Qantas FF rewards upgrade

[Victravellers]

Hi, please forgive me and my newby questions. I am very new at using Qantas frequent flyer reward points.
I want to fly from Melbourne to Heathrow and then Singapore to Melbourne. It’s a multi city flight
I want to use my points to potentially upgrade to Business at the very least on the Melbourne Heathrow flight.
I have been on the Qantas site and am very confused. Do I book my economy flight and just request an upgrade to business? If I have enough points do I get approved straight away or is it a waiting game.
What I am trying to achieve is business class flight to London and I am not sure how to go about it.
Does anyone understand what I am asking and can you offer me some guidance. Thanks for reading.
Please keep in mind I do not understand all the code speak so please keep it simple.

Linda

 

[mannej]

If you cannot purchase a J flight outright (i.e by points or cash) and provided the fare bucket you purchased allows upgrades, you are able to apply for an upgrade.

However as it is International, these aren't confirmed until much closer to the flight (i.e ~1-3 days prior). Essentially you are entering a lottery as it isn't guaranteed.

 

[Victravellers]

If you cannot purchase a J flight outright (i.e by points or cash) and provided the fare bucket you purchased allows upgrades, you are able to apply for an upgrade.

However as it is International, these aren't confirmed until much closer to the flight (i.e ~1-3 days prior). Essentially you are entering a lottery as it isn't guaranteed.

I am guessing J flight is business? How do you know if allows upgrades, it is listed there somewhere?
I was afraid the upgrades weren’t guaranteed, I would hate to be stuck in economy for 24+ hours
So let’s say I play the upgrade lottery and lose, is there anything else I can do? Short of paying for business that is?

 

[Hvr]

So let’s say I play the upgrade lottery and lose, is there anything else I can do? Short of paying for business that is?

Basically, no. You're stuck in Y (economy).

Before buying your seat ensure it is even upgradable. Click on the actual dollar amount and it will tell you if it is. Then once purchased apply for an upgrade ASAP and pray.

If you don't have status you're virtually guaranteed to fly in Y. And even if you do you're very likely to fly in Y.

 

[Victravellers]

Basically, no. You're stuck in Y (economy).

Before buying your seat ensure it is even upgradable. Click on the actual dollar amount and it will tell you if it is. Then once purchased apply for an upgrade ASAP and pray.

If you don't have status you're virtually guaranteed to fly in Y. And even if you do you're very likely to fly in Y.

Well that’s not good news, I am wondering why I am collecting points. I may have to rethink this point thing. Thanks

 

[Victravellers]

Okay new plan, what if I had enough points for business MEL LHR, when is the best time to book?

 

[WayneJ]

Okay new plan, what if I had enough points for business MEL LHR, when is the best time to book?

Hi, I started looking almost a year out and looked multiple times each day for the seats an flights that I required. My only requirement was Business Class or Better.

In the end I had to be flexible on the dates I wanted to travel and be creative in how I got to London. i.e. vi Hong Kong was my option in the end.

I had just on 900k point collected over many years but am the lowest status class so essentially get the leftovers.

Good Luck

Wayne

 

[pjm99au]

Okay new plan, what if I had enough points for business MEL LHR, when is the best time to book?

What dates are you thinking of (bearing in mind some flexibility makes things easier). If you can provide some more information we can give you some guidance as to options

 

[Victravellers]

Hi, I started looking almost a year out and looked multiple times each day for the seats an flights that I required. My only requirement was Business Class or Better.

In the end I had to be flexible on the dates I wanted to travel and be creative in how I got to London. i.e. vi Hong Kong was my option in the end.

I had just on 900k point collected over many years but am the lowest status class so essentially get the leftovers.

Good Luck

Wayne

I am reasonably flexible on dates and stopovers so that’s not a problem. I don’t understand the leftover statement. I was just on the qantas site and I was looking up potential options. My flight is not until next year, I am just doing homework now. I was looking up dates this year just to give me a clue as how it all works. There are a few reward seats available, do you mean I might not be able to book those because I am also at lowest status class. Sorry if I appear clueless...I guess I am.

 

[WayneJ]

I am reasonably flexible on dates and stopovers so that’s not a problem. I don’t understand the leftover statement. I was just on the qantas site and I was looking up potential options. My flight is not until next year, I am just doing homework now. I was looking up dates this year just to give me a clue as how it all works. There are a few reward seats available, do you mean I might not be able to book those because I am also at lowest status class. Sorry if I appear clueless...I guess I am.

Sorry what I mean by leftovers is that I'm Qantas Club Bronze. Lowest rung on the status ladder. So all the Seats that get offered up usually get snapped up by higher tiered flyers. Hence my leftovers comment.

Oh I should also add that I was only looking for Classic Rewards seats also.

Wayne

 

[Victravellers]

What dates are you thinking of (bearing in mind some flexibility makes things easier). If you can provide some more information we can give you some guidance as to options

The trip is not until Oct 2019. I must be in London by the 30th but can leave anytime, reasonably flexible. I know I am way too early to book anything but I wanted to figure out my options. I really, really don’t want to fly economy to London, it’s almost a deal breaker but the other flight I don’t care.

 

[Victravellers]

Sorry what I mean by leftovers is that I'm Qantas Club Bronze. Lowest rung on the status ladder. So all the Seats that get offered up usually get snapped up by higher tiered flyers. Hence my leftovers comment.

Oh I should also add that I was only looking for Classic Rewards seats also.

Wayne

Oh okay thanks, that makes sense now. I wonder if there is a best time to look, I’m not sure when the flight opens.

 

[WayneJ]

Oh okay thanks, that makes sense now. I wonder if there is a best time to look, I’m not sure when the flight opens.

For some really popular routes such as SYD/MEL/BNE-LAX on QF first or business, you pretty much have to book 12 months in advance. This is a very popular route and QF only release a few award seats so by about 11 months out, it almost disappeared completely.

Just log into Qantas and see how far out you can book using your points. If the dates you want are available then keep looking regularly. Start thinking of other creative ways to get to your destination. And mix up your request i.e. taking a couple of days to get to your destination.

Eg. I wanted to get from Brisbane to London in August by most direct route. Never happened so I broke up the trip by looking for a one way Brisbane to Hong Kong which I got 2 seats in Business on Qantas. Then I'm staying the night in Hong Kong (Regal Hotel) at Airport to catch a First Class Cathay onto London the next day.

Could not pass up the First Class Seats even though I could have gone onto London that evening in Business the previous night.

Wayne

 

[Victravellers]

For some really popular routes such as SYD/MEL/BNE-LAX on QF first or business, you pretty much have to book 12 months in advance. This is a very popular route and QF only release a few award seats so by about 11 months out, it almost disappeared completely.

Just log into Qantas and see how far out you can book using your points. If the dates you want are available then keep looking regularly. Start thinking of other creative ways to get to your destination. And mix up your request i.e. taking a couple of days to get to your destination.

Eg. I wanted to get from Brisbane to London in August by most direct route. Never happened so I broke up the trip by looking for a one way Brisbane to Hong Kong which I got 2 seats in Business on Qantas. Then I'm staying the night in Hong Kong (Regal Hotel) at Airport to catch a First Class Cathay onto London the next day.

Could not pass up the First Class Seats even though I could have gone onto London that evening in Business the previous night.

Wayne

Thanks, certainly something to think about.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Okay new plan, what if I had enough points for business MEL LHR, when is the best time to book?

While Qantas operated flights can be snapped up quickly, and the initial release of award seats may be restricted depending on your status (silver, gold and platinum usually get first dibs), Emirates can be your friend here. Usually much more availability. You can also get creative on your flights to maximise your points... for example buying a cheap Qantas economy fare Australia-Singapore return will then mean you can fly from Singapore to most of Europe (not london though) for just 84000 points one way instead of the 128000 required from Australia. This might mean you could fly return SIN-Europe business class instead of just one way (and be faced with an expensive one way fare to get home for example).

 

[Victravellers]

While Qantas operated flights can be snapped up quickly, and the initial release of award seats may be restricted depending on your status (silver, gold and platinum usually get first dibs), Emirates can be your friend here. Usually much more availability. You can also get creative on your flights to maximise your points... for example buying a cheap Qantas economy fare Australia-Singapore return will then mean you can fly from Singapore to most of Europe (not london though) for just 84000 points one way instead of the 128000 required from Australia. This might mean you could fly return SIN-Europe business class instead of just one way (and be faced with an expensive one way fare to get home for example).

That’s great info, thanks
It’s complicated....I need a one way flight to London then I am cruising to Singapore from London, then I need a one way flight home. It is very hard to research this combo unless I just do separate one way flights. I was hoping to do multi city and I don’t care about economy on any other flights. I just want to sleep on the way to London. I am seriously losing sleep over this even though it’s 18 months away.

 

[Victravellers]

Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions, I really appreciate it. I am open to any suggestions so keep them coming.
By the time my flight is here I will be an expert. Lol
Linda

 

[travelislife]

That’s great info, thanks
It’s complicated....I need a one way flight to London then I am cruising to Singapore from London, then I need a one way flight home. It is very hard to research this combo unless I just do separate one way flights. I was hoping to do multi city and I don’t care about economy on any other flights. I just want to sleep on the way to London. I am seriously losing sleep over this even though it’s 18 months away.

This is actually the perfect scenario when have points comes in to their own. You also have time on your side and have asked your questions early enough that with the assistance here you can definitely make this work.
- How many points do you have?
- How many of you are travelling?

From Melbourne to London you have about 10 airlines (or combinations of those airlines) you can book on using Qantas points (QF, BA, CX, QR, EK, JL, UL, AY, MH)

Booking immediately when seats are released you are pretty much guaranteed to be able to book business class award seats for 2 or less people. Gets a bit more complicated greater than 2 people.

You then have the option of booing SIN-MEL on points or as a one way fare.

 

[Matt_01]

Have you tried signing up for a free Award Nexus account and doing a search that way or if you are willing to post rough travel dates you might get lucky and an AFFer may do some poking around on expert flyer and post some suggestions.

The QF site does not return all OW carriers.

 

[Victravellers]

Unf

This is actually the perfect scenario when have points comes in to their own. You also have time on your side and have asked your questions early enough that with the assistance here you can definitely make this work.
- How many points do you have?
- How many of you are travelling?

From Melbourne to London you have about 10 airlines (or combinations of those airlines) you can book on using Qantas points (QF, BA, CX, QR, EK, JL, UL, AY, MH)

Booking immediately when seats are released you are pretty much guaranteed to be able to book business class award seats for 2 or less people. Gets a bit more complicated greater than 2 people.

You then have the option of booing SIN-MEL on points or as a one way fare.

Unfortunately not too many, about 300,000 for now and 2 adults. You have renewed my confidence that this is possible.