QF Upgrades - Successes or Failures (post results)

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BIL (WP) bought last minute Y Saver to AKL yesterday afternoon for early flight this morning from BNE and applied for upgrade - although full J flight. To his surprise he was actually handed a different boarding pass at the gate to J. First time that I know anyone that this has happened to ... I have seen it on this forum. 😀
 
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QF11 8 July SYD - LAX. Successful upgrade from Y Flex to J. Notified T-26.

QF12 today LAX - SYD. Successful upgrade from Y Flex to J. Notified T-30.

I’m bronze and not QC. Can someone tell me if I’m insanely lucky or if this is to be expected? My partner is flying the same route in a month so I don’t want to get her hopes up.
I changed my flight home from Dallas Airport to LAX (actual destination was NYC, so I could choose transit airport) since I had success on my first flight, which I mostly attributed to flights to LAX being on the a380 (hence many more J seats). Presume this helped?
 
Mrtmrt15 said:
QF11 8 July SYD - LAX. Successful upgrade from Y Flex to J. Notified T-26.

QF12 today LAX - SYD. Successful upgrade from Y Flex to J. Notified T-30.

I’m bronze and not QC. Can someone tell me if I’m insanely lucky or if this is to be expected? My partner is flying the same route in a month so I don’t want to get her hopes up.
I changed my flight home from Dallas Airport to LAX (actual destination was NYC, so I could choose transit airport) since I had success on my first flight, which I mostly attributed to flights to LAX being on the a380 (hence many more J seats). Presume this helped?
Click to expand...
Really depends on loads and mix of upgrade requests on that particular flight.

I would say this - as a Flex Y fare type that has a big say because once status is assessed, the upgrades are done by fare type, so flex Y will win out over potentially even discount W - but don't quote me on that, I'm not fully over the algorithm). Certainly ahead of most of the punters on lower fares.

Having said that, a reminder that of course with no status, the list of upgraders ahead is going to be quite long from CL/P!, through Platinum, Gold and Silver, and those in W within those status groups.

Of course, if your partner is on a more discount fare, then the chances are going to be lower too.

So you can't guarantee your partner anything except that QF11/12 , when operated by an A380, will have more J class seats than the 787, so there's more inventory potentially for upgrade - but again the paid demand and higher status demand are crucial.


If you care to provide specific date details we can see how the flights look now to give some sort of indication of how it looks now - but things can and will of course change over the course of a month.
 
Mrtmrt15 said:
QF11 8 July SYD - LAX. Successful upgrade from Y Flex to J. Notified T-26.

QF12 today LAX - SYD. Successful upgrade from Y Flex to J. Notified T-30.

I’m bronze and not QC. Can someone tell me if I’m insanely lucky or if this is to be expected? My partner is flying the same route in a month so I don’t want to get her hopes up.
I changed my flight home from Dallas Airport to LAX (actual destination was NYC, so I could choose transit airport) since I had success on my first flight, which I mostly attributed to flights to LAX being on the a380 (hence many more J seats). Presume this helped?
Click to expand...
nice first post. Welcome to AFF
 
RichardMEL said:
Really depends on loads and mix of upgrade requests on that particular flight.

I would say this - as a Flex Y fare type that has a big say because once status is assessed, the upgrades are done by fare type, so flex Y will win out over potentially even discount W - but don't quote me on that, I'm not fully over the algorithm). Certainly ahead of most of the punters on lower fares.

Having said that, a reminder that of course with no status, the list of upgraders ahead is going to be quite long from CL/P!, through Platinum, Gold and Silver, and those in W within those status groups.

Of course, if your partner is on a more discount fare, then the chances are going to be lower too.

So you can't guarantee your partner anything except that QF11/12 , when operated by an A380, will have more J class seats than the 787, so there's more inventory potentially for upgrade - but again the paid demand and higher status demand are crucial.


If you care to provide specific date details we can see how the flights look now to give some sort of indication of how it looks now - but things can and will of course change over the course of a month.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much, this is so insightful. She’s also flying Y Flex, QF12 on 6 September
 
Mrtmrt15 said:
Thanks so much, this is so insightful. She’s also flying Y Flex, QF12 on 6 September
Click to expand...
Well, over 5 weeks out J still looks reasonable, though down to I4 for sales so it's starting to tighten up a bit. There are quite a few seats still open in the seatmap, but again that only gives an indication, and not concrete info - and a lot can happen before September.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that there can also be a flow through, even at the last minute, with op ups from J->F, and W->J, Y->W/J depending on any number of things, so it's really hard to know her chances - specially this far out.

I would say to her to not expect it, but that doesn't mean an upgrade to J, or W, might happen since the request is in. That way if it doesn't come through the disappointment is well... less. I certainly hope it comes through for her so she can enjoy the the best experience on this long sector but we do need to be realistic that while fare type is a factor and has a bearing, the status is the big one, and with no status she's a long way from the top - even if she rocks and rolls. Good luck!
 
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I am P1 flying regularly on domestic. I pretty much always apply for a points upgrade, on the basis that they don't always come through
At the moment, I am getting about 1/3 (33%) of them granted. Mainly on Syd-Mel or Syd-Adl

Without applying (with points), a different story. In the several years that I've been P1, I have received exactly one free upgrade (domestic).
In recent times, I have noted that Business Class is usually full. However, I sat in 4C the other day staring sadly at empty J seats. Still, no joy, no last minute upgrade... :(
 
As a WP
6/7 QF 87 Y (N fare) to J - classic request - fail (Y very very lightly loaded, did get empty seat at window seat pair, J full).
8/7 QF88 Y (Y fare) to J - classic request - fail, aircraft 100% full.
 

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