UpgradeMe pricing and success

[SponsorSFC]

I just got back from a return PER to SYD trip an was successful both times with bids @ $400.

It was the first time my wife and I have flown in J and I think that the price was worth it (we paid $200 each way for our Y tickets).

Though the service and food PER to SYD was much better than the return leg. The lounge was also quieter in PER.

 

[matted]

PER to MEL on thursday, 4 of us travelling on 2 separate bookings. Minimum bid was $300, My mate bid $350 for himself and the remaining 3 of us on the other booking bid $310.

The seat map 4 days out showed only 4 of the 24 seats as taken.

72 hours out my mate's $350 was confirmed, seat map then showed 16 of 24 taken.

48 hours out our $310 was confirmed and now showed 21 of 24 taken (we also couldn't check in online, it gave a message showing check in on arrival was needed)

From this I take it that the uptake on the offer s quite good on these a330 flights.

The Flight was good, busiest flight coast to coast I've been on in business (it was the 3rd time I've upgraded this year) and was noticeable that while the service wasn't bad, the amount of offers for drinks, and time to chat was less than I've experienced when the load is less than half. Also noticed the guy behind us in row 4 had less options off the menu as 20 orders for lunch were taken before his.

Cheers
Matt

 

[JohnK]

PER to MEL on thursday, 4 of us travelling on 2 separate bookings. Minimum bid was $300, My mate bid $350 for himself and the remaining 3 of us on the other booking bid $310.

....

From this I take it that the uptake on the offer s quite good on these a330 flights.

Compare that to the required minimum bid of $275 for BNE-MEL in a 737 and the required minimum bid of $200 for NEL-NTL and NTL-BNE in an E190 and you can clearly see who is getting a good deal and why the business cabin on those flights is empty.

 

[tinkybelle]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

SYD_ZQN upgrade bid $150 successful. upgraded 3 days out.

 

[tinkybelle]

SYD_ZQN upgrade successful $150 3 days before flight.

 

[Justinf]

Bidded minimum $200 each for Miss 14 and I (I wanted her to experience for the first time - she was 'meh') MEL-SYD and got it. Wasn't offered for the return leg, but I wouldn't have bidded anyway.

 

[ojm]

15 of us flying up to Cairns next week (several different bookings under my email address). Seems the minimum for MEL-CNS is $250.

 

[Moopere]

I've got to say, I don't understand the rationale behind this bidding for J seats thing. If VA is actually happy, really, to fly someone J across the country for Y + low bid (say 500$ combined) then why on earth are they charging about 600$ for a flexi ticket and an outrageous 1600$ for a full fare J ticket?

Seems to me that they would consistently fill J with full fare paying customers if they priced J at say 5-6-700$ (or equivalent points value). Why mess around like this? The guy who just paid $3200 return is going to be pissed when he learns he could have winged it and bid maybe 1000$ return and received the same product.

I fully understand the 'guaranteed seat' versus the 'lottery seat' thing, but the margins here are massive!

Note, I'm not complaining - I'm going to start doing this on every flight in fact, but I cannot for the life of me understand the business case for it.

 

[tinkybelle]

I find it amazing that syd mel is 200 and syd zqn is 150!

 

[williamsf1]

I find it amazing that syd mel is 200 and syd zqn is 150!

Is SYD ZQN only premium economy and not J ?

 

[tinkybelle]

It is saying prem Econ but the seats are the same as the domestic biz aren't they?
the aircraft seems the same.
thought I did have 3A so I presume not much different seating. Maybe someone can advise as I have requested return ug as well.
Oh this is an amex freebee so paid nothing for the ticket X 2

 

[williamsf1]

It is saying prem Econ but the seats are the same as the domestic biz aren't they?
the aircraft seems the same.
thought I did have 3A so I presume not much different seating. Maybe someone can advise as I have requested return ug as well.

Most aircraft operating to NZ are the old config ( first few rows are the convertible domestic seats) - business starts next year

 

[LtdEd]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

Just a quick note about earning SC's on the original fare class. I was booked in saver, upgraded to business MEL-CBR for $105 successful bid and ended up earning 20 SC instead of the 10 I should have received under the original fare rules. Someone else mentioned this previously just wanted to confirm it can end up slightly more generous than stated.

I'd like to know more about this too. Using points to upgrade to J don't get the J SC's, but what about upgrademe bids. I've got my first one tomorrow (PER-SYD $400 BTW).

 

[Moopere]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I'd like to know more about this too. Using points to upgrade to J don't get the J SC's, but what about upgrademe bids. I've got my first one tomorrow (PER-SYD $400 BTW).

"Me too"

Normal upgrade in points PER-SYD or PER-MEL is 9900, to me, thats almost 300$ of points value, happy to pay it, but if the upgrade me bids are succeeding at 300-400$ _and_ gain J SC's then thats the way to go I think. Flexi on this route gains 40SC, J is 80, say $100 extra for the 40SC's is $2.50 / SC, very good value.

 

[Grimace1]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

but if the upgrade me bids are succeeding at 300-400$ _and_ gain J SC's then thats the way to go I think. Flexi on this route gains 40SC, J is 80, say $100 extra for the 40SC's is $2.50 / SC, very good value.

I've done the upgrade me bids two months ago from a flexi fare on SYD > PER and PER > MEL and I never got the J Status credits, only my Flexi fare SC

 

[Moopere]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I've done the upgrade me bids two months ago from a flexi fare on SYD > PER and PER > MEL and I never got the J Status credits, only my Flexi fare SC

Ahh, ok.

Still worth a low end bid I reckon though. If 9900 points = $300 of value to me, I'd probably be happy to just pay the cash and keep the points for O/S upgrades or award seats.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I'd like to know more about this too. Using points to upgrade to J don't get the J SC's, but what about upgrademe bids. I've got my first one tomorrow (PER-SYD $400 BTW).

"Me too"

Normal upgrade in points PER-SYD or PER-MEL is 9900, to me, thats almost 300$ of points value, happy to pay it, but if the upgrade me bids are succeeding at 300-400$ _and_ gain J SC's then thats the way to go I think. Flexi on this route gains 40SC, J is 80, say $100 extra for the 40SC's is $2.50 / SC, very good value.

Upgrade bids earn in the originally purchased class

Note: Velocity members earn Points and Status Credits based on fare class originally purchased rather than the upgraded class of travel.

 

[Dan_]

Just bid $250 for SYD-DRW. Only 1 business class seat remaining, so I am not hopeful

 

[Dan_]

I was successful with my bid, which pleasantly surprised me.

 

[zealbee]

Pardon my ignorance but I have put in a bid for my flight from BNE to LAX and the return leg late in November and have just had a look on Expert Flyer to check seat availability on the return leg and it is only showing Premium Only seats as being available. I was wondering if that would mean only passengers with elite status would be allowed in those seats or the fact I have bid means it may still be possible to get those seats. If they are unavailable I will cancel the bid for the return leg and just up my bid for the trip over to LA. Thank you for your help.