Qantas Upgrades - Successes or Failures (post results)

No upgrade on QF2 LHR-SYD on 2/12 from Flex Y (as a SG).

50 mins before departure from LHR, the J cabin had unallocated seats (see the screen capture) and I would have happily paid well in points or even cash, at least for the first leg to get a proper sleep.
 

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Failed WP upgrade from Y on QF94 LAX-MEL. Friday night was always going to be a tall order.

From 7 Australia <-> LAX sectors this year, 0 successful J upgrades and 5 successes to Y+
 
QF145 today, 1x Y to J success at T-12 with classic points upgrade. Travelling partner was on a separate PNR, and I bid on their booking, but unsuccessful. I'm Gold, and they're bronze which may have contributed.

Y and J cabin was full (1 inop seat due to a faulty recliner), so I wonder where the mysterious person who filled my seat with 12 hours notice.
 
Indirectly related
Testing OP-UP data points with no ground staff discussion.

QF840 6xJ vacant - no op-up for 2x WP and 1x P1

Prior to covid was quite common to see a few occur - quite surprised this flight had none.
CSM mentioned full J was catered for.
 
Question, does the number of blocked seats (non premium seats) give an idea on the number of potential upgrades?

Flying to Vancouver in a week and applied for an upgrade, I am bronze but club member and green status plus have business FF so I’m at the top of the bottom feeders….

Anyway there are five randomly blocked seats in the cabin, one next to me. I read that Qantas often block seats next to passengers with high points/status.

Is this a cheat to see if there is likely five people with status to upgrade?
 
Question, does the number of blocked seats (non premium seats) give an idea on the number of potential upgrades?

Flying to Vancouver in a week and applied for an upgrade, I am bronze but club member and green status plus have business FF so I’m at the top of the bottom feeders….

Anyway there are five randomly blocked seats in the cabin, one next to me. I read that Qantas often block seats next to passengers with high points/status.

Is this a cheat to see if there is likely five people with status to upgrade?
Hi Telezacski - blocked seats don't really inform us of a lot, as it relates to loading & potential upgrades... and the number of blocked seats you see would likely be different as a NB QP, vs what a PS, PS QP, SG, WP, P1 & CL would see. Blocked seats may be a status shadow, but they are also used for a variety of other reasons operationally, like infant seating areas, groups, load balancing, managing potential aircraft type changes & faulty seats or entertainment.

For upgrade chances, the best indicator -and that's all it will ever be, as only QF knows for certain about what will happen - is the availability through each fare bucket and class. These numbers tell us more about how busy a flight is through the various fare levels still available for sale, and that gets a little more certain as the time to departure draws nearer, but the big unknown will always be how many others are in line, in the status groups ahead of you (5-6 groups, in your instance).

If you want to share your flight details on the upgrade probability thread, someone can take a look, and maybe also show you what appears blocked from a higher status level.

Cheers,
Matt.
 
Sure
Hi Telezacski - blocked seats don't really inform us of a lot, as it relates to loading & potential upgrades... and the number of blocked seats you see would likely be different as a NB QP, vs what a PS, PS QP, SG, WP, P1 & CL would see. Blocked seats may be a status shadow, but they are also used for a variety of other reasons operationally, like infant seating areas, groups, load balancing, managing potential aircraft type changes & faulty seats or entertainment.

For upgrade chances, the best indicator -and that's all it will ever be, as only QF knows for certain about what will happen - is the availability through each fare bucket and class. These numbers tell us more about how busy a flight is through the various fare levels still available for sale, and that gets a little more certain as the time to departure draws nearer, but the big unknown will always be how many others are in line, in the status groups ahead of you (5-6 groups, in your instance).

If you want to share your flight details on the upgrade probability thread, someone can take a look, and maybe also show you what appears blocked from a higher status level.

Cheers,
Matt.
thanks
 
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I’ll put a little more info on the above post

Back in June I reached enough points to upgrade the family to premium economy so put the standard app request in.

Early December I reached enough points to upgrade to business class one way, but with flights and a tax bill to pay I will have enough points for the return flight in business as well.

So I called Qantas and asked if I could have a premium economy and / or business request in place. Qantas advised I could and place the upgrade request, I noticed that the system said either upgrade to business or premium economy if business isn’t available. All good

Three days ago I noticed that the points required each way seemed high so I called Qantas and they advised that there were five passengers, nope only four as per booking. This was fixed to be 400,000 each way.

Today I got a text (day before flight) saying insufficient points to upgrade. So I call them, sir there are still five spots in business class we will put another request in. They then put me back to another division who tried to blame me for the error.

Anyway in waiting for the manager to help (yes integrity of the FF program may have been invoked) 3 spots in business went and only two left in premium economy.

Currently waiting on their solution, mine was to bump two premiums to business and give us the premium seats. And guarantee our return journey.
 
Oh and I should mention that our second upgrade request was cancelled due to insufficient points so their is a major floor in the system
 
Sorry to hear it - certainly a bit of a mess, now. I wonder if when you called about the classic award that they put something extra on standby as well?! Anyway, next time I wouldn’t even call up. I was worried once you mentioned this that things could go awry. Let the algorithm do its thing. There’s no such thing as favours or priority in this game unless you’re at the very top of the pile.

For what it’s worth, here’s the current availability and seating; and also be sure to check Manage my Booking for travel class and seats assigned. I’ve seen situations in the past where the reality was different to the SMS I received.

1671526527646.png
Business:
1671526676713.png
Premium:
1671526716290.png
Good luck, and I hope the trip goes well regardless of the seats that take you there!

Cheers,
Matt.
 
Sorry to hear it - certainly a bit of a mess, now. I wonder if when you called about the classic award that they put something extra on standby as well?! Anyway, next time I wouldn’t even call up. I was worried once you mentioned this that things could go awry. Let the algorithm do its thing. There’s no such thing as favours or priority in this game unless you’re at the very top of the pile.

For what it’s worth, here’s the current availability and seating; and also be sure to check Manage my Booking for travel class and seats assigned. I’ve seen situations in the past where the reality was different to the SMS I received.

View attachment 311854
Business:
View attachment 311855
Premium:
View attachment 311856
Good luck, and I hope the trip goes well regardless of the seats that take you there!

Cheers,
Matt.
Thanks this info is gold! I agree I think when they put all the points on my account as 396,000 the system tried to debit 1.6m
 

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