Which airline that serves SYD-LHR has the cheapest upgrade awards?

[SighMN]

A lot of you guys probably don't keep up with changes to the Etihad Guest program, but recently they've updated their program and revised mileage costs for upgrades/awards. SYD-LHR used to cost about 60,000 miles one way upgrade, and now it will cost 90,000 miles. A first class award ticket with the new program will cost about 350,000 miles round trip. Some of the upgrade awards look like they are more expensive than just buying the award ticket itself.

I pay for my premium travel, and I usually save my miles for award trips for my family/friends. It usually is so nice to travel with family or friends and be able to upgrade them. With these changes to Etihad Guest even though I have tons of miles they won't go that far now. I'm wondering which airline has the cheapest upgrade awards? I actually did my research a few years ago and chose Etihad partially based on their reasonable (compared to Qantas) upgrades.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I usually buy a Y+ seat and request an upgrade on QF. CX have looked after me well over the years, being good Chinese they understand what status means!

 

[Mwenenzi]

I'm wondering which airline has the cheapest upgrade awards?

"Cheapest" means nothing. Like currencies freq flyer miles/points are not of equal value. Its is all about earn to burn, if an award upgrade can be secured with confidence, the cost of the base fare that can be upgraded & the $ cost of surcharges.

 

[docjames]

"Cheapest" would probably be to use actual $$$ on Air Asia X to upgrade to their "lie flat" seating.

 

[SighMN]

For the Air Asia X suggestion, using anything other than miles would be more uncomfortable. My friends/family are ok to have their flights upgraded with miles, but they don't want me to help them with the cost of the airfare or pay for upgrades. Yes miles have value, but they are a side-effect of my travel and it somehow is easier to convince people to let me use them.

I'm sorry I wan't more clear about what I meant by "cheapest" but I maybe incorrectly assumed I meant the ratio of "earn and burn" as well as actual availability. I guess what I'm looking for information about is what airline will give the most amount of upgrades for the least amount of first class/business class paid trips made. I did this research a few years ago, and it was quite tedious getting all the numbers together in a spreadsheet, so I thought I'd save some time and ask if people have some definite knowledge. For example if I was flying to the USA a lot,despite my problems with United in the past, I'd probably still use them to fly. Their first class/business class product are average compared to other international airlines, but it only took about one flight in first class to be able to upgrade my family/friends from either economy to business or business to first. I don't know anymore but I used to have the upgrades confirm a long time before the flight as well.

For Qantas is their earn and burn competitive? I've looked at their website before, and it really seems like the earning of miles solely on flying is low compared to their upgrade awards. For example it would take about 3-4 trips in first class SYD-LHR to get enough points to upgrade a round trip from Y+ to business or business to first class. The other thing is that some airlines like Singapore Airlines have specific restrictions on their 380 aircraft. I'm not sure you can book an award for the 380 or it is at least expensive, and there are no saver upgrade awards either.

I don't partake in credit card point programs at the moment mostly because I prefer my current cards. Unless there is a really good argument to start earning miles through alternative means then assume most of my point earning will just be from first/business class travel. All my hotel points go towards Starwood Preferred Guest.

 

[mannej]

"Cheapest" would probably be to use actual $$$ on Air Asia X to upgrade to their "lie flat" seating.

Optiontown is probably another cheap way of upgrading (if successful).

 

[SighMN]

Optiontown is probably another cheap way of upgrading (if successful).

Thanks with all the replies. I've looked at option town, but I need somewhat certainty of an upgrade. For example I would be travelling in business or first on the same flight, so it would be pretty important to make sure my friends/family got upgraded. There is nothing worse than traveling with someone when you are in a different class for 28 hours. I've had it happen once when one of my friends got downgraded. Despite all my status with the airline they refused to budge. I later find out she was downgraded because of some politician and their entourage flying on short notice. (First class passengers were downgraded to business and business pax downgraded to economy).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks with all the replies. I've looked at option town, but I need somewhat certainty of an upgrade. For example I would be travelling in business or first on the same flight, so it would be pretty important to make sure my friends/family got upgraded. There is nothing worse than traveling with someone when you are in a different class for 28 hours. I've had it happen once when one of my friends got downgraded. Despite all my status with the airline they refused to budge. I later find out she was downgraded because of some politician and their entourage flying on short notice. (First class passengers were downgraded to business and business pax downgraded to economy).

well if you need certainty of an upgrade, QF is not, for the moment at least, your preferred airline. They will only confirm an international upgrade, officially, 5 hours before a flight.. the new Platinum 1 may change that (maybe we'll see changes for regular plats and maybe golds as well... who knows...)

otherwise there is something maybe like thai airways... not sure what their upgrade levels are like, but they do have a standby paid cash upgrade system as well which might be a good fall back (as well as cheaper fares)

other options possibly are smaller carriers such as Malaysia Airlines? Or try asiana?

 

[SighMN]

well if you need certainty of an upgrade, QF is not, for the moment at least, your preferred airline. They will only confirm an international upgrade, officially, 5 hours before a flight.. the new Platinum 1 may change that (maybe we'll see changes for regular plats and maybe golds as well... who knows...)

otherwise there is something maybe like thai airways... not sure what their upgrade levels are like, but they do have a standby paid cash upgrade system as well which might be a good fall back (as well as cheaper fares)

other options possibly are smaller carriers such as Malaysia Airlines? Or try asiana?

Well I looked up Asiana and Thai airways. Both carriers only give 150% mileage bonus to first class flights, and their upgrade awards are similiar to Etihad's. Malaysian Airlines gives 200% mileage bonus in first class, but I can't seem to find out the values of their mileage awards.

I would go with Singapore Airilnes, but their upgrades have a saver and full award so its a bit unpredictable what would be available when. Plus their airfares in first are not that competitive from SYD as they charge a premium for their A380 service.

I wrote a letter to Etihad to communicate my unhappiness with how the changes are affecting Australian residents the most. I haven't heard anything back from them yet, but I doubt it will do much good.