QF Op-Up Pattern

[Davo70]

Just wondering if anyone's noticed patterns with op-ups (domestic specifically).

I'm SG, and for the last few years have jagged op-ups early in the calendar year. e.g.

2010 - Fourth flight (MEL > PER)
2009 - Second flight (SYD > PER)
2008 - Third flight (PER > MEL)

These were all late Jan or early Feb and a couple of months before my membership year concluded. For the remainder of 2008 and 2009 (20 - 30 flights) it was Y all the way.

Is the above coincidental ? (My theory is it's been QFs way of saying "Happy New Year").

Davo70

 

[Mal]

Late Jan/ very early Feb coincides with people returning home after holidays (school goes back around then), and businesses not yet ramped up for the year.

So the increase in leisure travellers, but low business travellers makes op-ups more common.

Same thing around all other school holidays and especially Christmas time.

 

[Aus ATC]

A related question. As a recent WP I have enjoyed 3 Op-Ups in the past few months - all domestic legs BNE/SYD/MEL triangle - and only because Y was full and J wasn't.

Is there any rationale as to who gets the Op-Up where one is required and there are multiple WPs in contention?

Is it highest status credits overall, highest status credits this year, time or number of flights since last Op-Up, or just random scatter?

 

[Must...Fly!]

It works on a "value" to QF method.

how that works exactly no one really knows, but expect someone who regularly flies J to receive an op-up ahead of someone who travels primarily on red e-deals.

 

[YQY]

Is the above coincidental ? (My theory is it's been QFs way of saying "Happy New Year").

Davo70

Late Jan/ very early Feb coincides with people returning home after holidays (school goes back around then), and businesses not yet ramped up for the year.

I think you may be correct - but i hope you are wrong - i need more Op-ups this year. I have had five Op-up's this year - two in Jan and three in February. These have all been on the SYD-MEL route flying in K class.

Prior to this - I had an upgrade between SYD-MEL in Jan 2009, SYD-SFO in Jan 2009 & SYD-HKG in February 2009 - all upgraded from Y to J. I didn't get any updates between Feb 2009 and Jan 2010 even though i flew every week. Although I did upgrade myself from Y to J SYD-LAX-SYD in October 2009 on the A380.

 

[JohnK]

Have I had an op-up this year? I know I did not get one last year until August 2009 and then I had a few in a row when I returned from my RTW trip.

Is there a pattern? I don't think so. Just be in the right place at the right time....

 

[Leumas]

It works on a "value" to QF method.

how that works exactly no one really knows, but expect someone who regularly flies J to receive an op-up ahead of someone who travels primarily on red e-deals.

To me, it doesn't really matter how they do it, I appreciate it regardless. However, I only travel on red e-deals, and I've been op-upped several times recently. All were ex-SYD. Time-wise, it could be anything from the day before to at the gate. I also always OCLI early.

The times that I've been moved up often had an aircraft change, a lot of times I'd see tour groups.

 

[UP4014]

I believe they look at the loading inside 24 hours (or before if a cabin becomes full) before the flight and flag at that time those to be upgraded based on status and their judgement on your recent spend to date and what you have booked into the future.

 

[oz_mark]

Is there a pattern? I don't think so. Just be in the right place at the right time....

Nearly all my op-ups have been during school or public holidays.

 

[Mal]

Nearly all my op-ups have been during school or public holidays.

Ditto with mine, although there have been a couple of oddities:
- weight redistribution (empty plane, needed someone extra in J)
- I wasn't expected on the flight as my ticket hadn't been revalidated correctly, so they overbooked.

 

[UP4014]

Nearly all my op-ups have been during school or public holidays.

The economy cabin is full, the day before a yield manager looks at the loading and flags a number of people for an op up.

 

[moa999]

Only had two op-ups (domestically or internationally in the last four years as WP)

One SYD-CNS on a Sun afternoon, preom leisure.
Other SYD-BNE on a weekday lunchtime flight, again predom leisure. Both occured in Sep/Oct

 

[serfty]

I believe they look at the loading inside 24 hours (or before if a cabin becomes full) before the flight and flag at that time those to be upgraded based on status and their judgement on your recent spend to date and what you have booked into the future.

The economy cabin is full, the day before a yield manager looks at the loading and flags a number of people for an op up.

I suggest you search this site and FlyerTalk for the term "Proactive Onload".

 

[JohnK]

Nearly all my op-ups have been during school or public holidays.

So for you there is a pattern.

I am starting to resent op-ups anyway. I think for every op-up something bad usually happens to me down the track like delayed or damaged luggage....

 

[UP4014]

I suggest you search this site and FlyerTalk for the term "Proactive Onload".

Serfty, PM'ed you.

Matt

 

[harvyk]

Two for me last year, but both international

May - SYD-SFO, upgrade from Y to J, furthermore it was top deck in seat 16A (which would have been my choice of seats had I simply asked which seat I'd like).

Aug - SFO-SYD, upgrade from Y to Y+ (however I was then placed in a J seat). I was then offered a points upgrade (QF phoned me) a couple of days before the return SFO-SYD flight. Same again Y to Y+ (but with a J seat).

I've never been given a domestic OP-UP, and only had two dom J flights. (J seat on a 734, did not inspire me to want to continue flying dom J)