Pin number for upgrade?

[kezsco]

Hey, just got a call from Qantas (blocked number). They said that they are trying to put in my request for an upgrade on a flight tomorrow (SYD-FRA) and because I have changed my pin, they cannot put it in the system. Anyone else had this?

As I am flying tomorrow and do have an upgrade request and I have changed my pin since the booking, it all seems to make sense - So, I told them my pin. Now- if it was a bank, I would never have done so. But, this is Qantas and I know that I have had to tell my pin over the phone when changing a booking before - more than once. So, this didn't come as a surprise.

Does anyone else think that this is strange of Qantas? If points should be treated as cash - would you like to see Qantas upgrade the way they handle pin security?

What is to stop someone (who may know of your itinerary) calling you up and asking you for your pin for your upgrade and then accessing your account?

 

[ozmille]

A bit strange I think. Just have a look at FF account and maybe call QF just to check this is normal. Never heard of it before

 

[oz_mark]

I'm not sure why they need it, but it is actually in the rules for an upgrade request:

16.1.12 Once an upgrade has been requested, all PIN changes between the time a Flight Upgrade is requested and the time the flight departs, must be advised to Qantas reservations, otherwise the Flight Upgrade request will not be processed.

 

[codash1099]

I'd be changing my PIN again.

 

[kezsco]

Yes - it is in the rules. And because it has happened to me before - I wasn't worried about giving the pin out when the call came in today. I do change my pin regularly (with 600k in points - I am paranoid). And before people say I should be using them - I do. I have had about 7 to 10 points upgrades in the last year and trying to get another SYD-FRA one for tomorrow.

My question isn't about someone scamming me this time- but isn't there a better way for Qantas to handle this pin issue? Can't they do an overhaul and treat points as cash and pins like a bank (ie, never ask for it?)

The worry is that eventually someone will cotton on and ask for PINs over the phone to be able to defraud people of significant points.... Doesn't that bother other AFFers?

 

[serfty]

It's been that way throughout my 17 years of QFF membership.

back when awards had to be booked online your pin had to be quoted as well.

You were lucky they called you, back in the day, if your pin had changed since the upgrade was requested, it basically meant goodbye upgrade.

 

[simongr]

I am never comfortable with handing over my PIN and I wish QF had better ways to manage this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A bit strange I think. Just have a look at FF account and maybe call QF just to check this is normal. Never heard of it before

as Serfty says - perfectly normal. I wouldn't be changing my PIN again until after I had taken my flight... just in case they needed to process the upgrade again for any reason. And as Serfty says - in the old days if you changed your PIN they just moved on - didn't even process you and gave it to the next person. So a proactive call is very welcome!

I suppose it is possible a random fraudster could be calling every number in the phone book trying to get people's QF PINs. But they'd need to hit the jackpot to find a person travelling, that had put in a points upgrade, and to know the exact flight and PNR to go with that.