Domestic Upgrade From Premium

[SJF211]

No, they do not appear to be selling PE as a separate cabin on this flight, but making the inventory available to book - for connections as in this situation. Since no fares are filed in the market (eg: SYD-PER) you can't purchase it. I presume for pure domestic bookings it acts as usual to purchase a Y fare and status pax (I thought it was WP/P1/CL) can select the PE seats as a status perk (so unsure about SG?)

Thls seems new for the transcon domestic sector, unless I just missed it on other flights (which is possible!)

I should hope Amex can change the T to a Y fare bucket booking (I am sure QF has no issue with an agent booking a downgraded bucket on a flight) and that should solve the upgrade issue I agree. Good luck!

I think I failed to articulate what I was trying to say in my post, so apologies.
In the past the PE rows have been displayed on the economy seat map as SG could select 23, WP, 21/22 and P1/CL 20 but atm this section is not showing on the seat map at all. It would show as just another section of economy. On the days I check QF645 the PE rows do not show on the economy seat map and the map stops at row 40. Hence I think your point that it’s for connecting passengers is probably right.

 

[RichardMEL]

I think I failed to articulate what I was trying to say in my post, so apologies.
In the past the PE rows have been displayed on the economy seat map as SG could select 23, WP, 21/22 and P1/CL 20 but atm this section is not showing on the seat map at all. It would show as just another section of economy. On the days I check QF645 the PE rows do not show on the economy seat map and the map stops at row 40. Hence I think your point that it’s for connecting passengers is probably right.

aha. I understand now thank you

that would fit with the way EF, or whatever, is interpreting the fare bucket availability (or more likely the underlying GDS supplying the data) and again this does make sense.

So the question the begs - if I book this sector as a P1, then am I now not going to be able to receive the perk to sit in PE as on other domestic 787 flights... and a transcon is where you really want that perk rather than a MEL-SYD.

Very interesting.

 

[S-Hart]

Also unusual, given that my status completely evaporated during COVID, is that I have the option of any seat in the cabin. Normally at least the bulkhead would be blocked out without status I would think. But I can pick any. Not sure there's any benefit to the bulkhead though... so far I plopped us in 21.

 

[S-Hart]

Right. Follow up numero uno...

The super helpful lady from AmEx Travel has called me back about 2 and a half hours after the initial conversation. She confirmed my hope/assumption that the reason I couldn't book into H via their system (and can't see the option now) was that it defaults to offering the "better" option of Premium Economy, but after conferring with the fares teams confirms it is possible to book into H at the same price.

Well, almost the same price. I will have to pay a fare difference of.... 40 cents per passenger. Heh. She apologised, and says "if I could pay the 80 cents for you, I would."

I've told them to go for it, and she said it should reissue within 1-2 hours. Hopefully at that point I'll be able to process the upgrade and all will be well. A bit of a lesson learned throughout the process.

I will say that after a day dealing with Qantas reps, the AmEx lady was a breath of fresh air.

I do have a backup plan in place if something falls through - I will push the whole return leg 2 days later, where there is T class LAX-SYD and H/U class available on the appropriate SYD-PER leg (on an A330 so avoid the T confusion). Hopefully it won't come to that, but if it does... oh well, I spend two extra days eating donuts and BBQ in Texas.

Will report back on final result, appreciate everyone's input.

Edit - Oh, I forgot the cherry on the cake...

The AmEx rep says "It should take 1-2 hours for the ticket to reissue, so if you need to speak to Qantas about the upgrade, you might as well just call them now and by the time..." Classic!

 

[S-Hart]

Noooooooooooooooo.

Booking on MMB has updated to Economy (H).

Upgrade page is now showing that I am in the Economy cabin.

It still says I am not eligible for an upgrade.

Really not sure I can be bothered trying to call Qantas again.

 

[S-Hart]

Slightly off topic...

With the Fly Flexible policy (or I guess any fare changes) when does the "fare difference" kick in?

For example, I am booked in H-T-T-H for my 4 flights.

The sale in which I purchased this fare ends tonight. Presumably the cost to book these flights tomorrow goes up.

So tomorrow, if I was to change, assuming H-T-T-H remains available and I am retaining the same fare class, would there be a fare difference? Or does the cost only change if I have to move to a new fare class?

Just trying to work out if I need to make this decision today before the sale ends.

 

[S-Hart]

Well, the saga continues!

Whilst sitting here trying to make a decision on this critical first world problem (cough) I received another call from my friend at AmEx. She really is a delight. Super helpful.

Most apologetic, she advised that when they've gone to follow through on the ticketing, Qantas is requesting $600/pax to make the "downgrade" from T to H. I guess they don't see Discount Premium Economy as being better than Flexible Economy. She was concerned and upset that they weren't able to deliver as discussed.

However, it made my decision really easy. Tired of faffing about with this 787 PE flight. I asked her to move the whole thing two days later. Again, 40c each (I assume exchange rates might flux?) difference, but should be good to go. T and H and there is U available on the domestic leg.

New flights are now showing in MMB, but the 4th flight STILL says ineligible to upgrade. I assume that will sort itself out once ticketed, which again should be in the next hour or two. If not, I guess the system is just completely stuffed and no matter what I do it can't be done. In which case I would have been better off just staying on the original booking and having Premium Economy at least. Sigh.

We'll see. Just want it to be over.

 

[S-Hart]

The saga has concluded.

By now, surely no one is reading this. But hey, in 7 years time when someone stumbles upon this thread because they are having a similar issue, I'll finish the story so they aren't left hanging. It might be me, reading back thinking what a moron I was (and probably still am). Hi future me!!!

I received the tickets from AmEx at 2pm, about 45 minutes after I was told 1-2 hours. Can't say enough good things about the person I dealt with there. She's a star.

Jumped on Qantas website, and yes, the upgrade option has returned! I press Request Upgrade, and the page errors. I go back, refresh, do it again, and the request is confirmed. The REQUEST is confirmed, not the upgrade. Not good, there is U availability, it should have gone through. I cancel and try again, the page errors.

So, it's last dance time. Back on the phone to Qantas for one final time, telling myself that this is it, if this fails, I'm going to go whack a little white ball around and take out some frustration, and it will be what it is. Gotten far too stressed over something so irrelevant.

Wait time is apparently "less than 15 minutes." Call answered in about 10. Person does not seem that knowledgeable, and responds to my request to process the upgrade at their end due to the website not letting me by telling me she can't do that, because in order for her to do it on the website I would have to give her my personal information and that's not allowed. I think the thought I wanted her to literally just login and do it for me on the website because I'm too stupid to figure it out.

Once we got on the same page, she asked to put me on a 1-2 minute hold. 10 minutes later she returns and asks if I want the upgrade for one or both passengers. Sigh. Nah, gonna leave the missus in economy. Yes, both please. Back on hold for 15 more minutes. She then returns and asks for the frequent flyer number I want to use. Mine.

Now she has stopped putting my on hold, and I can hear that she has someone guiding her. I assume she may possibly be a complete newbie, and I'm hoping this may work in my favour, as someone more knowledgeable is assisting. Two people working on it is surely better than one? Because she hasn't put me on hold this time, she has instead put herself on mute, so eerie silence is all I have.

The rollercoaster continues. Whilst this is happening, I'm refreshing EF, because when I made the change earlier today it was at U4, but by the time it ticketed, U2. And it has NOT been a Beautiful Day.

With eerie silence still emanating from the phone, and as the phone call ticks past the hour mark, EF suddenly shows U0. I am hoping this is a sign of success, but fear it may be the nail in my coffin. This is where things start to get really interesting...

I open MMB to check for any change. My original booking is still there. The SYD-PER leg shows Upgrade Status as Requested. BUT suddenly... I have a 5th flight. They have added the 2 hour earlier SYD-PER flight (a 737) onto the bottom of the booking, and it's confirmed in U. What the? Then, boom, the points are deducted. Some truly wacky stuff is obviously going on at their end.

Then, after more than 20 minutes of deathly silences, it's "THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE..." and I damn near had a heart attack. Like, literally almost fell out of my chair. Holy cow.

So, after my heartbeat dropped DOWN to somewhere near a thousand BPM, and I had fetched a new pair of underwear, she advises that it's all done. I refresh MMB, the 5th flight has now disappeared, I'm back to the correct 4 flights, and the 4th leg is confirmed is U.

Rejoice, I have slayed the Qantas dragon. Well, actually, they slayed me. Well and truly. Not a fun experience. But, the result has been achieved.

If you read this far, question your sanity. But I do appreciate you.

TL;DR - Story ends in success, and I am considering developing it into a screenplay. Thread participants please advise your first choice to play you.

Thanks to all.

 

[RichardMEL]

WOO HOO!! Well done.. Great job!

(and a +1 for the Amex agents. Have had to call a few times myself with a credit to keep moving a booked flight due to covid and they have all been pretty good).

 

[NM]

Now, did you receive the newly re-issued e-ticket? I sure hope so for your sake.

 

[S-Hart]

Now, did you receive the newly re-issued e-ticket?

Newly reissued as in, including the now upgraded flight?

Previously when I have done an Award Upgrade I don't think I have received a new ticket, at least not when booked through an agent and then upgraded direct with Qantas.

Does it get ticketed as a new number?

 

[RichardMEL]

nah, this is just a class change, not a reticket imo. should be same number.

 

[S-Hart]

Yeah that's what I thought.

Is there anywhere you can look up the details of an E-Ticket?

Like, I have the original, so I have the numbers, but is there anywhere I can look to see if said e-ticket has updated?

 

[RichardMEL]

Yeah that's what I thought.

Is there anywhere you can look up the details of an E-Ticket?

Like, I have the original, so I have the numbers, but is there anywhere I can look to see if said e-ticket has updated?

Updates? ugh probably not.

You'd probably need GDS access to actually view the PNR (which would show all changes).

the next best option I reckon is amadeus' checkmytrip which I know you're fully aware of.

Honestly I feel you're over worrying about this at this point. it all seems to be sorted (and I really hope I don't regret this comment come November!)

 

[S-Hart]

I'm comfortable. I have the E-Ticket containing the 4 flights. So worst case, I'm on the plane. And my Qantas booking shows U class, and I would imagine that's what they will be going by...

I think I'm set.

 

[jpp42]

If you read this far, question your sanity. But I do appreciate you.

 

[BD1959]

I'm still reading!! - superb persistence on your part which has paid off ... well done!

Regards,

BD

 

[BriarFlyer]

I also read right through to the end. This had it all: drama, suspense, plot twists, an unpredictable villain (QF website) and a worthy hero (Amex lady), all with a happy ending. 5 stars.

 

[RichardMEL]

I also read right through to the end. This had it all: drama, suspense, plot twists, an unpredictable villain (QF website) and a worthy hero (Amex lady), all with a happy ending. 5 stars.

Lack of sexual tension or a romance subplot evident. 4.5 stars for me

 

[S-Hart]

Lack of sexual tension or a romance subplot evident.

In speaking of lack of sexual tension or a romance subplot, I was going to point to the fact there was indeed....

a happy ending

... but then thought that may not be appropriate.