Flying QF on AA FF number - getting an upgrade process?

I assume you realise that a discounted business class (DEEEV223=$546) fare on LA is about $270 cheaper each way than QF's full economy (Y2T=$816) fare?

So unless you are foced to use QF full economy (Y) fare due to company policy, schedule timing or availability, the LA fare is much better value and gets you confirmed into business class. And its a OneWorld flight so good for both QQ and QF earning.

 

I understand. Sometimes (well, often actually) our corporate travel policy means we end up not using the best value option even with the same airline/alliance.

 

Yep, we have a similar deal. Until about a year ago, the discount was applied to the ticket purchase. Now we pay full price up front and the company received a rebate on a regular basis (not sure if its monthly or quarterly). So now each cost centre gets charged the full list price and the rebate gets paid into corporate general revenue and not attributed to the business unit or cost centre incurring the original expense.

I much preferred the old method, and it was especially good when I chose to personally pay the difference between the fare type approved by the travel policy and that which I wanted to travel. That way I only had to pay up to the discounted fare. Now if I pay the difference, the company gets the discount in the form of the rebate - not me who is actually paying the difference in fare.

With the old method, I used to build the itinerary and fare to maximise the benefits of the discount. For example, we used to get a bigger discount for the QF proportion of ATW fares, so I would book the QF codeshares and flights and save the my business unit (and hence the company) several hundred dollars per trip. But now there is no direct incentive for me to do that as I will still be charged the list price for the ticket. So now I chose the routing and itinerary based on other factors rather than maximising the corporate discount.

 

hehe, not misspelt, but certainly mistyped! My usual problems with information feed from brain to fingers .

 

Yeah ... that cn be a real ba****rd!

 

K class is not full economy. It is a flexible fare. It will earn discount economy SCs for QF and 1 EQP/mile flown for AA.

For the upgrade, it makes no difference if the AA, QF or no FF number is in the booking. Its just a simple phone call to 131211 to apply for the upgrade using you QF FF points. You can upgrade any eligible family member from your QF FF account and it makes no difference if that family member is you or your wife and if they are posting to AA or any other FF program. The upgrade waitlist priority is based on the QF FF status of the account from which the points/credits will come.

Best way to have the AA FF number added is to call QF and ask them to first remove the QF FF number, and then have them add your AA FF number. Make sure they do in fact remove the QF number first and not just add the AA number to the reservation while leaving the QF number there. That process will not remove the QF FF number and the AA number will have just been added as an information record and not the FF program for credit.

Only wait until the ticket has been issued. It can take several days or even longer before the charge hits the credit card. Again, a quick call to QF on 131211 will tell you whether the ticket is issued or not. Get the upgrade waitlist request in ASAP to ensure best chance of it clearing.

Again, QF can confirm that over the phone.

 

Note that for 35,000 AA miles you could get a confirmed award return ticket in business class (with no fuel fines to pay). Much better value candy in my opinion.