Requesting points upgrade: PE or J?

[browniedx]

I am flying QF29 to HKG this Saturday, booked in discount economy and want to use my points to upgrade to either PE or J, because I have sometimes trouble sleeping on night flights and feel that a more comfortable seat would help.
Am I better off requesting an upgrade into J (40000 points) or PE (25000 points)? If I am not successful getting a J upgrade is there a "fall-back" so I could get PE instead?
I am QF bronze. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[davidj-bell]

I am flying QF29 to HKG this Saturday, booked in discount economy and want to use my points to upgrade to either PE or J, because I have sometimes trouble sleeping on night flights and feel that a more comfortable seat would help.
Am I better off requesting an upgrade into J (40000 points) or PE (25000 points)? If I am not successful getting a J upgrade is there a "fall-back" so I could get PE instead?
I am QF bronze. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

QF29 leaves Melbourne about midnight, so is essentially a night flight. While I think QF PE is quite good, the seats are not "lie flat", so if you want to sleep, take the J seats.

Whether you can get a PE if J fails, I don't know. Perhaps a call to QF? Love to know the answer BTW.

 

[browniedx]

Thanks for the advice about the seats!
I just spoke to a Qantas rep who advised there is no fall-back to PE if a J upgrade is not given - you're normally able to request both, but I'm about 1000 points short of what I need for that. She advised that plenty of seats are available in both J and PE so I've requested a J upgrade and have my fingers crossed!

If I miss out on J, would there be a possibility of using points to upgrade when I checkin at the airport to PE?
Also, does it complicate things if you use OLCI when you have requested an upgrade?

 

[davidj-bell]

Thanks for the advice about the seats!
I just spoke to a Qantas rep who advised there is no fall-back to PE if a J upgrade is not given - you're normally able to request both, but I'm about 1000 points short of what I need for that. She advised that plenty of seats are available in both J and PE so I've requested a J upgrade and have my fingers crossed!

If I miss out on J, would there be a possibility of using points to upgrade when I checkin at the airport to PE?
Also, does it complicate things if you use OLCI when you have requested an upgrade?

No, you can't do upgrades at the check-in. AFAIK, using OLCI won't make a difference, it will either have come through or not.

 

[superchris]

Browniedx, welcome to AFF.

I notice that you are QF NB so you are at the bottom of the upgrade heap.Please keep us informed of what happens re upgrade.Don't expect it but be surprised if you get it...not wanting to poor cold water just trying to be realistic given your status.

 

[MelUser]

you were given incorrect information.

you can upgrade to business with fallback as PE - just tick the box that says "consider for premium if business unsuccessful"

i would call qantas and tell them this is what you want and they will fix.

note if you call qantas outside of 9am-5pm AEST you are diverted to less knowledgable call centre (not qantas staff) and the call centre is located in NZ

 

[serfty]

To further detail this, see here: Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

16. Flight Upgrades

16.1 General

...
16.1.5 The following conditions apply to the use of [international] Flight Upgrades:

• Flight Upgrades cannot be used in conjunction with an open dated ticket, an Award Flight ticket, fares ineligible to earn Points, a travel industry reduced fare ticket, a prize ticket or any other promotional offer;
• Flight Upgrades can only be requested on the Segments listed on the Itinerary for which the member has been issued a ticket;
• Flight Upgrades may only be used to obtain an upgrade as follows:
  • Economy to Premium Economy class,
  • Economy to Business class,
    Note: at the time of registration, Members may also register a request for a Flight Upgrade to Premium Economy. This request will be considered if the Flight Upgrade from Economy to Business class is unsuccessful;
  • Premium Economy to Business class,
  • Business to First class.
    Note: it is not possible to upgrade from Economy or Premium Economy to First Class.
• Points and Status Credits will be earned only for the class of service that has been purchased, rather than the upgraded class of travel;
• the fare conditions applicable to the fare originally purchased will apply, irrespective of upgraded class or travel; and
• special meals may not be available in the upgraded class of travel.

 

[browniedx]

Thanks guys! I have spoken to Qantas again and they have fixed up by request so that PE will be considered as well.

Also, I know being a bronze member my chances of a J upgrade are pretty low, but in the off chance that I'm successful, will I have any lounge access in HKG? I have another flight the next morning with KA but that is ticketed in economy, so from my reading of the lounge access rules I'd only have access to the QF lounge in Melbourne but not in HKG...just want to be sure as it would be a great chance to shower and freshen up after an overnight flight.

 

[davidj-bell]

will I have any lounge access in HKG?

You'll get QF lounge access in MEL if the upgrade comes through, but you won't get any lounge access in HKG.

I know there are paid lounges beyond immigration, not sure in the airport itself though. Depending on the length of your stop over, getting through HKG immigration is pretty easy (assuming you're not suffering from "swine flu", they check passenger temperature, so if you are suffering, go to transit), go to the paid lounge, then head back to immigration for your flight. You'd probably need about 3 hours minimum between your flights, assuming all your luggage is checked through.

 

[browniedx]

Just an update - it looks like my request for J was successful! Given by bronze status I must just be really lucky, especially as I only requested it on Tuesday and the flight looks pretty full on SeatCounter
The points have been taken out of my account, so I'm pretty sure that makes it definite. However, my itinerary still shows the original confirmed economy flight (saying 'Your upgrade request was declined) as well as a confirmed business flight? Is that normal?

 

[serfty]

Yes, look up your booking on www.checkmytrip.com you will see a waitlisted segment.

 

[browniedx]

Yes, look up your booking on www.checkmytrip.com you will see a waitlisted segment.

It was showing as waitlisted yesterday but now its confirmed, but the original Y segment is still confirmed as well?

 

[serfty]

You are mid process - the qantas.com site seems to be coded to show this when there are both the Business segment and the economy segment in the PNR.