Likelyhood of award upgrade QF : HKG to PER?

[Smokie71]

Hi,

How do I find out the likelyhood of being able to get an award upgrade from economy to business with Qantas for two tickets (same booking)? The flight is from Hong Kong to Perth on the 4th of January 2009 (one way). My partner and I are both Bronze Australian QFF members.

I haven't purchased a ticket as it depends on the availability of upgrades. If the likelihood is close to nil then I would rather use my points to purchase an economy ticket and not upgrade, and save the cash for spending money.

Thanks.

 

[simongr]

Hi smokie71 and welcome

SeatCounter - The Booking Class Availability Machine will give you information about available fare classes that might indicate the availability of an upgrade.

but there are a heap of other factors - it depends on your status with Qantas (QF) - whether you are Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze - the higher the status the greater the likelihood.

If you have status, request the upgrade exactly 3 months out and choose flights with light loads (during the middle of the week when business travellers arent travelling).

However buying so far out is not going to help in "guaranteeing" the upgrade - the flight might look lightly loaded now but could fill up closer to the flight.

The basic adage is - expect to sit in teh seat you paid for...

 

[Smokie71]

Hi Simongr,

Thanks for the welcome, and the quick reply. It was what I expected but just wanted confirmed. Based on my low FF status and the increase in fare cost around the actual trip date, I cannot see an upgrade for myself as well as my partner happening.

 

[simongr]

If you have the points it can't hurt to apply for the upgrade - just don't suggest it as an option to your partner.

Check seatcounter and if you see J9 D9 I9 C9 (unlikely) then there is a better chance. Choose days that business people don't travel.

 

[Mox_Fulder]

Hmm..I've also noticed that on some international fare tix from HKG to SYD, the SALE fare is more expensive than a RED e-deal yet, on the SALE fare, flight upgrade award is NOT available while its possible on the red-e deal.

One would have thought that the more expensive tix should have eligibility for flight upgrades.

Have to keep an eye on the categories when booking, it would seem. Not all international tix can be used for seat upgrades....

 

[Dave Noble]

I haven't purchased a ticket as it depends on the availability of upgrades. If the likelihood is close to nil then I would rather use my points to purchase an economy ticket and not upgrade, and save the cash for spending money.

Thanks.

I would consider buying the business ticket on points if available . PER-HKG costs 40k to upgrade from economy to business vs 60k for the business award outright plus the business class will be guaranteed rather than a gamble. Effectively you can look at it as getting an economy ticket for PER-HKG for 20000 points and then upgrading.

Dave

 

[MelUser]

I'd play the points upgrade lottery! You've nothing to lose.

 

[Smokie71]

I'd play the points upgrade lottery! You've nothing to lose.

The only thing is that we have the points to get economy tickets, and then get to keep the actual cash as spending money. I don't want to use the cash for tickets and then not get the upgrade. If we have to fly economy I would rather just use the points - that's what we saved them for.
If I was given a high probability of getting the upgrade I would "play the points upgrade lottery" but the odds do not seem stacked in our favour, unfortunately.

Dave - unfortunately no business seats on points available for the flight from HKG to PER

simongr - seatcounter shows J9 D9 I-doesn't even show C9 - but as it is 6 months away I am assuming it doesn't mean much at this point in time.

 

[Dave Noble]

Dave - unfortunately no business seats on points available for the flight from HKG to PER

In which case I would say to book the economy award tickets. If you have the available points, then just keep a watch out for business availability opening up and rebook the award into business

I would suggest opening a BA Executive Club account to check for business availability since the QF tool is too inclined to do things such as indicate that there are no seats to a low status member when in fact there is and also doesn't tend to indicate availability on CX. If you phone n check , you may find that CX has J awards available

Dave