Upgrade vs an Upgrade????

[puzzigully]

Hi,

first time poster, so apologies if this has been covered before.
I'm LTG and Platinum Plus, just shy of Platinum One.

Was planning a Business trip to USA and as in the past wanted to bring the other 1/2 along.
Previously, I've been able to use points (96,000 each way) to get return Business seat for her and I'd purchase one for me.
I've done this several times over the last 5 years or so.

Sometimes I received the "sorry no FF seats available", but I'd ask to speak to someone other than "send off a request" and suddenly a seat magically became available.
Other times I've bough the cheapest upgradable Economy ticket and used points to upgrade to Business (48,000 one way MEL-LAX)

This time around (travel in September) it seems as though things have changed significantly.

It appears that there are "upgradable economy tickets" and "upgradable economy tickets".

Imagine my surprise when the web site says 72,000 points for MEL-LAX upgrade!!
Points for Business seat is 96,000 MEL-LAX, only 14,000 more!! BUT none available even though the cabin is 1/2 full.

It seems as though if I bought full fare economy ticket the upgrade would have been 48,000 points.

Anyone else come across this??

Seems a bit unfair and further dilution of "benefits" for being a loyal Qantas flier.

 

[cjd600]

Hi There,
seems you may have actually purchased a discount economy fare class?

"For International flights, Discount Economy includes classes B, G, H, K, L, M, S and V. For International flights, Economy includes class Y"
Not all discount economy fares are upgradeable.

Discount Economy (classes above) - Business = 72000 points
Economy (ie only Y class) - Business = 48000 points.

Note the Business seat at 96000 is 24000 points more than the Discount Econ-Business upgrade, not 14000 more

Cheers,

 

[Mwenenzi]

Welcome to the forum

As Platinum you can try to request (by phone) that an award seat be released But may or may not be successful
Be careful of points & pay vs a straight out reward