Qantas flight query

[Orqq]

Hoping someone has some advice for me!

I'm currently abroad and flying home via a Qantas A330 on Wednesday. 2 days ago I tripped over and have hurt my knee - soft tissue damage and grazed skin. It still hurts to bend my knee too much.

I'm flying home economy and have put in a reward request to upgrade to Business and burn my points. I contacted Qantas through Facebook chat telling I don't want anything special for them EXCEPT to ask if they could push my upgrade request to the top of the queue (I explained my medical condition and said I could support it with hospital documentation).

Their answer was a flat "no way". Sincerely disappointing.

I ask what options I had with them and they advised my only option was to pay for a guaranteed Business upgrade at nearly $8000. I looked at booking Business before flying and a RETURN ticket was around $3500. I'm sure you can imagine that isn't viable for me.

Qantas won't let me sit in an Exit Row seat as I need a seat belt extension. They won't often move me to a Bulk Head-row as they use these as Baby Rows. Being 6'6 I don't think I'm going to me able to make it home in an economy seat...

Does anyone have any ideas on what other requests or wording I can put to Qantas that isn't going to cost me $8k?

 

[mannej]

Not sounding cynical, but you do want something special from Qantas. They have probably heard stories such as this many a time before from pax trying to illicit an upgrade.

You have "injured" your knee, so that excludes you from sitting in an exit row.

Sounds like an adequate Travel Insurance policy here may have helped you if you need the extra room, but apart from a lack of empathy their advice is correct.

 

[travelislife]

Travel insurance?

You say you don't want anything special and then straight away contradict that by saying you do want something special by jumping the queue.

 

[Orqq]

To quantify my "something special" line, I mean 'something for free' - I'm willing to use my FF points for the upgrade. I don't expect them to upgrade me to Business for free.

(Side gripe - why didn't they put Premium Economy in their A330s!?!?!?)

As also noted, I can provide dated hospital documentation, including a certificate, prescription, medication, x-ray and even a still bloody & scabby wound.

I have emailed my Travel Insurance Policy company that I took out (actually, I took out 2 policies from 2 different companies) but I'm not sure exactly what they'd offer in this scenario.

Thanks for ya'll help so far.

 

[samh004]

To quantify my "something special" line, I mean 'something for free' - I'm willing to use my FF points for the upgrade. I don't expect them to upgrade me to Business for free.

(Side gripe - why didn't they put Premium Economy in their A330s!?!?!?)

Have you considered throwing away the return flight and simply booking an ASA in a premium cabin? Yes, it'll cost more points for you, but you wont have an issue waiting for an upgrade to clear. You could also look at booking on a partner if they have award space available, again with points.

If you let us know what date you're intending to travel and the two points between, I'm sure some members would be happy to have a look on Expert Flyer to seek out award buckets available

As far as PE in an A330... that'd mean they'd sell less J I'd imagine, as I can't see them making a smaller Y cabin

 

[mannej]

Get your Travel Insurance to do some work for you...

If you have the medical documentation isn't that what it is there for?

 

[Happy Trails]

Where are are you travelling from?
I'm guessing somewhere in Asia if it's an A330.
If you give us the flight details we can look at the loadings and your chances of a points upgrade.
Or you might be able to buy a one way fare with MH, for example, at around $2000.

 

[samh004]

Where are are you travelling from?
I'm guessing somewhere in Asia if it's an A330.
If you give us the flight details we can look at the loadings and your chances of a points upgrade.
Or you might be able to buy a one way fare with MH, for example, at around $2000.

If points could be transferred to friends, he could be a family member with your P1 benefits, oh well!

 

[Orqq]

Where are are you travelling from?
I'm guessing somewhere in Asia if it's an A330.
If you give us the flight details we can look at the loadings and your chances of a points upgrade.
Or you might be able to buy a one way fare with MH, for example, at around $2000.

Thanks!

QF20 on Wed Jul 13. MNL - SYD.

I'm lowly Bronze right now - this flight will kick me over to Silver finally!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have emailed my Travel Insurance Policy company that I took out (actually, I took out 2 policies from 2 different companies) but I'm not sure exactly what they'd offer in this scenario.

Thanks for ya'll help so far.

Contact your travel insurance. However - they may want a certificate that you're not fit to fly in an economy seat. Otherwise they might cover your ticket change fees and any additional accommodation you might have to incur. While you can check with each insurance policy you have, don't claim against both unless you want some delays in settling your claim (they will have to work it out between them who is going to cover what).

 

[Happy Trails]

Thanks!

QF20 on Wed Jul 13. MNL - SYD.

I'm lowly Bronze right now - this flight will kick me over to Silver finally!

Sorry, the numbers don't look at all favourable:
J3 C3 D0 I0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0

 

[kermatu]

This is the flight loading for your flight: J3 C3 D0 I0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0

Sorry - looks very full. Not sure if all points upgrades will have happened yet. But I would imagine as a Bronze you won't be getting an upgrade.

 

[JohnK]

Qantas won't let me sit in an Exit Row seat as I need a seat belt extension. They won't often move me to a Bulk Head-row as they use these as Baby Rows. Being 6'6 I don't think I'm going to me able to make it home in an economy seat...

Does anyone have any ideas on what other requests or wording I can put to Qantas that isn't going to cost me $8k?

Sounds like business class is full.

If it's an A333 operating the flight the centre bulkheads have a little extra legroom and you can ask for the aisle seat that will allow you to stretch the leg with the injured knee along the bulkhead. I think there 4 aisle centre bulkheads available. Note these are bassinets but not always used as bassinets. You need to check tomorrow. Also row 23B and 23J would be suitable as you can stretch your leg along the bulkhead. I have done this many times.

If it's an A332 operating the flight I think the forward bassinets are in the window pair of seats so the centre bulkheads should be quite good.

Hope you get a sympathetic person at check-in. Good luck.

 

[Buzzard]

I have to agree with some of the posters above and say this is why you have travel insurance.
You need to ring one of them and discuss your options.

 

[TheInsider]

I'd be careful of what you say at check-in, this could require a medical clearance.

 

[drewbles]

With all due respect, you are asking for special treatment. Qantas have a clearly defined method for processing upgrades, based on people who have (in theory) spent the most for them. They're not going to risk pissing off a P1/WP/SG/PS by denying them an upgrade and upgrading a NB.

As others have suggested, try calling your Travel Insurance provider to see what they can do/suggest. Queue jumping is never looked upon favourably, virtually or physically.

 

[medhead]

With all due respect, you are asking for special treatment. Qantas have a clearly defined method for processing upgrades, based on people who have (in theory) spent the most for them. They're not going to risk pissing off a P1/WP/SG/PS by denying them an upgrade and upgrading a NB.
As others have suggested, try calling your Travel Insurance provider to see what they can do/suggest.

Still the P1/P/G/S would never know. But it is a funny request to think it isn't something special. Maybe at no tangible cost to QFF. But the thing is that even for P1 international points upgrades are still a lottery - in the case of a full flight there is just about zero upgrade chance regardless of status.

Queue jumping is never looked upon favourably, virtually or physically.

Except for domestic priority boarding.

 

[Daver6]

As others have said. Medical note saying you must travel in business, then an adequate travel insurance policy should pay up.

As for bulkhead rows, you'd be worse off as you can't straight your leg there at your height.

What about an aisle seat with the affected leg in the aisle?

 

[RichardMEL]

+1 for wanting something special. I understand the request and am sympathetic, but this is not the way to get a more comfortable ride home.

it's one thing to say "A P1 wouldn't know if a nobody got upgraded ahead of them" but if it's good for one it's got to be good for everyone.. so why have a priority? people who earn the status - be it Gold, Plat, P1 etc do kind of deserve that defined benefit.

I also agree with the suggestion to not talk this up at check in (eg: "I fell and hurt my leg badly can I get a better seat?" type thing... as some may definitely insist on an OK to fly certificate).

At any rate it doesn't look good at any rate short of paying for a revenue seat (using $$$ or P+P)

 

[medhead]

it's one thing to say "A P1 wouldn't know if a nobody got upgraded ahead of them" but if it's good for one it's got to be good for everyone.. so why have a priority? people who earn the status - be it Gold, Plat, P1 etc do kind of deserve that defined benefit.

Whether status deserves recognition/priority is a separate issue. There is little risk of them knowing they didn't get the upgrade in preference to any other person. That's not a judgement on the right or wrong, just a statement of the situation.