QF vs CX upgrades

[HardieBoys]

Just wanted to canvas opinion on people's experiences getting upgrades on QF compared with CX. Recently flew to Paris via HK on CX; my travelling companion asked for upgrades on CX using Asiamiles points on the day of travel, and received upgrades to J on both occasions. Both of us thought it would've been extremely uncommon to obtain an upgrade to J on a QF flight at short notice.

Generally, I've had reasonable luck with requested and op upgrades on QF. Been Platinum for 7 years now, which I'm sure helps, though overall, my impression that QF is stingier than CX with upgrades (both requested and op). That all said, I would fly >100 flights a year on QF and 2 per year on CX (maybe a couple more), so the sampling may well skew my impressions.

What do others think? Are upgrades more likely on CX than QF, or am I talking through my hat?

 

[NM]

I have only once failed to secure a points/UC upgrade on Qantas since the current policy of waitlisting was introduced. And that flight was 100% full in all classes. That is probably around 90% success rate.

I have never had an op-up on QF from J to F. I have had a total of 4 op-ups from Y to J (international flights) over the years (been FF member for more than 15 years), being BNE-AKL, LAX-BNE (x2) and BNE-SIN. That is probably around 1% op-up rate over the years.

On CX flights where I have paid for a cabin other than the highest level of service (i.e. Y or J on a 3-class flight), I have received 2 out of 3 op-upgrades, and the one that was not upgraded was an award flight. All my other CX flights have been ticketed in the highest cabin.

I have no experience with using AsiaMiles for CX upgrades.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

On my one CX flight that was possible to upgrade I got an op-up (to F).

On QF I too have had about 1% op-up rate. Paid for upgrades have been few and far between on QF due to a combination of many flights not possible to upgrade (lots of all economy flights plus being in paid business on 2-class flight) and lack of availability (ie upgrade didn't clear) - and I have upgrade credits that will soon expire unused. I never count on being able to upgrade on QF.

 

[GDSman]

I would have had similar experiences to NM with QF - I've never failed to get a points/credit upgrade when I've tried but have had 3-4 op-ups (Y-J only, never J-F) and nearly all of them out of BNE (trans tasman I think). However with CX I am at 100%, being 1 flight, HKG-LAX, J-F....and very nice it was too! I'll be doing SYD/HKG/LAX with them again soon so will test my record then.

 

[NM]

However with CX I am at 100%, being 1 flight, HKG-LAX, J-F....and very nice it was too! I'll be doing SYD/HKG/LAX with them again soon so will test my record then.

Yes, HKG-LAX is a great flight to get the op-up to F. My two were HKG-LAX and LAX-HKG. I also had a HKG-LAX in F when the TA made a booking mistake and booked me into A on the AA codeshare on a DONE4 fare - so I did not complain!

 

[HardieBoys]

Interesting responses, and seemingly in line with my own experiences. I might start flying with CX more often, as the SCs are the same on QF or CX.

I've been pretty lucky with op upgrades. Did a RTW in J last year, got an op to F from SYD - HKG on QF, an op to F from HKG to Rome on CX, and most suprisingly of all, an op to F from LHR to JFK on BA. Considering I only did 5 long haul trips on that ticket all up, 3/5 is a great record. In fact, so great that I don't think I'd purchase a F RTW in future, but rather, take my chances with a J ticket.

I should keep better records of requested and op upgrades so that I can more accurately calculate my chances.

 

[262sammy]

I have been doing a fair bit of travel in Asia at the moment and flying with CX 90% of the time in J. Still hanging out for an op upgrade to F but all good things come to those that wait (hopefully). I did sneak up the front on an A330 that was a 3 class config on an internal Asia flight (sold as 2 class only so it was empty). Quite like the few minutes I spent in the seat. They did upgrade my boss last time he flew, no such luck for the plebs though!

 

[iainb]

I miainly fly Syd to Lhr via HK with CX, on the four legs of those flights, I never get less than 2 upgrades (Y to J) using miles but have also never had all 4. The syd hkg legs seem to come through early and frequently, whereas the HKG to LHR leg has never worked out.

I have also twice used miles for y to J and then had an op up to F! Spent most of those flights enjoying everything cx would pour down my throat, knowing it wasn't going to happen again for a long time. Overall CX works well for me via points but the issue I have know is that the new Y class is so uncomfortable (I'm not the shape they designed it for- not 5ft 8 and 60kg), I'm wondering whether flying with them is worth it.

 

[NM]

I miainly fly Syd to Lhr via HK with CX, on the four legs of those flights, I never get less than 2 upgrades (Y to J) using miles but have also never had all 4. The syd hkg legs seem to come through early and frequently, whereas the HKG to LHR leg has never worked out.

I have also twice used miles for y to J and then had an op up to F! Spent most of those flights enjoying everything cx would pour down my throat, knowing it wasn't going to happen again for a long time. Overall CX works well for me via points but the issue I have know is that the new Y class is so uncomfortable (I'm not the shape they designed it for- not 5ft 8 and 60kg), I'm wondering whether flying with them is worth it.

You are unlikely to do any better with upgrades on QF. And the points cost for an upgrade on QF is quite high compared with most other programs - I don't know what CX charges. Also note that QF upgrades are not confirmed until the 24 hours before departure and the waitlist for upgrades is processed based on FF status. So unless you can make it up through the ranks of status in the QF FF program, your chances of upgrades is slight.