Successful QF 'Bid Now Upgrades' data thread

[medhead]

Given a flight upgrade award is 72,000 for Y to J, 64,000+cash seems a lot. Wouldn't you just hand over 72,000 points and no cash?

This makes me think that "bid-now-upgrades" are prioritised ahead of "flight upgrade awards": you've got an offer at about T-170 for a BNU, but would have to wait till T-24 to be offered a FUA (given you're PS).

You seem to forget that the BNU at T-170 is only an expression of interest, it is not a confirmed upgrade. For international both the BNU and FUA are waitlisted upgrade requests. Comparing when they offer the ability to register for a BNU with when they process FUA is not an indication of upgrade priority. The FUAs are processed before the BNU, according to the advertising. In theory, it is possible for BNU to miss out because FUAs have been granted.

As for handing over 72000 points, well it is a lottery, there is nothing guaranteed in the FUA request. The advertising also says that BNU have been introduced for those that don't have enough points for the FUA.

Tangential question: if you accept the BNU offer, do they refund your $180 for your Y seat selection?

No.

 

[banger2]

I have been offered a chance to upgrade my BNE-SYD trip next week.

The issue here is there is a SYD-BKK flight the next day on the same booking and I haven't been offered a chance to upgrade that flight. My guess is full flight again. I am really losing my patience with QF A330 routes into Asia.

But QF knows the competition is thin. Or do they?

I agree with your comments here JohnK. SYD-BKK, even BNE/MEL/SYD-SIN really bites on the A330. It annoys me no end the A330 is realistically the only option (limited BC upgrades/awards and without a PE option at all), excluding the via HKG option.

Kind of on topic, my recent return SYD-BKK with QF received no upgrade offer either way, although my return points upgrade request came through. Both cabins on both flights seemed very full.

It seems from a few comments they do also offer these auctions to passengers that DO have enough points for a normal award upg?

 

[1022]

I was just sent an offer to bid to upgrade on SYD-BKK next week. I have more than enough points in the bank for a classic upgrade request, but neither 40k points nor points + pay really seems like value to upgrade on a day flight with the old A330 business class product. IF later in the week I see on expert flyer that the configuration has miraculously changed to the new J cabin, I would consider it as I haven't had a chance to fly it yet.

 

[lycidas1]

Anyone have any idea what is done when you submit requests for both a Classic Upgrade and a Bid Now upgrade? Wife and I will be on SYD-DFW (mid week, flight load looks pretty low). I submitted a Classic request for PE (100k points total) and also a Bid for J (100k points + $1600 total). Honestly, I'd rather have them take my points and money to ride in J, but I've read that the Classic requests are processed first. Think they would notice I've made two requests and decide my points plus cash is worth more to them?

 

[muppet]

Anyone have any idea what is done when you submit requests for both a Classic Upgrade and a Bid Now upgrade? Wife and I will be on SYD-DFW (mid week, flight load looks pretty low). I submitted a Classic request for PE (100k points total) and also a Bid for J (100k points + $1600 total). Honestly, I'd rather have them take my points and money to ride in J, but I've read that the Classic requests are processed first. Think they would notice I've made two requests and decide my points plus cash is worth more to them?

No one will know (who is allowed to post anyway.)

I'd like to know the outcome - but I think your double up is asking for trouble. What if your bid was going to be accepted for J but they had already processed a PE upgrade and your points were gone?

 

[lycidas1]

No one will know (who is allowed to post anyway.)

I'd like to know the outcome - but I think your double up is asking for trouble. What if your bid was going to be accepted for J but they had already processed a PE upgrade and your points were gone?

I agree, it could work against me. I'd just go for the J-up, but then I might end up stuck in the way way back. Maybe I'll give QF a ring tomorrow and see if anyone there has any advice. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I agree with your comments here JohnK. SYD-BKK, even BNE/MEL/SYD-SIN really bites on the A330. It annoys me no end the A330 is realistically the only option (limited BC upgrades/awards and without a PE option at all), excluding the via HKG option.

I get laughed at when I ask are any J seats available at check in for SYD-MNL-SYD. I've been flying this route monthly for 6 months - the only way you are getting into J is paying full price 4 weeks out before the cabin sells out. Many flights you are lucky to get a whY seat - my guess is I'll never see a bid offer email for this route

 

[JohnK]

I was just sent an offer to bid to upgrade on SYD-BKK next week.

Wow! I didn't think I would ever see that offered.

 

[Sdtravel]

Just got an an email inviting me to make an offer for my next trip
SYD to LAX
Minimum 5K points & $555. There is a nice colour indicator saying that the minimum points and pay bid is very unlikely.
Still thinking if i want to put a low bid in just incase. Im in Y+ and have a lounge pass on the way over so am not so sure if its something i really need to do.
Perhaps on the way back from LAX to SYD it might be good but depends.

Anyone have thoughts on if i should go for it?

 

[crum]

Anyone have thoughts on if i should go for it?

My sister recently got a Y to J offer on the SYD-LAX route. She put in an offer of minimum points + $1,000 and was accepted pretty much straight away. I thought she paid too much but she said as work was paying for her Y ticket she was happy to part with the $$ for a chance to sit in J.

 

[Sdtravel]

Looking at my seat map Y+ is pretty full up. As in there are 3 free seats and 1 blocked out. So its likely to be a full flight.
Is the general vibe that opups are out the window now and especially if you were offered a bid now and didnt take it?

 

[banger2]

I get laughed at when I ask are any J seats available at check in for SYD-MNL-SYD. I've been flying this route monthly for 6 months - the only way you are getting into J is paying full price 4 weeks out before the cabin sells out. Many flights you are lucky to get a whY seat - my guess is I'll never see a bid offer email for this route

I think you are 100% right! SYD-MNL rarely has any opportunities other than full fare payment

I guess with a full A330 4x per week they don't make enough money to offer anything else....especially with Cebu Pacific now on the route

 

[Sdtravel]

I was looking at expert flyer for seats in J for my bid now request for QF11 SYD to LAX on the 12th

There are 18 business seats blocked and 1 available.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what this might mean? ie QF are reserving 18 seats for upgrades (points, bid now & possible opups) or am i likely bidding for that one seat which is shown as free?
The blocked seats are a mix of good and bad seats.

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

I was looking at expert flyer for seats in J for my bid now request for QF11 SYD to LAX on the 12th

There are 18 business seats blocked and 1 available.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what this might mean? ie QF are reserving 18 seats for upgrades (points, bid now & possible opups) or am i likely bidding for that one seat which is shown as free?
The blocked seats are a mix of good and bad seats.

Lookiny at availability on Expert Flyer is going to give you a better idea of availability (not surprisingly). The seat map just shows which seats people have already selected or Qantas have blocked for a variety of reasons.

 

[Sdtravel]

Ok sure
But would some of the "variety of reasons" be to reserve them for upgrades?
Just thinking if its worth cancelling by upgrade bid as the one seat i can see free is kinda bad (near galley & toilets).

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

Ok sure
But would some of the "variety of reasons" be to reserve them for upgrades?
Just thinking if its worth cancelling by upgrade bid as the one seat i can see free is kinda bad (near galley & toilets).

What does expert flyer show as J availability for that flight?

 

[Sdtravel]

I dont have a full subscription so cant tell. Ill ask the upgrade probability thread.

This is what i can see seats are like at the moment. The free seat being 17E but that was different to what i saw this morning which was 16F and last night it was 22F.

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

I dont have a full subscription so cant tell. Ill ask the upgrade probability thread.

This is what i can see seats are like at the moment. The free seat being 17E but that was different to what i saw this morning which was 16F and last night it was 22F.
View attachment 53901

Don't take too much notice of available seats on the seat map. If you're going for an upgrade always assume you'll get the worst seat available. Remember that some people will change flights and seats right up till boarding time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ok sure
But would some of the "variety of reasons" be to reserve them for upgrades?
Just thinking if its worth cancelling by upgrade bid as the one seat i can see free is kinda bad (near galley & toilets).

blocked seats on seat maps are no indication of the availability of upgrades.

 

[defurax]

So I'm a bit confused about the upgrade bid system. I made an offer of 3000 points and $115 (the minimum was $65), for a BNE-CNS flight. I received an email saying that my bid was unsuccessful (no biggie), but I assumed the J cabin would be full. Not at all, the flight remained J7 C1 until boarding and only 5 PAX in J. So what I don't understand is that if QF wants money why don't they just tell me how much money they want? Instead of this weird "bidding" auction without a winner?!?