Qantas launches online auction for business class upgrades with 'Bid Now Upgrades'

[samh004]

Re: Qantas launches online auction for business class upgrades with 'Bid Now Upgr...

More ways to upgrade is a good thing for the business so I'm all for it, though probably wont ever make a bid myself

 

[docjames]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Expect QF to now resemble AA/UA/DL etc where every premium seat is full....

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Expect QF to now resemble AA/UA/DL etc where every premium seat is full....

Which is not a good thing!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Expect QF to now resemble AA/UA/DL etc where every premium seat is full....

Which is exactly the product we are buying. We should expect cabins to be full (anything else is a bonus). If the airline can't deliver the service it advertises in a full cabin it is up to the passenger to take their business elsewhere.

On an SQ flight from China to Singapore we had 5 crew for 38 pax in business class. Service was just fine.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Expect QF to now resemble AA/UA/DL etc where every premium seat is full....

Why is that a problem?

 

[TomVexille]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Why is that a problem?

Because it's going to "devalue" the experience

 

[opusman]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Expect QF to now resemble AA/UA/DL etc where every premium seat is full....

Internationally, with points upgrades available right up until boarding time, I would have expected that to be the case these days anyway. Certainly J/F always seem very full to me lately.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Because it's going to "devalue" the experience

business class is a flat bed, amenity kit and an enhanced meal/beverage offering. Those aren't affected by the number of people in the cabin.

the provision of service, if that's affected, can be remedied by extra staff.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

the provision of service, if that's affected, can be remedied by extra staff.

But there should be enough staff for a full cabin anyway!

 

[TomVexille]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

business class is a flat bed, amenity kit and an enhanced meal/beverage offering. Those aren't affected by the number of people in the cabin.

the provision of service, if that's affected, can be remedied by extra staff.

Not disagreeing. But you can't deny that most people would rather have a half full cabin than a full one.

 

[moa999]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

The seat is there - you should expect it to be full. If its always half full the airline won't be around for long.

QF staff have always done fine with full cabins ime

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Not disagreeing. But you can't deny that most people would rather have a half full cabin than a full one.

then you need to choose an airline with private seats in business (CX/AA and the like) or fly first.

i agree sitting on a QF a380 or non-refurb a330, you'd yet a better experience without a seat mate.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

then you need to choose an airline with private seats in business (CX/AA and the like) or fly first.

i agree sitting on a QF a380 or non-refurb a330, you'd yet a better experience without a seat mate.

I see my original sarcasm went straight over your head...

 

[NM]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

I have not seen it noted yet, perhaps others have seen??? Are the Bid Now Upgrades, which I understand will be offered by invitation depending on flight loading etc, going to be offered to passengers from all booking/fare basis, including fares like N, O, Q, E? How about those with classic awards booked in X, Z, U? Or do the same rules regarding "eligible" fares apply to Bid Now Upgrades as apply to Classic Upgrade Awards?

 

[TripleB]

Re: Qantas launches online auction for business class upgrades with 'Bid Now Upgr...

I would be interested to see how this works.

I don't like the Virgin Australia version as the minimum bid is way too high.

The Sri Lankan Airlines version is quite good. Realistic recommended minimum bid and you can go lower or higher as you wish.

What he said!

 

[drron]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

I would almost certainly not use this.At the moment you have absolutely no idea how much cash or points are the maximum amount.Or indeed minimum cash.Will it be done on a flight by flight basis so an upgrade for the same flight may be dearer/cheaper depending on the day of the week?I assume the only way to know is to get an invitation.

 

[Happy Trails]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

I have not seen it noted yet, perhaps others have seen??? Are the Bid Now Upgrades, which I understand will be offered by invitation depending on flight loading etc, going to be offered to passengers from all booking/fare basis, including fares like N, O, Q, E? How about those with classic awards booked in X, Z, U? Or do the same rules regarding "eligible" fares apply to Bid Now Upgrades as apply to Classic Upgrade Awards?

Qantas have this helpful advice in the FAQs:

Question

Who is eligible for Bid Now Upgrades?

Answer

Upgrade invitations will be made and offers will be accepted or rejected in Qantas' sole and absolute discretion.

 

[vertisol]

Re: Qantas launches online auction for business class upgrades with 'Bid Now Upgr...

What is the general demand for J upgrades? Admitedly I travel almost exclusively domestically ex Canberra but I can't remember when I last saw a full J cabin (this could because us good public servants wouldn't dare and the current Gov't won't let us).

I've been on flights ex MEL which are 100% full in Economy but only one traveller in J.

 

[drron]

Re: Qantas launches online auction for business class upgrades with 'Bid Now Upgr...

My flights in the last fortnight BNE-PER-BNE both had a full J cabin.And I upgraded both ways.

 

[equus]

Re: QF Introduces Upgrade Bidding

Expect QF to now resemble AA/UA/DL etc where every premium seat is full....

Depends on how QF yield manage things, just as they do now.

Leaving some empty seats for last minute sale based on other factors is still likely to occur.

There is no mention that bids will be reconsidered after the one time, so later changes will still affect seat availability anyway.

The other factor, is that not all flights will be likely available for bids - it is "by invitation". In other words, only flights with significant space at a certain period out where there is time to process bids, and yield management choose to open it up for bids, will be impacted. I don't expect that this will be anything like a majority of flights, so this change won't result in all premium cabins full unless there is also a change in yield management approach.