Noob points upgrade question

[nancypants]

Morning all,

I’m trying to sneak in another LHR-DRW prior to the route ending on 18th June (or even better, ON the 18th June)
Cash fares are a little over what i’d like to pay but looks like I have enough points to upgrade from Y or PE (I think- have 120k ish)
Is there a trick to knowing if it’s likely to be possible? Am I looking for E availability or did I imagine that? ISTR that it used to only be possible for P1 or above pre-covid?

Am WP but usually just pay cash for these things- however with more status support it seems pointless to chase the status credits, if using points is a viable alternative

Thanks in advance

Nance

 

[kookaburra75]

If you check on Expert Flyer, for the particular days you are looking at travelling, it will list the availability in the different classes - the one to look for I
See this AFF post for details

Preferential Access to Qantas Classic Reward Seats (wiki content) - Australian Frequent Flyer

The Preferential Access to Qantas Classic Reward Seats wiki page concerns the requesting of extra award seats on Qantas by virtue of having a higher

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

As you are WP have a look through this thread for tips and tricks.

QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

Requested 2 seats for SYD-MNL in December and was declined. The two dates I tried were showing as I6 and I9. Spent 1 hr 25 mins on hold.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RichardMEL]

DRW-LHR on June 18 is showing J6 only and PE is full.

I would say your chances are better of AJ himself serving you a boxed meal.. in Y... on that flight.

sorry.

(PS: E class is a deep discount Y fare bucket on QF)

 

[nancypants]

Ok so found a bunch of dates that are I6+. Do I have to book the underlying cash ticket THEN phone up to force open award space, or can I do step 2 first? Seems from the other thread that it’s not guaranteed so not keen to book PE unless I know I won't have to sit in it (a ringing endorsement if ever there was one!!)

 

[Anna]

I don't think international upgrade requests are processed until a day or two before the flight for WP (unless covid changed that?). It might be I6 now but those seats may be gone by that time, snapped up by people with enough points to book the J award seat outright.

 

[nancypants]

Hmmm. Maybe back to the drawing board then!

 

[andye]

Hmmm. Maybe back to the drawing board then!

The QF international upgrade process is unusual in FF programs and one of its less than ideal aspects

 

[nancypants]

Looks like extending to fly to MEL or SYD shaves c $2k off so might be a better option

My plan is to fly out Y on emirates just for the experience so will have to call to book

 

[RichardMEL]

Unfortunately even a flight showing I6 now still >2 months prior doesn't mean a heck of a lot.. and as others have noted you can't book a ticket then request a U seat be opened for upgrade (you're better off to request a reward seat to be opened up but then you wouldn't have enough for return so you're still stuck - and it's not certain they would open a seat even at I6).

it's always a difficult lottery with QF international upgrades unfortunately.