Advice re upgrading using QFF

[julie60]

Good evening everyone, I have several (probably basic and silly) questions about upgrading with FF.
I am planning on travelling to UK, Adelaide to Perth then LRH buying an economy ticket.
1. Can I just go into the ‘lottery’ to upgrade using points just in the Perth/ LHR and LHR/Perth legs or does it have to be all flights?
2. I was considering buying an extra leg room seat, but wondered if, as this is generally an emergency exit seat, they wouldn’t consider upgrading me as I may be needed to assist in an emergency.
3. I have in excess of 400k FF, does anyone know if that will be enough to upgrade to business or just premium economy.
thank you all so much For your patience with me

 

[ChrisMars]

Good evening everyone, I have several (probably basic and silly) questions about upgrading with FF.
I am planning on travelling to UK, Adelaide to Perth then LRH buying an economy ticket.
1. Can I just go into the ‘lottery’ to upgrade using points just in the Perth/ LHR and LHR/Perth legs or does it have to be all flights?
2. I was considering buying an extra leg room seat, but wondered if, as this is generally an emergency exit seat, they wouldn’t consider upgrading me as I may be needed to assist in an emergency.
3. I have in excess of 400k FF, does anyone know if that will be enough to upgrade to business or just premium economy.
thank you all so much For your patience with me

1. You can go to the lottery, independently, to Perth-LHR and LHR-Perth.
2. Na, this doesn't impact your lottery odds.
3. 400k FF will be enough to upgrade both legs. If you booked economy, it's 109k per leg, if you booked flex eco, it's 60k per leg. If you booked sales eco (E, N, O, Q Booking class), then you won't be able to request an upgrade. The calculator is available here: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html#/upgrade
Go to the qantas app, and see if you can request the upgrade.

 

[julie60]

1. You can go to the lottery, independently, to Perth-LHR and LHR-Perth.
2. Na, this doesn't impact your lottery odds.
3. 400k FF will be enough to upgrade both legs. If you booked economy, it's 109k per leg, if you booked flex eco, it's 60k per leg. If you booked sales eco (E, N, O, Q Booking class), then you won't be able to request an upgrade. The calculator is available here: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html#/upgrade
Go to the qantas app, and see if you can request the upgrade.

Thank you so much for this info

 

[encryptededdy]

2. I was considering buying an extra leg room seat, but wondered if, as this is generally an emergency exit seat, they wouldn’t consider upgrading me as I may be needed to assist in an emergency.

FYI I don't believe you will be refunded the cost of the extra legroom seat if upgraded.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you so much for this info

You 400K points is actually enough to get a business class ticket from the get-go using points. You can even fly first for under 400K.

If you can find availability I'd be booking the space now... the lottery is probably going to be next to impossible.

Qantas recently released a whole bunch of award seats in all cabins. Most of it has gone but you might find the odd seat here and there.

Also AFF runs its own award search assistance service. They can possibly help you if you need.

 

[ChrisMars]

Indeed, some months in 22 / 23 still have lots of J availability to go to lhr. Might be tricky to find those seats from PER, but lots of seats from SYD and MEL

 

[julie60]

1. You can go to the lottery, independently, to Perth-LHR and LHR-Perth.
2. Na, this doesn't impact your lottery odds.
3. 400k FF will be enough to upgrade both legs. If you booked economy, it's 109k per leg, if you booked flex eco, it's 60k per leg. If you booked sales eco (E, N, O, Q Booking class), then you won't be able to request an upgrade. The calculator is available here: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html#/upgrade
Go to the qantas app, and see if you can request the upgrade.

Thank you Chris, can I see if they ENOQ before booking If not, Where would that information be on the book flight bit?

 

[ChrisMars]

Thank you Chris, can I see if they ENOQ before booking If not, Where would that information be on the book flight bit?

So, you don't need that specific info, you just shouldn't book a sales fare. Now, the easiest way to be sure is to start booking on qantas.com, pick your fare (saver), this will display a table with the points earn, sc earn, cancellation fee .... and the last line indicate if you can upgrade or not. You may also check the "full fare conditions", and search for the "upgrade" text.

If you really want to know the booking class, I think you need to continue your booking further until the payment page. Don't pay, go back to manage my booking, You should see your new (unpaid) booking. Click on manage, check your flight details (dropdown), you should see your travel class and the booking class. I think the unpaid booking will drop after 24h.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I am planning on travelling to UK, Adelaide to Perth then LRH buying an economy ticket.

The chances on winning in the QF upgrade lottery are low.
With 400,000 QF ff points look for an award in PE or business

You also should consider buying a ticket on other airline. Not just QF.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

What's your QFF status?
That might also be the thing to consider.
Int upgrades go by status, good if you are P1/WP or CL, but then chances gets less as you go down the status tiers,
You can buy a dom "comfort seat" booking by phoning QF bookings up, for ADL - PER, and back.
Then for the int flights use points for a straight out using points to get that J seat, PER - LHR.
I have in the past bought QF comfort seat NZ - Aust, you don't pay for the taxes of that other seat, just taxes on your own seat, and then, just the seat price on the other seat, of course, if would depend on how good that call centre outsourced employee is, to get you what you need.

 

[julie60]

I don’t have any status at all unfortunately I have asked the AFF’s for assistance

 

[RichardMEL]

I don’t have any status at all unfortunately I have asked the AFF’s for assistance

Unfortunately without status your chances are virtually nil

You should perhaps consider getting the tickets as reward tickets if possible (as noted earlier) to ensuire a premium seat.

 

[RooFlyer]

Award (points) availability isn't bad at the moment, but if you want help looking for award seats. or various options, AFF's sister organisation Award Flight Assist may be able to help. Award Flight Assist - Frequent Flyer Solutions Beware fees and taxes payable, but if you can go PE or business it would be better and Y and as others have said, you'd have very little chance of an upgrade.

 

[julie60]

I have sent a request to Awards Flight Assist. Many thanks all

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just had a look at the QFF website, and a booking for Jul 2023, PER - LHR, direct, one way, in J (business) is asking for, hope you are sitting down, 741,600 points, one way, for "business saver".
918,600 points coming back.
This is Jul 2023 school holidays.
Ouch, need at least a million points to do a return.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Sorry, just to need to add, made a "dummy booking", ie what if.
Not that I have that many points.

 

[jpp42]

Just had a look at the QFF website, and a booking for Jul 2023, PER - LHR, direct, one way, in J (business) is asking for, hope you are sitting down, 741,600 points, one way, for "business saver".
918,600 points coming back.
This is Jul 2023 school holidays.
Ouch, need at least a million points to do a return.

I think this is a clear explanation of why "points plus pay" bookings rarely have a valid use case compared to classic awards. Given Qantas charges nearly $10k for PER-LHR revenue bookings at peak times (I'm seeing $9505), this is actually a "good deal" valuing the points at around $0.01 (better than you sometimes see them at around $0.007).