Qantas, please coordinate!

[Fantic125]

I'm confused.

I'm flying BLR-HKG-SYD-ADL. Done seat selection ages ago and chosen my favourite seats (BLR-HKG-22A, HKG-SYD-40G, SYD-ADL-4A).

Requested points upgrade for both HKG-SYD & SYD-ADL. SYD-ADL confirmed almost immediately and points deducted.

I know from the website (and previous experience) that international flights are not confirmed until 5 hrs before departure. However, I'm currently sitting in the HKG lounge with the following information;

• The Qantas "Manage my booking" has me sitting in 40G, with the note that "Your upgrade to business class has been declined".
• The boarding pass issued by Dragonair for the HKG-SYD flight has me stting in 52A,
• My FF points have 40K deducted (which is the correct amount for an upgrade from Y to J for HKG-SYD),
• Checking with the front desk at the HKG J Lounge I'm told I'm now in 23D, which on the seat map shows as premium economy.

Guess I'll find out in a few hours where I end up? :shock:

 

[NM]

If the 40K points have been deducted then your upgrade has come through. That is always the clincher.

The "you upgrade to business class has been declined" is common, even when it is not true.

So you are correct, QF could do with some better coordination of information provision. I can understand why you are confused.

 

[JohnK]

I never quite understood the need for the confusion in the upgrade request system.

Perhaps one day Qantas will introduce immediate confirmation, where available, for upgrade request on international flights for Gold status and above.

 

[TravelingSmithy]

Go to Reception in the Lounge & get them to sort it for you If the 40 000 are the correct points for Y Dis Y to J you should be in J.

They have a lot more contacts than the net to check.

Let us know how you get on

Cheers Keith

 

[NM]

Checking with the front desk at the HKG J Lounge I'm told I'm now in 23D, which on the seat map shows as premium economy.

Go to Reception in the Lounge & get them to sort it for you If the 40 000 are the correct points for Y Dis Y to J you should be in J.

Flying HKG-SYD it will be a 747-400 and to my knowledge all QF 747-400 configurations 23D is a Skybed (though occasionally sold as Premium Economy).

 

[TravelingSmithy]

Flying HKG-SYD it will be a 747-400 and to my knowledge all QF 747-400 configurations 23D is a Skybed (though occasionally sold as Premium Economy).

NM is correct First Row Centre left of Business There is three business class seats in the centre aremyou are in the aisle on the right as you enter the aircraft

Search Seat Map 747 on the QF web site to see the seat maps Pick the 32 seat Premiun Economy version although the 40 ER sometimes run. I was on on 3 Nov

Enjoy 128 My favourite little area is the snack bat just between you and PE downstairs. I prefer upstairs seating but the downstairs snacks!!!

 

[Sprucegoose]

If the 40K points have been deducted then your upgrade has come through. That is always the clincher.

The "you upgrade to business class has been declined" is common, even when it is not true.
confused.

Why does that happen. It's a cruel joke for some!

I see this as a simple programing modification

 

[pshepvic]

Perhaps one day Qantas will introduce immediate confirmation, where available, for upgrade request on international flights for Gold status and above.

Would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath considering the recent change (coming in next month) only confirms an upgrade for WP1 at up to 7 days out, for WP at up to 48 hours out, and SG, PS & NB at up to 24 hours out.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[straitman]

Would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath considering the recent change (coming in next month) only confirms an upgrade for WP1 at up to 7 days out, for WP at up to 48 hours out, and SG, PS & NB at up to 24 hours out.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

Just remember though that the upgrades do come through earlier SOMETIMES.

 

[pshepvic]

Just remember though that the upgrades do come through earlier SOMETIMES.

So occasionally QF actually exceeds a published benefit. Wonders will never cease!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[serfty]

I have often woken up to find an upgrade confirmed 12-18 hours before a flight.

Even selected seats online.

As posted, current if a QF 747, then row 23 indeed consists of Skybeds.

 

[NM]

Why does that happen. It's a cruel joke for some!

I see this as a simple programing modification

Because, as the title of this thread implies, QF cannot get its various departments and IP systems to coordinate properly. Slack really. But for those experienced in receiving teh various messages, we have learned to ignore the "declined" message and look for the deduction of points from the account as the first real sign of upgrade confirmation.

 

[NM]

NM is correct First Row Centre left of Business There is three business class seats in the centre aremyou are in the aisle on the right as you enter the aircraft

Search Seat Map 747 on the QF web site to see the seat maps Pick the 32 seat Premiun Economy version although the 40 ER sometimes run. I was on on 3 Nov

Enjoy 128 My favourite little area is the snack bat just between you and PE downstairs. I prefer upstairs seating but the downstairs snacks!!!

Do note that QF128 is generally sold as 3-class service and can be operated by 4-class aircraft. When Business Class loads are expected to be light, they will occasionally use the F cabin and upper deck only for business class and the lower deck J cabin becomes Premium Economy. So it is possible that occasionally 23D would be a Skybed sold as Premium Economy. But it is rare to configure that way. Generally of PE is given Skybeds, that starts further back at row 29.

 

[NM]

I have often woken up to find an upgrade confirmed 12-18 hours before a flight.

Even selected seats online.

As posted, current if a QF 747, then row 23 indeed consists of Skybeds.

I have indeed had it confirmed even earlier than 18 hours, but that is not common. My earliest is somewhere between 23 and 24 hours. I checked at T-23 hours and the points had already been deducted form my account and seat selection was available in J cabin. I was very surprised as my usual experience is as you state for 12-18 hours before scheduled departure.

 

[harvyk]

Why does that happen. It's a cruel joke for some!

I see this as a simple programing modification

I doubt it's just a simple programming modification, chances are it's a bug which was the result of another change made elsewhere in the system. They may know about it, they may not. They probably haven't assigned a high priority to such a bug if it is known as it's inconvenient, but not a real issue from a systems perspective.

That's the problem with big systems such as the ones which airlines typically use, a "simple" change 10 functions across can have unknown consequences to something seemingly unrelated or un-thought of...

 

[Fantic125]

Well, I did end up in 23D and indeed it was a skybed.

After a pretty hectic week in Bangalore I didn't even bother with the evening meal or breakfast, I just lay down and slept all the way, which is exactly what I had intended to do!

 

[simonpenny408]

Wonder if my CX upgrade has come through for my flight home tonight. Glad you got home comfortably and a pleasure meeting up with you in HKG and BLR

 

[wilco]

If the aircraft was indeed a 4 class and the OP was charged 40k points, is it fair to be seated in PE with skybed as opposed to J? I'm asking from a service point of view as despite the same seat, the service is somewhat better in J?


Regarding the "your upgrade has been declined" note, I too have had this appear in my booking on the morning of my flight to LHR only to arrive at the airport and be told ive been upgraded (not MY upgrade was successful!). They then had the cheek to deduct the miles!!
I called QF FF and told them that I applied for an upgrade and QF denied it and that that rejection terminated my offer meaning that I no longer agreed to a points deduction for any later "upgrade". After providing them with a dated and time stamped screenshot of the decline, they refunded the miles with NO fuss whatsoever. I was well chuffed!