Upgrade pecking order on QF1/2 QF3/4 QF9/10 where the first leg is full but not the second.

[ChrisMars]

I was wondering how Qantas process the upgrade request on those services that stop in a city before continuing to the final destination.

Using QF1 as example, which starts from SYD, stop at SIN before continuing to LHR, how would the upgrade requests being processed if say, the first leg of QF1 SYD-SIN was full, but the second leg of QF1 SIN-LHR had some seats. Some passengers might board from SIN (maybe connecting from another Qantas service between Australia and SIN). Would their upgrade request be processed before someone who board in SYD? Would a NB SIN-LHR pax request be processed before a WP SYD-LHR request that is initially denied because SYD-SIN leg is full, but could still opt-in for the gate upgrade at SIN for the second leg. Or are all requests of the second leg of those flights processed at the gate, respecing the advertised status pecking order?

 

[CaptJCool]

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-upgrade-rewards.html

Before opting-in to be eligible for an upgrade up to the gate, please note:

• For upgrades at the airport, if you're travelling continuously on a flight that stops in one or more ports (with the same flight number), you'll only be eligible for an upgrade on the last leg and only if that last leg has a flying time longer than three hours. Points will only be deducted for the portion of your flight that was upgraded.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/manage-booking/upgrade.html

Classic Upgrade Reward

You will receive an SMS advising if your Classic Upgrade Reward has been accepted and can view the status of your request in the Qantas App. You will be notified from the following times before your scheduled flight departs:

International flights

• Platinum One members; from seven days
• Platinum members; from three days
• Gold, Silver and Bronze members; from 24 hours

im aware from other posts that people have reported success. There’s an upgrade success thread somewhere
despite pre-Covid being WP never got a upgrade reward on an international flight so good luck with waiting in the queue !

 

[ozziflyer]

It is a good question and one I have asked of a former staff member familiar with the process and never had a complete answer. Their take was that it was 2 segments and determined separately, but by requesting an upgrade for SYD-LHR you create in effect two upgrade requests in the system with the same time stamp. The caveat was that the first leg if successful wouldn't be published until the T-Status window for the second leg is atleast fulfilled and determined.

 

[Quickstatus]

Their take was that it was 2 segments and determined separately,

And I've been told they take into account any previously successful upgrades and yes SYD-LHR is considered 2 sectors
The probability of a 2nd sector upgraded is therefore always going to be less that the probability of one sector upgraded.

Let's do some sums.
Let's say for arguments sake that the probability of any sector being upgraded is 1%. But let's say that if you had one sector upgraded recently, the probability of another sector upgraded drops by 50%
In that case the probability of 1st AND 2nd sector being upgraded is 1% x 0.5% = 0.005% which is 20 times less than the first sector probability

This is compared to 0.01% is the second sector probability is not affected by the first.

The probability of 1st OR 2nd sector being upgraded is 1% + 0.5% = 1.5%

It's otherwise Black Magic where a variety of factors are involved in the algorithm.

 

[SeatBackForward]

It's otherwise Black Magic where a variety of factors are involved in the algorithm

Just your typical day at the QFF Wizardry Dept.

 

[ChrisMars]

So, who wins the leg2 upgrade lottery between:

- NB boarding QF1 in SIN to LHR
- WP boarding QF1 in SYD to LHR

Assuming SYD-SIN is full, but SIN-LHR has some seats available for the upgrade.

 

[Ade]

So, who wins the leg2 upgrade lottery between:

- NB boarding QF1 in SIN to LHR
- WP boarding QF1 in SYD to LHR

Assuming SYD-SIN is full, but SIN-LHR has some seats available for the upgrade.

I'd have to say, the NB.

My logic is, the person/system that processes upgrades will pick the WP's request first, look at what's available and will say "sorry, no available seats between SYD to LHR for CR upgrade". Then it will eventually get to the NB who asked for SIN-LHR and given there are seats available and assuming no higher status than NB has requested, NB's request will be granted.

This is out of topic - What can QF do in the case of WP asking for SYD-LHR (& not having available seats), call the WP, explain that there are no seats available for SYD-LHR, however, seats are available between SIN-LHR, if they like, and also iterate the fact that SIN-LHR will be an overnight, so upgrading to J will give the WP an opportunity to arrive comfortably well rested into LHR

 

[ozziflyer]

I'd have to say, the NB.

My logic is, the person/system that processes upgrades will pick the WP's request first, look at what's available and will say "sorry, no available seats between SYD to LHR for CR upgrade". Then it will eventually get to the NB who asked for SIN-LHR and given there are seats available and assuming no higher status than NB has requested, NB's request will be granted.

This is out of topic - What can QF do in the case of WP asking for SYD-LHR (& not having available seats), call the WP, explain that there are no seats available for SYD-LHR, however, seats are available between SIN-LHR, if they like, and also iterate the fact that SIN-LHR will be an overnight, so upgrading to J will give the WP an opportunity to arrive comfortably well rested into LHR

I have been in that situ - got op up for the second leg in the lounge. Was an ideal outcome.