Free upgrades?

[Jobu]

Hallo! This is my 1st post here - can't believe I found a place with so many people with the same interest (I'm not a freak! hahahahaha)...

Anyway, firstly Merry Christmas to you all!

Secondly, I have only ever once been upgraded to J (domestic) without even asking (and that was back when I was only bronze FF, no QC). Ever since then I have asked maybe a hundred times without any luck(!) - but just wondering if there is any science to it...

I have relatives who have been upgraded several times by asking at check-in, but those are on international flights.

Any tips?

JOBU

Oh - my anniversary comes up on 31 Jan and I am 140 SCs away from my maiden platinum status - can't wait! (just need a couple more flights from Perth, fingers crossed!)

 

[JohnK]

Welcome Jobu and merry christmas to you.

Good luck in getting platinum status. Here are some older threads that have dealt with free upgrades.

Free Upgrades - an update

Free upgrades... does it ever happen?

How can I get upgrade at checkin?

Free upgrading?

These should just about answer your questions.

If you have any further questions then please feel free to post and I am sure that one of the experts on this site will be able to assist.

 

[QF WP]

What he said...an excelent reply, JohnK. I can't add anything, so I'll say nothing (as my mother told me to do )

 

[Jobu]

Thanks for the replies JohnK & LW! Took me a while to get through those threads! The info was really interesting and there seems to be multiple scenarios which would trigger an operational upgrade...

Anyway, on to something more exciting (for me!):

My fiance and I had been planning our wedding for around Dec 06 next year, and last Wed we thought, "hey what the hell, why spend $25-30k on 200 people when we can fly our families overseas and get married for around the same cost..."

So on Thurs we went shopping around (internet, company TA, other TAs) and found out that the early bird specials finish the next day (Fri)!

So, on Friday (2 days ago) we bit the bullet and bought 10 tickets from Perth to Athens on Singapore Air for myself, fiance and our immediate families!

Very excited right now although unfortunately I couldn't get Qantas because we managed to get SingAir for $1430 plus taxes per ticket which I thought was a great deal, and Qantas for a few hundred extra (x10 it adds up!)

I would be interested if you had any tips to maximise our enjoyment of this trip given we're flying Singapore (12 hour stop-over in Singapore too!), there will be 10 of us, I should have QF plat status (but don't expect it to help much given only 1 of me). We're flying to Athens, ferry to Santorini to get married, and then might plan a side-trip somewhere for a honeymoon (although it will be like a honeymoon anyway!)...

Anyway, as Big Kev would say, "I'm excited!"

JOBU

 

[oz_mark]

Anyway, as Big Kev would say, "I'm excited!"

Hark, was that a voice from the Big Cleaning Salesman in the sky I heard?

 

[Yada Yada]

I would be interested if you had any tips to maximise our enjoyment of this trip given we're flying Singapore (12 hour stop-over in Singapore too!)

Hi Jobu. Welcome to AFF.

The current edition of T&L Australia has a good review of the facilities available at Changi Airport in Singapore - transit hotel, restaurants, bars, gyms, gardens, personal health etc. And some of it is free. It's worth a read given that you have a 12 hour layover.

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding - sounds like it will be a great trip and a lot of fun.

 

[Jobu]

Thanks Yada Yada! I'm really looking forward to it!

I'll keep my eye out for T&L - appreciate the tip!



JOBU

 

[JohnK]

I was just over there and I picked up some brochures on things to do while in transit in SIN. Wish I could have picked up some extra for you.

There are many things to do, depending on the time of day/night and how long you are transitting. There are things like free movies in movie theatre with 100 inch screen, free internet, free xbox, free tours of singapore, go shopping on orchard road (about 20 minutes by cab) and I also remember seeing a free daily rail pass, advertised somewhere in SIN airport, for the MRT (not sure if I understood the free part 100%).

I have brochure and can photocopy or scan for you if you want more information. Just PM me your details.

Or visit Changi Airport and browse on transit activities plus lots of other information.

 

[Mal]

Yeah lots to do in and around SIN airport during a stopover.

The brochure JohnK is probably talking about is called "Transfer Passenger Activities". Quite a good brochure. Should be freely available all throughout the airport. They even have their own "newspaper". I think it's called "Changi Times" but don't have a copy to check.

The MTR pass may still be available. Not entirely sure. My understanding was that it was a trial for tourists late last year. It included about 8 free MTR trips within 24 hours (or something like that!). Once you see the prices of SIN's MTR, you'll realise that is something like a $12 AUD value...

You'll never get too bored waiting at SIN airport.

 

[JohnK]

The brochure JohnK is probably talking about is called "Transfer Passenger Activities". Quite a good brochure. Should be freely available all throughout the airport. They even have their own "newspaper". I think it's called "Changi Times" but don't have a copy to check.

Yes Mal, there is that brochure plus I have another, more comprehensive, called "Your Uniquely Singapore Transit Adventure" and is around 25 pages.

I saw the "Changi Times" newspaper but didn't take a copy with me. :?

 

[serfty]

I was just over there and I picked up some brochures on things to do while in transit in SIN. Wish I could have picked up some extra for you.

There are many things to do, depending on the time of day/night and how long you are transitting. There are things like free movies in movie theatre with 100 inch screen, free internet, free xbox, free tours of singapore, go shopping on orchard road (about 20 minutes by cab) and I also remember seeing a free daily rail pass, advertised somewhere in SIN airport, for the MRT (not sure if I understood the free part 100%).

I have brochure and can photocopy or scan for you if you want more information. Just PM me your details.

Or visit Changi Airport and browse on transit activities plus lots of other information.

I had a 12 hour tranist there last year; took the free tour; walked to T2 and checked out the sunflower garden, saw the theatres in each terminal (T2's is better) but was not interested in the movies. Thought about a swim but could not be bothered.

The QF/BA lounge was very empty for most of the day; only livening up after about 4pm.

 

[Jobu]

Well speaking of "free upgrades"... I just flew PER-SYD tonight and received an op. upgrade at check-in. When I booked the flight through my TA, I noticed on the Qantas website that all classes were "SOLD" except business, but my TA still got me a ticket. So I guess I wasn't completely surprised when I checked in and was told, "you've been put in business class for this flight."

On a different topic, last Friday I flew SYD-PER on QF571 which is a 333 and uses the skybeds. I knew that I only needed 10 more credits for a loyalty bonus and so was pleasantly surprised to manage to get an on-departure upgrade on this coveted flight for 10k points. I was a bit dissapointed to see on my statement tho that they have awarded me with 0 points and 0 SCs for the flight which is wrong since I have paid for full Y so should at least go those points/SCs - I'll give them a call during the week!

Cheers,

JOBU

 

[Mal]

The QF/BA lounge was very empty for most of the day; only livening up after about 4pm.

On my recent visit, the QF/BA F lounge had no gatekeeper but was open. Snuck a look at the monitor which showed the last visitors details. No-one had entered for over 6 hours!

Decided I'd be better off elsewhere and disappeared...

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The QF/BA lounge was very empty for most of the day; only livening up after about 4pm.

Is the lounge open all day? Hmm may be worth a visit on longer transits (that is longer than an hour) for the quiet compared to the always busy SQ lounge.

 

[serfty]

... Is the lounge open all day? Hmm may be worth a visit on longer transits (that is longer than an hour) for the quiet compared to the always busy SQ lounge.

Actually, I arrived about 5:30AM on QF31 from SYD. I went to the J lounge (only SG back then) and was advised they would be 'closing' when QF31 boarded but I was welcome to have a shower.

They really did not close, just no food was put out for several hours and the front desk was not occupied for longish periods. Drinks were available; I had a couple of good strong coffees using the expresso machine. If you are looking for a sanctury (with internet access) it's a great option IMO.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks - I'll have to try it out sometime.

 

[Jobu]

Is the QF/BA lounge in Singapore the lounge of choice for WPs?

JOBU

 

[Mal]

Is the QF/BA lounge in Singapore the lounge of choice for WPs?

JOBU

Yep. The CX/AY one is an ok lounge, but the QF one is definately superior.

 

[serfty]

Is the QF/BA lounge in Singapore the lounge of choice for WPs?

JOBU

As a SG I tried the CX lounge as well last year (FWIW, I was departing on CX).

That's a nice combination F/J lounge; the tucker was better then the QF/BA J lounge.

I'm hoping to do a comparison next week with the QF/BA F lounge.

 

[Jobu]

Well the good news is - I just made it to Platinum for the first time with plenty of time to spare (15 days!)... am looking forward to my new little black package.

Just a quick question on those Singapore lounges - do I need to be flying on a OW ticket to gain access even as WP? I'm flying with Singapore Airlines and am a newbie Kris flyer...

Thanks!

JOBU