Now possible to upgrade award seats.

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Yep, that defeats the "good for people who don't have enough points just at the moment" argument. (SMH article: Or sometimes flyers don't have enough points for an award seat in a premium cabin upon booking but accumulate them by the time they actually fly through credit card spending or from other flights.)

I suspect any additional release will be after T-24:

14.7.9 The following changes are not permitted to any Classic Flight Reward within 24 hours before departure from the point of origin of the first Flight Segment on the Itinerary:
(a) change to class of travel;

A keen eye combined with an EF alert could yield results at T-72 or earlier...

 

[trixydoza]

A keen eye combined with an EF alert could yield results at T-72 or earlier...

I've often found that those aren't actually bookable, but appear (via EF alerts) etc. as part of the process of filling upgrades.

I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out in practice. If someone is points-rich and status-poor and Qantas does prioritise the option that gets them back more points, that might actually increase the chance of getting an upgrade.

The scheme as it stands lacks general appeal. Given the incentives in place, boosting its appeal would mean making it harder to take advantage of the more appealing options, such as by reducing U award availability in the first place.

*If* they do leave everything else alone, it's basically harmless (and irrelevant to most people).

 

[JohnK]

So if U class is available and you have an X class booking, why wouldn't you just call up or log on and change it to a U class for a change fee?

It seems this is approaching the QF definition of "enhancement", which we know is only for the enhancement of their bottom line...

You can't change an award but you can cancel original economy class award minus 5,000 QFF point penalty and book new business class award.

I can see a lot of people paying a lot more for their "upgraded" awards and realising later they could have gotten the awards cheaper.

 

[trixydoza]

This whole thing also makes travelling indirectly way more appealing.

Scenario: I want to fly in J from SYD to LAX, and there are no J awards available on QF.

I could buy a Y award for 45,000 + cash, run the risk of staying in Y, and hope for the chance to end up having paid 145,000 + cash.

Or I could fly in J guaranteed (assuming availability) on CX via HKG or JL via NRT for 139,000 + less cash.

Even more extreme for SYD-JFK or SYD-LHR: 184,000 (if you win the upgrade lottery) versus the same 139,000 + less cash.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

You can't change an award but you can cancel original economy class award minus 5,000 QFF point penalty and book new business class award.

I can see a lot of people paying a lot more for their "upgraded" awards and realising later they could have gotten the awards cheaper.

Umm what about the 3500 point change fee? I must admit as you know I don't book poor value Y awards unless I'm desperate to avoid a last minute $400+ SYD-BNE fare or similar. For J awards, the changes are free. Much better value to be had there.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

The main reason this won't interest me is that I like a little certainty.
However I pay - whether in cash, points, or a combination of both - I like to know what I am getting.
I don't like the last minute upgrade lottery.
Although I love a last minute free upgrade!

 

[JohnK]

Umm what about the 3500 point change fee? I must admit as you know I don't book poor value Y awards unless I'm desperate to avoid a last minute $400+ SYD-BNE fare or similar. For J awards, the changes are free. Much better value to be had there.

It is not a change. It is cancelling one award and booking another so only 5,000 QFF points penalty for cancelling award. I did this recently.

And yes I do realise we both look at value differently. My goal is to maintain a balance of ~1.1 million points which is enough for 4 x 2 Oneworld awards when my wife is able to travel. Anything else I will spend. I can book a SYD-MEL-KUL economy award in September on the exact date I want for 28,000 QFF points and ~AUD180 or I can book business class for 60,000 QFF points and ~AUD180. Economy is a cinch. If I book that then I can also come back the same way for the same number of points as a one way business class award. I gain absolutely nothing by booking business class but extend the life of my points by booking economy.

I will continue to search for ways to minimise the fuel surcharges and maximise the use of my points. Very soon I am going to take more trips to Thailand and the budget does not stretch that far so need to improvise further.

 

[Abdul_A350]

As ComeFlyWithMe has tried to explain, it would have been cheaper to change than cancel. It is certainly possible. That is one of the advantages of the award tickets, that flexibility.

 

[serfty]

Re: Requesting Upgrade on Classic Flight Reward Bookings

I got this email and don't understand what the difference is... couldn't you do that before anyway? Is it just the points amount that has changed? Thanks guys!

No - could not ordinarily upgrade classic awards.

 

[medhead]

So if U class is available and you have an X class booking, why wouldn't you just call up or log on and change it to a U class for a change fee?

It seems this is approaching the QF definition of "enhancement", which we know is only for the enhancement of their bottom line...

Are you assuming that they will open up U class fares to process the classic award upgrades? I'm not sure that is required.

 

[opusman]

Are you assuming that they will open up U class fares to process the classic award upgrades? I'm not sure that is required.

Indeed it's not, the T-24/48/168 "lottery" upgrades in theory come out of space available, not U class. So this change does let you do something (enter the lottery) with a classic award booking that you could not previously do. A definite truhancement.

 

[JohnK]

As ComeFlyWithMe has tried to explain, it would have been cheaper to change than cancel. It is certainly possible. That is one of the advantages of the award tickets, that flexibility.

Not possible to change an economy award to a business class award. Well not for me anyway. See if you have better luck.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Not possible to change an economy award to a business class award. Well not for me anyway. See if you have better luck.

I've done it many times. On request by phone. Maybe it's a WP benefit but aren't you WP?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Indeed it's not, the T-24/48/168 "lottery" upgrades in theory come out of space available, not U class. So this change does let you do something (enter the lottery) with a classic award booking that you could not previously do. A definite truhancement.

I think you will find, unless it's changed in the past two years, that space available is converted to U availability and the upgrades are waitlisted or confirmed in U class. Sometime this is done at the same time, other times, the U bucket is opened up for last minute award flyers and in anticipation of upgrades. The same applies to discount Y and J classes being opened up in the days prior to a flight if they want to sell more seats at the last minute.

 

[Kiwires]

Re: Requesting Upgrade on Classic Flight Reward Bookings

I've been on the phone with the QFF team and they suggested the same, Separate a passenger so that I can Upgrade a single seat. However, I've logged in on both the Desktop and Mobile websites but can't find the option to Separate. They told me if I do it online, there's no penalty/points charge. What am I missing?

EDIT: Got QFF team to manually separate on their side and have done the Upgrade Request online. Fingers crossed!

 

[Limewood]

Re: Requesting Upgrade on Classic Flight Reward Bookings

What would it be in points to upgrade a booked Award Y seat one way BNE/HKG ?.

 

[Kiwires]

Re: Requesting Upgrade on Classic Flight Reward Bookings

From Economy to Premium Economy - 38k
From Economy to Business - 54k
https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/do/dyns/upgradeCalculator

Same as from Melbourne.

 

[Limewood]

Re: Requesting Upgrade on Classic Flight Reward Bookings

From Economy to Premium Economy - 38k
From Economy to Business - 54k
https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/do/dyns/upgradeCalculator

Same as from Melbourne.

Mrs Lime wants to know if there are fees on top of this?

 

[JimmeRuss]

Re: Requesting Upgrade on Classic Flight Reward Bookings

Long shot here... I'm within 24 hrs of departure on a reward booking.

Booked MEL-PER return and 1 leg has lie flat seating business and 1 leg with the old business config.

Booked 1 leg business and 1 leg economy and half my luck the business leg is without the lie flat seating... Now I want to upgrade the MEL-PER leg to business aswell... I couldn't over the phone as it is less than 24 hrs to departure (had a lovely lass on the FF booking #)... Question is what are my chances at a pre departure upgrade in the lounge tomorrow morning? QF775 expert flyer only showing limited seats booked in Business at this stage.

Fingers Crossed!

Cheers,JIM

 

[exceladdict]

Re: Requesting Upgrade on Classic Flight Reward Bookings

Long shot here... I'm within 24 hrs of departure on a reward booking.

Booked MEL-PER return and 1 leg has lie flat seating business and 1 leg with the old business config.

Booked 1 leg business and 1 leg economy and half my luck the business leg is without the lie flat seating... Now I want to upgrade the MEL-PER leg to business aswell... I couldn't over the phone as it is less than 24 hrs to departure (had a lovely lass on the FF booking #)... Question is what are my chances at a pre departure upgrade in the lounge tomorrow morning? QF775 expert flyer only showing limited seats booked in Business at this stage.

Fingers Crossed!

Cheers,JIM

Any U class left? If so book that and then cancel your old ticket