Minimum class ticket required for points upgrade

[craven morehead]

I wish to fly out of either BNE or SYD to HKG. What is the class of Y ticket required before I can ask for a points upgrade to J (BNE or SYD) or F (SYD)? Also as I am only PS how long prior to flight can I request said upgrade? Or can it only be done from the QP prior to boarding. :mrgreen: This flight will most likely bump me up to SG. Thank you to all the learned ones.............

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wish to fly out of either BNE or SYD to HKG. What is the class of Y ticket required before I can ask for a points upgrade to J (BNE or SYD) or F (SYD)? Also as I am only PS how long prior to flight can I request said upgrade? Or can it only be done from the QP prior to boarding. :mrgreen: This flight will most likely bump me up to SG. Thank you to all the learned ones.............

For economy, N, O and Q classes can't be upgraded. From business all fares can be upgraded.

When you are looking at prices on the QF site you can click on the tabs at the top of the price column (eg 'sale' or 'red-e deal'). This produces a pop-up box. About two thirds the way down that box is a section 'frequent flyer'. That tells you if the fare selected is able to be upgraded.

you can request the upgrade for international travel 90 days (upto 24 hours) from departure. Priority will be given according to your frequent flyer status and the time you requested the upgrade within your status band.

So if you are plat, then the earliest plat member who requested an upgrade will get the upgrade if available.

If you are bronze, all other higher status holders will be in the queue in front of you no matter how early you request the upgrade.

So for example if you are bronze (or silve or gold) and request at 90 days out, a plat requesting 25 hours out will be higher up than you.

Domestic upgrades can be confirmed up to 355 days out at the time of booking subject to availability. Requesting an upgrade in the QP is a separate process on day of departure.

 

[craven morehead]

Many many thanks....MEL_Traveller :mrgreen:

 

[medhead]

For economy, N, O and Q classes can't be upgraded. From business all fares can be upgraded.

When you are looking at prices on the QF site you can click on the tabs at the top of the price column (eg 'sale' or 'red-e deal'). This produces a pop-up box. About two thirds the way down that box is a section 'frequent flyer'. That tells you if the fare selected is able to be upgraded.

One question on this, Does the frequent flyer have to say it is eligible. I've been looking at some fares SYD-NRT and the "Sale" say no upgrades, the high fares say yes for upgrades. But the "Red e Deal" doesn't mention upgrades either way.

I assume that since it doesn't rule out upgrades that they would be allowed, but just want to double check.

 

[equus]

The "red-e", "Sale" etc descriptions won't always help. You will need to get the fare class, as that is the definitive basis. I wouldn't rely on no mention of upgrades meaning that they are permitted.

There are 2 ways of getting the fare class, either some magic with viewing source on the web site (others can explain better, and there are threads around that explain it), or ringing QF or your travel agent and getting them to do the booking. Note that this won't always be more expensive than doing it yourself online, especially as you will not be after the cheapest fares. When I have done this specifically to get an upgradeable fare, I have ended up paying less than what appeared to be the cheapest the web site was offering that met that requirement.

Minimum fare base to upgrade from economy to business is "S", but this is generally not sold on either BNE or SYD to HKG, so minimum practical is likely to be "V". For upgrading to F, you will need to start with the lowest business class, which I believe is "I" if you can get it, but more likely to be "D" for ready availability.

 

[Mal]

For economy, N, O and Q classes can't be upgraded. From business all fares can be upgraded.

The classes changed slightly when Qantas introduced E class into domestic red-e-deals. It's now:

'Restricted Fare' means any Qantas fare ticketed in E, N, O, P, Q, U, X or Z booking classes, which includes some Qantas Red e-Deals;

P (First), U (Business), X (Econ) and Z (Prem Econ) are award classes (so don't really count, but are there for clarification by Qantas).

The way I remember which classes you can't upgrade is through the mnemonic:

Not On Qantas Ever (Which actually isn't really true as there have been some reports of upgrades being offered to people by phone who are booked in non-eligible classes! )

 

[MelUser]

Economy (S) is the cheapest point to points upgradeable fare although aroun the worlds booked in Economy (L) are also upgradeable.

On another point (pardon the pun!), what are others views on the success of a points upgrade from Premium Economy (R) to Business where there is only J8C0D0I0 remaining?

Will QF upgrade a Platinum given such full loadings? (note all things being equal - ie Economy and Premium not oversold so no operational need to push people up)

 

[NM]

I wish to fly out of either BNE or SYD to HKG. What is the class of Y ticket required before I can ask for a points upgrade to J (BNE or SYD) or F (SYD)?

You cannot upgrade from economy to First. Only from economy to Premium Economy or Business Class. Only way to upgrade to First is to purchase a Business Class fare and upgrade from there.

 

[markis10]

The "red-e", "Sale" etc descriptions won't always help. You will need to get the fare class, as that is the definitive basis. I wouldn't rely on no mention of upgrades meaning that they are permitted.

When you book online it very clearly states whether the fare is eligible for upgrades on the page before you enter passenger data, it references the same data that the upgrade request process references so it is very reliable!

 

[craven morehead]

You cannot upgrade from economy to First. Only from economy to Premium Economy or Business Class. Only way to upgrade to First is to purchase a Business Class fare and upgrade from there.

It continue's to amaze me at the depth of knowledge on this forum. I seem to be learning something new most times I log on. Thanks again :mrgreen:

 

[medhead]

When you book online it very clearly states whether the fare is eligible for upgrades on the page before you enter passenger data, it references the same data that the upgrade request process references so it is very reliable!

That is not always the case, on another route it might not mention upgrades like for 20 May, SYD-NRT red-e-deal in relation to Frequent Flyers says:

Points and Status Credits are not earned when travelling on Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Awards. Classed as Discount Economy when Status Credits are earned on this fare

The lack of upgrade advice creates uncertainty.

 

[markis10]

That is not quite correct 20 May, SYD-NRT red-e-deal in relation to QFF says:


It clearly doesn't say anything about upgrades

It always shows the details for a HKG bound flight which the OP was referring to and I answered in that context, other destinations as you have shown may not display on the QF website - fault #1003

 

[medhead]

It always shows the details for a HKG bound flight which the OP was referring to and I answered in that context, other destinations as you have shown may not display on the QF website - fault #1003

Whoops, my mistake. In the context of the post you replied to it wasn't that clear to me.

I'll remove/edit my previous post

 

[markis10]

Whoops, my mistake. In the context of the post you replied to it wasn't that clear to me.

I'll remove/edit my previous post

Its good to know that the Tokyo flights dont show it though, I wonder if it is really a mistake?

 

[medhead]

Its good to know that the Tokyo flights dont show it though, I wonder if it is really a mistake?

It's hard to say. I've only ever seen that when there is also a "sale" fare, which is non-upgradeable. In those case, the upgrade reference disappears from the red-e-deal. I first notice this when tracking a some fares with non-upgradeable red-e-deals when a sale fare appeared and the red-e-deal then change to not mention upgrades. The tokyo example is probably the first time I've notice a red-e-deal without upgrade info and no sale fare

Anyway, I've done no proper research on this situation and only have random impressions.