Chances of upgrade using points with basic QFF membership?

[Maggums]

I'm planning to book qantas classic reward flights from Melb to London using points. What are the chances of being successful in upgrading later (either via points or bidding process) on a basic membership?

Do I just redeem business seats?

 

[TonyHancock]

If you are booking a classic award you will not be able to upgrade with points or money.

 

[Simo]

What Tonyhancock said is correct... If you want business you had better book them and do it sooner rather than later

 

[slinky123]

Are you sure? I thought a classic award could be upgraded

Frequent Flyer - Member Specials - Classic Upgrade Reward

 

[TonyHancock]

Are you sure? I thought a classic award could be upgraded

Frequent Flyer - Member Specials - Classic Upgrade Reward

I stand corrected. Show how out of the Qantas loop I am these days.

However you will be bottom of the pile when it comes to upgrading and even if successful won't find out until pretty much the day of travel.

Book the business seat now if you can.

 

[drron]

If there are business awards available book them.Chance of an upgrade as a bronze are very,very low.Just look at how many business awards left in the next couple of months.
As well higher elites get first choice of the business awards.Mrsdrron who is plat sees them before I as a nobody does.So us nobodies have got to be very lucky.

 

[mviy]

Getting a business award seat is cheaper than getting an award seat in a lower class and successfully upgrading later.

Book to fly in the class you'd be happy to fly in.

If you're looking at an economy seat on points you need to consider the taxes and compare costs with an upgradable cash economy fare. Depending on the taxes (quite steep to/from LHR) you could be better off buying an upgradable economy seat using cash (earning some points and status credits) and putting in for an upgrade using your points. Not only would the upgrade to Business require less points (if you're successful) you'd earn points from flying to offset part of this cost. N.B. the cheapest cash economy seats cannot be upgraded so make sure you're buying an upgradable fare if yo

 

[cove]

One of my sons has no QF status but many QF points. He used 280,000 QF points for an Emirates First Class run to Russia and back.
You may need to look at Qantas partners and don't be afraid to pick a city that is not London but maybe a couple of hours away to get set

 

[mannej]

If you are booking a classic award you will not be able to upgrade with points or money.

What Tonyhancock said is correct... If you want business you had better book them and do it sooner rather than later

That isn't correct, but I believe it is more expensive to upgrade a classic award compared to a normal paid fare.

 

[mviy]

You may need to look at Qantas partners and don't be afraid to pick a city that is not London but maybe a couple of hours away to get set

An advantage of flying into somewhere else than London would be lower taxes. The taxes to fly into London are quite steep.

I believe it is more expensive to upgrade a classic award compared to a normal paid fare.

Yes, I mentioned this too. Especially for economy passengers looking to upgrade to destinations with high taxes, economy classic reward seats can be very poor value.

 

[Princess Fiona]

An advantage of flying into somewhere else than London would be lower taxes. The taxes to fly into London are quite steep.
too.

The taxes to fly into LHR are no different. It is the departure from LHR that adds to the cost.

 

[ashleyn]

If my maths are correct, one Way Mel to LHR classic award will set you back 60k points in economy and 128k in business. An upgrade will cost 120k making the total points for the upgrade option 180k versus 128k just to book business. No brainer ?

 

[mviy]

The difficulty is that there are far fewer business classic reward seats released and they go quickly. A friend booked PE classic reward as business wasn't available and put in for an upgrade to J but only got it from DXB-LHR not the whole way from AU.

 

[RichardMEL]

The end goal is Business (J)... if there are seats grab them rather than going into the lottery. LHR is popular for (paid) business and elite travel who will have priority due to satus. Just grab the J seat(s) IMHO.

It may be possible to upgrade with points, but chances would be low.. specially at peak times.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Chance of an upgrade as a bronze are very,very low.

Unless your name is George. George simply logs on a few hours before his return to Australia from Tokyo and upgrades his economy ticket using points. You can find out all about George's experience on the Qantas website.

Or maybe the video - titled 'George's first ever upgrade' - is really showing that it's taken him 40 years (which is about his age) to score his first ever upgrade?

 

[TonyHancock]

Unless your name is George. George simply logs on a few hours before his return to Australia from Tokyo and upgrades his economy ticket using points. You can find out all about George's experience on the Qantas website.

Or maybe the video - titled 'George's first ever upgrade' - is really showing that it's taken him 40 years (which is about his age) to score his first ever upgrade?

mmmmmm might get Griselda to change my name to George.