UpgradeMe pricing and success

[blackcat20]

So, some "experimenting" with UpgradeMe Premium Bid...

VA1207 CBR-BNE. Bid range was $150-350. Bid $150. Outcome: success!
VA1226 BNE-CBR. Bid range was $150-350. Bid $150. Outcome: success!

Both flights on E190, upgrading from Saver Light fares, with Velocity Gold membership. First flight had 2/6 passengers in J.

I made those bids on the basis of "betting for information", to use the poker term. To find out whether a minimum bid really could be successful. So here's your information...

Similar experience for a MEL-BNE, bid the minimum of $200 and got it.

 

[The man with no name]

My minimum bid from a flexi CNS - MEL was $250 and I just got it at that price.

 

[MandM]

Question to those who have made a bid: how long prior to flight time did you receive the outcome?

 

[MandM]

No email, but have found I'm eligible for the following:
MEL-SYD (saver E) to business min bid $200
SYD-LAX (saver E) to premium min bid $300
LAX-BNE (saver T) to premium min bid $300
BNE-MEL (saver T) to business min bid $200

Tempting, but have had pretty good success with op-ups as plat on the long haul sectors. I might keep an eye on load before pulling the trigger.

 

[QF WP]

Have just received an UpgradeMe offer email for my flights BNE/SYD/BNE in 10 days. Minimum bid for the BNE/SYD is $150 (max $350).

Ah, no thanks, I agree with smit0847:

I think VA have really blundered by not offering at least J SCs for upgraded fares.

For status pax it's a slightly bigger seat and a meal and drinks.

I can't work out who would think $200+ for the above on a short-ish flight is worth it. I could get a fabulous meal before or after the flight for this price - much, much better than what is served in J - especially where it's a snack service.

Given for a status run many would consider $4 per SCs to be good value awarding SCs for this offer would make it much more attractive. I understand that they don't want to devalue the normal J rev ticket but these sorts of offers strongly suggest the difficulty they are having filling these seats anyway!

 

[aaronm]

Anyone had success upgrading from Y+ to J on flights to or from LAX?

 

[muppet]

some data points for those intereted

one past flight to report:

MEL - CBR (saver lite $200) min bid $100: accepted

future flight

CBR - BNE (saver lite $99) min bid $200: didn't bid

 

[Caversham04]

Anyone had success upgrading from Y+ to J on flights to or from LAX?

Yes; on Virgin Australia using UpgradeMe Bid - checked the loadings for Y+ and J on ExpertFlyer and then (on the basis that space in J couldn't be filled even if everyone in Y+ went for it), successfully bid the minimum amount of $600

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Do you get the extra Status Points when getting an upgrade this way?

 

[QF WP]

No such luck - only the original paid fare - thus the reason few of us go for them

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Thank you.

So, what seems like a fair bid to upgrade to Economy Premium for SYD - LAX?

(Also, if you get upgraded to Premium Economy this way, do you get to use the lounge?)

 

[aaronm]

(Also, if you get upgraded to Premium Economy this way, do you get to use the lounge?)

I've never had lounge access included on a PE ticket to/from LAX. Pretty sure it's only offered on flights to/from NZ.

 

[ojm]

Two of us travelled MEL-LAX in Feb. Booked cheapest economy seats. Bid of $320 one way, $280 the other way for PE (per person). Minimum bids were $250. Both of us upgraded into PE both ways.

Added bonus: gate upgrade for both of us to J on MEL-LAX leg. No such luck on the way back. I got J status credits on way there, and PE status credits on way back.

I am Platinum. Other flyer doesn't have a Velocity account.

 

[MH_fan]

I'm a bit shocked that the minimum bid for SYD-MEL or SYD-BNE is often $200 each way! Who would bid that amount?!

 

[ojm]

Just got an email for MEL-SYD, $250 minimum bid. Same amount as Y to PE on MEL-LAX...

 

[WethereX]

I have done upgrade me premium bid on 7 sectors so far, with the minimum dollar value ( all under $220 ) and have won upgrades,,, the first was PER to SYD, and notable others are BNE - TSV and return, BNE - DRW return, BNE - CNS return. I have never bid on a mainline city flight as they are way too expensive and not worth it, but the smaller lighter loaded routes are fine for us...

 

[smit0847]

I'm a bit shocked that the minimum bid for SYD-MEL or SYD-BNE is often $200 each way! Who would bid that amount?!

People with more dollars than sense. For pax with status the only real benefit on a 737 is a slightly sider seat and a $10 meal with a few glasses of wine. Think about the amazing meal that $200 pp could get you at your destination!

 

[eastwest101]

Correct - you could get a very nice dinner and bottle of wine for 2-3 people for that amount of money, or alternatively 1hr in a better seat, 2 glasses of wine and maybe a satisfactory meal that probably costs $20-$30, without the status credit? I know where my $200 would be going.

 

[WethereX]

no, a few of these were $0 bids, try it, on light loads, it works.

 

[robd]

no, a few of these were $0 bids, try it, on light loads, it works.

Hmmm..... Probably shouldn't have blurted that one out.