platinum upgrades

[peeeko]

HI , i have recently attained platinum status with Qantas. i also have a heap of FF points (480k). am i generally better off (on international flights) using my points to apply for an upgrade or just hanging in and hoping for a free upgrade from economy and keeping my points for another day? any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[gumpy]

HI , i have recently attained platinum status with Qantas. i also have a heap of FF points (480k). am i generally better off (on international flights) using my points to apply for an upgrade or just hanging in and hoping for a free upgrade from economy and keeping my points for another day? any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Congrats... the status does make life that little bit easier when you travel... esp big international travel...

I have never been op-uped... not with QF anyway... and I did 1,620 sc's on 90% QF metal last year so I wouldn't count on it. If you want a nicer bigger seat apply for the upgrade.

 

[JetLagged]

peeko: congratulations on attaining WP: the perks are great, especially the use of the F lounge prior to departure: order a nice meal, drink some good anaesthetic (i.e. booze), and go for a massage!

And also, welcome to AFF: the only website that should carry a health warning owing to its addictive nature!

I'm with you, gumpy: have been WP for a couple of years now and have never been offered an op-up: but I have always had a points upgrade lodged. With 750k points, its th ebest spend of them all (especially when upgrade from J to F - 60,000 points for SYD-LHR that equates to at least $5,6k.

 

[simongr]

I would not be expecting an op up at any point. I havent had one except on BA (flying as an AA EXP) when my wife was ill on an inbound flight and we were delayed by 24 hours.

There are ways to improve your chances - fly in school holiday season, choose flights with high whY loadings and low J loadings - but at the end of the day it is a total coughshoot.

Personally I would be lodging the upgrade requests.

 

[QF029]

There are ways to improve your chances - fly in school holiday season, choose flights with high whY loadings and low J loadings - but at the end of the day it is a total coughshoot.

I think this is the key. It also depends on what class you're flying. I suspect that some of the guys who have never had upgrades are mainly J flyers with less scope to be upgraded.

Of course to be sure apply for the upgrade. If you watch the Y fare buckets for a couple of weeks before the flight it should give you some insight.

 

[TonyHancock]

Since joining AFF I have also signed up at expertflyer and keep an eye on loading.

My travel is all whY or whY plus with 6 returns to the UK a year, four strips to China, and one to the US.

I have been relatively lucky with Op Ups running at about 1 in 6 over the last 18 months or so. I don't expect this to continue though, I benefited from the GFC and reduced passenger loads. (Not sure benefited is the right term! I now fly more and none of it in paid J!!:shock

My success with upgrades using points has been pretty good, 1 in 3, but as others have said it all depends upon passenger loads. It is really a lottery, but being WP gets you "extra tickets" (If that makes sense.)

Since joining AFF I am more inclined to look at international JASA's. If you can plan in advance there are some great deals.

There are many more folk here who will know a lot more but that is my two cents worth. (Exclusive of GST!)

Oh and congrats on getting to WP. You will notice a difference on international journeys. First Class check in and the F lounges are great.

 

[simongr]

I think this is the key. It also depends on what class you're flying. I suspect that some of the guys who have never had upgrades are mainly J flyers with less scope to be upgraded.

True for my int'l flights - I often find I am in the highest cabin and can't be upgraded... (incl. those great F seats on J flights which I love)...

However domestically it is all whY - and I recently stopped trying to UG using points (though I might again this Thursday) and have not had an upgrade since - often I am sat in 4D as well.

 

[NM]

As a Platinum FF members, I suggest the numbers would average out to something like this:

Chance of an op-up = <5%
Change of points upgrade lottery win = >80%

Obviously varies by flight, loading, route, time of year, day of week etc as others have mentioned.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Don't expect an op up, they are so rare.

Use the points for an upgrade if you are flying in a fare class that lets you upgrade.

You can't even count on a good seat even after you have selected a good seat, especially when aircraft changes.

Qantas will even sell your seat as Platinum when they have an oversold situation.

 

[JohnK]

Op-ups are indeed very rare but there is also no guarantee that points upgrades are going to come through anyway.

Last year I had a good year with 6 domestic op-ups from ~70-80 flights on QF where as this year I have had 3 domestic op-ups from 64 QF flights. So for me op-ups happen on <10% of QF flights.