Newbie has searched and search, but still has a few Q's...

[Febs]

All upgrades you request (confirmed domestic, ODU domestic and waitlisted international) are all upgrade awards and all cost you FF points (or upgrade credits if you have any left over). ODUs are not free upgrades.

OK, that's where I was getting confused.
I've heard so many stories from friends and colleagues (who aren't even frequent flyers) about getting free upgrades at the airport, that I assumed it was common-place on some flights.

When I read threads like "I got upgraded!" etc..., I've just assumed these were free upgrades (due to an airline need, as you said).

Thanks for clearing it up. I'm saving up every point I can get for a holiday next year...so no upgrades for me.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Alan in CBR]

When I read threads like "I got upgraded!" etc..., I've just assumed these were free upgrades (due to an airline need, as you said).

Lots of people get free upgrades. Lots of people win lotteries. Any given individual on a given day has a very small chance of achieving either.

 

[NM]

Lots of people get free upgrades. Lots of people win lotteries. Any given individual on a given day has a very small chance of achieving either.

Darn, I should have taken your advice before buying this lottery ticket :evil:.

 

[serfty]

Lots of people get free upgrades. Lots of people win lotteries. Any given individual on a given day has a very small chance of achieving either.

Hmmm... last week I won an Upgrade but lost the lottery !

 

[Jobu]

When I read threads like "I got upgraded!" etc..., I've just assumed these were free upgrades (due to an airline need, as you said).

Those may be operational upgrades which are free. You can't usually ask for those, and generally find out that you've been upgraded as you're checking in. I've received an op. upgrade 3 or 4 times. Once as Bronze, once as Gold and once or twice as Platinum - all times without asking and at check-in. Best chance for an op. upgrade is during school holidays when economy is overflowing. I'm not sure if the class of ticket makes a difference too as I almost always get fully flexible economy tickets which are pricey.

PS: Probably an even sillier question than 4)...but a mate of mine was saying Qantas give massive incentives/presents to their top FFs (ie: top 5)...and that the top flyer gets a new Statesman every year. Sounded like a big urban legend to me, but is there any truth to it?

I know 2 people who get a letter from Geoff Dixon almost every year thanking them for being one of the top 10 frequent flyers (makes me wonder whether the top 10 actually has more than 10 people...). One of these people is one of my bosses who flies around 16 times per annum to UK (primarily), US, Canada, Asia and Europe, but all in First Class. The other is a CEO of a company I work with who has offices in US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Along with their letters, both also receive two bottles of Grange each, which might not be a Statesman, but isn't too shabby either.

JOBU

 

[simongr]

The only "free" upgrades come when the airline has a need for your seat and decides the best way to free up your seat for someone else is to give you an "operational" upgrade (op-up). Don't count on that happening - its rare. And don't bother asking at the airport as the answer will be no.

I just had a bit of a realisation. Based on this and a comment in another thread about how op-ups occur in holidays when its busy I now understand why in fact a lot of non-frequent fliers get the op-ups and not people like me that travel on business in non-school holiday times. I guess these people are travelling in the peak periods in discounted flights that have been oversold - whereas for the last thinkg I want to do in the holidays is jump on a busy plane...

 

[NM]

I just had a bit of a realisation. Based on this and a comment in another thread about how op-ups occur in holidays when its busy I now understand why in fact a lot of non-frequent fliers get the op-ups and not people like me that travel on business in non-school holiday times. I guess these people are travelling in the peak periods in discounted flights that have been oversold - whereas for the last thinkg I want to do in the holidays is jump on a busy plane...

And its interesting to follow the process in the USA. People will purposely book flights they know will be oversold on peak travel days (like Thanksgiving), hoping they can get themselves bumped off the flight and score some compensation. And they will try for double and triple bumps in the one day to earn more in compensation than the cost of the ticket.

Thankfully that activity is not encouraged in Australia.

 

[Febs]

That's one way to make some extra money, I s'pose...
Personally I have a life.

We did get a good deal when travelling to NZ 7 years ago though. They asked if we wanted to take a later flight (about 8 hours later), and offered compensation of $500ea plus a room at the Hilton (with buffet lunch) for the time we had to wait. We weren't in a big hurry so we took up the offer.

Cheers,
- Febs.