Free upgrades might be the real difference between good airlines

[froggerADL]

actually the problem is Qantas struggles to fill the economy cabin but Emirates has no trouble at all. And yes they are happy to overbook and put the extras who have status up a class.

I must try to get on an overbooked Emirates flight. I'm 0 from 2 with them so far. They have another couple of chances to impress me next Feb/March .

 

[hossein_au]

On 3 out of my last 4 "QF" flights on MEL/SIN returns in Y I've been recognized on board as an SG and on the last one was even given my meal choice and received it in advance of other pax. 3 out of those 4 happened to be QF 8xx_ flights, and one was a QF xx flight - guess which 3 I got recognition on (including some pieces of cardboard to help me through immigration).

Exactly! In one of my recent flights I even got a weird look from the CSM when I asked for the express card while having my WP card descreetly in hand, and this was after I had asked one of the crew and he told me he would asked the CSM for the card but nothing had happened...

For ALL my remaining flights between now and August next year I have made sure I'm on QF 8xx_ flights as much as possible, even if it meant some flights were a few bucks more expensive. I reckon by the end of their partnership period, Qantas will be a mere TA for EK :-(

 

[dajop]

actually the problem is Qantas struggles to fill the economy cabin but Emirates has no trouble at all. And yes they are happy to overbook and put the extras who have status up a class.

Not always the case. On my last EK economy flight from MEL-SIN (on Monday night) I did score a "fully flat" which I used during the last 1/3 of the flight and had plenty of room to spread out for laptop work and during meal service. I didn't get upgraded though, the flight only was 1/3 full in economy (or so I was told at checkin, seemed the case on board).

But in the past I have been upgraded a couple of times when I was EK silver.

 

[Sequel]

The last 5 years as a QF WP who gets 99% of my SC's on paid QFDom Y, I have had a total of 2 op ups, and they were 4 years ago. It doesn't cross my mind as something that could possibly happen these days so I don't get disappointed.

 

[hossein_au]

The last 5 years as a QF WP who gets 99% of my SC's on paid QFDom Y, I have had a total of 2 op ups, and they were 4 years ago. It doesn't cross my mind as something that could possibly happen these days so I don't get disappointed.

Agree; I am not so precious that if I don't get op up I'll cry to the moon and back... if I pay for a flight I expect to fly in the class I've paid for. I don't expect a glass of Dom when I've only paid for deep economy ticket. I also don't need the CSM greeting me upon boarding in order to feel good about myself; I have never asked for anything when the CSM asked me whether they can offer me anything... But, having said that, I expect to receive any "benefit" they specifally advertise on their web site for their loyal customers; I don't want to ask 3 different people for an express arrival card when it should be offered without asking (and it indeed was offered to quite a few people sitting around me at the back of upper deck in Y, but not me).

 

[legroom]

Off topic question, if I may.

QF website seems to mention the express departure cards as a definite benefits but my reading failed to find the info where it also applies to inbound WP travelling in whY.

It did mention "express immigration on departure and arrival' but .... under the tab "With Emirates" (http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/privilegesPlatinum#with-emirates) so does that apply to QF flights ?

Could someone point out this 'benefit' for WP [express arrival card] from QF website please ?

... But, having said that, I expect to receive any "benefit" they specifally advertise on their web site for their loyal customers; I don't want to ask 3 different people for an express arrival card when it should be offered without asking (and it indeed was offered to quite a few people sitting around me at the back of upper deck in Y, but not me).

 

[JohnK]

Could someone point out this 'benefit' for WP [express arrival card] from QF website please ?

I think it has been missed. Why would you get express arrivals flying Emirates economy into Sydney and not on Qantas?

For what it is worth I receive both express immigration cards at SYD check-in and I have also received inbound express cards with the greeting from the CSM.

I have only done QF23 once in recent times and do not remember if I got an express immigration card into BKK. Definitely got one on the way back on QF24 and gave it to another AFFer who was also on board at the time.

 

[redslert]

When checking in at Sydney F desk they have always given me both departure and inbound express pass at the same time.
I like this very much, so that I don't need to beg for one when coming back if I fly PE or Y.

 

[crum]

I have only done QF23 once in recent times and do not remember if I got an express immigration card into BKK. Definitely got one on the way back on QF24 and gave it to another AFFer who was also on board at the time.

I have received it each time I've flown QF23 into BKK as a WP; mind you I had to chase it a couple of times.

 

[FxTrader]

I know in the grand scheme of things that anecdotes are useless but
I was at a party on Saturday afternoon and the subject of long haul flights came up. Not knowing my fellow guests too well I decided to shut up and listen for fear of boring them. A couple were talking fondly about the benefits of status. One had booked a Y fare LHR-SYD and upgraded using miles to J. Arrived at check-in and was upgraded to F.
He was reminiscing about the loss of his Skywards Silver due to a drop in travel :shock:
I'm not entirely sure which airline has it right?

Since moving to book QF code shares on EK, the upgrade rate on EK is something I have never experienced before as a long time QF only flyer. Around 30 to 40%.
My last EK long haul flight was Y and no upgrade
But I had 4 Y seats across the middle all to myself

 

[JohnK]

I have received it each time I've flown QF23 into BKK as a WP; mind you I had to chase it a couple of times.

I thought so.

I remember one time flying Cathay economy they refused to give me an express card into BKK but luckily queues were not that bad.

The 700 baht escort sounds good but only if the normal immigration queues are 15-20 people deep.

 

[kempvet]

This is why I am preferring AA Exp with the 8 system wide upgrades, if you book early enough you will be upgraded from y to j and on some routes especially from Asia to the US you can just about get the upgrades at the gate. And there are the complimentary upgrades in the US which usually I mange to get.

 

[hossein_au]

I thought so.

I remember one time flying Cathay economy they refused to give me an express card into BKK but luckily queues were not that bad.

The 700 baht escort sounds good but only if the normal immigration queues are 15-20 people deep.

I have actually have never needed it as I have an APEC card (the queues at APEC lines are usually far faster than even the express lanes, especially at LAX). It simply irks me how the whole thing is being handled so inconsistenly...

 

[Sprucegoose]

I thought so.

I remember one time flying Cathay economy they refused to give me an express card into BKK but luckily queues were not that bad.

The 700 baht escort sounds good but only if the normal immigration queues are 15-20 people deep.

CX love the rules ......were you entitled to one ?

 

[Baysider]

I was WP for 2 years and have been Gold for around 4 years either side in total, and have never had an Op Up with QF.

 

[JohnK]

CX love the rules ......were you entitled to one ?

No idea.

I just went on the assumption that CX treats all Oneworld Emeralds like their own....

 

[Happy Trails]

No idea.

I just went on the assumption that CX treats all Oneworld Emeralds like their own....

Strictly speaking, there is no entitlement.
The OW fast track benefit only applies to security checkpoints rather than inbound immigration and in any case BKK is, for whatever reason, not a designated airport.
Having said that, I almost always receive a card from CX, both inbound and out, often unprompted, but sometimes they need a gentle reminder.

 

[Tonkatough]

See Family Business Upgrade http://www.australianfrequentflyer....er-program/family-business-upgrade-46934.html
Proof that upgrades, and generous ones at that, can happen.