How to upgrade online at economy cf disc. economy

[Chris_Leo]

Hi everyone

I have a quick question. One of the popular routes I take is the SFO-SYD direct service, and in the past, I have used my QFF points to upgrade from discount economy to business class.

My question is, how do you find a ticket that is classified as "economy" rather than "discount economy" for upgrade purposes online? I have in the past tried purchasing the most expensive "economy" class ticket online (referred to as "flexi-saver") but this is still recognized as "discount economy" for the purposes of working out how many QFF points are required for an upgrade to business class.

Can anyone help with this? I would prefer not to have to use "double" the QFF points for upgrading, unless of course the cost of an "economy" class ticket for upgrading purposes is prohibitively expensive.

Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[Mal]

"Full Economy" for upgrade purposes on flights within NZ and also Internationally are only flights booked in the "Y" booking class.

This Y fare from SYD-SFO is approx $8500 return (sometimes cheaper from some websites and through certain commercial contracts)

I don't believe Full Y is ever offered on International flights from the Qantas website - or at least I havn't seen it. Normally Discount Business, or other Business class fares are about as cheap as Y is.

 

[Chris_Leo]

Hmmm

So that sounds really suss. In other words, for the most part, we need to be looking at the points required to upgrade from discount economy to business, unless we have a spare $8000 to spend on a full economy ticket. The variance in the points required for a return trip is quite substantial i.e. 90,000 points from economy to business vs 144,000 points from disc. economy to business.

Is this similar to other airline loyalty programs (e.g. AA or United)?

 

[serfty]

You basically cannot book a "Full" WHY SYD-SFO return on the Qantas web site.

Note that a Flexi Saver return using QF73/QF74 costs $3323 all up ($2905fare + $418+++). It's an 'H' class fare.

The cheapest Y fare (Y2RT) would be ~$7780. ($7362+$418)

A TA may be able to assist if you are really keen.

(You could look at a DCIR22 which would cost around $8000 for Business class travel say SYD-AKL-LAX-SFO-SYD).

 

[Chris_Leo]

Serfty and Mal

Thanks for your prompt responses to my question.

Hmm...the more I learn about the QFF program the more I feel the need to transition to the AA program.

Thank again
Chris

 

[simongr]

Dont forget though with AA you cant ever use points to upgrade from whY to J or J to F on anything but AA - mind you it just about costs the same in pointsto just get a J seat award.... if you can get one

 

[Shano]

For my current trip to China I wanted to book flights in the Y fare bucket - not B, H, K, etc - so that I could earn full Y SC and would cost less points to upgrade.

Fortunately with Expert Flyer access, I found a YLFFA1 fare for about $1,800 +++. The only other Y fare (YRT) was about $5,500 +++ (a D class circle Asia fare would be cheaper!!)

The QF website also only listed fares up to BLFFA1 with no YLFFA1 showing, even though seatcounter was still showing Y availability (EF still does not show the Y fare bucket on QF flights).

There are also other discounted Y class fares listed for flights to Asia, but have never seen anything similar for flights to North America - only the YRT fare basis.

 

[Mal]

Full Y to Asia tends to be very cheap compared to other Y fares.

Especially in peak periods! Over Christmas (a very peak period) a couple of years ago, I picked up Y to HKG for a few hundred more than the going rates for cheaper fares!

Definately worth it for me at the time. I upgraded both ways at a fairly cheap amount of points, so definately got value out of the fare.

 

[Shano]

Yep, my upgrade cost me 25,000 points rather than 40,000 had I been on a B class fare or lower. Have an upgrade request in for the flight home too.

With WP status bonus, plus points earned on Amex Rewards Maximiser, there shold be not nett change to my points balance for the entire trip if the return upgrade is granted

 

[NM]

Note that some corporate deals provide fares that book into Y inventory for a significant discount over the published Y fare. Because they book into Y, they are eligible for full economy SC earning and to be upgraded at the lower rate.

 

[Dave Noble]

Dont forget though with AA you cant ever use points to upgrade from whY to J or J to F on anything but AA - mind you it just about costs the same in pointsto just get a J seat award.... if you can get one

Don't exagerate on cost ... A QF r/t upgrade from economy to business costs 144,000 from SYD-SFO whilst a J award seat from AA costs 125,000 points and the 1st award costs 145,000.

Dave