brisbull
Intern
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2005
- Posts
- 52
Hey Guys
Back from my round the world trip, which was great and all, but just had to add this update to the forum.
Before we flew, my partner and I checked this forum extensively for hints on how to get free upgrades on flights . All forumites said that upgrades are very very rare, and even then they only go to status people i.e. out of the realm of reality for most of us bronzie folk.
My partner was a Bronze with only about 120 Status Credits, although they had just joined Qantas Club a month before the trip so we could both have lounge access on most of our flights, and I was a bronze who had never flow with Qantas. Our view of upgrades was grim.
On our first flight of the trip, which was a QF from Brisbane to Los Angeles direct, we checked into our economy, went to the QC lounge and had a few beers before departure. We checked at the desk for other seats in economy to try and get a better spot with a spare seat between us, but were told it was a busy flight, and it wasn't an option.
At the gate, we got an upgrade to business. So sweet. Made the trip so good. We though it was a fluke.
However, after a Cathay flight from rome to Hong Kong, with a short wait for another Cathay connecting to Denpasar (before the latest attack, thank god..), we got upgraded to business again at the arrival gate in Hongkong... which also gave us access to the lounge during the 4 hours wait (lucky, because QC would not have covered that flight!).
Well, by now we thought all our luck was used up. But on the final leg, from Darwin to Brisbane, we were sitting in the QC lounge in Darwin, and agreed to use some of the points we had earned on the trip for an upgrade. The attendent said that it was still too early, but she would see what would come available. An hour later we were paged, and she presented us with new business boarding passes, with the comment "You have just travelled so far, I couldn't bear to take those hard earned points off you". Another free upgrade.
So, all in all, 3 free upgrades in a total of 14 flights, two with Qantas and one with Cathay.
So the upgrades arent uncommon for the common, despite what people say. All in all, just be VERY polite, smile heaps, and you can get those freebies.
Cheers.
Back from my round the world trip, which was great and all, but just had to add this update to the forum.
Before we flew, my partner and I checked this forum extensively for hints on how to get free upgrades on flights . All forumites said that upgrades are very very rare, and even then they only go to status people i.e. out of the realm of reality for most of us bronzie folk.
My partner was a Bronze with only about 120 Status Credits, although they had just joined Qantas Club a month before the trip so we could both have lounge access on most of our flights, and I was a bronze who had never flow with Qantas. Our view of upgrades was grim.
On our first flight of the trip, which was a QF from Brisbane to Los Angeles direct, we checked into our economy, went to the QC lounge and had a few beers before departure. We checked at the desk for other seats in economy to try and get a better spot with a spare seat between us, but were told it was a busy flight, and it wasn't an option.
At the gate, we got an upgrade to business. So sweet. Made the trip so good. We though it was a fluke.
However, after a Cathay flight from rome to Hong Kong, with a short wait for another Cathay connecting to Denpasar (before the latest attack, thank god..), we got upgraded to business again at the arrival gate in Hongkong... which also gave us access to the lounge during the 4 hours wait (lucky, because QC would not have covered that flight!).
Well, by now we thought all our luck was used up. But on the final leg, from Darwin to Brisbane, we were sitting in the QC lounge in Darwin, and agreed to use some of the points we had earned on the trip for an upgrade. The attendent said that it was still too early, but she would see what would come available. An hour later we were paged, and she presented us with new business boarding passes, with the comment "You have just travelled so far, I couldn't bear to take those hard earned points off you". Another free upgrade.
So, all in all, 3 free upgrades in a total of 14 flights, two with Qantas and one with Cathay.
So the upgrades arent uncommon for the common, despite what people say. All in all, just be VERY polite, smile heaps, and you can get those freebies.
Cheers.