How can I get upgraded at checkin?

[John68]

Hi everyone!
I am booked in Y class for a Qantas 767-300 flight from PER to SIN. Y class is apparently very full. I am traveling with my wife and my 21 month old baby daughter. Unfortunately I did not book a seat for my daughter as I was counting on the flight not being full in Y. Since Y is full, I am hoping for an upgrade to J. Should I check in early or late to have a better chance at an upgrade to J? My QFF status is minimal (bronze). How late can I check in before QF close its check-in? Any advice would be most appreciated :wink:

 

[luckydog]

No chance

Sorry to say it... but your chances are almost nil.

I am platinum status and I have never gotten an upgrade, talking to with various other platinums and gold at my work, none of them have ever gotten one either.

 

[BlacKnox]

Welcome to AFF John68.

I am traveling with my wife and my 21 month old baby daughter.

I'm afraid I concur with luckydog. 2 single status frequent flyers are more likely to get upgraded than a couple. Further, from what I have read it is rare for passengers travelling with babies/ young children to be upgraded. But having said that, you could still ask at check-in - no harm in asking. And again at the boarding gate you could "volunteer" to be "reassigned" to business if economy is full. With the right timing and demeanor, and a smiling spouse and baby, just maybe you can pull it off. Enjoy Singapore.

 

[Alan in CBR]

John68, in case you check here first, here is what I posted in response to your request on FlyerTalk:

I was going to mention the bassinets, but a quick check of the QF website says that the maximum age for those is 18 months! PER to SIN is certainly a long way for a 21 month old on your lap, even with two of you to share the load.

Since Y is full, I am hoping for an upgrade to J. Should I check in early or late to have a better chance at an upgrade to J? My QFF status is minimal (bronze).

As another poster on FlyerTalk has pointed out, you won't be able to use points or upgrade credits at check-in.

If you were hoping for a free upgrade, unfortunately it's so unlikely that it's not even worth considering. Two adults and an infant, and no-one with status, puts you way down (read "off") the list. You'd have more chance buying an instant scratchie and trying to win the cash to upgrade.

Unless you are able to pay for J tickets now, I suggest your best hope is to get to the airport early, check yourself and your wife into the D and F seats (aisles in the middle bit) in a row towards the back, and hope that Y is not really full. The E seats will be the last to fill. If someone does take the E, there will be no problem swapping an aisle with him/her.


Good luck, and welcome to AFF.

 

[BlacKnox]

Unless you are able to pay for J tickets now, I suggest your best hope is to get to the airport early, check yourself and your wife into the D and F seats (aisles in the middle bit) in a row towards the back, and hope that Y is not really full. The E seats will be the last to fill. If someone does take the E, there will be no problem swapping an aisle with him/her.

Sounds like good advice Alan.

 

[cpl]

Re: No chance

Sorry to say it... but your chances are almost nil.

I am platinum status and I have never gotten an upgrade, talking to with various other platinums and gold at my work, none of them have ever gotten one either.

I am platinum and got upgraded the other day. The reason was though that apparently Q gave away my cattle class seat :?

 

[John68]

Thanks for your advice

Thanks for all your helpful advice.
I've used up my QFF points to waitlist for a Y to J upgrade from SIN to PER for my wife and I (I wanted to try the new 330-300 Skybeds), so the staff at Qantas told me I could not waitlist for the flight from PER to SIN (767-300), even though my points are still in my account and have not been used up yet (pending the upgrade waitlist). Furthermore, it was less than 14 days to flight departure (so no waitlisting for mere mortals like me). I enquired if she could pre-assign us a seat next to an empty seat, and she said the best she could do was to request for a bassinet, even though I told her my girl was 21 months old (past the 18 month old limit). All Y seats are sold out, so I can't purchase a seat for my girl now. I'll try for a D & F seat, and hope that there is one E seat that remains empty for the 5hour flight. Thanks again.

 

[Guest]

Re: No chance

Sorry to say it... but your chances are almost nil.

I am platinum status and I have never gotten an upgrade, talking to with various other platinums and gold at my work, none of them have ever gotten one either.

I am platinum and got upgraded the other day. The reason was though that apparently Q gave away my cattle class seat :?

hmmm...has anyone rejected an upgrade before? I really don't mind QF Y, and domestic long haul I prefer Y to J, purely because you can put the armrests up between seats... I like to cross my legs..whereas this is impossible in business!

 

[NM]

Re: No chance

hmmm...has anyone rejected an upgrade before?

Nope .

 

[straitman]

hmmm...has anyone rejected an upgrade before?

I've never been offered one to reject :!:

 

[Tankers]

Medical professionals (ie doctors) are likely to get upgrade. My sister was a cabin crew for CX and told me that the captin likes to know how many doctors are onboard incase of emergency. Doctors are likely get upgraded to a seat that is easily for crew member to get in contact iduring an emergency.

I have been upgraded a few times with AirNZ, CX, but not on QF

 

[QF WP]

Welcome to AFF, Tankers. Very correct about Dr's; however one must always be careful that they think you're a real Dr when you have D Phil

 

[Alan in CBR]

Welcome to AFF, Tankers. Very correct about Dr's; however one must always be careful that they think you're a real Dr when you have D Phil

[pedant]
The PhDs (or DPhil if you went to Oxford) are the "real" doctors - they have a doctorate. Medical practitioners have a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery.
[/pedant]

Of course the real world won't change to please me, but I'm used to that!

 

[Guest]

I've never been offered one to reject :!:

Nope .

:!: :!: :!:

 

[Tankers]

The PhDs (or DPhil if you went to Oxford) are the "real" doctors -
Of course the real world won't change to please me, but I'm used to that!

Very true. Unless you have the MD title.

 

[serfty]

I've never been offered one to reject :!:

Nope .

:!: :!: :!:

[serious]
No offence d00t, but your method of upgrading would not sit right with me. Pride and all that.

Also, if every one did what you do, that type of service may cease to be available for those who really need it.[/serious]

YMMV!

Anyway, where's that HP ...

 

[kpc]

Medical professionals (ie doctors) are likely to get upgrade. My sister was a cabin crew for CX and told me that the captin likes to know how many doctors are onboard incase of emergency. Doctors are likely get upgraded to a seat that is easily for crew member to get in contact iduring an emergency.

Still waiting for my first op upgrade... ...so hasn't helped me!!

 

[Bob]

Re: No chance

hmmm...has anyone rejected an upgrade before?

Yes, I was flying with my wife MEL to BNE and there was one J seat offered to us as an upgrade at the gate. I wasn't game to take it! (To be fair, my wife also refused it)

 

[Guest]

[serious]
No offence d00t, but your method of upgrading would not sit right with me. Pride and all that.

Also, if every one did what you do, that type of service may cease to be available for those who really need it.[/serious]

You are right serfty, my recent upgrade methods may conflict with some folks morals and even looked down upon by some. Can't say I blame those people really... I'd be pissed too if some kid stole my upgrade :twisted:
Keep in mind that it was an AA staff member that pointed it out to me

Of course, these type of upgrades only count for maybe 25% of my upgraded flights and I woulnd't ever do it in domestically within AU.

My shout for beers next saturday in SYD 8)

 

[BlacKnox]

my recent upgrade methods may conflict with some folks morals and even looked down upon by some. Can't say I blame those people really... I'd be pissed too if some kid stole my upgrade :twisted:
Keep in mind that it was an AA staff member that pointed it out to me

Pointed what out to you? What are you up to at check-in d00t?