Now possible to upgrade award seats.

[esseeeayeenn]

Qantas: business class upgrades on frequent flyer reward bookings

I haven't seen this covered under the other changes.

I would imagine this will result in them selling even more upgrades, and mean even fewer opups.

 

[Limewood]

An improvement of sorts pity about the huge fees and charges :evil:

 

[Mattg]

I guess it's good to have the option. But it looks like this will be an expensive way to get a seat in a premium cabin (compared to buying a business class award outright, anyway).

I can see this being useful in two instances. Firstly, if you've booked a oneworld award in economy and just want to upgrade one or two of the Qantas flights. Secondly, if booking an international flight on points and only economy awards were available at the time of booking. At least this would give you a chance to try your luck for an upgrade closer to the flight.

Otherwise, booking a business class award outright remains much better value.

FWIW Emirates has a similar policy, and the points required for an upgrade off an economy award are also very high.

 

[NZ_Flyer]

It is more expensive, but good on QF for now having the option to do this. I note a number of us wanted this in a recent thread on what QF could do to improve its FF benefits...although it was probably well in the pipeline before that thread.

Now if only they would allow international upgrade awards from Discount Economy...

 

[Red Roo]

Here's a link with an updated calculator: https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/memberSpecials/classic-upgrade-reward

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I am not happy with that new ability. Others will be happy.
I sometimes want to pay lots of money to sit up there in that 2 abrest on the 737/1 abreast on the QF J suite on the domestic 330, and now, with upgrade ability on award seats in J, looks like even if I want to pay for seat in J, my chances of getting it are now slimmer, seeing that QF is happy to give those coveted seats to others not paying full J rates.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... not happy AJ/LG (Alan J/Lesley G). Seeing RedRoo is still off.
Edit: ah, she's back.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I am not happy with that new ability. Others will be happy.
I sometimes want to pay lots of money to sit up there in that 2 abrest on the 737/1 abreast on the QF J suite on the domestic 330, and now, with upgrade ability on award seats in J, looks like even if I want to pay for seat in J, my chances of getting it are now slimmer, seeing that QF is happy to give those coveted seats to others not paying full J rates.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... not happy AJ/LG (Alan J/Lesley G). Seeing RedRoo is still off.
Edit: ah, she's back.

What on earth??

 

[NZ_Flyer]

I am not happy with that new ability. Others will be happy.
I sometimes want to pay lots of money to sit up there in that 2 abrest on the 737/1 abreast on the QF J suite on the domestic 330, and now, with upgrade ability on award seats in J, looks like even if I want to pay for seat in J, my chances of getting it are now slimmer, seeing that QF is happy to give those coveted seats to others not paying full J rates.

This is categorically incorrect. If you want to buy a seat in J then you just buy one. Simple as that. I fail to see how allowing more pax the option of upgrading will mean less revenue seats available given that upgrades are processed at a max T-7 days prior to departure. The only time I would see this as a problem was if you wanted a last minute fare, and even then if J was sold out how could you possibly know it was due to upgraded pax? It could be all J seats are revenue. And even with instantly available domestic upgrades, only a few seats are released for this while the rest follow standard upgrade timings.

 

[trixydoza]

I can't think of a single circumstance under which I'd use this, but I guess it doesn't do much harm.

 

[medhead]

This is categorically incorrect. If you want to buy a seat in J then you just buy one. Simple as that. I fail to see how allowing more pax the option of upgrading will mean less revenue seats available given that upgrades are processed at a max T-7 days prior to departure. The only time I would see this as a problem was if you wanted a last minute fare, and even then if J was sold out how could you possibly know it was due to upgraded pax? It could be all J seats are revenue. And even with instantly available domestic upgrades, only a few seats are released for this while the rest follow standard upgrade timings.

Given they are talking about domestic flights/routes. It is worth remembering that upgrades can be confirmed immediately on domestic flights. But that does depend of U fare availability, which is limited and is very unlikely to exhaust cash fare classes.

 

[jaskie]

I can't think of a single circumstance under which I'd use this, but I guess it doesn't do much harm.

I agree- it doesn't seem like a good use of points, except if you really want to upgrade and a Classic Award Seat isn't available. Even then, for example;
SYD-JFK one way Economy Classic Award is 60,000
SYD-JFK one way Business Classic Award is 128,000

Upgrading from Economy Classic to Business is 124,000

So 184,000 vs 128,000- hmmmm

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I agree- it doesn't seem like a good use of points, except if you really want to upgrade and a Classic Award Seat isn't available. Even then, for example;
SYD-JFK one way Economy Classic Award is 60,000
SYD-JFK one way Business Classic Award is 128,000

Upgrading from Economy Classic to Business is 124,000

So 184,000 vs 128,000- hmmmm

It doesn't look like good value to me, but then some people use points to buy toasters ...

 

[exceladdict]

I can't think of a single circumstance under which I'd use this, but I guess it doesn't do much harm.

1. If you win an award ticket, but don't want to fly Y
2. If you book economy award rather than a business award due to lower taxes (with the recent changes), then upgrade to business via this method, if it is economical (i haven't run the numbers). Thought I doubt it will be economical.

Normal PER>MEL X Award 18,000 + ~$34.10
Normal PER>MEL U Award 36,000 + ~$34.10
Upgrade X>U 26,000
Summary: not economical

Normal PER>SIN X Award 22,500 + $136.96
Normal PER>SIN U Award 50,000 + who knows, i checked over 20 dates and there was no availability (RedRoo we really really need a "qantas only" and "direct flights only" option on "flexible dates" award searching)
Upgrade X>U 35,000

These upgrades appear to be calculated based on zones - and the J to F upgrade here (though it's not available on a 737 is surprisingly low):

 

[trixydoza]

1. If you win an award ticket, but don't want to fly Y

...then I won't want to go in the upgrade lottery.

 

[ozmille]

I would consider this if I had to be somewhere but had to book Y award as no J award available at time of booking and then go in the lottery

 

[JohnK]

You really need to be desperate to request an upgrade from an economy classic award to higher class.

Makes a SYD-HKG classic economy award one-way upgraded to business class costing a total of 82,000 QFF points where as a business class award booked initially is only 60,000 QFF points.

Personally do not see this as an enhancement. In fact it's a trap. Hope no one gets confused and thinks this is a good deal and wastes their points on an upgrade.

 

[trixydoza]

I would consider this if I had to be somewhere but had to book Y award as no J award available at time of booking and then go in the lottery

Good incentive for them to make fewer J awards available, then.

 

[Pleb Status]

I have found the 'sweet spot' with the new classic award upgrade availability.

Zone 8 business classic reward (U) - 96,000pts (+ taxes).

Zone 8 business upgrade (X->U) - 100,000pts (+45,000pts +taxes for the X award).

 

[dairyfloss]

What are people's thoughts with regard to upgrade pecking order with the introduction of these upgrade requests? I'm thinking it may add an extra layer at each QFF tier (e.g. CL Revenue > CL Classic > P1 Revenue > P1 Classic > WP Revenue, etc.), or... is it likely to be more convoluted than that, with tiers intertwining with revenue and fare buckets and the Bid Now offers all over the place? Debate.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[SOPOOR]

Yeah i got this email too

Dear Mr tite bum

We know you love using your points for travel, so we're always looking for new and exciting ways for you to use them.

That's why from today, when you make an Economy or Premium Economy Classic Flight Reward~ booking, you can use your Qantas Points to request an upgrade^ from:


Economy to Premium Economy

Economy to Business

Premium Economy to Business



This is in addition to the recent reduction in Qantas Points and carrier charges required for selected Qantas International Economy Classic Flight Rewards+.

It's all about providing you with a more rewarding experience.

Calculate how many points are required to request an upgrade from a Classic Flight Reward booking.

Ok newbie here in confused.
So whats the difference to before?
Before youncould book business class with points anyway.....