Qantas Courtesy Upgrade Love

[serfty]

Back in the 90's, Qantas would regularly upgrade their (then) top tier Gold Frequent Flyers should space be available (Ansett did similar too). For me and my associates this seemed to happen one in every four flights. The entire thing was not publicly documented.

Late that decade, I received a letter advising that this practise of "Courtesy Upgrades" would be discontinued, but as a high status member, be rest assured I would be among the first considered should (operational) upgrades be needed.

Well, at least now I had a name for them.

Over the decades since, as a WP there's been some operational upgrades here and there; of course since the introduction of P1 they have basically dried up.

Today I am travelling internationally in O class and after doing OLCI yesterday, the advice to obtain my boarding pass at the airport was received.

This morning my booking was showing a business class seat and I couldn't change it.

Flight is showing Y9 ...X9 E9

No points were deducted; didn’t (couldn't) apply for such an upgrade.

After using First check in at airport to get BP (yes, business), I was advised "a sneaky little upgrade" had occurred. I replied with a smile, I don't mind "sneaky little upgrade"'s and shortly left. My BP has an indicative notation on it.

On arrival at the First lounge the greeting was wholesome, the upgrade re-announced and I was given QF33 "Paris" PJ's and an amenity kit.

I wonder if any other WP's have received similar attention recently?

 

[ChrisMars]

I got two short domestic free upgrade recently, with a "service" message on the digital BP, somethink like "enjoy the upgrade". Y cabin was far from full. I don't fly much anymore, and will drop SG next year, but it looks like Qantas is trying to look after their WP and above at the moment.
I am surprised they extend the free upgrade on international routes too.

 

[VPS]

Nice one. Enjoy

 

[levelnine]

Yes, they've been very common since Hudson took over as CEO. Presumably part of the charm offensive to win back jaded elites after the operational shambles of last year/earlier this year. If you look on the Platinum group on Facebook, you see people posting about them, with that identical message, on a regular basis.

There was some speculation that they were due to stop a while back, but that clearly hasn't happened yet.

 

[Pushka]

Free Upgrade last week for MrP Melbourne to Adelaide. Quite welcome after a busy day and a late flight. He doesn't get boarding passes so couldn't see if there was a message. His first on Qantas.

 

[patrickw]

A WP friend received a free upgrade on QF59 (SYD HND) a few weeks ago. I think they bought Y Sale? Not sure of exact fare class.

 

[serfty]

A WP friend received a free upgrade on QF59 (SYD HND) a few weeks ago. I think they bought Y Sale? Not sure of exact fare class.

I was booked "Sale" - in O class.

 

[flyingfan]

Nice one.
Can't see the attachment, will you be fixing that?

 

[Himeno]

I got a free Y > J upgrade on MEL-CGK in may.

 

[serfty]

Nice one.
Can't see the attachment, will you be fixing that?

Yes ..

 

[flyingfan]

Yes ..

Nice, maybe there's a 'WP' team now bestowing these upgrades!

 

[33kft]

Last year, I booked myself to SIN in Y on one booking (reasoning ahead) and the rest of the family on a separate PNR. We went to check in and the check-in agent said "so you'll be sitting up the front and your wife and the kids are down the back?"

Daggers from the wife and I'm left standing there like a deer in the headlights. "Ahh no, you must be mistaken".

Long story short, they had no way of knowing that I was travelling with other pax and had graciously upgraded me, but with an infant and another young one it was never going to work. Pity they picked that leg and not the return, which I actually was flying solo as I had to get back to work and would meet the family weeks later to bring them back.

Fingers crossed lightning strikes again sometime in the near future...

 

[dairyfloss]

Have seen heaps of them posted on various groups and boards since VH took over, including some on LH and even ULH routes! I wonder if there’s any evidence of a J>F courtesy upgrade like this… as I don’t want to chance being stuck below J again!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[mx838383]

Yes ..
View attachment 400292

Did you get the PJs at first lounge or onboard?

 

[Lynda2475]

5 out of my next 14 QF flights are Y, I wouldn't mind a free J upgrade. Knowing my luck if I do score one it will be on my solo BNE-SYD, SYD-DRW or DRW-SYD and not on SYD-ICN or HND-SYD where I have a NB on the same booking.

I prefer the Paris and JFK blue PJs, so much nicer than the prison greys.

 

[downgraded]

Back in the 90's, Qantas would regularly upgrade their (then) top tier Gold Frequent Flyers should space be available (Ansett did similar too). For me and my associates this seemed to happen one in every four flights. The entire thing was not publicly documented.

Late that decade, I received a letter advising that this practise of "Courtesy Upgrades" would be discontinued, but as a high status member, be rest assured I would be among the first considered should (operational) upgrades be needed.

Well, at least now I had a name for them.

Over the decades since, as a WP there's been some operational upgrades here and there; of course since the introduction of P1 they have basically dried up.

Today I am travelling internationally in O class and after doing OLCI yesterday, the advice to obtain my boarding pass at the airport was received.

This morning my booking was showing a business class seat and I couldn't change it.

Flight is showing Y9 ...X9 E9

No points deducted, didn’t (couldn't) apply for such an upgrade.

After using First check in at airport to get BP (yes, business), "a sneaky little upgrade" had occurred.

I replied with a smile, I don't mind "sneaky little upgrade"'s and shortly left. My BP has an indicative notation on it.

On arrival at the First lounge the greeting was wholesome, the upgrade re-announced and I was given QF33 "Paris" PJ's and an amenity kit.

I wonder if any other WP's have received similar attention recently?
View attachment 400286

Back in probably the nineties, coming back from Europe or the UK, I had a flight such that the SIN-MEL leg was a morning departure. On boarding it transpired all J pax were put upstairs on the 747, and "high" status Y QFF pax were seated in downstairs J with Y catering/service. This was in the era of J recliners of course. Presumably the flight wasn't very busy, but it did kind of reinforce what aspect of J was actually the key element to comfort.

 

[serfty]

Did you get the PJs at first lounge or onboard?

First lounge ... it seemed like they were waiting for me ...

 

[madrooster]

I am surprised they extend the free upgrade on international routes too.

It's all routes, both domestic and international.

There was some speculation that they were due to stop a while back, but that clearly hasn't happened yet.

They were originally supposed to end at the end of June and they were reinstated in mid July so there was a 2 week period in early July where they did not do these comp upgrades.

Nice, maybe there's a 'WP' team now bestowing these upgrades!

No, they are processed by the same automation robot that processes the points upgrades. For domestic they are done at T-6h and international at T-22h usually.

I wonder if there’s any evidence of a J>F courtesy upgrade like this… as I don’t want to chance being stuck below J again!

Yes.

 

[UP4014]

P1 previously was 1 in 10 for an upgrade without requesting.

having said that in the last 8 flights have had 4 upgrades without asking.

 

[elanshin]

I got one early may for my OWA positioning flight from SYD > CGK.