Flying QF on AA FF number - getting an upgrade process?

[simongr]

I am off to Auckland in a week or so flying full fare economy on Qantas. I am in the throes of a AA Platinum challenge so I am using my AA FF number. I want to upgrade the flight using my QF points but am not sure how I do it. On line through the QF site I need to have teh flight linked to my QFF number I think. Is it easier to just phone QF call centre? Only thing with that is that I might need to then to explain why I am not using my QFF number...

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I am off to Auckland in a week or so flying full fare economy on Qantas. I am in the throes of a AA Platinum challenge so I am using my AA FF number. I want to upgrade the flight using my QF points but am not sure how I do it. On line through the QF site I need to have teh flight linked to my QFF number I think. Is it easier to just phone QF call centre? Only thing with that is that I might need to then to explain why I am not using my QFF number...

I think NM has posted about this before. Either make the booking and assign QFF #, put in u/g request and then switch number to AA. Or, make the booking with AA # and then make the u/g request.

 

[Dave Noble]

Just phone up and give the details of the flight to be upgraded and the account where the points are being taken from. You do not need to explain to them why you are crediting to AA. Do make sure that they don't go putting the QF FF number in the booking

Dave

 

[simongr]

Thanks - just waiting for flights to be booked today (hopefully there are seats on the requested flights) and then UG will be phoned in

 

[NM]

Thanks - just waiting for flights to be booked today (hopefully there are seats on the requested flights) and then UG will be phoned in

I assume you realise that a discounted business class (DEEEV223=$546) fare on LA is about $270 cheaper each way than QF's full economy (Y2T=$816) fare?

So unless you are foced to use QF full economy (Y) fare due to company policy, schedule timing or availability, the LA fare is much better value and gets you confirmed into business class. And its a OneWorld flight so good for both QQ and QF earning.

 

[simongr]

Sadly policy is economy only. It might be that we are in some form of discounted economy - I will find out class etc. later today once booked. The actual booking process is out of my hands - but I will compare the price we are being charged against what youhave suggested below and give feedback

 

[NM]

Sadly policy is economy only. It might be that we are in some form of discounted economy - I will find out class etc. later today once booked. The actual booking process is out of my hands - but I will compare the price we are being charged against what youhave suggested below and give feedback

I understand. Sometimes (well, often actually) our corporate travel policy means we end up not using the best value option even with the same airline/alliance.

 

[simongr]

I think a lot of these deals rely on volume rebates paid at the end of the year/quarter. A lot of professional services firms charge clients the face value of the flight and then get a rebate from the client for volume travel that is not passed on to clients. I wouldnt be suprised we had the same rebates.... still annoying that they dont put flight costs on my corporate AMex and that they go to CEO amex

 

[NM]

I think a lot of these deals rely on volume rebates paid at the end of the year/quarter. A lot of professional services firms charge clients the face value of the flight and then get a rebate from the client for volume travel that is not passed on to clients. I wouldn't be surprised we had the same rebates.... still annoying that they dont put flight costs on my corporate AMex and that they go to CEO amex

Yep, we have a similar deal. Until about a year ago, the discount was applied to the ticket purchase. Now we pay full price up front and the company received a rebate on a regular basis (not sure if its monthly or quarterly). So now each cost centre gets charged the full list price and the rebate gets paid into corporate general revenue and not attributed to the business unit or cost centre incurring the original expense.

I much preferred the old method, and it was especially good when I chose to personally pay the difference between the fare type approved by the travel policy and that which I wanted to travel. That way I only had to pay up to the discounted fare. Now if I pay the difference, the company gets the discount in the form of the rebate - not me who is actually paying the difference in fare.

With the old method, I used to build the itinerary and fare to maximise the benefits of the discount. For example, we used to get a bigger discount for the QF proportion of ATW fares, so I would book the QF codeshares and flights and save the my business unit (and hence the company) several hundred dollars per trip. But now there is no direct incentive for me to do that as I will still be charged the list price for the ticket. So now I chose the routing and itinerary based on other factors rather than maximising the corporate discount.

 

[Alan in CBR]

I assume you realise that a dis****ed business class (DEEEV223=$546) fare on LA is about $270 cheaper each way than QF's full economy (Y2T=$816) fare?

More profanity filter fun.

I assume you misspelt discounted there NM?

 

[NM]

More profanity filter fun.

I assume you misspelt discounted there NM?

hehe, not misspelt, but certainly mistyped! My usual problems with information feed from brain to fingers .

 

[serfty]

hehe, not misspelt, but certainly mistyped! My usual problems with information feed from brain to fingers .

Yeah ... that cn be a real ba****rd!

 

[simongr]

Well I now have the booking confirmed and given I have to use Qantas this is the booked flight:


Flight: QF 43 / QANTAS AIRWAYS
Sun 10 September 11:35 Depart: SYDNEY
Sun 10 September 16:35 Arrive: AUCKLAND
Service Economy Class / KIPOX


Flight: QF 120 / QANTAS AIRWAYS
Fri 22 September 15:45 Depart: AUCKLAND
Fri 22 September 17:15 Arrive: SYDNEY
Service: Economy Class / KIPOX

Seat requested: 26F

Total Airfare Cost Per Person: $1337.08


Now I just need to work out what to do - in terms of what my options are...

OK edit 2

I just now checked that they put in my QFF number not my AA number :grr: so I am figuring that its easier to simply apply for the upgrade and if it comes through soonish then add my AA number just before I fly...


Edit 3

Probably best to wait until they have actually charged the credit card before trying to upgrade.

Mind you I wonder if becuase I am travelling with a colleague whether he is on the same itinerary...

 

[Altair]

Wow that is expensive for an economy ticket SYD-AKL. I guess it is not a red-e-deal .
I would put the upgrade request in as soon as possible. When you get the FF number changed to AA just confirm that the correct one is printed on the BP. I have had one where the check-in was told and shown the FF card but I never checked to BP to see if it was done correctly....yep went to QF not aa and was quite a waste as I did not need the SCs...

 

[NM]

Service Economy Class / KIPOX

K class is not full economy. It is a flexible fare. It will earn discount economy SCs for QF and 1 EQP/mile flown for AA.

I just now checked that they put in my QFF number not my AA number :grr: so I am figuring that its easier to simply apply for the upgrade and if it comes through soonish then add my AA number just before I fly...

For the upgrade, it makes no difference if the AA, QF or no FF number is in the booking. Its just a simple phone call to 131211 to apply for the upgrade using you QF FF points. You can upgrade any eligible family member from your QF FF account and it makes no difference if that family member is you or your wife and if they are posting to AA or any other FF program. The upgrade waitlist priority is based on the QF FF status of the account from which the points/credits will come.

Best way to have the AA FF number added is to call QF and ask them to first remove the QF FF number, and then have them add your AA FF number. Make sure they do in fact remove the QF number first and not just add the AA number to the reservation while leaving the QF number there. That process will not remove the QF FF number and the AA number will have just been added as an information record and not the FF program for credit.

Probably best to wait until they have actually charged the credit card before trying to upgrade.

Only wait until the ticket has been issued. It can take several days or even longer before the charge hits the credit card. Again, a quick call to QF on 131211 will tell you whether the ticket is issued or not. Get the upgrade waitlist request in ASAP to ensure best chance of it clearing.

Mind you I wonder if becuase I am travelling with a colleague whether he is on the same itinerary...

Again, QF can confirm that over the phone.

 

[simongr]

Thanks as always - just realising that its 32,000 points for an upgrade due to this being discount economy - for the return flight that is...

 

[Mwenenzi]

Thanks as always - just realising that its 32,000 points for an upgrade due to this being discount economy - for the return flight that is...

Yes. That is why we credit to AA. The cost of rewards is so much less. (e.g 20,000 in ecomony Aust - NZ - Aust

 

[simongr]

Yes. That is why we credit to AA. The cost of rewards is so much less. (e.g 20,000 in ecomony Aust - NZ - Aust

Doing the same v.shortly

Just wondering if I want to use 32k for a business trip....

I have tv shows I can watch on laptop and its only 3 hours.....

 

[NM]

Doing the same v.shortly

Just wondering if I want to use 32k for a business trip....

I have tv shows I can watch on laptop and its only 3 hours.....

Note that for 35,000 AA miles you could get a confirmed award return ticket in business class (with no fuel fines to pay). Much better value candy in my opinion.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

For A$1382 incl all taxes you could have bought business class fare on NZ, or about A$1274 if you did it as 2 one ways.

And LA and EK are even cheaper still in business (EK's fare also includes limo transfers each end each way).