The Operational Upgrade Thread

[Ghostdunks]

Some more good news. Booked into Melbourne to Hong Kong direct departing 11th Feb and returning 20th Feb via Qantas, in Premium Economy.

When I checked into my flight, I was in my pre-allocated seat in Premium Economy(which I had selected a few weeks earlier) so didn't think anything of it, so I just went to the International F lounge(as WP) to have a good meal, which btw, the pork belly was superb!!. As I was sitting there eating, lady from the F Lounge desk came and tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I had my boarding pass. I thought that maybe I had dropped it somewhere and she was just verifying it was me before returning it. Found my boarding pass and gave it to her and she just said, I had been upgraded to Business class. Woohoo!

On the return leg, didn't manage to get upgraded and sat in Premium Economy, but was perfectly fine as I had the bulkhead seat so no one was in front of me, and I had no one sitting next to me either so I had plenty of space.

So out of the 4 international flights(2 legs in economy, 2 in premium economy) I've taken in the past few months since I made WP, I've been OpUp-ed 3 times, which I would think is not a bad success rate Hoping it continues!

 

[QF029]

How was the loading in J? I'm travelling on that route next week booked in J and would love an OP Up to F!

It seems to be a great route for Op Ups but it seems that generally Y and Y+ get oversold but not J.

 

[Ghostdunks]

How was the loading in J? I'm travelling on that route next week booked in J and would love an OP Up to F!

It seems to be a great route for Op Ups but it seems that generally Y and Y+ get oversold but not J.

Loading in J from Melb to HK the most recent trip was pretty heavy, there wasn't a spare J seat from what I saw. Didn't get a chance to check out on the way back but on my previous flight back from HK to Melb(when I did get upgraded to J), there were quite a few empty seats, I actually had a whole row to myself.

Also, don't want to stereotype, but I would think asians are less likely to pay the extra for a premium cabin so on that route, I would think that Y would be more likely to be full. I only say that cos I'm asian and unless I'm op-uped, I usually don't fly anything other than Y, and I don't think any of my family or asian friends do either..

 

[Flashback]

While not an op-up, I did receive an e-mail from Qantas offering me a points upgrade request to whY+/J for my LHR-SIN-PER-SIN-LHR trip at the end of April (booked on a sale fare, non-upgradeable). I have put in for an upgrade LHR-SIN as that's the important leg for me due to having a wedding to go to the day I arrive. While it would be nice if I get it, if I don't it's no big deal as I was happy with whY anyway:!:

 

[blue_bug]

I had 2 return trips to HK from Melb since Dec, and both of the return leg from HK was upgraded to Y+. The Y was fully loaded both times. I did have good seats in Y, once in 40C and the other in 46H.

I'm just a PS.

 

[Jasecoop]

The drought ends after 7 previous legs, upgraded to F from jhb to syd. First time in 7 legs I havent preselected a seat, wonder if that made a difference

 

[Flashback]

The drought ends after 7 previous legs, upgraded to F from jhb to syd. First time in 7 legs I havent preselected a seat, wonder if that made a difference

Upgraded from whY or J? I'm guessing J.

 

[Jasecoop]

Upgraded from whY or J? I'm guessing J.

From J, feeling great after a long flight, big difference in seat

 

[hopes]

From J, feeling great after a long flight, big difference in seat

Of my last 10 or so longhaul on QF, 8 on J and 2 on Y+, I've been upped to F 3 times (once straight from Y ex LHR - MEL) and to J from Y 2 times. Why bother paying extra. Just play the odds game - looking pathetic also helps

 

[Jasecoop]

Of my last 10 or so longhaul on QF, 8 on J and 2 on Y+, I've been upped to F 3 times (once straight from Y ex LHR - MEL) and to J from Y 2 times. Why bother paying extra. Just play the odds game - looking pathetic also helps

Prior to September I had been getting an 80% hit rate J to F but they dried up for the last 7 legs but jackpot on the 8th. I'd almost forgotten how much easier it was to sleep in F

 

[reductionist]

Gutted. Got the red light and a beep at the gate on QF11 (SYD-LAX) yesterday afternoon. The agent took my boarding pass over to a computer terminal. He came back a couple of minutes later and handed my original boarding pass to me and said "thanks, come on through".

Something to do with my exit row allocation I suspect.

 

[anat0l]

Gutted. Got the red light and a beep at the gate on QF11 (SYD-LAX) yesterday afternoon. The agent took my boarding pass over to a computer terminal. He came back a couple of minutes later and handed my original boarding pass to me and said "thanks, come on through".

Something to do with my exit row allocation I suspect.

Don't be too crushed. The red light or error beep (let alone being pulled away from the boarding queue) doesn't always indicate op-up. I've learnt that since I had such a case too. Turns out the agent had fed the BP into the machine the wrong way.

 

[V1213]

Just discovered this thread so it's a bit late but I was op-uped Y -> Y+ SYD-NRT on QF on 9th Jan.
It happened at the gate and it looked like quite a few people were benefiting. I'm only a Silver so I was most impressed to score behind the stairs bulkhead and window in Y+ (35K).

I got the impression that mass upgrades had occured as everyone in my rear part of Y+ seemed to be surprised and pleased like I was and when walking down through J the atmosphere was the same. Considering the ski leisure season time of the year I guess it makes sense that Y was quite oversold.

The weird thing about it was that I was flying on AY paper, which meant my ticket was far less expensive than all those just traveling to NRT (high season Japan vs low season Europe). I guess once you're on the flight it doesn't matter so much what you booked? I had also flown into SYD on a JASA that morning and got my bags checked through in PER so I'm not sure if that had something to do with the op-up, even though it was a separate booking. The funny thing was seeing my bag come out almost last at NRT even though it had Business tags from PER. I'm putting this down to it sitting out back in SYD for 12 hours and am just glad it didn't get lost in that process.

My only ever op-up was on AY a few years ago flying FRA-HEL. The flight had been upgraded from E90 to 319 and as seems to be the norm for AY there was an Asian tour group taking most of the seats in Y. I was "upgraded" to Business but it hardly counted because they were using seats B and E in the J cabin to accommodate everyone. All that I basically got was more food and a little extra leg room. I would've been annoyed if I'd paid for J on that flight!

 

[ozavanti]

I got an Op up on QF10 from LHR to SIN on March 5th.

Was originally in Y, but with the promotion to upgrade with points on upcoming flights, I applied to go into Y+. The Y+ upgrade came through about 12 hours early and I was pretty happy to be sitting in the top deck of the A380 or so I thought...

Was completely surprised when I got to the gate to jump on to the plane and the agent tore up my card and said "you've been upgraded to J Mr Ozz".

The flight was great and I can now appreciate why people fly J.

The only downside was that the last leg on QF6 from SIN to SYD was on an old 2 class 744 in the front row of Y. This bulk head seat had no room what so ever, given that there was no cut out for feet placement... so from Chocolates to Boiled lollies very quickly.

One last point was that I noticed that QF have deleted the Yoghurt out of the Y continental breakfast (only choice on short sectors). Over the last 2 years the portions have shrunk so much and now half of the tray is empty as a result. Redroo if your reading, let people know that I'm not sure there is anything more they can take out of the service to save costs.

 

[MatF]

Op-up from Y to J on QF539 this afternoon, BNE-SYD, first one in a while.
Normally QF539 is a B763, but today it was a B734

Can't complain, it was still better than Y

 

[eightblack]

The 2 most memorable op-ups on QF were a MEL-SIN flight where I was on an award J ticket and was moved to F. Very nice. Drank heavily the whole way.

Then at Xmas one year, when I was travelling with the family from MEL to LAX. I approach counter and family hangs back, as they don't like being near me if any arm waving begins.

Friendly agent said "Mr. Eightblack, we're decided to upgrade you to J today..."

She then says, "who are these people behind you?"

"I have no idea", I say rather innocently. "They've been following me ever since I left home".

Suffice to say wife and kids weren't happy. I told Mrs Eightblack that it would be rude not to accept the upgrade and that it might offend them. I promised to swap seats with her every 2-hours or so.

Nine hours roll by and I am well and truly calm as a result of a rare muscle relaxant called Hunter Semillon. I think I forgot that I was travelling with a wife + 2 small humans.

Interestingly enough, when I was Platinum, I used to receive a lot of domestic op-ups during December. Not sure if it was a seasonal thing or something QF did for a few years running.

 

[serfty]

...
Interestingly enough, when I was Platinum, I used to receive a lot of domestic op-ups during December. Not sure if it was a seasonal thing or something QF did for a few years running.

Mid December trough late January was generally op-up season for QF elites until the GFC fudged it somewhat.

 

[Wannabee]

The Qantas Operational Upgrade Thread

Op up yesterday QF925 CNS-SYD 767. It makes 2 from the 2 times I have flown this route.

 

[pauly7]

The Qantas Operational Upgrade Thread

Mid December trough late January was generally op-up season for QF elites until the GFC fudged it somewhat.

But it came back this 2010/11 season in a big way. QF were packed and op ups were plentiful

 

[SYD]

ADL-SYD, Red e-Deal fare (non-upgradeable), Sunday, 1pm flight (hardly peak time?).

Received the upgrade at kiosk checkin - Seat 1C. I didn't even notice "Business", thinking it was one of those all Y 737s.

My partner was already checked in and in the lounge, so I spoke to the guy at the desk about having been moved away from my partner. Of course, he says you've been upgraded and to cut to the chase, managed to get another J BP for my parner!

Not sure if it was because it was my birthday or WP status or both?

Has anyone else had an unexpected birthday present from QF?