Upgrades with Qantas FF Points

[mndbrwn]

Query Upgrades with Qantas FF Points

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Oops, sorry new to this!! I am looking at upgrading a flight for my daughter and I. I made the booking for us both, as she is a minor. We both have FF accounts and both have the necessary points for the upgrade. However, the message is insufficient points. Do I need all the points required in my FF account? Thanks!

 

[Hvr]

Do I need all the points required in my FF account? Thanks!

Welcome aboard.

Is the flight domestic or international? Has it actually been ticketed yet or just booked?

 

[love_the_life]

Regardless of who is travelling you will need the points to be in your own account as you booked the flights and it is one PNR. You can transfer there required points from her account into yours to make sure you have sufficient. I have done that quite a lot between mine and my husband's accounts.
If it is a domestic flight, you will know straight away if the upgrade request has been successful but if it's an international flight you won't have an answer until very close to flight time. Sometimes the only way I know that a request has been successful is by seeing that the points have been deducted.

 

[mndbrwn]

Thank you! Yes, it is a domestic flight, Perth-Melbourne and has been ticketed. I will transfer the points into my account. Thanks once again.

 

[JohnM]

Do you know whether UPGs are available on that flight, or is it on request?

There are ways to check in advance if U bucket seats (Bus Award) are available and so select immediately upgradeable flights (if you have flexibility.)

 

[love_the_life]

Do you know whether UPGs are available on that flight, or is it on request?

There are ways to check in advance if U bucket seats (Bus Award) are available and so select immediately upgradeable flights (if you have flexibility.)

Good point as probably not much use in transferring points if no upgrade is available.

 

[juddles]

Query Upgrades with Qantas FF Points

mndbrwn, here on AFF there is a wealth of knowledge and experience, and a desire to help. If you give all the non-personal info you can (eg flight sectors, etc) then you will find there are many all to willing to assist. Be as specific and detailed as you can.

None of us are true grurus - but we all want to help!

I personally think that a domestic upgrade request will happen instantaneously when you request it. But as per @love_the_life, you need to have all the points available in the profile of the person making the booking.

 

[mndbrwn]

Thanks again! Yes upgrades are available for the flight and seats are available. I have transferred the necessary points into my name and placed the request for an upgrade. We have a 6 hour wait in the evening in Perth, so it will be good to use the business lounge.

 

[JohnM]

That is still a little ambiguous. I take it that the upgrades have been confirmed, as opposed to merely requested and wait-listed?

 

[Christoo]

With the sheer number of WP PAX these days, I would think any upgrades to J without a minimum of SG were a rarity and even then unlikely below WP

 

[Himeno]

The first time I got an upgrade was on the first long haul sector of an LONE4. Had put in for a points upgrade from Y to W on SYD-LAX. Went to check in at CBR and was told there was some sort of problem and ticketing needed to fix it.
After a quick visit to the ticketing counter and back to the check in desk, I had a J boarding pass for the long leg. Had gotten Y>W points upgrade, then W>J op up.
I was bronze at the time.

 

[JohnM]

With the sheer number of WP PAX these days, I would think any upgrades to J without a minimum of SG were a rarity and even then unlikely below WP

Very much so for international flights, but the OP is travelling domestic PER-MEL so the international limitations on upgradeable fares and the release-time restriction won’t apply. If U bucket is available on DOM, it can be snared immediately by anyone, even from highly discounted whY fares can it not?

I was also of the understanding that if the UPG was not granted immediately, the request would be wait-listed pending possible release nearer departure (as done for international UPGs). In that case, the status pecking order would apply.

I’ve been WP for many years, so I may be spoilt by that, but I’ve never that I can recall had any problems getting DOM UPGs from base fares, but I always use EF to check for U avalability first and select the flight accordingly.

 

[love_the_life]

Very much so for international flights, but the OP is travelling domestic PER-MEL so the international limitations on upgradeable fares and the release-time restriction won’t apply. If U bucket is available on DOM, it can be snared immediately by anyone, even from highly discounted whY fares can it not?

I was also of the understanding that if the UPG was not granted immediately, the request would be wait-listed pending possible release nearer departure (as done for international UPGs). In that case, the status pecking order would apply.

I’ve been WP for many years, so I may be spoilt by that, but I’ve never that I can recall had any problems getting DOM UPGs from base fares, but I always use EF to check for U avalability first and select the flight accordingly.

Yes, I thought the upgrade lottery was only for international flights and if available on domestic, first in best dressed. I may of course be totally talking out of my hat.

 

[mndbrwn]

I have put in the request, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. It is a domestic flight, Perth-Melbourne and I have the 50,000 points in my name required for the two of us.

 

[JohnM]

I regret to say, but I think that you should prepare yourself to be disappointed.

If the flight you booked had no immediate UPG availability, it may never have any.

What day of the week and what time is the flight; also which aircraft type (A330 or B737)? If it is a busy time, QF may plan on comfortably selling all seats as revenue tix and not resort to releasing FF redemptions and UPGs. And many people may think that an UPG on a B737 is not worth it compared with the A330.

On top of that, if you have no or low status, anyone with higher status on the UPG waitlist will trump you.

As I attempted to explain upthread, there are tools to pre-identify availability of Business award seats or UPGs and so make a booking on such flights to snare them immediately, so as not to go on the waitlist.

When are you flying? Successful waitlisted UPGs will likely only start to be notified about three days ahead. Unsuccessful requests may not even be acknowledged.

If you would like to PM (aka ‘start a conversation’) me with the date and flight number, I could give some clearer insights.

I live in PER, so I know the importance of UPGs on DOM flights .

 

[love_the_life]

I have put in the request, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. It is a domestic flight, Perth-Melbourne and I have the 50,000 points in my name required for the two of us.

I wonder when you have said that there are upgrades available if you mean that there are J seats on the website. This is quite different from the availability of an award seat or upgrade possibility.
I'm not sure if you are able to use the PM (conversation) as JohnM suggested but if you can certainly send him the details and he will check. Alternatively just post the date and flight number here and some one will look for you.

 

[JohnM]

All sorted by ‘conversation’ , LtL .

 

[mndbrwn]

Thank you everyone for your advice, I appreciate it greatly. Yes, LTL, seat availability and upgrade possibility are two different things! John has helped immensely...it looks as if I will have to wait (patiently), with fingers crossed that I may receive an upgrade prior to flying. I will get back to the forum after our trip.

 

[love_the_life]

All sorted by ‘conversation’ , LtL .

Excellent. I had a feeling there was a minimum number of posts required before you could initiate a PM.

 

[JohnM]

Excellent. I had a feeling there was a minimum number of posts required before you could initiate a PM.

Good point, LtL, but it worked, so all is sweet.