Upgrade advice

[nzflyer]

Hi

I am looking to book return flights in June/July AKL-FRA on QF as I am Gold FF.

I note that QF has a sale on, and wondered if people had any one had any ideas/strategies for maximising these sale fares, while maintaining the option of upgrading to business class. I know that the sale fares are not upgradable but if I book one way on the sale fare and then pay extra for a flexi-saver fare will this be classed as economy rather than discount economy thereby reducing the number of points needed.

I currently have 62,000 points, but by the time of departure I will have about 80,000 (which is not enough for a discount economy upgrade being 96,000)

Your advice and suggestions would be appreciated

 

[samh004]

Didn't the QF sale end last night (14th)?

 

[nzflyer]

No, midnight 17th April for NZ based sales.

 

[MelUser]

International flexi saver fares bought ex AUS are classed as discount economy.

International flexi saver fares bought from (some) other markets (eg ex USA) are classed as (full) economy

 

[kiwitripper64]

Qantas upgrades are extremely frustrating. If you book the cheapest seat you cannot upgrade. But spend an extra $200-$600 and you are offered the ability to REQUEST an upgrade. This seems wrong.

 

[harvyk]

You could always do what I did, break your trip up into 2 bookings and buy the business class seats using points on one booking (eg SYD - SIN) and pay for the sale fares on the other. That way you've got a guarenteed business class seat, and can take advantage of the sale fares (in one direction)

I tend to do that on the way back home, usually the excitement of getting to where I'm going is enough to allow me to cope with eccon, but heading back home the more comfy seats are nice.

 

[kiwitripper64]

Good tip, Thanks.
But couldnt Qantas make it easier????

 

[MelUser]

I have always found the Qantas International Upgrade Request system very easy to use!

Just go to "Your Bookings", click "Upgrade" next to the booking in question, then click Request Upgrade next to the sectors you want to upgrade.

If you don't want to go this trouble you can phone Qantas who will do it (at no charge) for you.

 

[harvyk]

I believe you can. If you call them on their booking number and arrange the booking over the phone they can do a combination booking using both points and payment, but it costs money to do it that way.

Also upgrades oftan don't work for sale \ cheap fares. Clicking the Upgrade button (assuming the site even shows it) will more than likely bring up an error stating you have no fares in an upgradeable class. Unless your paying for at a minimum a flexi-saver fare chances are it can not be upgraded. (I do a lot of flying using sale fares \ red-e-deal \ flexi-savers, I've noticed that typically flexi-saver or above is required for upgrades)

 

[serfty]

... (I do a lot of flying using sale fares \ red-e-deal \ flexi-savers, I've noticed that typically flexi-saver or above is required for upgrades)

Certainly this is generally true for domestic flights. However, with international flights, quite often red e-deals book into upgradeable fare classes.

Also, the upgradability of segment can normally be found by clicking the fare details link and referencing the "Qantas Frequent Flyer" part of the table.