Does an upgrade request apply to both the departing and return trip

[Kazda]

Hi

Does an upgrade request apply to the departing and return flights or do I have to put in an upgrade request for both trips seperately

I will be departing as Silver status and with the SC earned from that flight, on the return journey I will be gold status.

As I may have a slightly better chance of an upgrade holding gold status, it would be preferable to put in a upgrade request for the flight home once I arrive at my destination and have been allocated the SC I needed to attain gold.

Does a request for flight upgrade automatically apply to the departing and return journey ? Or do I put in a request for each flight.

If this is not the case, can I put in for an upgrade request after the departing flight has been completed as I will then be gold.

The Qantas website says: Requests for Flight Upgrades will not be accepted within 24 hours of scheduled departure from the port of origin. So my intereptation of this is that I will I have to put in for an upgrade for the return journey before the departing flight from Sydney and while I'm still silver.

Any info would be appreciated,

 

[Will]

Each leg separately.

You can put in requests up to 24 hours before the flight you wish to upgrade.

There may not be any benefit of waiting so as to be gold when the request is made. I haven't seen any clear evidence as to the status used to determine priority (ie status at time of request v status at time of clearing upgrades). Therefore, there may be no benefit, and there may be harm in being later on the list.

 

[straitman]

How long after the outbound trip is the return trip :?:

Is there sufficient time for the SC's to post and for the Gold status to kick in before you return :?:

I agree with Will on all of this though the upgrade request timing may depend upon the answers to these questions.

 

[Kazda]

How long after the outbound trip is the return trip :?:

Is there sufficient time for the SC's to post and for the Gold status to kick in before you return :?:

I agree with Will on all of this though the upgrade request timing may depend upon the answers to these questions.

Hi

My return trip will be 7 days after my outbound flight, enough time I presume for Gold status to kick in.

I was of the understanding that upgrades (if available) were allocated in order of status and not in order of when the upgrade request was lodged regardless of the status held.
What would produce a better outcome for an upgrade - as a gold status 5 or 6 days before the return flight OR 90 days before the flight as a silver. ?
However I realise that if another gold status person requests an upgrade before me (as a gold) they would still get preference.

Also the Qantas site says: upgrades can be lodged between 90 days and 24 hours before departure from the 1st port of the flight.
Does this mean I have to request the upgrade for the return leg before my outbound flight departs - in which case I will still be silver.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I understood it applied to the flight rather than the sector or leg.

Mrs P was upgraded JFK-LAX-SYD as one upgrade because it was all on (I think) QF108. Different story if upgrading the next sector on a different flight. But if two different flights JFK-LAX and LAX-SYD then two uprades.


Cheers skip

 

[Kazda]

Any futher thoughts out there on whether I should request an upgrade while I'm silver (and at the earliest time of 90 days before outbound flight, or just a few days before my return flight when I'm then gold.

 

[samh004]

Any futher thoughts out there on whether I should request an upgrade while I'm silver (and at the earliest time of 90 days before outbound flight, or just a few days before my return flight when I'm then gold.

As all upgrade requests are processed shortly before the actual flight (I forget the exact time frame), you’ll have nothing to lose by waiting until a few days before the flight, and thus requesting as a gold.

However there isn’t any evidence (depending on who you ask) as to whether the difference between Gold and Silver really matters, so in that case requesting an upgrade as a Silver now might be helpful, even though nothing will be finalised until shortly before the flight, as I said. However, you might be ahead of other Silver members by getting in early.

I’d request now, and then in 90 days decide if you want to cancel and re-request or not, depending on other answers in this thread or other threads. You have nothing to lose.

 

[Kazda]

I’d request now, and then in 90 days decide if you want to cancel and re-request or not, depending on other answers in this thread or other threads. You have nothing to lose.

Thanks Samh004. I didn't realise that I could request, cancel and then re-request.
As per QF wesbite I can't make an upgrade request until 90 days before the flight so I'll have to wait a few more months and then make the request 90 days out of the departure date

 

[JohnK]

Any futher thoughts out there on whether I should request an upgrade while I'm silver (and at the earliest time of 90 days before outbound flight, or just a few days before my return flight when I'm then gold.

I believe status if considered first for upgrades and then the date the upgrade request was submitted. Assuming you got in at exactly T-90 days for the upgrade request as a Silver you may be at the top of the Silver waiting list or if you request closer to the flight as a Gold then you will be at the bottom of the Gold waiting list.

Probably best to be at the bottom of the Gold waiting list than at the top of the Silver waiting list but still a fair way down the upgrade waiting list.

 

[serfty]

I believe status if considered first for upgrades and then the date the upgrade request was submitted. ...

Actually, experience indicate this has been Status, followed by fare class (and then maybe time of request) for the last year or more.

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...rades-the-pecking-order-14811.html#post194270

 

[JohnK]

Actually, experience indicate this has been Status, followed by fare class (and then maybe time of request) for the last year or more.

OK.

Still a Gold at the bottom of the upgrade waiting list is better off than a Silver at the top of the upgrade waiting list.

 

[docjames]

OK.

Still a Gold at the bottom of the upgrade waiting list is better off than a Silver at the top of the upgrade waiting list.

Only just!!

 

[MelUser]

To be ranked with the gold upgrade hopefuls, put the request for that segment in after you have reached gold. This will ensure that you are considered as a Gold and not Silver. (This information has been communicated to me directly by Qantas.)

Please let us know (by responding to this thread) which of your upgrade requests are ultimately successful.

 

[JohnK]

OK.

Still a Gold at the bottom of the upgrade waiting list is better off than a Silver at the top of the upgrade waiting list.

Only just!!

That is based on the assumption that as a Silver you are able to get to the top of the upgrade waiting list.

As serfty mentioned if fare class plays a part (theory based on experience) then even if a Silver puts in an upgrade request first they could still theoretically be at the bottom of the upgrade waiting list if lower fare class.

 

[Kazda]

Thanks for all the replies, they have been very informative.

Since my last reply a few days ago, I've had to book an unexected flight SYD-SIN return so that now means I'll attain gold about 5 weeks before my outgoing flight to HKG rather than attaining gold once that flight is completed.

 

[straitman]

Thanks for all the replies, they have been very informative.

Since my last reply a few days ago, I've had to book an unexected flight SYD-SIN return so that now means I'll attain gold about 5 weeks before my outgoing flight to HKG rather than attaining gold once that flight is completed.

That should make things a little easier for the HKG experience.

 

[taswegian77]

I think that upgrades are assessed in the following criteria for QF.
Status - CL, WP, SG etc etc first
Then it goes on years of status held.
I also think it comes down to seating requirements as well in terms of fitting everyone on board so sometimes a couple on same booking might get ahead of a single due to seating arrangement etc.
Well my opinion anyway to the debate! Happy upgrades!!!

 

[serfty]

I think that upgrades are assessed in the following criteria for QF.
Status - CL, WP, SG etc etc first
Then it goes on years of status held.
I also think it comes down to seating requirements as well in terms of fitting everyone on board so sometimes a couple on same booking might get ahead of a single due to seating arrangement etc.
Well my opinion anyway to the debate! Happy upgrades!!!

Years of status may be relevant but general thoughts are that Booking class is the first tiebreak after Status.

More here:

Just to clarify; some years ago Qantas noted in the QFF T&C's that time of upgrade request had bearing over upgrade priority. This is no longer so indicated.

It's now appears that the following attributes of a booking comprise some or all of the determinants in priority:

• Frequent Flyer Status
• Booking Class (≈Fare Paid)
• Years of QFF membership

Whether time of request is still used is not publicly known, but almost certainly comes after those two.

No link; simply anecdotal evidence.

The removal of the 'time of request' clause from the T&C's can be indicative.

In any case, look at this thread: International Upgrades - the pecking order

 

[taswegian77]

thanks for the information. It is interesting that fare buckets are used. considering when you purchase say a flexi saver or red e-deal that allows upgrades or a super saver and that there can be many classes in those buckets, how do they work which class is above another. Also to note that it is impossible to purchase a Y class economy ticket on line, even if you select fully flexible for int'l flight it will never assign a full Y class. But on domestic they class flexi saver and fully flexible as full Y for SC earn. a bit of double stds there to save them paying out more SC.

 

[serfty]

... how do they work which class is above another. ...

For a possible guide to pecking order, check post #19 of this thread:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...rades-the-pecking-order-14811.html#post194270