QF to Confirm Points Upgrade Requests as late as at the gate when boarding

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So upgrades requested before this change came into effect are not eligible for the airport upgrades? So the request I did for WP SWMBO to SIN on an N class fare which I can not cancel because I can not re-apply for it does not include this bit but a NB can include this and do get the airport upgrade, interesting thinking...

this will only impact people for about three months and the issue then goes away.
 
So, bronze member puts in domestic points request upgrade with gate waitlist.
At the gate, they are going through doing regrades because some flights shifted around.

Instead of looking for CL/WP1/WP to bump to biz, they now look for bronze members (aka: anyone who is willing to "pay" using points) to bump up.

Status member misses out... (Yes, I realise everyone can put in an upgrade request however if this was done, it means there are never ever op-ups again - for anyone).

Op-ups are part of the magic of flying. Take that chance away and what are you left with on QF?

My cynical, semi-joking reply is to say: No, not at all. The gate staff will be still be looking for an upgrade for their friends on duty/staff travel. :rolleyes:

Major apology to all the dedicated, hard working staff that would never put the customer last. Just the opportunity to mention the rogue occurrences was too good to pass up. :oops:


Sent from the Throne
 
The next evolutionary step will be the OBU - On Board Upgrade.

This "enhanced" upgrade option will be available to those pax who did not opt for the At Gate upgrade and so missed out. Then......7 minutes into their 14 hour, Y class journey, the true horror of their mistake is realised and they apply for an OBU.......naturally priced at double points now.:shock:

Don't laugh. VX do on-board paid upgrades (ie, if the paid at checkin options are not taken, they'll gladly take your cash in return for an upgrade to the comfy seats). I actually got very pi55ed off at them about this; at check in I was willing to pay for the upgrade to be told 'no there are none' then someone in coach asked, was ushered forward and i heard 'we'll take care of the payment when we get in the air'. Great way to treat people :(
 
I'll miss the ODU which for sure will be harder to come by...but I do recall the old point upgrades system was something that people consistently complained about. It's great that Qantas has listened to that feedback and responded. As a few have pointed out, they're in business to make money - why should the person who pays with points be begrudged any more than the one who pays cash for a premium cabin? It's a simple scenario, you want to fly at the front, pony up them points or the cash.
I doubt ODU's will become less available. They're not available for International anyway. You hit the QP/J Lounge, ask for upgrade, they sort it out. Once the flight is closed, the agents at the desk would hit the 'process upgrade' button for those who had selected 'at gate' upgrade option, and it happens.

International ODU's aren't available from the J/F lounges afaik...
 
I doubt ODU's will become less available. They're not available for International anyway. You hit the QP/J Lounge, ask for upgrade, they sort it out. Once the flight is closed, the agents at the desk would hit the 'process upgrade' button for those who had selected 'at gate' upgrade option, and it happens.

International ODU's aren't available from the J/F lounges afaik...


whoops...sorry...I meant OPUP!
 
For DOM there could be a change. For example now I turn up for 6PM flight at 5:15PM and ask for an ODU - sure Mr Simongr that will be 5,000 points. Mr X walks in at 5:19 and asks for an ODU - sorry but you will have to sit in cattle as Mr Simongr has the seat you wanted.

Future: T-89 days Mr X logs in and requests an upgrade - sorry no dice but you can waitlist... Mr X joins the waitlist. 17:00 on the day of the flight the system reckons they have sold as much J as they will and processes Mr X's upgrade in the background. Simongr turns up at 17:15 - sorry no upgrade for you! Mr X turns up at 17:19 and collects his J BP...
 
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For DOM there could be a change. For example now I turn up for 6PM flight at 5:15PM and ask for an ODU - sure Mr Simongr that will be 5,000 points. Mr X walks in at 5:19 and asks for an ODU - sorry but you will have to sit in cattle as Mr Simongr has the seat you wanted.

Future: T-89 days Mr X logs in and requests an upgrade - sorry no dice but you can waitlist... Mr X joins the waitlist. 17:00 on the day of the flight the system reckons they have sold as much J as they will and processes Mr X's upgrade in the background. Simongr turns up at 17:15 - sorry no upgrade for you! Mr X turns up at 17:19 and collects his J BP...

It's been a while since I did the DOM ODU...I've observed them holding boarding passes in the lounge when people request ODUs and processing at the last minute. Do you think they are applying status in these instances? Where there are limited ODUs to go around I mean.
 
I don't think so - I find they say "Yep I can do that - take a seat and let me sort it out" - I assume they look for a particular fare bucket or some internal indicator. The process of deducting the points is something that takes a while.
 
I don't think so - I find they say "Yep I can do that - take a seat and let me sort it out" - I assume they look for a particular fare bucket or some internal indicator. The process of deducting the points is something that takes a while.

Hmmm...certainly in the past when I have requested them, they've just done it there and then. That was a while ago though...
 
Maybe they know I don't like anything to slow my acquisition of a cold beer... ;)
 
It's been a while since I did the DOM ODU...I've observed them holding boarding passes in the lounge when people request ODUs and processing at the last minute. Do you think they are applying status in these instances? Where there are limited ODUs to go around I mean.
Definitely observed them holding BP's with a "leave it with me and i'll see what I can do for you" when told they had non available 'currently'. I'm sure there is something they can do once the flight has closed, which would mean, yes there would be competition for 'at gate' upgrades (although aren't these 'up gate' upgrades only for International as domestic is instantly confirmed when booking if U is available?).
 
Definitely observed them holding BP's with a "leave it with me and i'll see what I can do for you" when told they had non available 'currently'. I'm sure there is something they can do once the flight has closed, which would mean, yes there would be competition for 'at gate' upgrades (although aren't these 'up gate' upgrades only for International as domestic is instantly confirmed when booking if U is available?).

Not sure drewbles, you've got me stumped...with the new "registration" process for domestic, presumably it could occur at the gate as well?
 
One question I always wanted an answer to for QF. Why doesn't QF give confirmed upgrades at time of booking assuming there is a seat available... like what CX, SQ and many others do :)
 
One question I always wanted an answer to for QF. Why doesn't QF give confirmed upgrades at time of booking assuming there is a seat available... like what CX, SQ and many others do :)

Serious question or baiting?! Um maybe because they can sell them later for money. Money to make a profit hopefully and stay in business. So they can make them available to people like me and many others who fly short time out to flight to actually purchase....
 
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