qns from a rookie ! benefits of bein Silver & Gold on Qff? & qns re Upgr & ExpertFlye

[lili2]

hi to all out there!
as i said i am a bit of a rookie on this and get quite confused by some of your abbreviations.. Just wanted to know if you out there think its v helpful being a PAID UP member of Expert Flyer? (only had trials before). What exactly can it GIVE you? (apart from good seat maps?) . i have read about people requesting seats next to them to be Blocked? how can this be done? also that it can alert you when an Upgrade to J class is available on your chosen flight. i have asked for this and all it ever says is "0" seats, seems hard to fathom. yet when i call Qanats re my flight they say there is only 50 % seats gone in J?
also can anyone tell me if they have had SIGNIFICANTLY MORE success in getting QF Upgrades from going to Silver and Gold from Q Club Bronze? I am almost Silver and after US flight and a lot of Status Credit hunting will be Gold before my Qantas Club Anniverary. This will cost a lot in $$ so i wonder if its really wortht it?? ( my main hope is to eventually buy slightly dearer Econ fares (that are Upgradeable) and hope to get them as a Gold member? any opninions?

also will be flying PE from Syd to Lax on QF 11 (A380) and be sitting in 36K. Does anyone have experince of THIS seat? have asked for Bus Upgrade and will be Silver by then. Found out J cabin only half sold and flight only 3 weeks away. What do you think my chances are?
On ret will be on QF 74 S Fran to Syd (747 400) sitting on seat 25 A. Any ideas on this seat? Been told it only a 3 class plane (Y, PE and J) does that mean it will be an old Bus Class seat (skybed that you can still get in j on some 747.s?) is that good?
really appreciate answers from you clever people!
thanks

 

[FlyboyAl]

Re: qns from a rookie ! benefits of bein Silver & Gold on Qff? & qns re Upgr & Expert

I was in 34K yesterday which is a bulkhead seat. So you are 2 back from where I was.
My seat was an Op Up at the gate and was a nice surprise. You get the overhead locker, as well as a "bin" on the right of the seat which is really convenient to put your small bits and pieces in.
I'm QP/silver now, but got 4 upgrades last year as a bronze, so I have no idea how upgrades work, although I do wonder if it has anything to do with forward bookings already in the system.
I have 3 more return trips to the US booked this year (1 paid and 2 on points) and I wonder if this has any effect on upgrades.
Or does it just come down to which direction is wind is coming from on the day!!!!!

 

[lili2]

Re: qns from a rookie ! benefits of bein Silver & Gold on Qff? & qns re Upgr & Expert

thanks so much! seems 36k be good then. I dont chose bulkheads as they would be signif less PrivatE WOULD N'T THEY? as you are quite exposed at front? Did you get that Upgrade to Prem Econ after ASKING for it? not just Spontaneously? Did they REMOVE POINTS for this Upgrade?
Can you tell me anyhting about Benefits of being PAID member of Expert Flyer? I have a One World Syd- Bnk-Hel -madrid flight booked in system later in year. hope that helps me?
happy flying!

 

[FlyboyAl]

Re: qns from a rookie ! benefits of bein Silver & Gold on Qff? & qns re Upgr & Expert

No points used for the upgrade, and I didn't ask for it.
Personally, I prefer the bulkhead seats as there is more legroom, or at least it feels that there is more, and you do not have a seat back being pushed in your face when the passenger in front decides to recline.