UpgradeMe pricing and success

[docjames]

Email text (not sure where I got the -25% from - i think it may have been after click through)

Dear DOCJAMES,



Virgin Australia is delighted to inform you that your booking is eligible for discounted upgrade rates with Upgrade Me Premium Bid. This means that the minimum bid amount for your flight below has been reduced for a limited time.

Remember though, the higher your offer, the more chances you have of receiving the upgrade.



Booking Reference: xx_xx_



VA356
XX
MONTH
2018
Brisbane
BNE

Melbourne
MEL

<LINKS REDACTED>


To bid for an upgrade:

Submit an offer by clicking here at least 72 hours prior to departure.1

Enter your payment information.2

We will notify you at least 24 hours prior to your flight if your upgrade bid has been accepted.3


<BID FOR UPGRADE LINK REDACTED>



This special pricing is only valid until July 27, so don't miss out!

Must have done it right on the 72hrs as i thought i was inside that time point.

 

[Must...Fly!]

They've been doing -20% quite regularly. 25 would be new.

 

[Arrow29]

Just had a successful bid PER-MEL for $300 (A330) approved approx 72hrs prior to departure.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I now see the discount appear. First time I've seen it and the discount offered to me was -15%. Makes an upgrade really good value, if I actually win it! I think it also said the offer was only until the end of May.

 

[danielt25]

VA773 BNE/CNS 14/5

Saver fare $160 (booked mid March)
Bid minumum $115 (at time of booking)
Success at T-48

 

[Rubix]

$195 Minimum bid offer inc. 20% off. Upgrade via points is 30k.

Can anyone comment on the value for this?

BNE-DRW.

Orginal fare $179 Getaway.

 

[serfty]

Was the points upgrade available?

 

[Rubix]

Was the points upgrade available?

The points upgrade was pending a waiting list.

I ended up flying in economy. Regret it though. Was only 1 seat spare on the whole flight.

 

[Bagpuss]

Paid $310.81 ($329 fare with 5% off poromo code booked within a week of departure) for NTL (Newcastle) - PER

Bid $350 for upgrade on a330 between MEL - PER ($300 minimum)

Bid $80 for upgrade on b737 between NTL - MEL (had 20% discount on bid)

MEL - PER upgrade came through about T-60

NTL - MEL upgrade came through about T-30 (making full cabin)

Partner who had already booked on same flights, had paid $329 for flights (didn’t know about code then) made all same bids and also upgraded. Partner had MEL - PER upgrade come through about T-72. Unsure why mine took longer to come through considering upgrade all done at same time.

Thought all up was good pricing (more so as all booked a week within departure), already retained platinum so don’t care about SC’s. (I think a $300 bid for MEL - PER would have worked. Currently T-31 and 5 business seats available.)

 

[Fifi]

VA1 SYD/LAX 2/6

Getaway fare ~$600 (booked 3/4)
Bid slightly over minumum $530 (at time of booking)
Unsuccessful

I have never had any success with either points upgrades or bidding. Have no idea how you all seem to be successful?!

 

[vandy]

MEL-SYD
Getaway Fare $160.
Minimum bid $130. Not successful.

 

[clipped_wings]

VA1 SYD/LAX 2/6

Getaway fare ~$600 (booked 3/4)
Bid slightly over minumum $530 (at time of booking)
Unsuccessful

I have never had any success with either points upgrades or bidding. Have no idea how you all seem to be successful?!

I'm guessing this bid was for a Premium seat upgrade, not Business.

I think the odds of scoring a long haul upgrade with a minimum bid are just that: long. The Getaway fare was probably what killed your chances, it is just too far removed from the Premium and Business brackets. I hope you managed to use the spare cash for Economy X at least ;D

 

[jasecao]

VA555 on Monday Sydney to Perth
Bid: $370 min was $350
successful on Friday

 

[Bolthead]

Wife received upgrade, VA1447 ADL - OOL for Wednesday. Minimum bid $120 (20% off).......she's happy

 

[Fifi]

I'm guessing this bid was for a Premium seat upgrade, not Business.

I think the odds of scoring a long haul upgrade with a minimum bid are just that: long. The Getaway fare was probably what killed your chances, it is just too far removed from the Premium and Business brackets. I hope you managed to use the spare cash for Economy X at least ;D

Yes, premium bid only. Scored free Economy X at check-in

 

[Fifi]

VA2 SYD/LAX 6/6

Getaway fare ~$600 (booked 3/4)
Bid slightly over minumum $1630 (at time of booking) for Business
Successful. Finally.

 

[flying_duck]

Flying 14/6 BNE to CBR
Elevate Fare ~$180 if I remember correctly.
$80 bid given and accepted t-72.

 

[irdonn]

PER-MEL-CBR $299 elevate fare.
$350 bid PER-MEL (A330)
$120 bid MEL-CBR
Both accepted approximately three days prior.

 

[freebo]

Flying in a few weeks - BNE-LAX and LAX-SYD.

I'm VA Platinum and have plenty of SC's so I'm wait-listed for a J upgrade for these two flights, current tickets are Freedom - out Sat, in Fri so popular days.

I did hear the waitlist only goes active at t-5 days, so I'm also checking regularly, often upgrades do become available about 2 weeks out, less often Fridays and Saturdays.

I especially want J on the way back (Fri night departure out of LAX to SYD).

- If I put in an upgrade-me bid is this likely to take priority over my points upgrade?

- Any idea of the min I should bid for a reasonable chance of success?

Thanks!

 

[Aus ATC]

HBA - BNE 24/6. 2 × Elevate Fares at ~$280.00 each.

Flight was showing J4 available. Minimum bid of $130.00 each was accepted about T-80.

Quite happy with this result. We would have used points to book, had there been availability when planning the trip.