Updating Booking

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calmelb

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Hi All,

I have just gone up status with QF (finally above NB) and am wondering if I need to update any of my bookings that I have to reflect this, because i have heard somewhere that you have to update it, sorry if I am wrong

-calmelb
 
Hi All,

I have just gone up status with QF (finally above NB) and am wondering if I need to update any of my bookings that I have to reflect this, because i have heard somewhere that you have to update it, sorry if I am wrong

-calmelb

Your new status should be automatically shown in any of your current bookings. However, you may wish to select/re-select seats as you will have a slightly better choice and will be able to choose seats for free with your silver status (normally it's $25 for international flights).
 
I second MattG.
You don't have to do anything, you would be surprised with what you DONT have to do, in regards to climbing status with QF.
I went from PS to SG without having to do a lot, just scan my QP card at the gate and thats it.
Mine went from PS to SG just by the scan, I have not have had to ring up to query a flight (yet).
SG is not much, really, but a small plus, maybe it was just a once off, that I got put into seat 2A from 7F without asking.
I was showing an angry face at a bunch of kids at QF's MELd dep gate, slinking, waiting my turn to get to 7F. They boarded the kids first, from the back of course, I had checked online, and it still showed 7F all the time.
Got to the gate, scanned my QP, and guess what, I was laughing out loud.
Bliss, o, happy days, I got into 2A, what, business class without using points or even asking or begging, yap, I was last on, first off.
Showed those young sprats whos boss!
SG get priority boarding, and priority check in when travelling internationally, but PS dont get a lot. I was PS for a while, and didnt get a lot, maybe a bit of Status Bonus points, thats it.
Hopefully you can get to SG in the next few months.
PS get 1 free visit to the QP, but SG get it for free.
If you are not a member of the QP, and you can afford it, apply and join AFF Gold, and then get reduced QP annual membership.
AFF is this group, Australian Frequent Flyer-you need to join into Gold here to get reduced QP.
QP is the nickname of the Qantas Club.
 
I'm lucky because I get SG in about a month when I fly and get the SC I need, just a side question what are my chances of being upgraded internationally either on CX or QF? From Y -> PEY -> J?
 
I'm lucky because I get SG in about a month when I fly and get the SC I need, just a side question what are my chances of being upgraded internationally either on CX or QF? From Y -> PEY -> J?
Higher than a PS, but well down the pecking order behind WP, P1 and CL. And that's with points!
 
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Getting upgrades, I can only mention with QF in mind, you dont on an international tix get guaranteed upgrades, on the lower tiers, ie, PS/SG, even if you have noted your interest by applying for them.
If you are WP/P1/CL (google the meaning of the codes as mentioned by JessicaTam, your chances of an upgrade using points are better (international travel) than PS/SG.
On a domestic tix, its easy to use points to upgrade, if there is space, you only pay for the taxes due, and thats it, the upgrade is yours.
On an international tix, its a raffle. No guarantees of an upgrade, not till you get to the airport, so you cant use the QP. If you have enough points for a QF J ticket under points plus pay, that is the best way to get a J seat.
I would not use an upgrade using points, because you do loose out of gaining SC.
If you use points plus pay, say, I have got 31,000 QF FF points, and I want to get from SYD to AKL in F class, on a QF flight number, flying EK (Emirates), I would use my 31,000 QF FF points, pay about $990 or so, and still get the QF FF miles earn, and also 120 QF SCs.
I only complicate matters, but maybe someone can explain it more succintly, ... but points plus pay to get into F where they are available, or J is better than using all points for an upgrade, ie you have a Y tix, and want J, and use points for the J, not good.
Instead pay more for the J tix, and then use QF FF points to reduce the cost of that J tix.
Edit: while I am at it, if you read on QFs website about top up points, I would not do that either. You will on top up points, or using points upgrade, earn SC at the fare paid, ie, lower earn rate, at Y fare level.
But, if you use points plus pay, you will earn (most important), you will earn SC at the upper earn level, ie, if you paid by card and points plus pay, for a J seat, or F seat where available, that is what you earn SC at, the uppear J/F level.
I am going to hide under the bushel now, I am sure to get scolded soon!
Sorry for the waffle.
 
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The main issue I have is that your advice is mostly misleading.

On a domestic tix, its easy to use points to upgrade, if there is space, you only pay for the taxes due, and thats it, the upgrade is yours.

There are no taxes to pay for an upgrade, just the points upgrade cost.


On an international tix, its a raffle. No guarantees of an upgrade, not till you get to the airport, so you cant use the QP. If you have enough points for a QF J ticket under points plus pay, that is the best way to get a J seat.

No a classic award is the most cost effective way to guarantee a seat in a premium cabin. While any seat awards do earn points and SC they also provide the least value per point redeemed.

I would not use an upgrade using points, because you do loose out of gaining SC.

Upgrades are the most cost effective use of points. Pointing aside that gaining the upgrade is a lottery.

If you use points plus pay, say, I have got 31,000 QF FF points, and I want to get from SYD to AKL in F class, on a QF flight number, flying EK (Emirates), I would use my 31,000 QF FF points, pay about $990 or so, and still get the QF FF miles earn, and also 120 QF SCs.

Or you can buy that same seat with cash money for $1300. 31000 points for $310 is very poor value.


I only complicate matters, but maybe someone can explain it more succintly, ... but points plus pay to get into F where they are available, or J is better than using all points for an upgrade, ie you have a Y tix, and want J, and use points for the J, not good.
Instead pay more for the J tix, and then use QF FF points to reduce the cost of that J tix.

As per above a classic award is better than an upgrade. It is hard to rate Points plus pay as better than an upgrade. maybe only if you have millions of points to waste.


Edit: while I am at it, if you read on QFs website about top up points, I would not do that either. You will on top up points, or using points upgrade, earn SC at the fare paid, ie, lower earn rate, at Y fare level.

top up points can be used for classic awards, so no top up points will not earn SC as a rule.

But, if you use points plus pay, you will earn (most important), you will earn SC at the upper earn level, ie, if you paid by card and points plus pay, for a J seat, or F seat where available, that is what you earn SC at, the uppear J/F level.
I am going to hide under the bushel now, I am sure to get scolded soon!
Sorry for the waffle.

Again plugging points plus pay. It just is not that simple. Points plus pay for premium cabins would be well down the list of preferred options depending on each individual's requirements.
 
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Agree with everything you have said, medhead. It would be nice if the OP didn't post stuff that isn't correct (or relevant for that matter.)

FWIW, I think that your chances of scoring a free upgrade as a SG are low, however not unheard of. Maybe one day you'll find yourself on a flight that is oversold in economy and has no P1, WP or CL flyers on it.. who knows, it has happened to me once. Also, I think the most success QF members have had with op-ups is actually with Emirates.
 
Agree with everything you have said, medhead. It would be nice if the OP didn't post stuff that isn't correct (or relevant for that matter.)
I think you mean AP. ;) The OP (calmelb) had legitimate questions that unfortunately weren't really addressed by AP in his post.
 
I think the point that AP is trying to illustrate, or to me anyway, is that points have different value to just about everyone depending on their circumstances. IIRC, he has just turned Gold (like the OP) and sees a different set in value for use of his points and status to what say, a WP1 or CL would see. As in I've booked and flown sale business fares to LAX/LHR and had 100% hitrate for (points) upgrades to F. A Gold? probably not so much (as noted here).

I would never myself do points+pay for this or that, but everyone's mileage differs (pun fully intended) and everyone will find different value in different goals.... or what you're looking to achieve. For example I know folks who ONLy pursue award tix at the lowst cost (US Airways bonus miles anyone? :) ) and have no desire or interest in any kind of status or anything like that.. and that's fine, they get J seats and the like and do what they like and it's all about $$$. Others like to accrue status for various other benefits, or head towards a goal (eg: LTS/LTG), and still others don't care about FF schemes at all and get the lowest fare and probably are delayed at the gate on tiger as I type (but they wouldn't be part of AFF methinks :) ).

Finally, I find questions about chances of op ups (a.k.a. "free upgrades") personally a little distasteful. If I want something in life, be it a seat in J or a new car or whatever I should pay for it in some way or other not have a potential expectation it will magically appear. Sure, they happen. I've had a few over the years, mostly in recognition of status of some sort, but I don't set out with it as an expectation or something to even go after. And frankly if I thought that I could get upgrades on long haul flights on say CX or QF for nothing then I'd probably be pretty quickly disappointed when it didn't happen, even if I read 5 posts saying it happened to them. Overselling exists, but it's a literal lottery, and even then you're often behind VIP's, uber top tiers and the like. It's not something I would ever expect or think "Well I'm P1, so I should get this"... I always put in for a points upgrade and pay if that's what I want. Just my 2 cents anyway.. everyone will have their own opinions of course and I'm not trying to be offensive to the OP or anyone else in particular, just stating a personal point of view.
 
I agree with most of your comments RichardMel though what I think was being pointed out was that some of the info provided was actually incorrect which could be misleading, as well as not replying to the OP's question, rather going on a tangent about SCs and upgrades. IMO the OP only wanted to know if he had to make any changes to existing bookings because of his new status.
 
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Thousand apologies.
I surrender!

It is not about surrendering.

I think the point that AP is trying to illustrate, or to me anyway, is that points have different value to just about everyone depending on their circumstances. IIRC, he has just turned Gold (like the OP) and sees a different set in value for use of his points and status to what say, a WP1 or CL would see. As in I've booked and flown sale business fares to LAX/LHR and had 100% hitrate for (points) upgrades to F. A Gold? probably not so much (as noted here).

I also mostly agree. The post was clearly about issues that are important to AP. That is why I used the word misleading and did not use the word wrong. I just think it is misleading to make statement like points plus pay is the best use, without acknowledging that the best use is a very subjective concept that will vary depending on individual circumstances. In my personal flying history the preferred option has varied between points plus pay (hkg lounge crawl), upgrade request (going to a conference in europe with a 4 day recovery period) and classic award (8 day holiday in munich with my brother). I've also used points plus pay with upgrade request.

I just think it is not right to suggest there is one correct answer only.

I don't find questions about free upgrades as distasteful. But those question do need to be put firmly in perspective.

FTR my best op-up was when I wandered into a lounge desk at about 5:30am looking dazed and confused, made some stupid comment, was corrected by the lounge angel and then made a joke about me being stupid at this hour. The same lounge angel was doing boarding and proudly handed me a new BP for business. So being a dufus and taking the P out of myself results in an upgrade. :?: I've only done it once and it works 100%. ;)
 
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It is not about surrendering.



I also mostly agree. The post was clearly about issues that are important to AP. That is why I used the word misleading and did not use the word wrong. I just think it is misleading to make statement like points plus pay is the best use, without acknowledging that the best use is a very subjective concept that will vary depending on individual circumstances. In my personal flying history the preferred option has varied between points plus pay (hkg lounge crawl), upgrade request (going to a conference in europe with a 4 day recovery period) and classic award (8 day holiday in munich with my brother). I've also used points plus pay with upgrade request.

I just think it is not right to suggest there is one correct answer only.

Agree. I just thought I'd address those issues raised by AP as a tagent to the OP's questions.

All opinions are valid etc :)

I don't find questions about free upgrades as distasteful. But those question do need to be put firmly in perspective.

This is perhaps a better way of putting it than my phrasing. I am not a fan of expectations being raised for something that really is like the lottery and more often than not "the odds will not ever be in your favour" to misquote a certain franchise :) perspective is the word for sure.

FTR my best op-up was when I wandered into a lounge desk at about 5:30am looking dazed and confused, made some stupid comment, was corrected by the lounge angel and then made a joke about me being stupid at this hour. The same lounge angel was doing boarding and proudly handed me a new BP for business. So being a dufus and taking the P out of myself results in an upgrade. :?: I've only done it once and it works 100%. ;)

Well geez man.... I talk like a doofus 100% of the time (see above).. you'd think I'd be CL for life by now!!! :D
 
Muppet that I am... kicking a fat lazy pet dog (hence my handle pooch). Not in a bad way, mind you.
In my case, aye, others have a different point of view at looking at the conundrum of somehow gaining something, airline frequent flyer wise.
Mine is to gain as much SCs as possible. Second is to gain as much FF mileage as possible.
To others, these are not important, but to me, as to the few others, attaining or retaining status is the most important consideration. Buying a disc or full Y seat (and gaining the lower earn rate of FF mileage and SCs), and using points to upgrade, (despite it being a "lottery" or what ever term you want to use for QFi flight), earns less SC.
And as we all know, we can't gain SC from non flying activities, only FF mileage.
Have a LAN flight later from AKL to SYD in Apr, and to be able to use the Premium Counter at AKL, you have to be SG with a OW airline, so, that will be my perk. Granted at 5am or 5.30am, there won't be too many people at the LAN counter.
 
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