Qantas: We've some good news and bad news

[bambbbam2]

Good News: Qantas have given me a loyalty bonus!

Bad News: Upgrade for Domestic Syd-Per flight no longer available. Does anyone know if this changes back and forth before the flight? It says No at the moment, could that magically become yes later?

 

[Evan]

It could become a yes later, just keep looking, they may release more upgrade seats. Don't forget to ask at check in as well as the QP if you have access.

E

 

[spiggy_topes]

Was in the same situation last Sunday for a SYD-PER flight; kept checking to be told 'nothing available, try later'. Resigned myself to a seat in Y. Checked in at the ticket machine to be offered an upgrade for 16000 points (which I took) and a nice seat on the upper deck. I think it was one of the last J seats though. Actually got some work done after lunch (thanks to in-seat laptop power)!

Moral: You might get lucky.

 

[opusman]

Was in the same situation last Sunday for a SYD-PER flight; kept checking to be told 'nothing available, try later'. Resigned myself to a seat in Y. Checked in at the ticket machine to be offered an upgrade for 16000 points (which I took) and a nice seat on the upper deck. I think it was one of the last J seats though. Actually got some work done after lunch (thanks to in-seat laptop power)!

Sorry, you actually got an offer to upgrade when you checked in using the self-checkin machine at the airport???

Is this something new? I've never seen this before!

 

[spiggy_topes]

Sorry, you actually got an offer to upgrade when you checked in using the self-checkin machine at the airport???

Is this something new? I've never seen this before!

Yup. Kudos to Qantas for clever software.

I have QP status which probably helped...

I think this has been around for a while - have had previous offers of upgrades on BNE-SYD...

 

[Dave Noble]

Sorry, you actually got an offer to upgrade when you checked in using the self-checkin machine at the airport???

Is this something new? I've never seen this before!

I have seen it a couple of times, however ime, the machine cacks it when try doing it and debits the points but fails to perform the upgrade and then fails to complete check in , requring a visit to a desk to sort it out

Dave

 

[Tooner]

Yep 'tis true. Been offered twice at kiosk, accepted twice and got it. Once at Club entrance in Melbourne, and once at kiosk in front of bag drop. A good incentive to use the kiosk!? If the kiosk can do it, why not OLCI?

On Perth, I've had the same experience with no upgrades available (not a surprise given the number of corporate clients that do book J for flights over 4 hours), checked in early, asked at the counter and got the upgrade (nice seat upper deck, although there was plenty of choice at that stage).

 

[Evan]

I suspect a lot of wait lists upto the last minute also and people making changes 2 hours before you fly, which on nearly all tickets you can (sure it costs $75 on the cheaper ones).
So you often see the odd last minute J seat made available.

E

 

[BiziBB]

I agree; the online checkin software is clever.
This morning, less than three hours before our departure, QF's chicken showed at least ten to twenty empty Y seats on QF346- including nearly ten aisle seats.

The offer ('pushing' ) of an earlier flight (at both the terminal and with a staffer when I dropped in a checked bag) may be why every Y seat on QF436 was full on this flight and why a full cabin my yield last-minute upgrades. My cunning plan to keep a vacant centre seat failed miserably due to the relentless upsell to earlier flights.

From this experience, I'm tempted (for last minute bookings) to book red-e-deals with fairly late departures and check in quite early, to a more convenient flight time.

For QPs the possiblility of full Y cabins on huge public holidays like today is positive.