International Upgrades - the pecking order

[justinbrett]

Officially a Y+ upgrade will only beat a Y upgrade in the same status level (so yes you should beat NB booked in Y).

Unofficially, I'm convinced they prioritise Y+ pax to some extent. That allows them to double upgrade, and the sum of those points are greater than 1x straight Y - J upgrade. It makes commercial sense, but to a point. A NB Y+ pax probably wouldn't win over a WP Y pax. But perhaps they would beat PS.

We'll never know.

I've never flown QF Y+ because every time I book it I get upgraded (I am WP)

 

[Chumly123]

Thanks for everyone's input.

Much appreciated

 

[CaptJCool]

While dated, I did that flight in 2012, none of my upgrade requests as a WP At the time were successful. On the way home ran into some QantasLink pilots who were in J. QF then were sending pilots to Seattle for flight sim training as it wasn’t available in Australia. Bear in mind there’s paying PAX and rewards tics too so flights with F cabin will also see less J seats available - makes for a tight squeeze

In MARCH 2014: I went to San Fran as Gold although took my Plat card as the new one hadn’t shown up, that’s another story about getting into F lounges (including as a plus 1) and chatted with a number of other PAX who suggested 3-cabin flights gave far greater opportunity for J upgrades (a lot more J seats) than 4-cabin flights and that their success rate of regular upgrades on the 3-cabin was pretty good.

So given the order etc, month of flights you may find upgrades are rare ..... I don’t fsncy your chances given the discount tic....

I found Premium Economy fine at the time and was what I could financially afford (even given it was a conference so negatively geared tax deductible against a professional allowance) (Previously, I did get an at the gate op-up to PE in 2008 for FREE and of course we all know free is best haha )

That said, I do think the extra 3-4 inches of recline makes a significant difference.....and ask nicely you might even score some J class champers, wine or spirits ....

 

[NZ_Flyer]

Are P1 upgrade requests for family members processed at T-7 days? I remember there was some confusion as to whether these were considered at T-7 days or not.

 

[eminere]

Are P1 upgrade requests for family members processed at T-7 days? I remember there was some confusion as to whether these were considered at T-7 days or not.

Yes, up to seven days prior to departure.

 

[NZ_Flyer]

Yes, up to seven days prior to departure.

Thanks! I remember a few years ago there was thought that these requests were processed when the flyers upgrade request was evaluated (based on their status) but given P1 priority, rather than properly ranked as a P1 upgrade.

 

[RichardMEL]

Thanks! I remember a few years ago there was thought that these requests were processed when the flyers upgrade request was evaluated (based on their status) but given P1 priority, rather than properly ranked as a P1 upgrade.

This is how it has worked when I have done it for a family member. eg my NB sister was upgraded just over 24h prior to flight but she was clearly upgraded ahead of other NB's as in P1 priority within the upgrade window for her status level (so I think it's possible she may have jumped any Golds and Silvers at that point, but I have no proof of that).

The 7 days is only for P1 and family IF they are flying and on the same PNR thus the P1's upgrade priority covers the booking. If family member not flying with the P1 or on separate PNR, then it's per their status level "with P1 priority" (which is confusing)

 

[Tamerton]

Do these rules still apply if flying with a partner airline ?
We’re going to Tokyo next year and will probably fly with JAL booked through Qantas, what is the chance of an upgrade with JAL ?

 

[mannej]

The discussion above refers to point upgrades on QF, which doesn’t apply to your question about flying on JL.

 

[sudoer]

We’re going to Tokyo next year and will probably fly with JAL booked through Qantas, what is the chance of an upgrade with JAL ?

You cannot request an upgrade using QFF points on JL metal, however with regard to operational upgrades:

If a P1 books your flights with QFF points on your behalf but is not travelling - you have virtually zero chance of an upgrade as you will have no status showing on the booking.

If a P1 books your flights with QFF points and is travelling on the same booking - your travel group has a better chance of an operational upgrade through the travelling P1's OWE status, but would only be upgraded (in the event of overbooking, JAL are not known to op-up out of kindness) after JMB points upgrades and elites have been processed.

 

[Lewdannie]

A related question
I have silver with QC and have booked a rewards flight for myself and 3 family members, SIN to BNE
Is it possible to request and upgrade for just 2 of the party and leave the teenagers up the back?

 

[Hvr]

Is it possible to request and upgrade for just 2 of the party and leave the teenagers up the back?

Only if they're on separate tickets. If they have the same PNR as the parents then it's one in, all in the upgrade request.

There may be a way to split the ticket but someone way more knowledgeable than me can give that data if applicable.

 

[sudoer]

There may be a way to split the ticket but someone way more knowledgeable than me can give that data if applicable.

MMB on the Qantas site sometimes give an option to split PNR, but I've never used it don't know how it works with more than two people.. whether they all get individual PNRs or if you can pick who goes on which PNR. The Qantas call centre would be able to advise.

@Lewdannie should also keep in mind a PNR split may work against them if there are IRROPS or if the original booking was eligible for DSC.

 

[Matt_01]

The date has nothing to do with it unless you requested an upgrade after the system has already started processing them.

I was under the understanding that the date requested comes into play within the same status level. i.e. if say 3-4 WP have requested an J-F upgrade on the same flight and there is only 1 available then the person you put in the request first would get it.

I may be wrong.

 

[Ekka]

How lovely for you.

 

[serfty]

I may be wrong.

Date was mentioned as a criteria aound the time of the May 2005 'Enhancements'. I don't believe it has been a determinant since then.

 

[Mondo]

Does anyone know where in the pecking order the upgrade bid with cash/points slots in? I have a friend flying AKL-SYD with no QFF account offered to bid for his upcoming flight. Thanks

 

[Happy Trails]

Does anyone know where in the pecking order the upgrade bid with cash/points slots in? I have a friend flying AKL-SYD with no QFF account offered to bid for his upcoming flight. Thanks

Bid Now Upgrade offers will be considered after requests for Classic Upgrade Rewards^ have been processed and confirmed.

Qantas Upgrades | Qantas

 

[744]

I used to action these when I worked there 7 years ago. It was like throwing a dart at a board to see who got it. Bear in mind this was when these upgrades first started. It was a nightmare on multi sector flts like QF001. Then someone came up with a droid that was supposed to do all this automatically. It worked some of the time. Not sure from speaking to some of my ex colleagues if it’s any better now. Then I saw the light and resigned.

 

[Mondo]

Bid Now Upgrade offers will be considered after requests for Classic Upgrade Rewards^ have been processed and confirmed.

Qantas Upgrades | Qantas

Thanks. I would have thought Qantas would prefer the cash.