Should i go for the upgrade

[Sdtravel]

Hey there Everyone.

I thought i would get some expert advice

Im a Bronze Qantas Club Member. I used to travel for work a bit but then changed jobs. Now i do maybe a flight a quarter and an international flight or two through the year. Never enough to change status class ever.

Anyway my question

I have booked my holiday to NYC (SYD - LAX - NYC) next June in Premium Economy. Just wondering if i should use points (i have roughtly 200K) to upgrade to business or not.
Since its QF107 its a day flight arriving in late afternoon. So should i go for a flat bed when im going to be just checking into the hotel and sleeping when i arrive anyway. I already have lounge access and extra weight.

I am really hoping to get an Operational Upgrade due to Qantas Club but i know that is unlikely due to the changes to last minute award upgrades at the gate and since im tecnically still a Bronze member. (i did get an OP up from Ecomony to Premium from HKG to SYD a year or so back which was great).
Since there are only 40 odd seats in Premium and you can only be upgraded one class i have high hopes of scoring the mythical OP upgrade and holding onto my points.

Ive spend days reading travel blogs and review and youtubing videos to try and work out if its a good idea or not to request the upgrade. Some people hold on to them for holiday flights, others use them to do upgades like this others buy stuff.

What do you think? Request an upgrade and wait and see, hope for a less likely OPUP (or do you think i have good chances)?
To use points or not to use points?? That is the question, whether it is nobler in the mind........

FYI Im so trying to get an OPUP that even though im travelling with a friend i asked the travel agent to make my booking separate so i could be a Single Passenger of Qantas Club status.
I read that single passengers are more likely to get upgraded and i thought Qants Club would increase those chances ever so slightly.

 

[Simo]

With going to USA,

Have a look at some of the threads and you could come back with WP or at the least SG by doing a few SC's runs.

 

[ReLoad]

You have very little chance of an op up. There will be a stack of people ahead of you in the op up queue, so forget the whole idea of getting a free upgrade.

Is it worth using points to upgrade? Yes definitely, not so much for the LAX-JFK leg but the Long sector preceding it.

Upgrades like the one you are contemplating are one of the best uses of points around (especially if you got a good deal on your Y+. Seat )

 

[mushypeas]

i dare say it frankly... a bronze qff will never​ receive an opop trans pacific

 

[legroom]

I could not sleep properly in a Y+ seat but will be able to pull 6-7 hrs of shut eye in a lie-flat J seat. You may be different.

It's a long flight.

There are many others with a higher status than you so your chance of an Op Up is quite slim.

I would certainly request a points upgrade for this flight.

Who would, in their right mind, spend points in the store - ever ?

 

[Sdtravel]

Thats a good point. My brother wasted his points year or so back and bought a juicer.

When i went PE from HKG to SYD a year or so back i got about 3-4 hours of sleep i think.
It was ok.

 

[mannej]

As a QPNB I wouldn't be getting your hopes up. For a marginally better chance I'd be putting in a points request and hoping there aren't many WP, SG and PS members above you in the pecking order.

 

[Sdtravel]

Would there be many though?
Theres only 40 or so seats in Premium. which is why i was thinking about an OPUP.

I know im way down in the pecking order even with Qantas Club.

 

[mannej]

OP UP's are rare enough as they are. They generally go the the higher status members where possible.

 

[ReLoad]

Out of that 40, 6 will be WP another 10 will be gold and then There will even be pax in Y that will be ahead of you, CL, WP1 etc.

As others have said, transpacific you've got buckleys.

 

[Sdtravel]

People from Economy can be upgraded to Business?
I thought you generally only get one class up?
Economy to Premium, premium to business?

If this is the case then my OPUP plans are really going down the toilet

 

[Hvr]

People from Economy can be upgraded to Business?
I thought you generally only get one class up?
Economy to Premium, premium to business?

If this is the case then my OPUP plans are really going down the toilet

You can apply for both, e.g. Y-J with a fall back of Y-PE if the former doesn't come through.

Definitely worth applying for but don't get your hopes up.

 

[opusman]

People from Economy can be upgraded to Business?
I thought you generally only get one class up?
Economy to Premium, premium to business?

From Y you can request a points upgrade to either Y+ or J (or both).

 

[ashleyn]

People from Economy can be upgraded to Business?
I thought you generally only get one class up?
Economy to Premium, premium to business?

If this is the case then my OPUP plans are really going down the toilet

As other posters have noted, an OPUP isn't going to happen. You should also be aware that a points upgrade request isn't automatically going to get you an upgrade either, it depends on a lot of factors and you being a NB isn't going to work in your favour. Not trying to burst your bubble but set realistic expectations to avoid disappointment.

 

[Sdtravel]

Yep, that bubble is definitely burst now.
Ill put in for the upgrade with points on the way there and try my luck.

 

[ozmille]

Yep, that bubble is definitely burst now.
Ill put in for the upgrade with points on the way there and try my luck.

I wouldn't do it on the way there personally, as you said it is a day flight and you can go straight to the hotel for some sleep, on the way back I would definitely want a flat bed. And in quite a few flights as WP I have only gotten 1 Op Up (J --> F) since 2007 so I never think I'll get one

 

[Sdtravel]

NOt sure about the way back. It is a night flight but I arrive on Friday and basically have the weekend to rest up before going to work on monday. Do you think its still a good idea?

Thats another thing I have spoken to people about
Some people think if your sleeping you arent getting the service you are paying for, others think its better to have the bed.

hmm... should i do both?? originally i was only thinking about one way just to NYC but now you have me thinking about the way back.

 

[Hvr]

NOt sure about the way back. It is a night flight but I arrive on Friday and basically have the weekend to rest up before going to work on monday. Do you think its still a good idea?

Thats another thing I have spoken to people about
Some people think if your sleeping you arent getting the service you are paying for, others think its better to have the bed.

hmm... should i do both?? originally i was only thinking about one way just to NYC but now you have me thinking about the way back.

On the way back where you get to sleep on a fully flat bed is so worth it.

To me that is the service I've paid for, the meals etc are ancillary benefits.

 

[myfavouritescar]

i dare say it frankly... a bronze qff will never​ receive an opop trans pacific

I'm the lucky Bronze FF who was opped up from Y to J trans pacific.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Out of that 40, 6 will be WP another 10 will be gold and then There will even be pax in Y that will be ahead of you, CL, WP1 etc.

As others have said, transpacific you've got buckleys.

i think the op is a lifetime bronze, not just bronze......