QF International Points Upgrades

[MelUser]

Just a quick question for a friend:

A points requested international upgrade (either Y-J or J-F) clears sometime from 24 hours before the flight until flight departure.

At what point will the reservation tell you that you were unsuccessful - eg at T minus 8 hours will the reservation say - "UPGRADE request unsuccessful" or something similar?

thanks,

 

[Hvr]

You don't get a rejection message. But if you check your FF balance about 5 hours before the flight departure time you will, if successful, see the point reduction in your balance.

Hope it goes well.

 

[Mwenenzi]

When I have done international upgrades Y-J have seen that managemybooking will show "bus" class if successful, instead or economy.

Information has changed in the year or so on the QF web site. When applied for on line shows as "wait list" as a 2nd line. Text changes to "pending" or some such words (can't remember exact text) 24 hours (??) and later goes to "business" if successful. As above, you do not get a rejection message.

 

[AussieTim]

What the others have said is correct, it stays wait-listed.

However one time on QF9 MEL/SIN, under the Upgrades section on the Qantas site, my upgrade was listed with a status of "Declined" and seatcounter was showing J2.

That being said, I've only been declined 3 times, QF81/2 are absolutely brilliant for upgrades. And QF93/94 always seem to come through for me..

 

[NM]

In my experience, the first indication is the reduction in FF points balance in my account. this has often been seen as far out as 22 hours before departure. Always been shown by the 12 hour mark.

 

[serfty]

When I have done international upgrades Y-J have seen that managemybooking will show "bus" class if successful, instead or economy.

Information has changed in the year or so on the QF web site. When applied for on line shows as "wait list" as a 2nd line. Text changes to "pending" or some such words (can't remember exact text) 24 hours (??) and later goes to "business" if successful. As above, you do not get a rejection message.

www.checkmytrip.com still shows the additional "waitlisted" entry ~24 hours before scheduled departure and ssome other interesting info.

FWIW, I have seen that I had been upgraded on C/M/T. Also the seat that I had been assigned was apparent. A quick call to Qantas and I changed to a different (better) seat.

 

[MelUser]

I will actually be watching my friends' [2 pax] upgrade request and see how it pans out.

It will be interesting to see what checkmy trip/manage my booking shows as the request is doomed to fail.

The request is for this Saturday on 31/5 MEL to LAX QF 93, a Y(S) to J upgrade.

There is not even a J seat for sale on this aircraft.

That was my initial question - at what point will QF tell you "no" when it is clear to them that you won't get an upgrade under any circumstances.

Will report back.
____________________________________________________________

FYI, I have been on QF 94 back from LA to MEL where J passengers from QF108 (coming from N York) have missed the flight due to bad whether so the J cabin although fully catered was 3/4 empty. At no stage did QF try to get some of the QF 94 upgrade Y-J requesters into the J cabin. I guess this is due to a different policy - the US airlines would have filled the cabin whereas for QF the upgrade process had occurred and they do not appear to revisit again before the flight (at least internationally). Anyway, for the record this didn't bother me as empty J cabin meant fantastic service!

 

[NM]

My most recent J->F upgrade was processed sometime between 24 and 17 hours before scheduled departure, while I was asleep. Was showing F1A1 the evening before, then F2A2 after the upgrade was processed.

 

[v8Statesman]

There is not even a J seat for sale on this aircraft.

May still be lucky. J pax may cancel, move to another flight. or J->F upgrade will free a seat.

Best outcome is when it fails (no points are deducted) then a new J BP is given to you at the gate. There is always a chance even at 11th hour.

 

[garyjohn951]

Yes, need to keep watch on number of F seats still available as this can mean J-F upgrades which mean J become available.

 

[NM]

Yes, need to keep watch on number of F seats still available as this can mean J-F upgrades which mean J become available.

F seats available for sale may not always be a good indicator. For example, a certain flight for which I held a confirmed business class seat (DONE4) was showing F1A1 for several days before the flight. However, from what I can tell from the F and J seatmaps, at least two J passengers were upgraded to F (inc me ), and on the day of departure after the upgrades were processed the flight was showing F2A2.

It would also appear that several Y pax scored J upgrades from what I can tell from the availability and seat maps I have been watching over the last few days.

But this is for a multi-sector flight, so that will also confuse the black art of yield management.

 

[simongr]

But this is for a multi-sector flight, so that will also confuse the black art of yield management.

And the majority of flying pax

 

[MelUser]

My friends' [2 pax] flight is tomorrow 10:25am. The upgrade request from Y-J is doomed to fail as it is A1 F1 J0 C0 D0. At T-22 hours the reservation has gone to business "waitlisted".

 

[NM]

My friends' [2 pax] flight is tomorrow 10:25am. The upgrade request from Y-J is doomed to fail as it is A1 F1 J0 C0 D0. At T-22 hours the reservation has gone to business "waitlisted".

My flight earlier this week was showing F1 A1 J5 D4 at the T-24 hour mark. My F upgrade was processed sometime in the next 6 hours. From what I could tell there were at least 3 others upgraded in the F cabin. I have no idea if they were op-ups or waitlisted FF ups. Just overheard conversaions about being upgraded.

 

[MelUser]

T-17 hours still showing "waitlisted" and A1 F1 J1 but I think request will still fail.

 

[AussieTim]

T-17 hours still showing "waitlisted" and A1 F1 J1 but I think request will still fail.

Must always think positive! Never give up hope.. QF82 is nearly always upgraded at T-6.

 

[MelUser]

T-15 still showing "waitlisted" in business although seatcouter now A2 F2 C0 D0 J0

 

[MelUser]

T-13 still showing "waitlisted" in business and seatcouter now A1 F2 C0 D0 J0.

I think only hope now for these upgraders if someone has used the pay later option for a business fare as these are payable in full midnight before the flight. So if there are any and they don't pay by midnight these J seats will fall back into pool.

Otherwise I think it's clear there will be no upgrades!

 

[MelUser]

It's T-2, still showing "waitlisted". No change on seat counter ie A1 F2 C0D0J0.

The 2 pax in question would be at the airport by now.

I guess the answer is that you are left hanging with reservation showing "waitlisted" in business until the plane takes off!

It does seem a bit strange that if Qantas knows that there is no way they will give you an upgrade they don't tell you as soon as they work this out - otherwise this leaves people with the misapprehension that they might just get the upgrade!

I think that it also reinforces the fact that if you are going to get an upgrade you will get it by T-18, possibly although unlikely later.

 

[simongr]

QF wont be able to tell for sure that they can not give the upgrade until the doors close on the aircraft - there could be last minute cancellations (between the lounge and the gate) that frees up space, broken seat pushing people forward - all sorts of reasons.

My most recent upgrades have been at T-6 to T-8 never at T-18.