The Operational Upgrade Thread

[JohnK]

You get the good seat, not the good service.

Better than nothing.

All these 'good seats' appear to be Q-blocked but some are showing as allocated so I'd assume WP's would have a good crack at them, maybe SG and PS/QP as well.

By calling Qantas? Or changing online?

 

[Batesy]

I have three op ups, all with QF.

• SIN-SYD. I was on 744 that broke down and got stuck in SIN after my flight from LHR. Stuck a hotel for a night, same flight number the next day, QF32 got put in a J seat at check in, Very happy as I was now delayed a full day. That was my firts J experience.
• PER-MEL Xmas eve. Asked for a points upgrade for myself & Mrs Batesy in the QP. The girls at the desk gave it to us for free as it was Christmas eve.
• MEL- SYD Domestic leg of Int flight. Both Mrs Batesy & myself upgraded at F check in to J. Had a great time and breakfast in Flounge.

 

[Voyages]

It seems that op-ups are often a very manual process with the selection of the lucky passenger often being handled by the airport staff. They may have some guidelines as to who to upgrade, but it would seem there is also some discretion able to be applied.

Interestingly, when I checked in yesterday morning, the lady put the Business Class tag on my bag (instead of the Priority one). Then I asked if I could have a bulkhead seat (moving from row 27 to row 26 on QF15). She was like "aren't you flying Business class?" Then she checked and told me about the over-sold wHY cabin. So it seems like the system had already pre-selected who received the op-ups way before I checked in.

Morale of the story: next time I'll shut up and ask for a seat change later, ... I also wonder whether I'd have got the upgrade @ the arpoirt if I had checked in online the day before.

 

[serfty]

I still believe that one of the factors in determining op-ups is often where you are seated. If they need to find space to seat a family group together and your seat would make that easy, then you have a good chance. It seems that op-ups are often a very manual process with the selection of the lucky passenger often being handled by the airport staff. They may have some guidelines as to who to upgrade, but it would seem there is also some discretion able to be applied.

I believe there are currently at least two types of operational upgrading in relation to Qantas.

Firstly is where for oversold cabin Qantas use a facility to determine how many upgrades they are likely to need and provide a recommendation based on WHY passengers' perceived value to Qantas - more on that here:

...
They will then decide who to op-up into the better seats. There is a credible post on FT regarding this: (Frequency of QF upgrades?)

...
Well to put it simplistically, the value that is given to a customer (called a PCV*) for ranking can apply to any way in which QF wants to use it. In the system, there's a feature called 'Proactive Onload' that calculates the pax booked vs estimated to check in and board. From that screen, the system makes recommendations of which pax are to be oped-up. Now, keyword is RECOMMENDATIONS, the staff and supervisor make the ultimate decision but in essence the system is designed to choose who gets Oped-Up and who stays put.

PCV*: ... Basically, Qantas has setup a list order (call it a value) of each pax for each and every flight ... . The ranking order takes into account FF status, PNR associations, SSRs, booking class, etc. ...

The second stage has been referred to as battlefield upgrades where the staff have a problem and need to source a solution quickly. Wether the agent continues to wholly employ the pro-active unload facility or a combination of that and seating, discretion or a toss of the proverbial coin at this stage is another matter.

 

[NM]

So it seems like the system had already pre-selected who received the op-ups way before I checked in.

All that means is that your operational upgrade had been processed before you checked in. Do not assume that it was not done manually earlier in the day as they knew well before you got there they needed to upgrade some passengers. This is often done under "airport control" by someone going through the passenger list and deciding which ones to upgrade. By manual I did not mean to imply that it is done by the check-in agent while you are standing at the desk.

I believe Altea has changed the process somewhat in recent times. Just how much the computer undertakes in the process between identifying who is a candidate for upgrade through to actually processing the upgrade I am not sure.

 

[Voyages]

so any such operational upgrade should always be treated as a bonus.

I much appreciated this bonus, indeed. It made a huge difference... Thanks to the upgrade, I managed to get out quite quickly and catch my connecting flight to SAN just in time, as the flight from BNE landed 1 hour late.

By manual I did not mean to imply that it is done by the check-in agent while you are standing at the desk.

Oh I see. That makes perfect sense. Thank you.

 

[serfty]

... I believe Altea has changed the process somewhat in recent times. Just how much the computer undertakes in the process between identifying who is a candidate for upgrade through to actually processing the upgrade I am not sure.

Note that even the 'Proactive Onload' list is noted as providing a recommendation; op-ups still need to be manually processed - however my experience recently indicates this is more of a rubber stamp to a estimated limit.

 

[Timtammi]

You get the good seat, not the good service.
Better than nothing.


Quote:
Originally Posted by serfty
All these 'good seats' appear to be Q-blocked but some are showing as allocated so I'd assume WP's would have a good crack at them, maybe SG and PS/QP as well.

By calling Qantas? Or changing online?

Mr Timtammi and I are flying QF93 July 10. Booked on same PNR in discount Y. I was automatically allocated in Zone D (PE seating but shows as Economy on seat map, all other seats showed as blocked). Mr Timtammi was allocated way back in 50 something. We are both SG. Rang QF and got him reallocated with me in row 39.

Remains to be seen where we actually fly.

 

[Josh]

See here: http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744ER-14P66J40W187Y.pdf

• First Class is still 14 seats in Zone A
• Business Class is Zone B and Zone F with the 14 SkyBeds in Zone C allocated to Y+
• Premium Economy is Zone C with 14 SkyBeds and 12 Y+ seats.
• Economy is Zone D & E including the 28 Y+ seats in zone D.

I'm flying Y on QF11 (SYD-LAX) on 2 Aug. It originally was scheduled an A380, but now is allocated a 747 (grrr). I'm just trying to analyse my chances of getting a Y+ seat.
The seat map on checkmytrip.com shows Y starting at 40, with the rows numbered 40,41,46,47,48,etc....
The furthest forward available Y seat is row 48.
Are any of these Y seats actually Y+??

 

[JohnK]

I'm flying Y on QF11 (SYD-LAX) on 2 Aug. It originally was scheduled an A380, but now is allocated a 747 (grrr). I'm just trying to analyse my chances of getting a Y+ seat.
The seat map on checkmytrip.com shows Y starting at 40, with the rows numbered 40,41,46,47,48,etc....
The furthest forward available Y seat is row 48.
Are any of these Y seats actually Y+??

Unfortunately no. On that 747 configuration the premium economy seats should be in rows 34-37.

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately no. On that 747 configuration the premium economy seats should be in rows 34-37.

Interesting - Qantas have scheduled a Kangaroo (high Y) configured 744 on that day.

http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744-14P50J32PY255Y.pdf

One generally sees these on routes between Oz and Europe/Asia.

 

[Josh]

On another note. A friend of mine, for whatever reason, likes to put his title as "Doctor" on his QF bookings.
I'm just speculating to see if this has any bearing at all on your chances of an op-up.....I'm guessing it doesn't, but what do y'all think?

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Not for me... No op-ups before getting doctorate none after...

No op-ups with QP-NB + doctor... Now QP-PS and hoping.... but the only way to ensure an upgrade is to pay for it... everything else is "would be nice if.."

 

[Voyages]

On another note. A friend of mine, for whatever reason, likes to put his title as "Doctor" on his QF bookings.
I'm just speculating to see if this has any bearing at all on your chances of an op-up.....I'm guessing it doesn't, but what do y'all think?

A friend of mine has the same theory. He concluded that my latest op-up was a result of the Dr title. IMHO, I don't think it was. The attendants often like to chat about my 'specialisation' (especially in the J cabin) though.

 

[JohnK]

Interesting - Qantas have scheduled a Kangaroo (high Y) configured 744 on that day.

Yes it is an interesting substitution.

Aircraft substitution has been the main reason I have been reluctant to move out of pre-allocated WHY exit row to premium economy. :-|

 

[kpc]

On another note. A friend of mine, for whatever reason, likes to put his title as "Doctor" on his QF bookings.
I'm just speculating to see if this has any bearing at all on your chances of an op-up.....I'm guessing it doesn't, but what do y'all think?

Makes no difference...except being asked on occasions to assist

 

[Voyages]

everything else is "would be nice if.."

"would be nice if.... all the WPs stayed home"... in case of an oversold flight, hence better op-up chances for SGs and QP-PSes like us

 

[drron]

On another note. A friend of mine, for whatever reason, likes to put his title as "Doctor" on his QF bookings.
I'm just speculating to see if this has any bearing at all on your chances of an op-up.....I'm guessing it doesn't, but what do y'all think?

Doesnt work for me.only one op up at the gate last year SYD-ADL-was at that stage still AAEXP which I presume had more to do with it.

 

[docjames]

Gee there's a few doctors (of varying sorts!) around here.

Can confirm it didnt work for me (as NB or now as PS).

As kpc says, only use is when they're looking for a doctor on board.

 

[stryker]

Flew SYD-SFO-SYD on UA last week using a cheap (AUD 1000) K class economy ticket.

Got op up'd to C both ways. This was because both flights were oversold in economy (quite usual at the moment), so they try and solve the problem by pushing people like me (1K) into business class.

Sure beats the heck out of flying sardine class, and UA's new business class is quite nice.