UpgradeMe pricing and success

[simmomelb]

I will now and report back shortly.

Working perfectly for me via the app.

I can also modify via the email without any issues (using Edge on Android).

Not sure what's going on for some users but it does sound like there is a bug somewhere.

 

[kyle]

Working perfectly for me via the app.

I can also modify via the email without any issues (using Edge on Android).

Not sure what's going on for some users but it does sound like there is a bug somewhere.

Yeah not sure if the velocity upgrade killed it

 

[kyle]

I've got a PER-MEL flight in four months' time. There are still 4 J seats available for sale, but no reward seats.

I'm thinking of putting in a cash upgrade, currently min bid is $315 and J is selling for $1,800. I paid $355 for the Y seat. Is there any advantage in bidding early? Or maybe I should go into the 30K points upgrade waitlist.

Success at $330, $15 more than the minimum. We got the last two seats in J PER-MEL. What a great way to end the holiday.

 

[1022]

Success this week with a $115 bid on a lowish choice fare MEL-SYD. I made the bid 4 days prior to the flight. $105 was minimum bid at that time. Interestingly I looked a week or so before and minimum bid was a fair bit higher at $170 if I recall correctly.

 

[Moopere]

I must admit with the B737's I am starting wonder if business class is worth it as oppossed to Row 3. Really being Perth based it makes sense when flying back from East Coast, but more and more when I return home I drive home so the alcohol appeal is gone.

Even using a complimentary upgrade you are looking at spending $200 - $300 more for the flexible flight and just doing that for the purpose of a upgrade I'm starting to question it.

Brisbane to Perth I think makes sense, Sydney to Perth yeah maybe, Melbourne to Perth is a bit hummmm.

Some of the equation I think is the time of the flight. I tend to find mid morning, afternoon flights are fine. But after 8PM from East to West you'll find it pretty much passengers wanting to sleep and less service.

Though it's always the little things ... Wider seats, meal, alcohol, more attentive staff and easier toilet access etc.

I was going to reply to one of the other comments re: value of J on VA but I'll respond here because I too am really wondering about the value proposition on the 737 in J.

Someone else mentioned above that it might actually be a better option in EconX and I'm thinking that might really be the case. J on the 737 is simply awful, its always been so even back in the VA1 day. Overstuffed seats are uncomfortable and no footrest means I am constantly sliding off the seat if I try and use the laughably small recline available. Asking price PER-MEL is circa $1800 one-way ... (!!!)

I commented earlier that I did the PER-MEL last QTR last year in Y and purchased everything re: food and drink and whilst this irks me as full service tickets used to actually be full service, its a small additional cost. The J food and drink is measurably better, even on a bad day, but $200-300 better (usual lowest upgrade price)? I don't think so.

More space in J is always good, but only if its comfortable space. Theres no USB or power of any type, no pillow, no blanket, no amenity pack, no entertainment ...

On the 330 PER-MEL, PER-SYD and PER-BNE was a good proposition and even tempting at full price. 737? Its really champagne price for beer product in my view.

 

[simmomelb]

I was going to reply to one of the other comments re: value of J on VA but I'll respond here because I too am really wondering about the value proposition on the 737 in J.

Someone else mentioned above that it might actually be a better option in EconX and I'm thinking that might really be the case. J on the 737 is simply awful, its always been so even back in the VA1 day. Overstuffed seats are uncomfortable and no footrest means I am constantly sliding off the seat if I try and use the laughably small recline available. Asking price PER-MEL is circa $1800 one-way ... (!!!)

I commented earlier that I did the PER-MEL last QTR last year in Y and purchased everything re: food and drink and whilst this irks me as full service tickets used to actually be full service, its a small additional cost. The J food and drink is measurably better, even on a bad day, but $200-300 better (usual lowest upgrade price)? I don't think so.

More space in J is always good, but only if its comfortable space. Theres no USB or power of any type, no pillow, no blanket, no amenity pack, no entertainment ...

On the 330 PER-MEL, PER-SYD and PER-BNE was a good proposition and even tempting at full price. 737? Its really champagne price for beer product in my view.

Of course there is entertainment, have you never used their in-flight entertainment? And now their aircraft are quite quickly rolling out wifi internet (free for J/platinum), and many of the updated business class seats have been retrofitted with power (not guaranteed as the rollout isn't finished).
I've had plenty business seats on VA with a power source.

 

[Moopere]

Of course there is entertainment, have you never used their in-flight entertainment? And now their aircraft are quite quickly rolling out wifi internet (free for J/platinum), and many of the updated business class seats have been retrofitted with power (not guaranteed as the rollout isn't finished).
I've had plenty business seats on VA with a power source.

I've used the in flight wifi based entertainment previously. Must have been lucky enough to have a fully charged device. Last flight I took in J though, the lounge USB charge ports were dead, device was almost out of power and realised when I boarded that J, unbelievably, didn't have any power sources.

I must have been spoiled by earlier incantations of J on the 737 and of course the A330. Are we now happy enough to pay for a J seat without any amenities? No power, no seat back screen, not even being passed a tablet? Back in the early days of the J rollout with VA I almost laughed when the FA's passed me a samsung tablet .. felt like a cheap and nasty offering ... now I'd be happy to take one if it was offered - how standards change over time

At what point do you just toss in the towel and look after yourself? Bring a sandwich and a mini bottle of claret, your own tablet and a battery brick, pillow, blanket, toiletries, etc, then just slum it in Y at the minimum possible ticket price? If you require a big seat (with almost no recline), fine, I get it - but for those that don't, what are we actually getting for the circa $1400 additional spend on a J ticket in a 737 over what you'd get in Y (assuming something like 400$ one way PER-MEL in Y)

I fully understand that J seats are never a value proposition - but there used to be, and still is outside of Australia, a convenience value, sort of like booking a mid or high tier room in a nice hotel - sure you could go to a backpackers and BYO everything, but theres convenience and niceties in using a nice hotel ... is this still the case with J seats on domestic flights? Honest question ... is it?

Having been spoiled for many years domestically when VA1 was gunning QF and having utilised dozens of international J legs perhaps its my own perception thats off and theres really nothing to see here.

 

[kyle]

Success at $330, $15 more than the minimum. We got the last two seats in J PER-MEL. What a great way to end the holiday.

I should add that both ways we had wifi, although the return trip had a server reboot because wifi stopped working.

I was streaming YouTube with only minor pauses. So made the upgrade bid much more worthwhile.

 

[ChrisBNE]

21 Jan, LST-BNE VA1642 2x $100

 

[luckypierre]

Yes I had this issue doing it on mobile. Was ok on desktop.

Experienced this issue this morning. VA chat and call centre could not assist. Could not modify/cancel upgrademe request via Edge, Chrome or Firefox, but could view for another booking that I had not made any UpgradeMe offer (deliberate by VA ?). However found original UpgradeMe request confirmation email from VA and clicked on the link and could view/modify/cancel upgrade offer

 

[The-Aviator]

Got 2x $255 upgrades (a token $5 above minimum bid) on SYD-PER. Definitely a no-brainer at that price, especially given the lengthier flight going westbound!

Given J loads on the return flight a similar bid would probably have been successful, but decided against it due to the shorter flight.

 

[kyle]

Trying the upgrade bid again and this time, I was able to get back into the bid to cancel/modify. $70 lowest bid for MEL-SYD. Let's see what happens. 6 seats left in J I think for this morning flight.

 

[YDR]

Success 2 weeks ago on a Tuesday 6pm Mel-Syd flight at $75. $5 more than the lowest offer of $70.

 

[kyle]

So my upgrade @ $70 on MEL-SYD flight tomorrow got approved. I already checked in before the upgrade came through, and I didn't like the seat in J that has been allocated. Turned out that I can't just reselect the seat. Had to call VA and undo the check in so I can check in to the seat I wanted.

 

[simmomelb]

So my upgrade @ $70 on MEL-SYD flight tomorrow got approved. I already checked in before the upgrade came through, and I didn't like the seat in J that has been allocated. Turned out that I can't just reselect the seat. Had to call VA and undo the check in so I can check in to the seat I wanted.

Yep, once you check in this locks you out of making any changes at your end.
Best not to check in until you see if you've got the upgrade.
At least you got it sorted.

 

[twinaisle]

You do know that upgrading means you don't get seat selection right? It's pretty much whatever seat is available.

 

[simmomelb]

You do know that upgrading means you don't get seat selection right? It's pretty much whatever seat is available.

I'm sure I've changed mine around online before. Unless I'm mistaken, it was a long time.ago that I put in a bid upgrade.
Although what you are saying would totally make sense. Give the seat selection option only to those who pay full price for them.

 

[kyle]

You do know that upgrading means you don't get seat selection right? It's pretty much whatever seat is available.

There are seats still available in J, so it's not full and the call centre agent was happy to oblige to make the change.

 

[kyle]

Yep, once you check in this locks you out of making any changes at your end.
Best not to check in until you see if you've got the upgrade.
At least you got it sorted.

And the saga continues, flight on the quarter has been cancelled, moved to the half hour flight 15 mins, didn't get my preferred J seat, couldn't check in and had an error saying balance owing or something, went to see an agent at the kiosks and apparently my old ticket number was not attached to the new flight or something.

Now sitting in lounge waiting for the new flight which is already delayed by 15 mins

 

[MooTime]

And the saga continues, flight on the quarter has been cancelled, moved to the half hour flight 15 mins, didn't get my preferred J seat, couldn't check in and had an error saying balance owing or something, went to see an agent at the kiosks and apparently my old ticket number was not attached to the new flight or something.

Now sitting in lounge waiting for the new flight which is already delayed by 15 mins

Hmm, compared to some of the issues some people have had over recent times, most notably on QF your problem does seem to be on the lighter side.

I know we all have a preference in VA J cabin, but really all the same.... Flight changed to 15min later with a further 15min delay, all while you're sitting in the lounge?

Life can be tough.