Qantas now offering cash upgrades!

[MelUser]

I think there is a fairness issue here - some people pay more to have an upgradeable ticket and if Qantas want to break their own rules, it may annoy people.

IE - there are people who put all their travel through QF, oneworld - climb up the status tier ladder. In return when they buy an upgradeable ticket (having paid more) they expect to be treated according to the rules. If QF go about upgrading anyone on any sort of discount ticket this may lead to loyalty loss unless the rules are transparently changed for everybody.

 

[straitman]

I disagree in general.

Why :?:

One time I can see it making good sense is if economy is oversold and they expect to have to otherwise do involuntary upgrades. If a cash upgrade avoids a free upgrade, it would make sense to me. Doing it for no good reason seems a bad idea

Dave

I did say sparingly and in a controlled manner.

I'm not sure if you are disagreeing with me or with traditional aviation industry logic :!:

 

[drron]

Interesting discussion.Quite frankly I applaud QF on this one.A logical response to the GFC.They either obtain a bit more revenue or reduce the FF mile overhang.
Prior to this one of the major gripes on this board was the fact that QF would fly out with empty premium seats rather than offer upgrades or award seats.So now they do and still cop it!If mrsdrron and i are offered an upgrade back from the US to SYD from D to F for 90000 points each I will grab it-I am wondering what to do with my 180000 points that are now going to be marooned.
And what is all this complaining of F in the USA-come on they are usually 2 class planes and the F fares are comparable to J fares in Australia or Europe(cheaper if you get the instant upgrade fares).So I have always regarded the premium class in the USA as a J product.As such it certainly beats the European version.It of course does not come up to Aussie standards unless you get an internatonally configured plane on a transcon.
Once again from a QF knocker-congrats QF for a sensible response to a crisis.

 

[serfty]

I think there is a fairness issue here - ...

1. Who's to say those people who had paid additional for upgrade fares were not already contacted and offered the immediate upgrade before those on 'restricted fares'?
2. Maybe they are only offering this upgrade to those with status?
3. I think this demonstrates how premium sales have slumped &
   
4. With ½(?) empty premium cabins, perhaps Qantas are seeing this as an inexpensive way to reduce their points liability.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Seems like smart business sense to me if QF is suffering the same collapse in premium cabins that are being reported by some other carriers.

That said, they probably need to do this in a smart way - offering upgrades to those on more expensive fares and/or with status first. Given how unhappy people were with being unable to get upgrades before, handing out upgrade opportunities to random people would just make FFs and those on expensive tickets even more unhappy now.

FWIW I'd take a 72k point upgrade and/or $1200 upgrade straight away. I was happy to hand that over before. Quite happy to hand that over now

 

[taswegian77]

I cannot see the issue here. How Qantas choose to offer upgrades whether via points or money upgrades is their choice. If they called me or offered me an upgrade for xx dollars I woudl consider it dependent on cost. I do not care less if they offered it to a full Y passenger or one traveling on a Sale fare. I would think people traveling on cheap fares could not afford it so I doubt QF would offer it to them. If they say offered it to a WP traveling on sale fare as opposed to a Gold member on Sale fare I would not care. I only care once they personally offer it to me.

I also think until I see some proper evidence of this happening, i.e. receipt or similar I do not believe it is happening.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I cannot see the issue here. How Qantas choose to offer upgrades whether via points or money upgrades is their choice. ... I only care once they personally offer it to me.

That's your opinion, and you're perfectly entitled to it.

However QFF does have a small PR problem at the moment WRT to people complaining about not being able to get upgrades (e.g. Paul Sheean - not that I personally care for his opinion - but I'm sure some people do, writing in the Herald about how he can't get upgrades as a Gold, blah, blah).

If QF still doesn't provide these people with the opportunity to upgrade, but instead provides it to random people, then QFF will have a bigger PR problem once these columnists and personalities get wind of it.

I also think until I see some proper evidence of this happening, i.e. receipt or similar I do not believe it is happening.

Aren't there two people who've now said that this is happening?

 

[NM]

Silly thought I know but could all the offers of upgrades be due to falling passenger numbers in premium cabins and Qantas trying to get people to sit upfront anyway possible to fudge the numbers?

Maybe they have a weight and balance problem with lots of people up the back and few seated up front and they are looking for a way to move some weight forward for some form of revenue (points or cash) rather than upgrading for no revenue (op ups).

 

[taswegian77]

On reflection I see your point. I guess I have been brain washed by QF. Anyway I guess your status could be a good barometer when offering upgrades, I guess the system works with points upgrades (unless you're that guy you mentioned) so why not for cash upgrades. I figure hardly anyone woudl fly full Y these days as business saver tickets can usually be purchased which end up the same and on one occasion i did it cheaper than full Y.

I have come to me senses now.

 

[MelUser]

I wonder also whether for a cash upgrade you get 4 times the status credits that you would have got if you travelled on your international discount economy fare? For some the extra status credits may be worth more.

 

[NM]

I wonder also whether for a cash upgrade you get 4 times the status credits that you would have got if you travelled on your international discount economy fare? For some the extra status credits may be worth more.

Good question. It will depend if they rebook you into a new booking class that is eligible for business class status credit earning. That would require you to be changed to I, C, D or J booking class. If they put you into U booking class, then the best you can expect is the SCs and points for the original booking class as per a points upgrade. That would be a good question to ask if offered a cash upgrade option.

It does seem more people are being offered points upgrades from ineligible classes than are being offered cash upgrade. Or perhaps they are offering points upgrades to those with bookings in ineligible classes and cash upgrades for those in eligible classes who have not chosen to waitlist for an upgrade using points. All speculation on my part of course.

 

[laffer]

On a SYD-LHR trip I asked this very same question about a cash upgrade. I was told by the Customer Service Rep that as I booked through a travel agent they could not see the difference between the fare I paid and the Business class fare and as such could not offer it to me. That told me two things really:

1. If you booked direct then they would consider it; and
2. It would not be discounted at all and would merely be the difference of what was charged and what should have been charged.

 

[drron]

On a SYD-LHR trip I asked this very same question about a cash upgrade. I was told by the Customer Service Rep that as I booked through a travel agent they could not see the difference between the fare I paid and the Business class fare and as such could not offer it to me. That told me two things really:

1. If you booked direct then they would consider it; and
2. It would not be discounted at all and would merely be the difference of what was charged and what should have been charged.

First I would never believe as gospel things said to me by a customer service rep.
Second the $1200 quoted here to upgrade one way to the USA is far less than the difference in fare between full economy and discount business.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

On a SYD-LHR trip I asked this very same question about a cash upgrade. I was told by the Customer Service Rep that as I booked through a travel agent they could not see the difference between the fare I paid and the Business class fare and as such could not offer it to me. That told me two things really:

1. If you booked direct then they would consider it; and
2. It would not be discounted at all and would merely be the difference of what was charged and what should have been charged.

I agree with drron's comments above.

And would add that what you are describing seems to be a CSR cancelling your existing ticket and rebooking you on a business class ticket, and using your previous ticket's cost as credit towards the new ticket. You've pretty much always been able to do this (less some penalty amount on the cheapest tickets)

 

[serfty]

Interesting ...

... 72K is the standard Disc. Y to J upgrade point cost.

I would have taken it!

... and I did! :shock:

I received a call re my QF11 on Friday offering a points upgrade (Q Class, return purchased for ~$1200), my QFF account is now 72K lighter ...


E/F was not showing a WHY seat map, but C/M/T was a sea of blue. Y+ was quite full but J and F only ~50% allocated. Fare buckets indicated WHY may have been full and Qantas were following their recent habit of selling J/F seating capacity for WHY prices.

I was pondering my WP based OP UP chances, but to corrupt a saying, "a flat bed in the seat is worth two exits in the back" ...

 

[Flashback]

... and I did! :shock:

I received a call re my QF11 on Friday offering a points upgrade (Q Class, $1200 return), my QFF account is now 72K lighter ...


E/F was not showing a WHY seat map, but The C/M/T was a sea of blue. Y+ was quite full but J and F only ~50% allocated. Fare buckets indicated WHY may have been full and Qantas were following their recent habit of selling J/F seating capacity for WHY prices.

I was pondering my WP based OP UP chances, but to corrupt a saying, "a flat bed in the seat is worth an exit row in the bush" ...

Well there you go! Enjoy!

 

[asiaflyer]

Since this thread has diverted a little into the pros & cons of offering paid upgrades to fill empty premium seats, thought I'd put in my suggestion for using the seats, which I'd be more than glad for the QF lurkers to pick up.

These days my long haul flights are generally personal travel. Preference is for a premium cabin, but the cost can become prohibitive with Mrs Asiaflyer coming along.

How about a guaranteed premium cabin companion award seat (subject to a seat being unsold at that point) for the normal classic award cost. i.e. I buy my seat (and get the points, SC etc) and I can use my points for Mrs Asiaflyer with none of the problems associated with trying to match dates with classic award availability. QF are guaranteed a premium seat sale, plus a second redeemed for full points.

I know Asiamiles (CX) offer a companion award which is at a discounted redemption rate, but I'm not even asking for that.

I believe it would be very popular with those that travel premium cabins for personal travel, or those that travel for business but wish to bring their partner along. I don't believe it devalues QF product, and in fact provides an additional reason for those that do buy premium seats to buy them with QF.

 

[Flashback]

Since this thread has diverted a little into the pros & cons of offering paid upgrades to fill empty premium seats, thought I'd put in my suggestion for using the seats, which I'd be more than glad for the QF lurkers to pick up.

These days my long haul flights are generally personal travel. Preference is for a premium cabin, but the cost can become prohibitive with Mrs Asiaflyer coming along.

How about a guaranteed premium cabin companion award seat (subject to a seat being unsold at that point) for the normal classic award cost. i.e. I buy my seat (and get the points, SC etc) and I can use my points for Mrs Asiaflyer with none of the problems associated with trying to match dates with classic award availability. QF are guaranteed a premium seat sale, plus a second redeemed for full points.

I know Asiamiles (CX) offer a companion award which is at a discounted redemption rate, but I'm not even asking for that.

I believe it would be very popular with those that travel premium cabins for personal travel, or those that travel for business but wish to bring their partner along. I don't believe it devalues QF product, and in fact provides an additional reason for those that do buy premium seats to buy them with QF.

It seems to be something they're offering rather last minute though, so not sure that would work too well?

 

[kangela]

There hasn't been much press (here) lately but it seems the points upgrade is still happening (or has returned). Was offered one 36 hours out on a TT flight. I wasn't keen. Nice thought though QF .

 

[Katie]

E/F was not showing a WHY seat map, but C/M/T was a sea of blue. Y+ was quite full but J and F only ~50% allocated. Fare buckets indicated WHY may have been full and Qantas were following their recent habit of selling J/F seating capacity for WHY prices.

How do you see the other classes in C/M/T (and I'm presuming that C/M/T = checkmytrip)? I can only see the PE cabin for my flight on Fri to LAX and my return flight, that is, the cabin I've booked into. I remember years ago through an amex travel site I could pretend to book a trip up to about two days out and be able to see the available seats, but haven't been able to do that with QF in yonks.

Seatcounter seems to be showing a not-full-flight, but I'm wondering if that will really affect me in PE in a skybed and I cancelled my upgrade request on points:
A B C D F I J K L M N O Q S T V W Y
xx9 9 9 xx0 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9