Booked QF codeshare to BKK - No upgrade option

[stan101]

Hi team,
I'm flying CNS > SYD > BKK on 23rd December and the only option left was Emirates Flight with Qantas code share. I booked it through the Qantas web site and assumed that I'd apply for a points upgrade. Unfortunately the option to upgrade is not available on codeshares. I'll try and ask for a points upgrade at check in in CNS.

I was a long time Gold member but this year dropped down to Silver due to career change. What are my chances of snagging an upgrade on the Emirates leg to BKK?

 

[moa999]

You can only use QF points to upgrade QF metal, so no point asking at checkin.

 

[Hvr]

Welcome aboard stan101. Sadly the code share option has caught several people out.

Still if you hang around here you'll learn to avoid such traps and even to improve your travel experience.

 

[Spongbob]

Even if your are on QF metal, the cheaper Y (Y-) fares on international flights generally do not allow for Upgrade Awards.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If this was a paid for ticket, and your flights are QF flight numbes, at least you will earn QF FF points and QF SC, Qantas frequent flyer points and Qantas status credits.
You could have made the error of booking the flight under EK flight number, where you earn QFF only and no QF SC!
I flew CHC to SYD, and (not taking a dig) EK J is nice. Granted EK does not have its own lounge in CHC, but compared to the compact QF plane from SYD to CHC, CHC to SYD on the 777 was nice. Plush.
Edit: also, even if you have the sufficient number of points for an upgrade, flying internationally, its a lottery, PS/SG are at the lower end, and any open seats in J will go firstly to CL/P1/WP/then down the line to SG/then PS then NB.
You can put your hand up for an upgrade, but there is no guarantee you will get that upgrade.
As a matter of interest, is your CNS to SYD flight a JQ coded flight number? Hopefully its QF.
OK, will shut up on this thread now.

 

[JohnK]

Even if your are on QF metal, the cheaper Y (Y-) fares on international flights generally do not allow for Upgrade Awards.

Has anyone ever received a points upgrade on the SYD-BKK route? Can't get a business class award seat released 8-9 months from travel and would love to know if it's any easier upgrading with points.

 

[Pushka]

If you have any status with Qantas you may get an upgrade on Emirates anyway especially if flight is full.

We tried to use points to upgrade QF on Emirates in July and couldnt do this with points. But Emirates upgraded us anyway at the gate.

We are flying Emirates Sydney to BKK on 27th Dec but in paid J seats. Economy was very full. Maybe we will be upgraded to F?

 

[stan101]

Thanks for the input, all. I am flying QF from CNS to SYD and have got a points upgrade there. 10000 points for Business is not bad due to the flight being flex and I've got access to the QC in CNS now. It's a Festivus miracle!

I only booked the flight on the 12th of December and the EK was the only available flight that was not jetstar; So I really had no options. But to be frank, I still assumed a codeshare international to have a points upgrade option.
I remember regularily getting award points seats on the BA9 and BA10 SYd BKK routes until QF broke that alignment and I was sure I used to also buy economy tickets on the BA flights and get points upgrades.

I am finding that I am using QF less and less as they just don't service the regions I work /travel to well anymore. Bangkok is my main hub and I'm using Air Asia for flights around asia. As such I haven't renewed my QC as it used to be corporate, but I can't justify it now I am a sole trader. I haven't even got a complimentry pass to get into the QC at SYD international today. Oh how I've fallen

I've still got quite a number of FF points so I'll keep and eye out here from time to time and see if I can't learn a few new tricks with the current regulations.

Happy Festivus!

 

[kitkatff]

EK sometimes offer a paid upgrade (not the full difference between eco and business, a smaller amount but well worth it IMO), ask at the EK counter in SYD if you can, they can only say no ...

But yeah, the way QF is cutting down their capacity to Asia and Europe, the opportunities to get an ugprade are getting smaller every day. If you travel that way a lot you may want to look at other airlines like CX or just plain EK.

 

[Pushka]

EK sometimes offer a paid upgrade (not the full difference between eco and business, a smaller amount but well worth it IMO), ask at the EK counter in SYD if you can, they can only say no ...

And the answer will depend on whether they've already processed upgrades to status pax. In our queue in Dubai the person ahead of us asked to pay for an upgrade but was told the flight was full. We were right behind and received a free upgrade without asking. Emirates look after Q status pax very well.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You could pay AFF an annual membership of Aud$50 and join QP at a reduced rate.
But too true if QF no longer flies your routes then QP is not worth it, even at discounted rates.

 

[bjm76]

Has anyone ever received a points upgrade on the SYD-BKK route? Can't get a business class award seat released 8-9 months from travel and would love to know if it's any easier upgrading with points.

I have a couple of times but it was back when QF was flying 744s on the route:
October 2008: SYD-BKK - points upgrade from PE to J (just me)
May 2012 (I think): BKK-SYD - points upgrade from whY to PE (for two of us, both on same PNR)
Have flown to BKK a few times since on QF, but only on the A330s, and never been able to get an upgrade with points.

The flights always seem packed on QF now, I rarely see a spare seat throughout the plane, must be a profitable route now. Wish they would put the 744s back on the route, but that is just dreaming I know.

 

[Spongbob]

Back in 2009 after the GFC when many people stopped flying, QF heavily discounted Y fares to BKK. On the 747 (QF1 ?) if you had a flex Y fare there were OpUps form Y to PE and Y to J, and often J to F. Several of my work colleagues and myself were beneficiaries of these, and points upgrades were the norm and not the exception.

 

[robert.smith]

I have a couple of times but it was back when QF was flying 744s on the route:
October 2008: SYD-BKK - points upgrade from PE to J (just me)
May 2012 (I think): BKK-SYD - points upgrade from whY to PE (for two of us, both on same PNR)
Have flown to BKK a few times since on QF, but only on the A330s, and never been able to get an upgrade with points.

The flights always seem packed on QF now, I rarely see a spare seat throughout the plane, must be a profitable route now. Wish they would put the 744s back on the route, but that is just dreaming I know.

I've had 2 from 2 at the gate upgrades with points in the last 6 weeks flying BKK -> SYD...... both on the Friday night flight too. I've had less luck SIN ->SYD.

 

[stan101]

Well team you are not going to believe it. I boarded and had some already in my seat. 15 minutes later I'm up in business and I'm now enjoying a g&t using the onboard wireless to send this message. I'm starting to like emirates!

 

[stan101]

I've just got lucky and found my seat was overbooked. I just got bumped to business!.

I'm starting to like emirates as I send this message via inflight WiFi!

 

[Pushka]

I've just got lucky and found my seat was overbooked. I just got bumped to business!.

I'm starting to like emirates as I send this message via inflight WiFi!

Twice even!

 

[stan101]

Twice even!

I didn't see my first post on refresh. I was so happy I tried to share again

 

[JohnK]

Have flown to BKK a few times since on QF, but only on the A330s, and never been able to get an upgrade with points.

That's disturbing. Will be even worse when SIN/BKK/HKG are all operated by A330s.

 

[Mattg]

Great outcome for the OP, but does this not highlight one of the issues for QFi as they fly to less places? It's all well and good to send pax on their partner airlines, but if they have no opportunities to upgrade with points then they miss out on one of the main advantages they have from being a loyal Qantas flyer and accumulating points. (I feel for Perth residents...)

Anyway, it seems not to have mattered today. stan101​, you are incredibly lucky!