The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[SYD]

QF is one of the few (or only?) I know of that even allows a points upgrade on an reward ticket tbh (except J to F). Yes, ridiculous price I agree, but at least it's an option. I can't think of any other program that has this (but no doubt others do this - QF is hardly a leader!). So while it's very poor value, it is still a feature imo.

It's actually not too bad. I've resorted to it (with success) when J CR was unavailable. The downside is as PC/PC+ you only earn SCs on the original fare.

So always select the higher class if available.

 

[madman2020]

You can apply for an upgrade from a classic reward economy, to a classic award business. But according to the uograde calculator it’s gonna cost you 109,000 points. To buy business outright is only 108,000. Not sure how that works of it that’s an error on the upgrade calculator?

You can request an upgrade as soon as you book, but it won’t be decided until the week before departure. Your status determines the order in which your upgrade is processed. Platinums can find out up to 7 days before departure, bronze might only find out on the day.

Hang on.. I was looking for this info as I am returning to Sydney from LAX or maybe DFW mid November and I'm hoping to book 2 x Business Reward seats with Qantas but there is nothing. Plenty of Economy availability though. So is it 100% real and confirmed that if I redeem 2 x Economy reward seats, I have the option to potentially request an upgrade to Business Class? This might be good for flights on the A380 as there are plenty of Business Class seats. I am bronze btw.

 

[SYD]

Hang on.. I was looking for this info as I am returning to Sydney from LAX or maybe DFW mid November and I'm hoping to book 2 x Business Reward seats with Qantas but there is nothing. Plenty of Economy availability though. So is it 100% real and confirmed that if I redeem 2 x Economy reward seats, I have the option to potentially request an upgrade to Business Class? This might be good for flights on the A380 as there are plenty of Business Class seats. I am bronze btw.

Yes, but you will be competing with higher status PAX also requesting upgrades from paid or points seats. But if successful, it would be a lot nicer than stuck in whY.

QF have been releasing some Biz award seats closer to departure so you could also keep an eye out for those. Book the J and cancel the whY seat (or potentially even try and change online if the system lets you). Then cancel the upgrade request.

 

[kileskus]

Hey all. Was wondering if priority boarding is only for status members or certain fare buckets?

I'm bronze and had a business saver ticket on a trans-Tasman flight, was turned away from the priority lane. I normally fly Virgin and all business can use priority lane so that was unusual for me.

 

[AIRwin]

Hey all. Was wondering if priority boarding is only for status members or certain fare buckets?

I'm bronze and had a business saver ticket on a trans-Tasman flight, was turned away from the priority lane. I normally fly Virgin and all business can use priority lane so that was unusual for me.

Sounds like another experience to share here:

Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

Priority boarding is an advertised benefit for Qantas Business, Platinum and Gold customers (and their Oneworld equivalents). Yet, as we all know, Qantas makes no effort to actually implement an effective priority boarding system for domestic flights. It's a common source of frustration every...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[madman2020]

Another question...

I can't search flights originating from Bogota, Colombia (BOG) from the Qantas website, even though I can search and book flights with BOG as the destination. American Airlines flies there so I was wondering how do you guys do when you want to use points for flights originating from Colombia?

 

[dairyfloss]

Another question...

I can't search flights originating from Bogota, Colombia (BOG) from the Qantas website, even though I can search and book flights with BOG as the destination. American Airlines flies there so I was wondering how do you guys do when you want to use points for flights originating from Colombia?

Not an answer, per se - but I expect Qantas can't bill [online?] in COP / Colombian Pesos, so you might not be able to do this unless it's over the phone. I've heard the same is true where originating in Qatar, so someone will be more likley to have had the issue there and can comment on if/how it was dealt with.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not an answer, per se - but I expect Qantas can't bill [online?] in COP / Colombian Pesos,

This is correct. The bill will be in the currency of the originating country and there’s a lot of places Qantas can’t process that currency.

@madman2020 you need to phone and get them to waive the booking fee because you can’t do it online.

 

[RichardMEL]

Hey all. Was wondering if priority boarding is only for status members or certain fare buckets?

I'm bronze and had a business saver ticket on a trans-Tasman flight, was turned away from the priority lane. I normally fly Virgin and all business can use priority lane so that was unusual for me.

No, that is wrong imo. Sigh.

The priority line says Business. You were in Business. Simples.

 

[RealtimeY]

Hey all. Was wondering if priority boarding is only for status members or certain fare buckets?

I'm bronze and had a business saver ticket on a trans-Tasman flight, was turned away from the priority lane. I normally fly Virgin and all business can use priority lane so that was unusual for me.

All business is eligible for priority boarding. Were you using a mobile boarding pass by any chance? QF staff can sometimes jump the gun in sending away customers without status before they see the "business" on the boarding pass.

 

[SYD]

No, that is wrong imo. Sigh.

The priority line says Business. You were in Business. Simples.

Possibly because the virtual BPs are colour coded with status not class of travel (like the paper BPs used to be many many moons ago)?

Snap!

All business is eligible for priority boarding. Were you using a mobile boarding pass by any chance? QF staff can sometimes jump the gun in sending away customers without status before they see the "business" on the boarding pass.

 

[redsun00]

However, you can generally reliably find JAL award space if you look at the end of the calendar

That's good to know but, on the same token it sucks that I'll have to look towards the end of the calendar. I guess I can keep on saving my points until I can find a suitable time frame to fly there.

 

[RareAir]

Evening all,

I’ve got a Singapore return trip next month. Classic reward economy flights on QF37 & 36. Bronze (plus QC). Obviously can’t upgrade to business with points but can pay thru the nose with a bid via cash/cash points if I’m feeling daring. I am aware that this is not a sensibile, very likely or cost effective way of securing a J seat.

If I did have a couple of glasses of red one night and decide to put some numbers in the upgrade boxes what are learned people’s thoughts on:

1. Likelihood of snaring something on QF36. Being overnight and with no status and fare type I assume that no amount of money and points would be sufficient?

2. Given that, if I did have said reds, should my focus be on the day flight over? And what sort of $ / points do you think, from experience, would be needed to get the job done?

Cheers .. clink …

 

[encryptededdy]

Obviously can’t upgrade to business with points

You can upgrade Classic Rewards, and a Classic Upgrade Reward is your best chance as opposed to using the Bid Now system, since they are processed first.

 

[RichardMEL]

You can upgrade Classic Rewards, and a Classic Upgrade Reward is your best chance as opposed to using the Bid Now system, since they are processed first.

This. That has a better chance than a bid upgrade, as they are pricessed ahead of bids.

So, enjoy the reds and do that.

Now, as for chances? So dependent on many factors of the flight in question... it's impossible to know.

If you want to give dates, am happy to see how it looks right now(which is a very small indicator really).

Enjoy your trip to Singapore - perhaps not too many reds at once, but a sling or two up there.

 

[RareAir]

You can upgrade Classic Rewards, and a Classic Upgrade Reward is your best chance as opposed to using the Bid Now system, since they are processed first.

For both flights, for me at least, the points upgrade option is greyed out and says “unfortunately you are not eligible to request a points upgrade on this flight”

Post automatically merged: Sep 26, 2024

If you want to give dates, am happy to see how it looks right now(which is a very small indicator really).

Cheers - 23 Oct and 28 Oct

 

[RareAir]

You can upgrade Classic Rewards, and a Classic Upgrade Reward is your best chance as opposed to using the Bid Now system, since they are processed first.

Ahhh. I’m off the app now and on the laptop and can see I’m 3,130 points short at present to upgrade two seats. Looks like I’m going to need to buy some Qantas reds!

 

[RichardMEL]

For both flights, for me at least, the points upgrade option is greyed out and says “unfortunately you are not eligible to request a points upgrade on this flight”

Unusual. Does it show as a CR booking? You might need to check with QF.

Post automatically merged: Sep 26, 2024

Cheers - 23 Oct and 28 Oct

Well.. mixed news.

The 37 on Oct 23 currently has a fair few J seats. Is there a chance? A lot can happen in 3ish weeks.

The 36 unfortunately is really full. I do not think there is much hope there tbh - and as the evening flight that's disappointing. I'm sorry.

 

[RareAir]

Unusual. Does it show as a CR booking? You might need to check with QF.

Well.. mixed news.

The 37 on Oct 23 currently has a fair few J seats. Is there a chance? A lot can happen in 3ish weeks.

The 36 unfortunately is really full. I do not think there is much hope there tbh - and as the evening flight that's disappointing. I'm sorry.

Thanks, that’s very helpful!

 

[RichardMEL]

@RareAir another thought - just to double check - has your ticket been issued? Do you have the eticket receipt with ticket number? I am sure you do, just want to be sure for you. Sometimes that can cause probs for upgrade requests (not to mention flying).

I get you are short a few points, and that could be the generic way of saying so - and probably is the case. Just wanted to check.