chance of an upgrade?

[bboy]

I'm flying from Melbourne to LAX this Saturday. I have an economy ticket and I have requested an upgrade to business class using my dad's frequent flyer points. He is a platinum member. Does this improve my chances? We only did it last week so I'm not holding my breath but I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what the chances of me getting an upgrade are. What do you think? Is there anything I can do now to improve my chances?

 

[Mal]

Are you travelling QF103? Or 93?

QF103 looks to have around 14 spare Business seats. In Economy, it is about half full, but the "status" rows are completely full.

This means that you have a reasonable chance of an upgrade, but depends how many business seats they release for upgrades and how many other Plats are in Economy.

QF93 looks to only have a few seats left in Business. Probably a bit less of a chance than QF103.

Good luck! Being a plat your father has put you pretty much at the top of the list. The only thing that matters is how many business seats are released for upgrades and how many other plats/Chairmans lounge members are on the list before you...

If you don't know how the upgrade system works, basically upgrades are done in the order Platinum to Bronze. For each status level, upgrades are done according to the time of request. So a plat requesting an upgrade 3 days before the trip is higher than a gold requesting 2 months before a trip. A plat asking 2 months before the trip is higher than a plat asking 1 month before the trip etc etc etc.

 

[Sequel]

Mal,

How have you checked the load for flights that you aren't on? I have used checkmytrip and view trip, but only for flights that I have a booking reference for. Being able to look at other flights would enable you to check loads before booking (if booking late) in order to get empty/full flights to increase chances of upgrade or better seating.

 

[QF WP]

Sequel, Mal's probably using KSV Availability Tool or Expert Flyer (both excellent software that you have to pay for). To find their websites, see my sticky thread here on the QF Forum. Go to the bottom of Posts 2 or 3, that's where the links will be.

Other web sites give you limited information (or he rang up QF and asked for the loads on thise flights :wink: )

 

[bigjobs]

If you don't know how the upgrade system works, basically upgrades are done in the order Platinum to Bronze. For each status level, upgrades are done according to the time of request. So a plat requesting an upgrade 3 days before the trip is higher than a gold requesting 2 months before a trip. A plat asking 2 months before the trip is higher than a plat asking 1 month before the trip etc etc etc.

Does this apply in the QP also when people are requesting upgrades in the club right before thier flights?

 

[serfty]

Here I used http://www.flyaow.com/classcathay.htm. Works ok unless CX flys the route or it's with a few days of departure.

QF93 is showing: J4 C0 D0 I0 U0 , not many Business seats left.
QF103 has: J9 C0 D0 I0 U0 so there are at least nine up for sale, but none at discount.

 

[QF WP]

Does this apply in the QP also when people are requesting upgrades in the club right before thier flights?

No, it's first in, first served basis for ODU's. If you have access to the QC, head straight for the Service Desk. Ask whether they are available for your flight, or whether all J pax have checked in (as most do late, or change at short notice). Never assume they have all checked in...

The CSA will usually advise if there are any available (if they are showing U seats open). If not all the J pax have checked in, they'll take your BP and start (or already have) a "pile" of pax wanting ODU's for that flight.

Then they'll page you when they know the outcome. If you'r waiting for J pax to check-in; I've personally found about a 25% success rate (usually ex-BNE and mostly I do them to MEL, ADL or PER).

 

[Mal]

Mal,

How have you checked the load for flights that you aren't on?

Serfty and Lindsay have pretty much explained it. There are tools you can use on the net. Some are pay, some are free. The one I used is a pay one. It gives me seat maps of pretty much any flight as well as indications of available seats as well as sometimes other interesting things.

 

[thadocta]

If you don't know how the upgrade system works, basically upgrades are done in the order Platinum to Bronze. For each status level, upgrades are done according to the time of request. So a plat requesting an upgrade 3 days before the trip is higher than a gold requesting 2 months before a trip. A plat asking 2 months before the trip is higher than a plat asking 1 month before the trip etc etc etc.

Does this apply in the QP also when people are requesting upgrades in the club right before thier flights?

ODU's are not available for international flights. They are available (last time I looked) for the domestic sector of an international flight, but not from MEL to LAX.

Dave

 

[bboy]

Are you travelling QF103? Or 93?

I'm on QF103.. so hopefully it will work out. Thanks so much for the information.