Successful QF 'Bid Now Upgrades' data thread

[sudoer]

Qantas flies J to Coffs Harbour?

edit: never mind - just seen they have some 712s flying the route... interesting!

Yep, it's not worth going out of your way for though...

Qantas Business Class meals & menus

BNE - SYD Friday 30 April. Catering fail and late departure (after 5pm). I should have known this flight was doomed. My 15.10pm flight was cancelled two days before, and was changed to the 17:10. Looked and there was a 16:40 flight available as well, so called and got put on that. No other...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[dairyfloss]

Yep, it's not worth going out of your way for though...

True, I was thinking that it may be a cheaper status run option out of SYD, at the right time/s. More likely to have distressed inventory than one of the capitals, or a larger leisure destination. Anyway... I digress

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[muppet]

QF796 MEL-ASP discount Y to J, offerred $210 and 0 points.

Accepted at T-23.

 

[adamk8]

Looking for advice from the experts here - booked a flight to the USA in economy. Bid now popped up for MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL segments to business. The minimum bids (one segment):
Zero points + $1275 or
64k points + $875

A regular points upgrade to business is 98100 points (one segment).

Interested to hear thoughts on how these options stack up from those who know this stuff better than I do

Thanks!

 

[defurax]

From discount Y, $1,275 would be a bargain.

 

[adamk8]

From discount Y, $1,275 would be a bargain.

The fare class is S which I think is considered discount Y?

Although I consider the price quite expensive at over $2700 for the full itinerary (MEL-LAX-EWR/LAX-MEL).

 

[TheInsider]

The fare class is S which I think is considered discount Y?

Although I consider the price quite expensive at over $2700 for the full itinerary (MEL-LAX-EWR/LAX-MEL).

That's not expensive for business class at all. Look at the actual fares before you compare.
MEL-SYD is around $900 now...

 

[adamk8]

That's not expensive for business class at all. Look at the actual fares before you compare.
MEL-SYD is around $900 now...

Sorry I mean $2700 cost was for the economy fare. If I bid the lowest of $1275 for both directions then the roundtrip business class fare would be $5250 (if that bid was even enough to win). For MEL-LAX-MEL I have seen business class sale fares at that price before.

 

[serfty]

I have seen business class sale fares at that price before

Not so far in 2022 for transpac.

What are the flight loading fare buckets and how soon is the flight? I'd use that information if trying to decide.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I personally think a comparison against all business class fares for other carriers is a better measure, not just QF J minus QF Y. Just look at Virgin v Qantas, both J domestic.

Edit: if able, also add possible upgrades from different carrier Y to the mix.

 

[adamk8]

Not so far in 2022 for transpac.

What are the flight loading fare buckets and how soon is the flight? I'd use that information if trying to decide.

I have to admit, I haven't been looking at any flights for 2 years so I'm completely out of touch with prices right now.

The flight is peak season (middle year school holidays) so from that standpoint, $5k for business would be considered a good deal.

You kind of lost me at flight loading fare buckets... the flights are end of June till mid-July.

 

[TheInsider]

I have to admit, I haven't been looking at any flights for 2 years so I'm completely out of touch with prices right now.

The flight is peak season (middle year school holidays) so from that standpoint, $5k for business would be considered a good deal.

You kind of lost me at flight loading fare buckets... the flights are end of June till mid-July.

Mid-year school holidays for Australia or US, seems very early for an offer to be sent.

Anyway, business return fare just to LAX:

 

[adamk8]

Mid-year school holidays for Australia or US, seems very early for an offer to be sent.

Anyway, business return fare just to LAX:
View attachment 270811

Its mid-year school holidays for AU, although US school holidays also fall over the same period.

So given the full price of $8.5k, does roughly 60% of a business fare ($5k) seem good for "bid now" vs domestic or other international bid now successes?

In terms of it being offered early -- that's a good point. So I was looking into regular point upgrades and stumbled on "bid now". I just put in my booking reference and it worked So I never got an email about it. What's weird is yesterday I also got an email saying it's my last chance to use it, despite the flight being months out.

 

[jase05]

Its mid-year school holidays for AU, although US school holidays also fall over the same period.

So given the full price of $8.5k, does roughly 60% of a business fare ($5k) seem good for "bid now" vs domestic or other international bid now successes?

In terms of it being offered early -- that's a good point. So I was looking into regular point upgrades and stumbled on "bid now". I just put in my booking reference and it worked So I never got an email about it. What's weird is yesterday I also got an email saying it's my last chance to use it, despite the flight being months out.

Are you set on QF or the direct option?
FJ have fares MEL-NAN-SFO for around $5700 and you don’t have to play the waiting game.
Playing the upgrade game scares the hell out of me and I avoid it simply for fear of missing out and being stuck in Y

 

[serfty]

You kind of lost me at flight loading fare buckets... the flights are end of June till mid-July.

Thanks - being months away, fare bucket availability is generally not that indicative anyway.

It does surprise me Qantas sending a bid offer that far out.

 

[adamk8]

Are you set on QF or the direct option?
FJ have fares MEL-NAN-SFO for around $5700 and you don’t have to play the waiting game.
Playing the upgrade game scares the hell out of me and I avoid it simply for fear of missing out and being stuck in Y

Yes unfortunately we already booked and need to get to NYC fairly quickly to see family. Would have loved to stopped by Fiji. We're also fine in Y really (2 kids + 2 adults so business is not possible usually outside of points). The bid now was more an unexpected option.

 

[adamk8]

Thanks being months away, fare bucket availability might not be that indicative anyway.

It does surprise me Qantas sending a bid offer that far out.

(in case you missed it in my last message). They didn't proactively send it out, it was me who proactively plugged in my PNR on the bid now page.

What happens when you put in a booking for bid now that is quite far out normally? Does it just say not eligible?

 

[TheInsider]

What happens when you put in a booking for bid now that is quite far out normally? Does it just say not eligible?

Correct.

 

[encryptededdy]

Anyone know if bid nows to Premium Economy are available? I've never seen it - even on a flight with PE, Bid Now only offers Economy to Business.

 

[Blackadder]

QF 1953 DRW-ADL bid upgrade from Q fare bracket to U , bid of $400 + 0 points accepted at T -7hrs.