Upgrading on Thai using points

[ajw373]

Can anyone advise how you use Thai airways points to upgrade a Thai flight.

I have 30k of points to burn and a flight coming up, but cannot for the life of me work out how to use the points to upgrade.

If I look at the pathetic Royal Orchard Plus website I can see under redeeming miles the option to book an award flight (but stupidly only a limited number of ports can be chosen as an origin), under that is something to upgrade, but click on that and it is for Star Alliance upgrades with no option to select Thai. Cannot see anything else anywhere.

My fare class is upgradable according to their FAQ, and the number of points needed is perfect for my sector (27k), but just cannot find how. Grumble Thai, grumble.

 

[smit0847]

Call TG australia

 

[ajw373]

Turns out contacting the contact centre is the way to request an upgrade. How stupid and backwards is that? It can be requested online for Star Alliance but not for Thai themselves.

As for their call centres, also very hopeless. Apparently only the booking office that made the booking can make 'changes' including upgrades. My case Thai Australia couldn't help, but did advise what was needed, so had to contact the local office. Took 2 days to get someone to answer and then 20 minutes on the phone trying to explain to them.

Oh the local office things is quite irritating. My wife is flying in advance of me with our 2 yo and infant and had to call the local office to request bassinet seat. Even the call centre in Thailand couldn't/wouldn't help with that reuqest. And the wife is Thai

 

[nitsujay]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but were you successful? I might try to upgrade from an economy seat for MEL-USM

 

[ajw373]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but were you successful? I might try to upgrade from an economy seat for MEL-USM

Yes. Thai seems to work on the principle if there is a business class seat available then it can be used for points upgrades. Unlike Qantas for example where they hold out until the last moment for upgrades.

As mentioned above can only be done by the office that issued the tickety, and you need to pay any additional taxes and charges at the time of the upgrade

 

[nitsujay]

Thank you!

 

[nitsujay]

My experience with the local office (MEL) was very pleasant. The representative I spoke to was extremely helpful and was able to assist with redeeming miles for an upgrade to Royal Silk (business) class for myself and the fiance. Looking forward to our upcoming honeymoon!