Changes to ODU's?

[chooms]

Flying CNS-BNE this arvo and in QP right now.

Second strange thing to happen to me in CNS airport this arvo!

Just had a 'restrained anger' discussion with a lady that would be a prime example of a 'lounge dragon'.

According to lounge dragon, there have been changes to On Departure Upgrades. I havent heard and did a quick search here and came up with no explanation to the excuses this lounge dragon gave me.

Anyway, I have subsequently check on seatcounter that both D and J are full but the following is the explanation that was given to me as to why I could no get an ODU using points:

Upgradable fares are now booked up what is called 'U' class. If you are not booked in 'U' class I am afraid you cannot use points for an ODU.

I am booked in fully refundable and fully flexible 'Y'. According to the lounge dragon 'Y' class cannot be upgraded - I have to be in 'U'.

I tried to explain that if I was booked in 'U' I would already be in 'J' but she wouldnt have a bar of it.

This after not getting priority tags on luggage even though I am WP.

I usually have really great service and like CNS airport but would help if QF trained these guys better.

 

[oz_mark]

I thought 'U' was the bucket for business class redemptions. I think someone was confused!

 

[serfty]

I thought 'U' was the bucket for business class redemptions. I think someone was confused!

Certainly Business class award flight redemption ... and ... Domestic Upgrades.

 

[chooms]

Certainly Business class award flight redemption ... and ... Domestic Upgrades.

Yes. But if I was already booked in a 'U' class fare I would be sitting in a comfy seat up the pointy end down to BNE already.

'Y' fares can be converted to 'U' via a ODU at a QP as far as I know. I have dont it plenty of times in the past.

I tried explaining this to the dragon but she wouldnt have a bar of it.

If she said J was full I would have been fine.

She also tried to say that it was the new computer system that wouldnt let her do a ODU.

 

[oz_mark]

She also tried to say that it was the new computer system that wouldnt let her do a ODU.

More likely she didn't know how to do one.

 

[Keith009]

What nonsense - you cannot book revenue tickets into U. As noted by serfty that bucket is used for J awards and domestic upgrades (including ODUs). Asked for a second opinion?

 

[chooms]

What nonsense - you cannot book revenue tickets into U. As noted by serfty that bucket is used for J awards and domestic upgrades (including ODUs). Asked for a second opinion?

No-one has come to replace her plus I looked at seatcounter and both J and D are 0 anyway.

I gave up in the end and asked for an exit row which was also met with a frown yet she did it for me.

 

[serfty]

Maybe she was trying to advise that no U was available?

Although anecdotal evidence on this forum seems to indicate ODU's have not necessarily required "U" availability.

 

[Platy]

Look out for the older guy with glasses - he's very good and down to earth - unflappable too ...

 

[opusman]

Nothing seems to have changed; from the Qantas website:

You may use your Frequent Flyer points to upgrade one class on domestic flights within Australia (where a seat is available) from Discount Economy (excluding airfares booked in N, O or Q class) to Business, or from Full Economy to Business.

^ For domestic flights within Australia, Discount Economy includes Super Saver (classes L, M, R, S, V) and fares booked in G. For international flights, including domestic flights within New Zealand, Discount Economy includes classes B, G, H, K, L, M, R, S, V, W. Flight upgrades are not available on domestic and international airfares booked in N, O or Q class, which includes some Red e-Deals.
+ For domestic flights within Australia, Full Economy includes Fully Flexible (classes Y, B, H) and Flexi Saver (class K). For international flights, including domestic flights within New Zealand, Full Economy is class Y. If you fly on an Award upgrade, you will receive Status credits for the fare class originally purchased.

So I would say either a miscommunication (she was trying to tell you there was no availability in business class), or she simply had no idea about the ODU process.

 

[chooms]

Ok - lounge dragon replaced with young guy. Opportunity to try again.

Was met with this response: "I am sorry sir but there are no upgradable fares left."

I asked for clarification as to whether he meant seats or fares and he repeated his first line.

Should I be reading this as there ARE J seats available - just not allowing people to upgrade them.... or..... there are no J seats available full stop.

Maybe the rumours are true... QF cutting back on upgrades and not filling the J cabin?

If this is true - not happy Qantas. I earn points on actual flights, not credit cards and I believe I should be able to use my points that I have earned.

I will pay a visit to the lav mid flight and check the occupancy situation of seats in J.

EDIT: seatcounter now showing D:0 J:2

 

[Platy]

Ok - lounge dragon replaced with young guy. Opportunity to try again.

Was met with this response: "I am sorry sir but there are no upgradable fares left."

I asked for clarification as to whether he meant seats or fares and he repeated his first line.

Should I be reading this as there ARE J seats available - just not allowing people to upgrade them.... or..... there are no J seats available full stop.

Maybe the rumours are true... QF cutting back on upgrades and not filling the J cabin?

If this is true - not happy Qantas. I earn points on actual flights, not credit cards and I believe I should be able to use my points that I have earned.

I will pay a visit to the lav mid flight and check the occupancy situation of seats in J.

EDIT: seatcounter now showing D:0 J:2

I'm with you, Chooms, but in the time period that I have been flying QF and trying for upgrades there have been many times when could not get upgrade despite seats empty in J in flight (this discussed extensively in other posts so not meaning to re-start a well worn cascade of argument and counter argument on that topic).

Dunno if anything is different in the new system...maybe that exit row doesn't sound too bad after all...

 

[simongr]

If it was J0 D0 then I would expect the cabin to be full or QF to be short staffed on the flight and unable to service a full J cabin. Now that it is J2 I guess there were cancellations.

 

[chooms]

If it was J0 D0 then I would expect the cabin to be full or QF to be short staffed on the flight and unable to service a full J cabin. Now that it is J2 I guess there were cancellations.

cancellations, hence available J seats - but I am told I cannot use my points to upgrade to one of these seats.

When did Qantas announce this? I cannot see any changes in the rules.

Its quite funny because I was actually having a conversation with James Strong about a few things airline wise yesterday up here in Cairns....

 

[Platy]

cancellations, hence available J seats - but I am told I cannot use my points to upgrade to one of these seats.

When did Qantas announce this? I cannot see any changes in the rules.

Its quite funny because I was actually having a conversation with James Strong about a few things airline wise yesterday up here in Cairns....

As I have found out the hard way, just because seats are empty doesn't mean that you will be allowed access to them via ODU.

QF are not that motivated to letting you use your points to try earnestly to fill all J seats with ODUs. Many reasons have been aired on this forum already. Some of us feel QF should make more effort to fill all seats (like AA, apparently), but others seem to disagree.

Looks like your flight is delayed until at least 1745, which should give time for at least one more Crown Lager - personally I'd be enjoying the extra drink in the QP!!!

 

[simongr]

Maybe it is about catering - I am reaching here....

 

[Platy]

Maybe it is about catering - I am reaching here....

Maybe that's unlikely if those two J seats were recent ( ie 60 minutes before flight) cancellations (as appears to be the case)???

 

[Dave Noble]

cancellations, hence available J seats - but I am told I cannot use my points to upgrade to one of these seats.

When did Qantas announce this? I cannot see any changes in the rules.

Its quite funny because I was actually having a conversation with James Strong about a few things airline wise yesterday up here in Cairns....

There is nothing in the rules that says that they will make any unsold seats available to upgrade.

Dave

 

[serfty]

Certainly is often about catering; some years ago when travelling as a party of four BNE-MEL I tried for ODU's for all (Sat evening 763).

I was told in an honest and open manner there was only one available seat for upgrade (out of ~15 empty) due to catering orders etc.

 

[chooms]

There is nothing in the rules that says that they will make any unsold seats available to upgrade.

Dave

true Dave Noble, I have just never had this happen to me before.

Every time I have used points for ODU (usually personal travel) I have always got one except when J was full.

This is the first time that I have been denied and J isnt full (according to seatcounter).

We have just had a third change to lounge dragon.. trying one last time.