Whine/wine: seat for my mum Sunday to LAX

[gracekelly]

Apologies for my Friday night Asahi/then red wine-fuelled post. Had to create new login due to inability to manoeuvre passwords. Just bored of my inability to use my Qantas points to upgrade my mother's flight on QF17 on Sunday to LAX. She has been v flexible, but now has ride from LAX to home (3 hours away) on Sunday. But despite the plane looking half full, no PE or business seats in FF. Boring...she has full on arthritis in her coxyx, so you can imagine how much she dreads flying.

any tips? Have to book within 12 hours! Thanks.....

 

[Mattg]

Let me just clarify what it is you're asking. So, your mother is booked on QF17 SYD-LAX this Sunday. And you want to upgrade using points. What kind of ticket has she purchased?

The flight does look fairly lightly loaded, so provided you've booked an upgradeable fare and request an upgrade using points, I'd say the chances of being successful are pretty good.

 

[gracekelly]

Let me just clarify what it is you're asking. So, your mother is booked on QF17 SYD-LAX this Sunday. And you want to upgrade using points. What kind of ticket has she purchased?

The flight does look fairly lightly loaded, so provided you've booked an upgradeable fare and request an upgrade using points, I'd say the chances of being successful are pretty good.

Thanks! But my but my apologies ....I do not have a paid seat as brought her out one way on points and hoped to get a better seat back to LAX. But I have changed job, no status and nothing except economy showing. Was playing last minute game as flight so light...but have failed. Sigh.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks! But my but my apologies ....I do not have a paid seat as brought her out one way on points and hoped to get a better seat back to LAX. But I have changed job, no status and nothing except economy showing. Was playing last minute game as flight so light...but have failed. Sigh.

Ok, I understand. Qantas will not release any more seats in premium economy or business at this stage for that flight. If she must travel on QF17 this Sunday, you're going to need to book an upgradeable economy fare (using cash, not points) and, provided you have enough points, request a classic points upgrade immediately. I would imagine that it would be accepted.

A saver fare on this flight currently costs AUD$1180 and is upgradeable to Business for 72,000 points or Premium Economy for 45,000. If I were you I'd request a business upgrade but tick the box for Premium Economy if Business isn't available.

 

[Mattg]

As an alternative... for 139,000 QF points + taxes she can fly via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific. I see availability in Business class on Sunday on CX110 SYD-HKG and CX882 HKG-LAX.

 

[gracekelly]

Thanks Matt appreciate advice v much. Out of ignorance, why wouldn't they release at this point....not likely to sell all and Monday is even emptier. Anyway sadly very cash poor, so will use points for economy and throw her in a back empty row and cross fingers.

 

[gracekelly]

And I would go via Hong Kong tomorrow.....but too much for her....a bit fragile in body and mind.

 

[Mattg]

And I would go via Hong Kong tomorrow.....but too much for her....a bit fragile in body and mind.

I would choose to fly Business class via HKG over Economy direct given the choice. YMMV.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks Matt appreciate advice v much. Out of ignorance, why wouldn't they release at this point....not likely to sell all and Monday is even emptier. Anyway sadly very cash poor, so will use points for economy and throw her in a back empty row and cross fingers.

Some airlines do, but historically Qantas hasn't. Instead, they will be processing upgrade requests at this point and filling the seats up that way.

 

[RichardMEL]

So how did this pan out?