years of knowledge of many level of the public service, all levels of the ADF and working in big business. I'm still waiting for an explanation to change my mind rather than being told I'm being ridiculous for daring to consider a contrary opinion.

Maybe it is time we wandered back to the topic at hand.

 

[RWJ777]

On the rare occasions I have been admitted to the Chairman's Lounge when travelling with my betters, I have been upgraded once or twice. Very nice too. The other two upgrades were when the plane was full. Otherwise it doesn't matter if my sandwiching flights are J, they have never upgraded my fully flex Y.

Qantas are notoriously tight with their upgrades: I have seen the former Governor-General back in Y with vacant seats up the front.

DJ seems better with it but then again I guess they've got a lot of spare capacity at the front often and are trying to demonstrate their new product. Till they that unaccompanied kids not being ale to travel near a single man policy, I'm not anywhere near their product!

 

[proskyneo]

Was travelling from LHR-MEL via SIN in Y and received an upgrade to PE on the SIN-MEL leg on the same A380 plane. Part of a MEL-LHR-MEL return ticket.

Due to a refrigeration issue LHR-SIN, they gave us all $20 SGD worth in food vouchers to utilise in SIN, so I had a bunch of delifrance bags ready to munch in my Y seat. After screening, received the red beep and was told I had been upgraded to PE in the upper cabin! Not sure how rare it is, but an unstamped BP departing SIN is an interesting souvenir. The delifrance seemed decidedly out of place compared to the elderly couple sitting next to me though..

I had stuck my water bottle in my old Y seat's lower leg pouch thing to see how thorough cleaning crew would be and never got a chance to check..

Overall though, while pretty stoked about my first free upgrade, I would probably not pay a significant amount of money to upgrade to PE. I did find it useful that there was a power plug for my laptop, as opposed to just a USB socket to charge my phone I suppose..

QCPS at the time!

 

[medhead]

For what it's worth my opinion is based upon years of knowledge of many level of the public service, all levels of the ADF and working in big business. I'm still waiting for an explanation to change my mind rather than being told I'm being ridiculous for daring to consider a contrary opinion.

In which case, I'm struggling to see how you can pick a difference between big business buying J seats for staff above a certain level and public service buying J seats for staff above a certain level. Given it was a list I assume you public service experience is different to your ADF experience.

 

[Comoman]

DJ seems better with it but then again I guess they've got a lot of spare capacity at the front often and are trying to demonstrate their new product. Till they that unaccompanied kids not being ale to travel near a single man policy, I'm not anywhere near their product!

I can assure you QF have the same policy (unless it changed very recently). My niece flies UM and her family were told quite categorically about the male policy - she has never sat next to a single male. They also sit in the back where CC can keep an eye on them.

It is sad the world has come to this though

 

[scheps]

SYD-NRT, all four of us went from Y to J. I think that was super lucky beyond belief. The boarding passes had it as J already. My bookings still says Y

 

[Sprucegoose]

They do exist. But just don't expect them and you'll live in a more relaxed place.

 

[straitman]

In which case, I'm struggling to see how you can pick a difference between big business buying J seats for staff above a certain level and public service buying J seats for staff above a certain level.

The discussion was never about big business. The discussion was business owners which, to me, infers much smaller business and public servants.

 

[Jada]

The minute you see a group of school kids waiting to board, the chances of an op up certainly increases

 

[amaroo]

The minute you see a group of school kids waiting to board, the chances of an op up certainly increases

There is something special about a bunch of kids on a flight for their first time (first for some of them at least) their excitement is infectious!

I love the sheer joy that a group of kids show during takeoff......it's full of life & warms the soul!