OLCI or at the airport for upgrades?

[dvt]

I'm traveling to LA next week with Qantas on the A380, I'm currently a gold frequent flyer. Just wondering if anyone has any information on whether upgrades are more likely to occur if you:

check in before getting to the airport
check in at the airport or
check in just before check in closes or as soon as it opens?

On my last trip to HK I was upgraded at the airport. On this occasion I had started OLCI but didn't finish it. This was pointed out to me at the airport but at the same time I was then given an upgrade, I'm assuming this was for operational reasons!

All thoughts welcome!

 

[medhead]

Upgrades are a lottery, reports here make it pretty clear that it is a random process and it doesn't really matter what you do.

domestically I've tried putting in early for a points upgrade only to be told it wasn't allowed. OLCI as normal - multiple times. got to the airport did kiosk check in and it offered me a points upgrade.

I also have the impression that once you click on the olci button, the system considers you to be checked in because I start OLCI the other day looked at seat availability but didn't complete the process. But afterwards, iphone check in told me I was already checked in and refused to issue me an electronic BP.

 

[MelUser]

If you have a points requested upgrade pending for an international QF flight, do not use the on line check in unless and until your upgrade is confirmed.

Upgrades tend to be processed in the window 24 hours to 12 hours before flight take off.

If you have already checked in, it is more difficult for Qantas to process the upgrade and they may end up bypassing your request down to the next on the list simply for reasons of expediency.

Domestically do whatever you want as technically reservation system upgrades aren't possible after T-24 hours and must be done at the Qantas Club or Business Class lounge anyway.

 

[serfty]

Upgrades are a lottery, reports here make it pretty clear that it is a random process and it doesn't really matter what you do. ...

I do not perceive the process to be random. Indeed I believe there are structures to them and while the odd event may be reported occasionally, there appears to be more consistency with Qantas these days.

For points upgrade there are defined processes that may be automatic.

For "Operational" upgrades, it appears to be a manual process, however, even this is not random. There are tools available to prioritize them.

 

[medhead]

I do not perceive the process to be random. Indeed I believe there are structures to them and while the odd event may be reported occasionally, there appears to be more consistency with Qantas these days.

For points upgrade there are defined processes that may be automatic.

For "Operational" upgrades, it appears to be a manual process, however, even this is not random. There are tools available to prioritize them.

Sorry, i should have been more clear. I was only thinking of operational upgrades with that comment as that was my take on the question being asked. While these may be prioritised my take on what I've read here is there is no consistent pattern to op ups from a passenger POV

 

[serfty]

... I've read here is there is no consistent pattern to op ups from a passenger POV

From an Elite statused passenger POV there generally is a consistant pattern for these.

Search this forum for "Proactive Onload".

 

[dvt]

Thanks for all of the comments so far. I was indeed referring to only operational upgrades as I haven't put in a points upgrade.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Domestically if QF are going to do op ups I wouldn't worry about being checked in or not as the yield management people don't look at that . I've seen several premium pax who did OLCI have boarding passes reject at the gate as the op up has happened after they checked in.

They've just had a new boarding pass printed out at the gate so they can board.

It's not uncommon in peak times of travel to see eg a 767 oversold in Y by 18 if there are the same amount of seats in J to cover the oversale. Usually 5 hours prior to departure yield will get a message to action the oversale then it's easy for them to ask the system eg for the top 18 tier status pax and bingo it can be done a flash.

Where it does become a bit blurry is it sometimes depends how many people you are travelling with (ie linked to in your booking).

I've seen a WP overlooked for an op up as he was travelling with 5 others who were SG & QP (same pnr) but weren't high enough to qualify in their own right for op up. It's a fine line as you've got to be fair to other WP's etc so they don't miss out. Have seen a family of 5 op upd with only one WP in the pnr.

A WP linked to a spouse who is only NB may be both ok to go up but make sure you are linked as plenty of time spouses not linked find themselves in different cabins due to not being linked. Even if the J pax wanted to sit in Y with the spouse the seat they vacated has then been allocated to someone else. It can get ugly as the spouse in Y always has a long memory.

This is not to say that being linked is foolproof as it's still easy to op up somebody not realising they're linked particularly if they're under the pump with a lot of oversold flights to deal with.

It's also unlikely yield will have time to allocate seats in J together if a couple have been op up'd so if you check at minus 5 hours you might still have time to shuffle your seats around to get together or as close to as possible in J.


Cheers
Oz

 

[dvt]

Some excellent advice, thanks guys. Just checked my flight for Wednesday and Econ is fully sold out so fingers crossed for an operational upgrade!

 

[Grooba]

Thanks for all of the comments so far. I was indeed referring to only operational upgrades as I haven't put in a points upgrade.

Normally with international sectors I'll not bother with OLCI and try my luck talking to the Check In Agent and try for an upgrade there. Last week however I had an OMG o'clock SYD-AKL-LAX flight in Y so I OLCI'd for it.

I arrived at the airport at 04:55, 5 mins before immigration opened up. As I had 5 mins to wait anyway I glanced over at the F Check In to see if there was an agent there, which there was to my suprise. I went over and asked if I could get a regular BP issued (as I had the printed out one and my printer is out of ink so it wasn't very readable). I gave her my passport and printed BP and she then said "Mr. vec, are you aware you have been upgraded to J?"

I asked her if it was the whole way, to which she replied that unfortunately not, only the AKL-LAX leg - my first experience in a SkyBed!

Prior to this opup I had thought that you were better off to not OLCI and hope for the upgrade upon check in but this proved to me that it's certainly not the case.

 

[Leumas]

Rightly or wrongly, I always think either check in early, including OLCI or check in really late. I come to these conclusions mainly due to my own op-up experiences...

Check in early because that signals your firm intention to travel. So when staff realise they need to move people around, which may be a few hours prior to departure, they will choose the ones that are most definite going to turn up (along with other factors like status, size of travel party, etc.). No point in upgrading people that haven't checked in yet because they may not even turn up.

Alternatively, check in really late so you effectively become one of the 'oversolds'. Then the easiest way for staff to resolve this is to move you up. Of course, they can move someone else up and let you have their seat, but it'll be less work to just move you up than to move 2 people around.

I always OLCI when possible.

Of course, I may be talking utter rubbish too.

YMMV

 

[simongr]

Domestically if QF are going to do op ups I wouldn't worry about being checked in or not as the yield management people don't look at that . I've seen several premium pax who did OLCI have boarding passes reject at the gate as the op up has happened after they checked in.

Never had an Op-Up on QF on my domestic sectors - flying early morning and evening on busy flights.

 

[Paddy55]

Never had an Op-Up on QF on my domestic sectors - flying early morning and evening on busy flights.

Similarly never an op-up domestically since 1988 when I joined FF program.
However 2 x Intl WhY to PE op-ups so I get them when I need them most!

Paddy

 

[simongr]

On my recent DONE4 I think there was only one flight when I was not in the highest possible cabin :shock: so not much chance for an OpUp (route was syd-hkg-dxb-amm-lca-lhr-jfk-mia-atl-mia-jfk-lax-syd only JFK-LAX was not in teh hihest possible cabin)

 

[dvt]

Thanks for all of the advice and stories. Just an update on my trip. The outward leg didn't yield an upgrade! There were numerous seats in Economy so clearly no need to upgrade.

However, the return leg from LAX to BNE was more fruitful! The return leg was on a 747. I got to the airport pretty early without online check in. The reason for me getting there early was to request a direct flight to MEL on the A380. However, the ticket agent suggested that I didn't change as I had been upgraded to premium economy as the flight was almost full and that my gold status had allowed this to happen. He then went on to say that my PE flight would be in a business class seat! So a very positive result!

 

[straitman]

A great outcome.

 

[JohnK]

check in before getting to the airport
check in at the airport or
check in just before check in closes or as soon as it opens?

All of the above, a full flight and a lot of luck....

 

[pauly7]

Never had an Op-Up on QF on my domestic sectors - flying early morning and evening on busy flights.

Really!? That is when I get most of my op-ups, flying the golden triangle flights in peak.

However now QF have scheduled the beautiful new A330 on Syd to Mel peak AM and peak PM I'm more than happy to be in Y with a movie