The Operational Upgrade Thread

[JessicaTam]

I would welcome feedback as to whether I am likely to get an upgrade and when I might hear about it.

QF7 SYD-DFW 29 Mar 17 return QF8 DFW-SYD 13 Apr 17

QC member, QFF Bronze, zero status credits, booked PE T class, requested upgrade in May 16.

TIA

An Op Up is a different thing to a points upgrade, so not in the right thread.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ility-loadings-upgrade-probability-25311.html

 

[defurax]

Reaching out to my fellow Platinum 1 flyers in paid J travelling overseas.

What's your hit rate in operational upgrades to F?

How often do you use points vs. just "hope" it to happen. What's your success rate?

(on a recent SYD-DFW, I saw F6 A6 and J9 C9. Wanted to fly first so I used points... However T-3 it went to F0 A0 and J3 C3... making me think the opup would have happened)...

Thoughts?

QF op-up algorithm is a mystery to me. I had a colleague this week on QF93 who was originally booked in flexible PE, his upgrade with points to J only came at the gate and 5 minutes later he was given an op-up to F. So I can only guess that once he was confirmed in J, the op-up takes into account a combination of status and PAX value to QF, not the originally paid fare.

 

[TheInsider]

QF op-up algorithm is a mystery to me. I had a colleague this week on QF93 who was originally booked in flexible PE, his upgrade with points to J only came at the gate and 5 minutes later he was given an op-up to F. So I can only guess that once he was confirmed in J, the op-up takes into account a combination of status and PAX value to QF, not the originally paid fare.

You can blame most of these 'op-ups' on staff travelling on their staff discount tickets. Also it does take into consideration the fare class of the ticket the PCV.

 

[Melburnian1]

You can blame most of these 'op-ups' on staff travelling on their staff discount tickets. Also it does take into consideration the fare class of the ticket the PCV.

TheInsider, on a typical popular QF route, such as an A380 from MEL or SYD to LAX with 64 J seats and assuming that at check-in there were for argument's sake 15 J seats vacant, are we talking a typical one, two or three QF staff members who may be op-upped to J from their staff discount tickets?

Or can the number be even higher, and this quite often the case?

One friend who travels worldwide on quite a few airlines, and sometimes on QF in F or if unavailable J tells me that the number of times he has sat next to or across the aisle from a QF staff member is too many to count. Even allowing for some hyperbole, from what he suggests, one has a good chance of encountering this. It isn't to his liking because he notices sometimes that the flight crew are prone to serving the QF staff member first or alternatively fawning over him or her.

 

[TheInsider]

Put it this way, if there are 10 avail F seats, and J is full, but 10 staff have fares that allow them to travel in J, then 10 commercial passengers will get bumped up from J to F, to accommodate the staff.

Also as it's been stated before, staff on domestic flights will generally get served last (excluding staff on duty), International, generally they will just flow with the cabin.

 

[ksthommo]

American Airlines AA802 Havana/Charlotte yesterday, got our economy boarding passes on check in.
Boarded and 2 other flyers had the same seat numbers on their boarding passes.
After the crew and ground staff sorted this one out, we were upgraded to business. Flight was full, guessing we were selected for pre departure upgrade but computer system at Havana Airport and boarding pass only check when boarding stopped that one. Beats the pretzels and cranberry in economy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

American Airlines AA802 Havana/Charlotte yesterday, got our economy boarding passes on check in.
Boarded and 2 other flyers had the same seat numbers on their boarding passes.
After the crew and ground staff sorted this one out, we were upgraded to business. Flight was full, guessing we were selected for pre departure upgrade but computer system at Havana Airport and boarding pass only check when boarding stopped that one. Beats the pretzels and cranberry in economy.

Mighta just been that the computer allocated two pax to the same seat. I've had that happen on AA before, ex LHR, boarded plane with all the checks and the other pax just turned up. Gate agents then took it away to discuss. Status determined who got the upgrades IME.

 

[penegal]

QF412 (MEL-SYD) today. Op-up at the gate.

QF408 was cancelled, so seems pretty full.

 

[bosox76]

Was super excited to be trying out the QR A380 J for the first time. At check in they sadly informed me that I would have to wait till my return flight as I'd been upgraded to F! (QR905 MEL-DOH)

 

[TheRealTMA]

Was super excited to be trying out the QR A380 J for the first time. At check in they sadly informed me that I would have to wait till my return flight as I'd been upgraded to F! (QR905 MEL-DOH)

Just stick with your principles and refuse the upgrade! Don't try F, it will ruin you forever! Did for us!

 

[bosox76]

Just stick with your principles and refuse the upgrade! Don't try F, it will ruin you forever! Did for us!

That's my fear!! How will I cope going home? Lol :0

 

[PineappleSkip]

That's my fear!! How will I cope going home? Lol :0

Pray for another upgrade?

Cheers skip

 

[AIRwin]

Thanks to the typhoon in HKG, CX upgraded me from business class to a first class suite today on a short flight to TPE! I was initially annoyed to find someone in my original seat and approached one of the cabin crew in the front cabin to sort it out. I asked her if there was a problem while she was checking her tablet and then she ushered me to the suite which I had earlier walked past. Shortly after I settled in, the ground agent came on board to page my name and asked to see my boarding pass so it looks like there may have been some confusion due to a timing issue as there had been no beep at the boarding gate. We were then on the ground for almost 2 hours waiting for the typhoon to ease so I reclined the seat to fully lie flat for a sleep which was longer than the flight time after we finally could take off.

 

[bosox76]

Pray for another upgrade?

Cheers skip

Well so on my return from Doha today (QR904) the magic upgrade fairy struck again. This time at the boarding gate. So I'm still yet to try the A380 J class (Not complaining though!! :0)

I did manage to try the J seats on the 787 from BCN though. Must say I was quite impressed with it. Has a lot more usable storage than F.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

QF MEL-SIN in Y among a slightly unruly family (cultural differences and very limited English). Had the makings of a very long flight, especially when the young kid seated next to me opened a packet of sugar and downed the lot ...

A wonderful FA noticed my predicament and made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. Slept like a baby in J, now only a single row in front of the family, but that obviously made a world of difference.

 

[ithongy]

Awhile ago was on AA73 LAX-SYD. Went to gate from QF Flounge to hear them paging my name at gate. Counter gave me a new BP in J. Saw on screen another 10 pax standing by for that same flight.

 

[mrsterryn]

Mr T upgraded at gate on QF11 for the leg Syd to LAX from business to first
Very happy bragging husband lol.

 

[cmon0005]

Question re: For those that have had an EK Op-up, does it show as a seat change in EK Manage Booking or did you only find out at the boarding gate?

 

[serfty]

It's some time ago, but on checkin for the times it happened. Once I recall my seat allocation disappeared and I could not access seating on EK Manage booking.

 

[mushez]

Question re: For those that have had an EK Op-up, does it show as a seat change in EK Manage Booking or did you only find out at the boarding gate?

Only confirmed at boarding in "most" cases.

However there are times you are told during check in - or during check in to the lounge.

Once you are upgraded, you will find under "manage booking" your seat allocation is gone, and there is no allocated seat for you. Even once you have your upgraded boarding pass - manage booking will not reflect the seat you have been allocated in the upgraded class and will simply not show any seat selection.

Best way I find to know you have been upgraded, is to pre-select a seat. The second you cannot see in "manage booking" a seat allocated to you - 100% of the time in my experience you have been upgraded.