How did our Qantas upgrade happen?

[mikeyflyer]

How do Qantas upgrades work?

I just have a question about Qantas upgrades, as I got one and still can’t work out why (not that I’m complaining, lol)

We are Bronze Frequent Flyers, always building points – small amounts, and using them for domestic flights.

We booked a ticket from Sydney to Paris, One Way, visa stopover in Tokyo. The Qantas flights were too expensive, so for a grand cheaper we booked the same flight through Austrian Airlines (so Sydney to Tokyo was a Qantas plane).

We checked in online and the next morning went to the airport to do the bag drop and collect the boarding pass, when we did the Check in guy told us that we had both been moved up to Business Class for the Sydney – Tokyo flight.

We loved it, but still can’t understand how/why we got it. Even more confused as we had booked the cheapest ticket and had it booked with Austrian Airlines and had already checked in online.

Is there any particular reason they do it? Only ask as we are off again in a month and are hoping it happens again,lol.

Cheers

 

[chrizzz14]

A lot of the time it depends on how booked the Y cabin is. Ive been upgraded quite a few times both to the US and EU ( usually happens at the last minute upon boarding) they will upgrade people according to QF status ( if its on QF metal) even if you bronze you still have status

As im sure you agree, tis best to smile, say cheers and enjoy the upgrade!!!!

 

[drewbles]

How did it happen? put it down to voodoo Seriously though, there seems to be no real 100% way to say how it did, unless of course, you work for the right department in QF. One would assume there are a lot of factors counting towards op-ups, including but most definitely not limited to FF status.

I got my first real bump the other day and i'm SG (was PS for nearly 10 years). Was only to Premium Economy but got a Skybed out of it. Can't complain too much

*edit to prevent rudeness*

didn't mean to be rude... Welcome to AFF

 

[SimonM]

Hi mikeyflyer and welcome to AFF

I think the upgrade reasons are a mystery to many.

I can remember the first time it happened to me it was a mystery too. A mate and I were coming back from Kai Tak, Hong Kong. To get on the plane, there was a long queue and one with 1 person. Too green to figure that was the business class entrance, we chose it. As we walked up to the person taking the boarding passes, she called us by name, which stunned us and then handed us business class passes.

 

[simongr]

Hi mikeyflyer - you really know how to upset people

Yield management (which is what determines who gets an upgrade and when) is a more secretive society than the Masons and Templars combined!

We all have theories but no-one is really sure.

The key drivers are basically how full the cabins are and how they need to shuffle people around. For example if they need to seat a family of three together there is no point upgrading the the lone platinum flyer with one empty middle seat - better to upgrade the two pax with an empty seat next to them creating three seats - and that is one simple example...

 

[mikeyflyer]

Thanks guys,

Having never flown International Business before (only domestic) I loved it and was the best flight I have ever had. The flat bed was amazing and the service the best. The sad part was, after our 4 day stop in Tokyo the rest of the leg was Economy on Austrian... I don’t know how I ever used to think Economy was great!

Before I had gone Business I always thought it would be a waste of money, but can clearly see now that it’s worth it.

The whole time waiting to board and even while on the flight I was waiting for someone to come up to us and say “Excuse me, we’ve made a mistake, you’re supposed to be in the back”.

I’ve asked people who have worked for Qantas before and they said the same as you guys, just said it was a mystery and depends on different factors.

Just wondering though, is it worth it when you check in just to ask if there is a chance of an upgrade?

I’ve heard of people doing it, but is it normal, or considered rude? Or will the check in staff think you’re an idiot economy passenger for asking such a question?

 

[SimonM]

To nervous to ask directly for an upgrade, I've tried looking dumb (easy for me) and saying 'can I sit in the little bit upstairs?' Failed, but got a sympathetic look.

Friends of mine, married for 20 years, swear that they hold hands and skip up to the counter, giddily announcing that they've 'just got married!'. Not sure about the upgrades, but they've had a lot of free champagne.

 

[russianrob]

I subscribe to the Voodoo theory also, but 2 hints.......
Dress well, and never travel with a child.

 

[browski]

Dressing well does seem to help. Airlines do not really wish to offend full-fare paying clients by having a tramp seated next to them in J.
IIRC Emirates will not even allow (or maybe they just frown upon) their staff to fly J if dressed in something casual like jeans.
The irony, of course is that many full-fare J clients are among the most casually dressed.

 

[Justinf]

Only ever been upgraded once from Melbourne to Singapore on QF. Told the check-in chick she was stunning (she wasn't) and that was enough that day apparantely.

 

[dajop]

All you have to do befriend someone who is travelling in J class, pretend to be their significant other, and once on board ask if you can sit next to them, or if the seat next to them is already occupied swap places with the person who is sitting there.

 

[Tooner]

I believe that op-ups at check-in are conceived and directed by a yield management system (quite possibly called HAL), driven by an algorithm derived from some complex gaussian cupolas which have quite possibly been completely discredited as a result of the global financial crisis, and indeed may have caused it.

On the other hand, it could be just alchemy.

No... really:shock:

 

[NM]

Dressing well does seem to help. Airlines do not really wish to offend full-fare paying clients by having a tramp seated next to them in J.
IIRC Emirates will not even allow (or maybe they just frown upon) their staff to fly J if dressed in something casual like jeans.
The irony, of course is that many full-fare J clients are among the most casually dressed.

I suggest that being well dressed is unlikely to get you an upgrade on Qantas. However, the converse may be true that not being well dressed may mean you miss out on an upgrade that may have otherwise been coming your way. I have no evidence of this being the case.

In my recent experiences of operational upgrades on QF (international), the system has already flagged the upgrade and there was no obvious discretion from the check-in agent in the process. Perhaps they could decline it if I was not well presented, but it was more a case of being a done deal before I got to the check-in counter rather than the check-in agent looking for "someone" to upgrade.

 

[FlyboyAl]

The voodoo theory suits me too!
So far this year, I've been lucky enough to do 3 trips to the US.
First was with Mrs Flyboy and we went over and back in economy, albeit bulkhrad seats both ways after requests at checkin. She is Silver, I am Bronze.
2 months later I went over on my own, and was upgraded to business class before I even left Australia. I also got upgraded to business coming home. I didn't ask for it, or hint at it, as I saw my seat allocation before I left on CMT.
Most recent trip 2 weeks ago, I was upgraded at QP in Sydney to Business, and upgraded to PE coming home from SFO. ALL our trips have been about $1200 return specials.
I see they key to an upgrade to be on your own. I was dressed neatly, but not over the top, and if the upgrade occurs before you leave, dress does not matter.
We are both booked to the US again in Feb on points, so will see what happens

 

[Tooner]

The voodoo theory suits me too!
So far this year, I've been lucky enough to do 3 trips to the US.
First was with Mrs Flyboy and we went over and back in economy, albeit bulkhrad seats both ways after requests at checkin. She is Silver, I am Bronze.
2 months later I went over on my own, and was upgraded to business class before I even left Australia. I also got upgraded to business coming home. I didn't ask for it, or hint at it, as I saw my seat allocation before I left on CMT.
Most recent trip 2 weeks ago, I was upgraded at QP in Sydney to Business, and upgraded to PE coming home from SFO. ALL our trips have been about $1200 return specials.
I see they key to an upgrade to be on your own. I was dressed neatly, but not over the top, and if the upgrade occurs before you leave, dress does not matter.
We are both booked to the US again in Feb on points, so will see what happens

For God's sake don't tell JohnK

 

[Davo70]

In my recent experiences of operational upgrades on QF (international), the system has already flagged the upgrade and there was no obvious discretion from the check-in agent in the process...

...but it was more a case of being a done deal before I got to the check-in counter rather than the check-in agent looking for "someone" to upgrade.

Agree NM - the system decides. My most recent experience with an Op-Up was having approached check-in counter requesting a new BP (having stupidly lost mine from OLCI). Was told "They've upgraded you" and given a J boarding pass. To me that indicated the decision was made by a higher authority.

 

[russianrob]

Flyboyal, can you please send me something you have touched!!!
Man you have the voodoo working for you. Lately I can't even "buy" an upgrade, even when there's been empty seats........but that's a thread thats been done many, many times!:evil:.

 

[drewbles]

I subscribe to the Voodoo theory also, but 2 hints.......
Dress well, and never travel with a child.

I'll add a 3rd..

Never have a special meal request. They're more likely to bump someone who doesn't need a vegan/vegetarian/low fat/asian vegetarian or kosher meal

 

[drewbles]

Agree NM - the system decides. My most recent experience with an Op-Up was having approached check-in counter requesting a new BP (having stupidly lost mine from OLCI). Was told "They've upgraded you" and given a J boarding pass. To me that indicated the decision was made by a higher authority.

Similar to my opup on SYD-SFO on Wednesday. Asked at the QP for row 36 (bulkhead in Premium Y) and was told 'oh but you've already been upgraded (I had my boarding passes for row 37). They had bumped us to Premium Y in Skybins. Not a bad thing at all

My LAX-MEL flight next week is oversold (0 in all Y fare buckets, 0 in W and showing F4 A4 and J5 or so. Wonder what will go on that one (Y has been oversold for weeks now based on what EF is showing).

Here's crossing everything for a double deal

 

[Tooner]

I'll add a 3rd..

Never have a special meal request. They're more likely to bump someone who doesn't need a vegan/vegetarian/low fat/asian vegetarian or kosher meal

I'd disagree on that - I've had domestic op-ups twice and an international on-board op-up once: all while on a special meal request. It's not a big deal, the FAs simply bring the existing meat "up" and top you up with the relevant J (or F) offerings.