Upgrades using Qantas FF points on cheap economy fares

[wafliron]

Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. Hoping the knowledgable folks here can help me out with a quick query:

I'm booked in economy on QF29 to Hong Kong this evening. I want to use FF points to upgrade to business, but unfortunately my booking is in an el-cheapo fare class (O) which doesn't allow points upgrades.

My question: does anyone know whether this no-points-upgrades-from-cheap-economy-fare-classes rule is a hard-and-fast one? Or can it be a flexible one, depending on how full the higher classes are on any given flight?

There are currently lots of available seats in business on my flight, so I'm wondering if Qantas may let me upgrade with points if this is still the case just before the flight and I ask for the upgrade at the airport.

Thanks!

 

[MelUser]

Hard and fast except during very rare windows - there were 48 hours last month when all bookings (domestic and international) could be upgraded or an upgrade registered.

This only happens every 1-2 years.

The cheapest fare bucket to buy an upgradeable fare in is economy (S).

 

[wafliron]

Hard and fast except during very rare windows - there were 48 hours last month when all bookings (domestic and international) could be upgraded or an upgrade registered.

Not what I wanted to hear, but thanks for the information

The cheapest fare bucket to buy an upgradeable fare in is economy (S).

Unfortunately I had no control over the fare class I was booked in - will push for at least S in future though! Thanks.

 

[serfty]

Given the flight is tonight you have missed the window to make such a request in any case.