QR OP Ugrades?

[SYD]

I have a QR J trip to Europe in a few weeks with an all A380 SYD-DOH-CDG (ret) itinerary. As a QF WP/OWE what are the chances of on OP UP (putting aside loads etc) - do QR even entertain non-QR status PAX?

Do OPUPs and/or paid upgrades get access to the Al Safwa lounge in DOH?

My last trip on QR saw both my first QSuite (stunning) and first A380 bar (nice) - retrofitting the A380s with QSuites can’t come soon enough!

 

[Daver6]

A friend (QF SG) travelling with his partner on a paid QR flight to Europe got a op up from J to F on the A380 from MEL to DOH. So the answer is yes. I have no further information on why this happened. Was not a paid upgrade and he didn't ask.

 

[Dalescott]

We have been using QR for the last 3 years along with China Airlines. Mrs Dalescott is silver FF and I am lowly bronze. We have never had an offer of an upgrade from QR. CI we fly business, but with QR we fly economy. We can't afford QR's business fares and use them to fly to Edinburgh, CI we fly to CDG and LGW. I have seen passengers ask to just look at business on QR and been refused. OPUP's or to put it properly Operational Upgrades, are becoming few and far between. Unless you are gold or platinium and there is a reason eg Economy oversold and need to put someone in business. Flight out of MEL on QR Saturday night was full NO Seats left. Loading is reported to be good for QR at the moment. PS QR's FF is cough and not really worth being in.

 

[Flashback]

I fly QR a lot in (paid for) J - have never been offered an op-up.

Had the odd occasional flight in Y and also never offered an op-up, even when Y has been rammed.

OWE for me.

Interesting that on the last few flights Mrs Flashback seems to be fawned over and I've been ignored to a degree. No logic!

 

[NZflygirl]

A friend QF Gold received an op-up from economy to business due to loads out of Adelaide last year or the yr before.

From what I’ve read if you receive an upgrade you’re not eligible for the next level lounge up. This doesn’t affect outright award redemptions as far as I know.

I don’t think Q suites are coming to the A380 as the config doesn’t fit the A380 curvature.... unless they can fix it somehow.

 

[Flashback]

A friend QF Gold received an op-up from economy to business due to loads out of Adelaide last year or the yr before.

From what I’ve read if you receive an upgrade you’re not eligible for the next level lounge up. This doesn’t affect outright award redemptions as far as I know.

I don’t think Q suites are coming to the A380 as the config doesn’t fit the A380 curvature.... unless they can fix it somehow.

I'm not sure about op-ups but yes, if you pay for an upgrade then you can't use the lounge that your new BP would get you into.

 

[SYD]

I don’t think Q suites are coming to the A380 as the config doesn’t fit the A380 curvature.... unless they can fix it somehow.

An adapted version is planned. Rollout not until 2020 according to the last article I saw:
Qatar Airways: next-gen Qsuites for Airbus A380, Boeing 787, 777X

Those A380s will be sought after! They’ll need to lift their 1st hardproduct of course.

Having flown QSuite SYD-DOH then to get A380 seat back was actually a let down! QR dropped the ball on the reverse hearing bone seat by not providing a little more privacy a la VA style seat.

Anyway, a few days out from my trip - 4 from 4 sectors appear to have zero 1st seats allocated!

 

[NZflygirl]

An adapted version is planned. Rollout not until 2020 according to the last article I saw:
Qatar Airways: next-gen Qsuites for Airbus A380, Boeing 787, 777X

Those A380s will be sought after! They’ll need to lift their 1st hardproduct of course.

Having flown QSuite SYD-DOH then to get A380 seat back was actually a let down! QR dropped the ball on the reverse hearing bone seat by not providing a little more privacy a la VA style seat.

Anyway, a few days out from my trip - 4 from 4 sectors appear to have zero 1st seats allocated!

There was a thread on FT referencing this article:
Exclusive: Boeing 777X Will Replace Airbus A380 at Gulf Carrier • AVIATION ANALYST

Basically they're retiring their A380s at the 10yr mark which starts from 2024. With cessation of the A380 programme I'm guessing it's unlikely they'll follow through with a Q suite refurb but that's just a guess on my part. Time will tell.

 

[SYD]

So I see in the QR app a paid upgrade offer:

SYD-DOH J -> F for $1948

Think I’ll pass....

 

[Flashback]

So I see in the QR app a paid upgrade offer:

SYD-DOH J -> F for $1948

Think I’ll pass....

Not sure about crediting to QFF but when crediting to BAEC you don't get the extra SC/TP either. Most of the time, anyway. Once I did, but on the return flight I didn't.

 

[SYD]

I'm not sure about op-ups but yes, if you pay for an upgrade then you can't use the lounge that your new BP would get you into.

Correct. The app is stating that upfront. Which is pretty mean.

My upgrade offers are now $2019 SYD-DOH J->F and $2030(!) DOH-CDG.

 

[dvt]

Any idea of Y-J upgrade cost out of Mel?

 

[fifo]

The cost is variable, based on your status, when you booked, original fare bucket and possibly your nationality.
Myself and my partner have flown on same flight, different bookings in Y, totally different upgrade offer given when checking in. I mention nationality, as it's rumored QR give preference to qatar nationals for upgrades.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

This was a couple of years ago pre-blockade as a QF SG. I was flying Y from DOH-DXB and was told at check in that the flight was full and there was a chance i would be upgraded at the gate (which i have never experienced before). I got to the gate and got the beep and handed a new boarding pass. From Economy aisle to economy middle seat. Thanks QR!

 

[wandering_fred]

OPup on CMB-DOH in 2018 with a very cheap (but V class) ticket when an A330 was subbed for the normal 340.
So it can happen when wandering
Fred

 

[SYD]

I have a QR J trip to Europe in a few weeks with an all A380 SYD-DOH-CDG (ret) itinerary. As a QF WP/OWE what are the chances of on OP UP (putting aside loads etc) - do QR even entertain non-QR status PAX?

Do OPUPs and/or paid upgrades get access to the Al Safwa lounge in DOH?

Ok, so just back and as a data point - 0 from 4 Op Ups to F (which was not at all unexpected). J was full on both SYD-DOH (and back) but DOH/CDG was pretty light. In fact, peaking through the curtain behind the bar, the small upper deck Y cabin was pretty empty!

As mentioned above, offers for paid upgrades from J to F at $2k per sector are of marginal value (IMHO). Especially given you don’t get F Lounge access.

 

[astrosly]

Received an upgrade offer of $1875 for J->F for my DOH-PER flight yesterday when I checked in. No extra SCs, no use of the Al Safwa lounge in Doha, ignored the offer. For many weeks before the flight there were no unallocated seats J so I'm guessing they are overbooked in that cabin.

When I went to board I was handed a new pass for F. I am OW emerald. Very comfortable seat, service was a bit hit and miss.

 

[astrosly]

FAQs for an upgrade offer:
Upgrade offer – Qatar Airways Support

 

[kempvet]

As a QR Platinum more often than not I get an op upgrade on most long haul flights, was just upgraded SYD-DOH-MAD to J from y. But here may be the kicker. I normally book the flexible Y fares so this may have something to do with the upgrades. Before the embargo I was always upgraded even from the cheapest y fare to f when flying within the ME