PER-SYD Upgrade waitlist?

[ddd]

I'm flying PER-SYD on the a330 in 2 weeks. Just put in a points upgrade request and got waitlisted. I checked the seating availability on BCD Travel and there's a tonne of availability.

What are the odds of getting upgraded if I'm only VA Gold? Also I notice that the waitlisted people get notified 4 hours prior to departure - do straight points upgrades ever open up before that, and if so when is the typical time that happens?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Wait list is a waste of time in my experience. Keep checking for award availability to open and call up to process immediately if it does.

 

[cove]

Yes I just use points each time when I see availability at under 40,000 points all up on their A330 in J.

 

[ddd]

Wait list is a waste of time in my experience. Keep checking for award availability to open and call up to process immediately if it does.

What's the best way to check for award availability to open?

 

[cove]

I just look up QF and then if nothing there I look up VA. Having points in both camps helps a lot. In less than 8 weeks I am doing the PER-SYD-PER 4 times but only twice with Mrscove. One flight I had to do a 737 which is unsuitable and another was at 5.30 am. Lucky I am doing that one by myself as Mrscove hates going that early.
This year I am going to AGMs.

 

[Must...Fly!]

What's the best way to check for award availability to open?

Just check on the websites. If you want to pony up you can sign up to expert flyer and set some notifications to let you know when seats open up.

 

[sometime_flyer]

Waitlisting does work. Clearance is FROM 3 days to 4 hours for Golds, but if you happen to see a 'Business Reward' seat become available on your flight, call to request your Upgrade as its the same inventory.

If all else fails, ask again at the Lounge. That last hour or so pre-flight is highly dynamic and you'll often get lucky!

 

[ddd]

Just check on the websites. If you want to pony up you can sign up to expert flyer and set some notifications to let you know when seats open up.

Hmmm... at $10/month that's actually not a bad idea as a one-off!

Waitlisting does work. Clearance is FROM 3 days to 4 hours for Golds, but if you happen to see a 'Business Reward' seat become available on your flight, call to request your Upgrade as its the same inventory.

If all else fails, ask again at the Lounge. That last hour or so pre-flight is highly dynamic and you'll often get lucky!

View attachment 192973

Thanks for that! The notification I got just said 4 hours prior to departure so it's nice to know that's the minimum time, not typical time.

Really hoping this upgrade comes through, I've been gold for close to 2 years and this is the first time I've had the chance to upgrade to The Business!

 

[Bagpuss]

I'm flying PER-SYD on the a330 in 2 weeks. Just put in a points upgrade request and got waitlisted. I checked the seating availability on BCD Travel and there's a tonne of availability.

What are the odds of getting upgraded if I'm only VA Gold? Also I notice that the waitlisted people get notified 4 hours prior to departure - do straight points upgrades ever open up before that, and if so when is the typical time that happens?

To add to everyone else's comments. What looks like of a tonne of availability will change in normally 4 - 5 days out from departures when Corporates book, Upgrademe bids are accepted etc. Rarely do you see more than 1 or 2 spare seats.

 

[DC3]

What's the best way to check for award availability to open?

Can’t really comment about how VA release award seats, but with QF, if I’m after award upgrades, I book the revenue fare once I have confirmed that there's award availability, then request the upgrade on-line (which is then confirmed straight away for Domestic flights), and not the other way around.

 

[ddd]

Can’t really comment about how VA release award seats, but with QF, if I’m after award upgrades, I book the revenue fare once I have confirmed that there's award availability, then request the upgrade on-line (which is then confirmed straight away for Domestic flights), and not the other way around.

Travelling for work, so that wasn't an option unfortunately.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

One very important thing to note is it can take even just a techno problem, and your worst nightmare can just happen.
What, I hear you ask(?).
Equipment swap to a 737, or worst, equipment swap and they put you through ADL or MEL.

 

[samas]

I wait listed recently for the A332 sunday night service Brisbane to Perth. Booked a flexi economy (CNS-BNE-PER) about 9 days out and at the time there was 8 revenue J seats still for sale BNE to PER. Had an alert for reward availability in Expert flyer for which there were no seats available.

Whilst I was on the wait list I got an email inviting me to bid $ for an upgrade...

A few days out there were still 3 or 4 revenue seats available. Early on the morning of departure was 1 revenue seat left. When I arrived in the CNS lounge asked about the BNE to PER later that day and found out the last seat had gone to bump a Club member from econmy to The Business.

This was as a VA Platinum.

My CEO is a member of The Club and I asked him about the features and if he is on any economy fare that isn't a Getaway he will get bumped up to business on the day of travel if a seat is available. Not sure how the priorities work for VA but have assumed that bidding upgrades of a certain $ amount or more will trump those wanting to upgrade with points.

Interestingly when I wait listed at the start agent thought it would be likely to get upgrade and suggested I call back closer to travel and they might be able push the upgrade through. 2 days before travel when I called up agent said it was extremely unlikely to get one of the last seats.

Pretty much for me now if there isn't a reward seat at the time I book I assume I'm not going to manage an upgrade as I get the feeling these days The Club has quite the membership base.