Plat - using free business upgrade

[scheps]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if there are any tips on how to go about doing this successfully.

I understand you must purchase the most expensive Y ticket (freedom) to be eligible and i assume there is no way one could guarentee the upgrade therefore possibly buying freedom ticket for no reason.

Would appreciate if anyone could confirm or expand on the above?

Thanks in advance !

 

[Denali]

Ive used them for Syd-Perth on the 330 so Ive found flights with availability and as soon as Ive located reward seats with the dates that worked for me, booked online and immediately phoned the WP desk to upgrade.

 

[scheps]

Thanks Denali, so do you think as long as there is available reward seats, be it 3 seats? it will still be possible or it is more limited than that? or variable result?

and presume no wait time for confirmation once you phoned them for the upgrade? its completed on that phone call?

 

[Denali]

Ive booked up to 2 seats but if 3 are showing as reward (2 screens, one your booking and one dummy booking showing reward seats available) and if 3 reward seats are available then go for it.

You could also do everything on the online booking but dont press the pay button, phone them, explain 1st redemption and you want to confirm 3 x rewards are available on VA123 before you commit and can they wait while you get the booking reference number to immediately upgrade.

Upgrade over phone was confirmed by email a couple of mins later.

Good luck!

 

[Denali]

As youre looking for 3 rewards, I would confirm with a phone call before committing the book/pay button - I thought they usually only released 2 initially.

Im guessing one way will be in Y for everyone as only 4 upgrades allowed in total, at least you have row 3.

 

[scheps]

great idea. well do it simultaneously.

return leg will use my partners upgrades

thank again for your advice!

 

[liamsal]

I generally just call and book everything over the phone. Ask for flights with upgrades available, purchase flights over phone and then call taker will use vouchers to upgrade. Saved so much hassle doing it this way, didn't cost any extra either

Also there wasn't any reward seats available for the flights I wanted but they had 6+ business saver fares on sale so I asked the call taker if she could release reward seats for our trip and she happily did. This was OOL-SYD-PER-MEL-OOL and a mix of comp and point upgrades earlier this year. Never hurts in asking!

 

[Pleb Status]

I generally just call and book everything over the phone. Ask for flights with upgrades available, purchase flights over phone and then call taker will use vouchers to upgrade. Saved so much hassle doing it this way, didn't cost any extra either

Also there wasn't any reward seats available for the flights I wanted but they had 6+ business saver fares on sale so I asked the call taker if she could release reward seats for our trip and she happily did. This was OOL-SYD-PER-MEL-OOL and a mix of comp and point upgrades earlier this year. Never hurts in asking!

VA have been very good to me in the past in waving any telephone booking fees that may be applicable (including last week booking an Elevate). I have also avoided some change fees in the past also (not of Getaway fares however).

When using my WP upgrades, I always like to book the Freedom fare online using a 10% off promo code. This saves at least $50 a sector when booking to/from PER.

 

[scheps]

Great tips guys. thanks very much. 10% promo saving vs risk of not getting the upgrade( but seems low risk). best of both worlds