QF Op-up 'Blacklist'

[Boris spatsky]

I am intrigued to know whether there is a blacklist for QF FFs. When I first made WP (3 years ago), I made a complaint on a long haul J flight about the service. It was average at best, I had not flown long haul J for a long time and it was underwhelming so I complained.

I wonder whether my name was 'tagged' or 'blacklisted' for complaining - I say that because in 3 years (with 3000 SCs a year) I have only received one op-up total, and that was after a debacle of a trip to the US where QF lost my bags, AA cancelled 3 flights on me and I missed my meeting on the East Coast (so I complained again).

Is there such a thing as a 'blacklist'? If so, how do you get off it?

Very intrigued as I never get op'up-ed, even though WP and flying on packed flights!

 

[sr81]

If one exists, and I doubt it, then I am on there with you.

Only one op-up (SYD- MEL) after 3 years as a WP and 2 as an SG.

I just think that QF don't do them very much.

 

[simongr]

No OpUps here on QF for me...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I just think that QF don't do them very much.

No OpUps here on QF for me...

None for me ever either. However, as reported by the masses, unless your a CL or CL Partner, l don't think that QF hand them out much. QF seem to look after their CL's (IMO) and don't really care about the rest.

 

[awilcockson]

Never had an op up either

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Is there such a thing as a 'blacklist'? If so, how do you get off it?

Switch to DJ and try for an op-up when they launch their new J product in a few months time.

 

[markis10]

None for me ever either. However, as reported by the masses, unless your a CL or CL Partner, l don't think that QF hand them out much. QF seem to look after their CL's (IMO) and don't really care about the rest.

You do need to pick your flights, school holiday travel for instance, I have had 6 since the last 8 months, mostly ex DRW on a Friday flight although I got one to TSV on a Tuesday at 2.30PM which strangely was a popular flight!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Interesting thread....

I used to get loads of op-ups years ago then they suddenly stopped.

Only 1 in the past 2 years despite flying only premium cabins in the last two years...

Maybe QF is looking closely at the 'monthly meetups' threads :idea:

 

[JohnPhelan]

Or of course, you could just buy a ticket in whatever class you would prefer to fly in!

I believe some airlines do have certain pax marked NSFU - "Not Suitable for Upgrade". Not sure if QF does this.

 

[Standby]

I dont believe there are any blacklists. I have had 1 op up over the xmas period,probobly due to leisure loads and lots of non tiers..pretty much luck of the draw & thats how I took it.
The things that I appreciate with the red rat is they actually recognise tier status when allocating ODU on int flights(have seen non tiers travelling with me missout), better access to preseating (nothing is ever perfect but I again I get access to space non tiers dont) access to Classic seats when non tiers didnt and access to a seat on a full flight(at full fare, but at least got access to a seat when I needed to travel).Plus WL priority at other times when not as important to get on.
IMO these benefits are way more important than the odd op up.
Having said all that I'm probobly luckier than some in that Int trips is the past 2 yrs have been 50-50 J or Y (with a couple of PYs as well)

 

[Mike79]

Very interesting thread. I've had 15 op-ups with Qantas in the last 12 months, but mainly travelling short segments between SYD-MEL-BNE during peak hours.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

If staff didn't get priority with premium cabin seats I think all our chances would skyrocket :idea:

 

[GT351]

They only do it when they want your seat, etc oversold economy
Nice to have happen but not to be expected.

2x flew to USA with WP colleague
Op-up 3/4 legs to Y+
Man he was fuming being in Y on the last return leg.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Man he was fuming being in Y on the last return leg.

Who was he blaming for that? Hopefully himself - he could have bought a Y+ ticket, if that's how he wanted to travel.

 

[JohnK]

If you are travelling a lot in premium cabins then op-ups to F are going to be a lot harder.

Also people do not take into consideration the past few years QF have used 4 class aircraft on the USA routes and sold as 3 class allowing cheap economy tickets to sit in premium economy, and releasing some of the business class cabin to premium economy tickets and all of the First class cabin to business class tickets.

Personally I received 4 op-ups last year out of 60+ flights. I know a lot of Platinums don't get many (or any) but I still consider that a low percentage and there are others with lower status and better op-up success rate. By the way I do not expect to be op-uped and I am quite happy to sit in the seat I paid for all the time.

And let's not get started on crew sitting in premium cabins and the 'coughy' attitude that is on display for all to see. I can understand crew needing to sit in premium cabins if they are heading to work but to sit in premium cabins going home is well wrong. I don't know about others but if I was paying top dollar to sit in business class I wouldn't want my flight spoiled by dead-heading crew who do not know how to behave outside of work hours. But I am getting off-track here....

 

[Ontime]

These are always interesting discussions as they seem to indicate the random nature of op-ups. Last year I was booked in Y+ on QF5 Syd Singapore and when I checked my seating I was in First. I had to change the booking when my wife decided to come and we both flew Y+ return to singapore but were both upgraded to business on the way back. Interestingly I had quite a heated discussion with a very pompous Call Centre manager about the change fees which were refunded and this obviously did not influence the outcome. I was Gold at this time and my wife had no status

On a flight from Lax to Sydney in July I was again upgraded from Y+ to Business and my son who travelled with me was upgraded from Y to Y+ Lax NYC. My son had no status and was on a different booking.
I have never had an op-up domestically and have done hundreds of flights.

 

[737]

If staff didn't get priority with premium cabin seats I think all our chances would skyrocket :idea:

Rebate travellers do not get priority over commercial passengers. Upgrades are processed usually at T-15mins (domestically) when acceptance for the flight is closed and everything is finalised re: upgrades/seat changes for commercial passengers. The only time where a rebate traveller may be assigned a premium class seat earlier on is if there is wide availability of seats in the premium cabin.

 

[moa999]

My personal experience (about 10 or so over 5 yrs, all bar one on shortish domestics, one SYD-DRW, none on internationl) is.

a. The flight matters
Much better chance on w/end, Sun night flights where lots of non-status traffic, limited J bookings and no CLs.

b. $ spend
Albeit from a sample of one.
Personally I think QF does track $spend.
Most (albeit not all) of my op-ups have been after a period of $-paid J fares on QF, have not experienced the same after concentrated flights on other oneworld airlines on DONEs

Also on the blacklist - I don't think so... At one point my father had made a justified complaint on a paid Intl fare, then went 7 of 8 upgrades on short domestic - so his thinking was there might be a white/greenlist

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I certainly don't want to see Australia turn into the USA where op-up's are "expected" from top tier members. anat0l did a very good summary on what goes on in the "land of freedom" and l couldn't believe it. It's out of control. Top tier members complaining because they purchased a Y ticket, but didn't get J/F seat. :shock: How does that work?

I was thinking along the lines of;
"Hi Customer X, thank you for being a loyal customer and supporting QF for the past -x- years. As a reward, QF would like to offer you an upgrade on your next Domestic sector".

Hence why l think that the 5k points, 450SC "Loyalty Bonus" is a load of BS.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Also on the blacklist - I don't think so... At one point my father had made a justified complaint on a paid Intl fare, then went 7 of 8 upgrades on short domestic - so his thinking was there might be a white/greenlist

I don't think there's any chance in the world that making a complaint (in an appropriate way) would get you blacklisted by QF or any mainstream airline.

But if you go ranting and being abusive to staff - that's different!