Seeking WP/WP1 experiences on very empty QFi flights

[lurker]

Hello all,

I'm flying on QF74 SFO-SYD this weekend and the flight is incredibly empty. The seat map looks like a deserted town and EF is showing J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9. It's likely due to the July 4 long weekend in America. Unfortunately I can't upgrade the ticket using points as it was a sale fare (N fare class). I was hoping to see a Bid Now upgrade offer but I don't appear to be eligible when I check on the site.

Question for the class: What have been your experiences as WP/WP1 in Y/PE on light load international flights? Has anyone been op-up'ed even though there's no operational requirement to upgrade you on empty planes?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hello all,

I'm flying on QF74 SFO-SYD this weekend and the flight is incredibly empty. The seat map looks like a deserted town and EF is showing J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9. It's likely due to the July 4 long weekend in America. Unfortunately I can't upgrade the ticket using points as it was a sale fare (N fare class). I was hoping to see a Bid Now upgrade offer but I don't appear to be eligible when I check on the site.

Question for the class: What have been your experiences as WP/WP1 in Y/PE on light load international flights? Has anyone been op-up'ed even though there's no operational requirement to upgrade you on empty planes?

P1's have reported upgrades from time to time however I can't recall a WP having any such luck particularly on a long haul flight such as SFO/SYD.

It's quite likely there are still WP's with upgrade requests that haven't been processed yet, never mind SG, PS, NB that are generally cleared around T-24.

 

[cmon0005]

Considering there are many fare buckets left, might be worth checking how much it would cost to move up to the next available upgrade-able fare bucket.
Sometimes it can be a small negligible difference, in which case you could put in for a points upgrade.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, sometimes WP1 have been upgraded into empty higher cabins from empty Y

but remember what EF says and the seat map looks like may not reflect reality. People not paying for seat assignments (or not bothering) and the like. You may find things change a little bit. Still, it's a fair assessment due to the weekend at the loadings

AT very least you could have a very good chance of a row to yourself even if stuck in Y.

 

[downgraded]

Whilst agreeing seats do seem to get allocated en masse closer to departure my most recent experience of this saw the highest occupancy in the areas usually reserved for higher tier FFers and people spread across 3 and 4 seats elsewhere.

QF doesn't seem to manage this scenario well at all.

 

[amaroo]

It's quite likely there are still WP's with upgrade requests that haven't been processed yet, never mind SG, PS, NB that are generally cleared around T-24.

It amazing watching the process in action. I've got an J>F upgrade lodged for QF11 SYD-LAX and T7 just clicked over - bang there goes 3 seats.... still have 9 free ones on EF loading and seat map. Will be interesting to see how many WP's are playing the lottery

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It amazing watching the process in action. I've got an J>F upgrade lodged for QF11 SYD-LAX and T7 just clicked over - bang there goes 3 seats.... still have 9 free ones on EF loading and seat map. Will be interesting to see how many WP's are playing the lottery

Shall we expect a 'Californian Celebrations' TR in the near future?

 

[amaroo]

Shall we expect a 'Californian Celebrations' TR in the near future?

Nothing that exciting, boring business trip...

OP, I agree the loadings - my QF11/12 are economically frightening - best of luck!

 

[michaele]

Whilst agreeing seats do seem to get allocated en masse closer to departure my most recent experience of this saw the highest occupancy in the areas usually reserved for higher tier FFers and people spread across 3 and 4 seats elsewhere.

QF doesn't seem to manage this scenario well at all.

I agree. On QF73 a few months ago on a very light load at door close I had 43ABC to myself, couple of WPs also in the minicabin. As soon as seatbelt sign was off, a NB from further back just walked up and sat in 43C, took his shoes off and put his feet up on the bulkhead, trapping me in. He even slept like that. I wasnt too impressed..

 

[mviy]

I agree. On QF73 a few months ago on a very light load at door close I had 43ABC to myself, couple of WPs also in the minicabin. As soon as seatbelt sign was off, a NB from further back just walked up and sat in 43C, took his shoes off and put his feet up on the bulkhead, trapping me in. He even slept like that. I wasnt too impressed..

Perhaps you could have asked the FAs to tell the passenger to go back to his assigned seat?

 

[Simo]

As a WP I never got any upgrade love from QF... VA yes...

 

[marki]

As a WP I never got any upgrade love from QF... VA yes...

Same here!!

Flying PE on an empty flight I walked down stairs © to the Economy section took 4 in a row seats then some pillows blanket and went to sleep like a King :

 

[njba]

I agree. On QF73 a few months ago on a very light load at door close I had 43ABC to myself, couple of WPs also in the minicabin. As soon as seatbelt sign was off, a NB from further back just walked up and sat in 43C, took his shoes off and put his feet up on the bulkhead, trapping me in. He even slept like that. I wasnt too impressed..

Was the classification of NB based on the déclassé behaviour or did you sneak a peak at his BP?

 

[RichardMEL]

moral of the story - put coats down on the seats not taken..... interlopers will think twice

 

[downgraded]

Not even people moving.
Had 3 people sat filling a row section with empty and near empty rows only a few seats back. Discussed it with the guy next to me and he confirmed he was an NB and been allocated the seat automatically.

You would think seat blocking and release could be automated based on load factor or seat allocations in this day.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I agree. On QF73 a few months ago on a very light load at door close I had 43ABC to myself, couple of WPs also in the minicabin.

As soon as seatbelt sign was off, a NB from further back just walked up and sat in 43C, took his shoes off and put his feet up on the bulkhead, trapping me in. He even slept like that. I wasnt too impressed..

It seems to work better if you move across into the spare aisle seat then put your stuff on the window seat and put the tray table down.

What was over the top wasn't passengers but an HA crew on a day flight HNL/BNE. Not satisfied with the last 2 centre rows of three which was designated crew rest, they then blocked off another two centre rows giving them the last 4 centre rows.

Still not content with that they then booted commercial pax out of the last two pairs of two seats on both sides of the B767 aircraft giving them a total of 20 crew rest seats.

Laziest crew ever.