MHupgrade - can now bid for upgrades before flight

[MH_fan]

Prices for upgrading between SYD and KUL have gone up significantly. Minimum bids are now over AUD600!

 

[downloadingdata]

Prices for upgrading between SYD and KUL have gone up significantly. Minimum bids are now over AUD600!

For all dates? When is your flight?

Kinda weird given they are selling z class to Asia ex KUL for 2.5k ish return

Also... the cabins are pretty much empty 1, 2 months out

 

[AndyMelb]

I flew MEL-KUL in March and the offered upgrades were over AUD $600. I'm flying MEL-KUL next Tuesday, booked in June, and again the offered upgrades were over AUD $600.

 

[MH_fan]

For all dates? When is your flight?

Kinda weird given they are selling z class to Asia ex KUL for 2.5k ish return

Also... the cabins are pretty much empty 1, 2 months out

Pretty much. Anything above 600 isn't worth it, IMO. 500 is probably the max that I'd be prepared to pay.

 

[robinsparkles]

Flights for April 2019, SYD - KUL has minimum bid of $550 AUD.

Haven't yet decided if we'll bite...

 

[trippin_the_rift]

MH use Plusgrade, and it's reasonably public knowledge that the Plusgrade system adds a weighting multiplier for elite members. It also de-prioritizes you if you've had multiple successful upgrade bids in the past.

So if you are Emerald, a $550 bid may actually be viewed as $600 when compared to a non-OW elite member bid.

Check out the Plusgrade docs online for info on how their features work... may help you refine your bidding process.

 

[robinsparkles]

Thanks @trippin_the_rift i'll try to read through online

 

[Aus ATC]

Successful upgrade BNE - KUL for $530.00 off a rather cheap ticket BNE-KUL-BKK and return. I think the bid range was $520 - $840AUD. I received an "up your offer" email a day or so before the upgrade was confirmed, but declined that opportunity. An overnight flight, so hopefully will get some sleep - I will suffer down the back for the daytime return.....

 

[Aus ATC]

A quick report back - I was pre-assigned 5A, but 1D was available, so took that. Seat, while sitting, was OK but a bit short of padding - not exactly luxurious. Sleeping (or trying) was quite uncomfortable. A lump, maybe from the lumbar support, in just the wrong place. Foot room was fine (bulkhead seat) but the window bulkhead seats would have been a bit better, as less "overhang" from the bulkhead.

Food was OK - satays a nice starter. I skipped breakfast (and wasn't aware of the service so must have got some sleep!).

Summary of MAS Business (A330) - OK but not great. Glad I didn't pay too much more than I did.

 

[robinsparkles]

thanks for the update @Aus ATC

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Thanks @trippin_the_rift i'll try to read through online

Helpful hints in this article...
Airlines Find Another Way to Wring Out Extra Revenue: Auctioning Unsold Premium Seats

 

[robinsparkles]

Helpful hints in this article...
Airlines Find Another Way to Wring Out Extra Revenue: Auctioning Unsold Premium Seats

thanks, will take a read now!

 

[robinsparkles]

Has anyone successfully bid/upgraded recently?

 

[dvt]

I've just upgraded on from an economy ticket that earned no Qantas points or status credits. The ticket is now I class which earns as flexible economy. Will I actually earn at this rate or still get nothing?

 

[wandering_fred]

I class on MH is different than (almost all) the Oneworld members in that it is considered an award category and with QFF earns "nothing"

Just wandering
Fred

 

[serfty]

I class on MH is different than (almost all) the Oneworld members in that it is considered an award category and with QFF earns "nothing"

Just wandering
Fred

I travelled on a revenue I class ticket in MH CMB-KUL-SIN and earned with QFF as for partner airline business class. It was not an upgrade though.

 

[wandering_fred]

The US based Flyertalk site has a more complete discussion of the issues. Note that QFF does not list MH "I class" as earning. I suspect a great deal of YMMV applies here. Also why I limit my upgrade bidding to UL.
Flyertalk discussion of MH upgrades

Just wandering
Fred

 

[CaptJCool]

Hadn’t seen this before

I liked this quote from the article

Then there’s Australia. Two PlusGrade customers — Qantas and Virgin Australia — are based there, and both airlines do a robust business.

“What’s really funny is on our other airlines, like Lufthansa or Etihad, you look at the list of where people are bidding from, and Australians always surface as some of the most aggressive bidders,” Engle said. “Australians really love an upgrade or an auction. I’m not sure which.”