Unlucky on Upgrades

[avlawyer82]

Hi all

As a further post - I'd be interested in some thoughts regarding upgrades on QANTAS. Im due to travel out of London to Brisbane (via SIN and MEL) later this month and have often heard that those who hold membership of programs are sometimes upgraded at the desk or gate for operational reasons (ahead of any others). Though, I've never had that experience.

As a member of QFF and now a new member of the QANTAS club - is that position likely to change or am I simply marked to be unlucky on upgrades?

 

[simongr]

I have had one free upgrade on a domestic flight in about 100+ QF flights over the past six years... That was as a result the cancellation of an earlier flight pushing people onto our aircraft. I am a Qantas platinum member - in theory much higher up in the pecking order than a Qantas club member for such upgrades. I would not be expecting or even hoping for an upgrade.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Hi all

As a further post - I'd be interested in some thoughts regarding upgrades on QANTAS. Im due to travel out of London to Brisbane (via SIN and MEL) later this month and have often heard that those who hold membership of programs are sometimes upgraded at the desk or gate for operational reasons (ahead of any others). Though, I've never had that experience.

As a member of QFF and now a new member of the QANTAS club - is that position likely to change or am I simply marked to be unlucky on upgrades?

Chances are you WONT get upgraded at the desk/checkin, particularly if you haven't applied or asked for an upgrade....the chances are improved slightly if you're a Platinum FF, and those chances reduce the further down the pecking order you are. Being a FF of itself isnt that significant.

 

[dfcatch]

I agree with Simon.

Although my one and only pre-Platinum free upgrade was shortly after joining Qantas Club.

There are some anecdotes of new Qantas Club members being given one as a teaser - but mine was 11 odd years ago and I wouldn't rely on it.

 

[markis10]

As a new QP member based in london, it might also be worth checking out what lounges you can expect to use.....

 

[NM]

While it is possible for Qantas Club members to experience operational upgrades, it is not common nor should it be expected. The Qantas compuer system makes the decision as to who will receive an upgrade when its requried for operational reasons, and that system uses a complex formular to determine who will be the lucky recipient. The formular is based on severl things and the exact relationships and weightings are not publicly defined. However, it is generally assumed that one influencing factor is the FF status level of the passenger, and there is a pecking order for status, with Qantas Club being towards the lower end of the list, and passengers with status such as QF Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chainrmans Lounge will be ahead of Qantas Club. Similarly, other OneWorld status holders such as Sapphire and Emerald will likely be in front of Qantas Club in the preference list.

 

[avlawyer82]

As a new QP member based in london, it might also be worth checking out what lounges you can expect to use.....

Flying out of Terminal Three, so it should be the limited use of the BA Business Galleries Lounge. Lucky it's not a terminal 5 flight - as I've been reading that QC members aren't getting a look in at all in that terminal.

 

[simcat]

I have had one free upgrade on a domestic flight in about 100+ QF flights over the past six years... That was as a result the cancellation of an earlier flight pushing people onto our aircraft. I am a Qantas platinum member - in theory much higher up in the pecking order than a Qantas club member for such upgrades. I would not be expecting or even hoping for an upgrade.

Slightly OT but I couldn't let this go past, wow that seems incredibly unlucky but then I only have my own experience to go off. I would guess I've had at least 25 free upgrades over the last 13 years, possibly up to 35 (difficult to say exactly due to the length of time and number of flights...memory failing!!). That is on 500+ flights though so perhaps 1 every 18-20 flights. I will count myself even more blessed anytime it happens from now on as I have possibly had more than my fair share.

 

[simongr]

Slightly OT but I couldn't let this go past, wow that seems incredibly unlucky but then I only have my own experience to go off. I would guess I've had at least 25 free upgrades over the last 13 years, possibly up to 35 (difficult to say exactly due to the length of time and number of flights...memory failing!!). That is on 500+ flights though so perhaps 1 every 18-20 flights. I will count myself even more blessed anytime it happens from now on as I have possibly had more than my fair share.

Just to clarify I don't do a lot of long haul on QF and if I do I am in J already - I have also self upgraded quite a few flights so it is only a small proportion of flights that I am not in the highest cabin internationally. DOM I fly around 30/40 QF segments per year in whY - these are predominantly SYD-MEL at peak hours so I expect the CLs get upgraded before me and I am generally in the first row of whY.

More broadly on all carriers I have had 2 OpUps on 300+ flights. One was the aforementioned QF DOM upgrade. The other was when we missed our connecting flight LHR-HKG due to my wife getting sick. We were delayed a day and BA put us in F - the service was impeccable. Again though on the int'l flights either through available cabins or due to self upgrading or even PAYING for F I would guess about 90% of those flights I was as far forward as I could be if I wanted to have champagne in flight

 

[simcat]

Just to clarify I don't do a lot of long haul on QF and if I do I am in J already - I have also self upgraded quite a few flights so it is only a small proportion of flights that I am not in the highest cabin internationally. DOM I fly around 30/40 QF segments per year in whY - these are predominantly SYD-MEL at peak hours so I expect the CLs get upgraded before me and I am generally in the first row of whY.

More broadly on all carriers I have had 2 OpUps on 300+ flights. One was the aforementioned QF DOM upgrade. The other was when we missed our connecting flight LHR-HKG due to my wife getting sick. We were delayed a day and BA put us in F - the service was impeccable. Again though on the int'l flights either through available cabins or due to self upgrading or even PAYING for F I would guess about 90% of those flights I was as far forward as I could be if I wanted to have champagne in flight

That does make sense then, my lowest strike rate is also the shuttle runs between the capitals. BNE to CBR and DRW have always been very fruitful.

 

[kendo]

Hi all,
have just returned from Bangkok on an award economy seat and recieved an op-up to premium economy as the flight was full, I am also a plat. but in my 4 or so international flights a year have not experienced this before.
Cheers

 

[YQY]

DOM I fly around 30/40 QF segments per year in whY - these are predominantly SYD-MEL at peak hours so I expect the CLs get upgraded before me and I am generally in the first row of whY.

Simon, what is your fare class? I average 1 op-up per 11 flights (8 op-ups for 92 segments in 2011) for K to J upgrades on the SYD-MEL/AKL sectors. It's been fairly consistent since 2008.

 

[simongr]

I have been on flexi savers since they introduced the latest changes to the fare structures.

 

[Blackadder]

Can't recall any Op-ups for me, however a 100% success rate on flights to/from LAX using points to upgrade, be it to Y+,J or F

 

[JetLagged]

Can't recall any Op-ups for me, however a 100% success rate on flights to/from LAX using points to upgrade, be it to Y+,J or F

Blackadder, I'm with you there! I'm batting about a 98% average of points upgrades SYD-LHR, SYD-SINB, SYD-HKG and MEL-LAX over the past 4 years.

Unfortunately, never had the really nice thing happen of being upgraded only to find that no points were deducted!

 

[Blackadder]

Blackadder, I'm with you there! I'm batting about a 98% average of points upgrades SYD-LHR, SYD-SINB, SYD-HKG and MEL-LAX over the past 4 years.

Unfortunately, never had the really nice thing happen of being upgraded only to find that no points were deducted!

Hoping my first trip to LAX as a WP sees a change in luck, but not holding my breath.

 

[Alanslegal]

Hi all,
have just returned from Bangkok on an award economy seat and recieved an op-up to premium economy as the flight was full, I am also a plat. but in my 4 or so international flights a year have not experienced this before.
Cheers

was it on ba or qf metal?

 

[moa999]

Interesting stats - I was running 0 for 5 on pts upgrades SYD-LAX, SYD-LHR or vv as a Plat
but recently had a SYD-SIN come through on A380... sweet.

 

[AirKat]

Domestically I average 1 in 20 complimentary upgrades... there is nothing nicer to see on your boarding pass at 5:30am. December was amazing... I would put up with another strike for the number of upgrades I had, 9 out of 12 flights. I think those days are gone though.

Only one international flight last year, bumped to premium economy on the way (as was bronze Mr AirKat) which was lovely.

But as per most posts on this thread... I am sure being WP helped

 

[therudies86]

I got lucky a month or so ago travelling LHR-SIN-BNE. I was booked in Y+ for the LHR-SIN leg, and Y for the SIN-BNE leg, and got an upgrade to J for the first leg First one that I can recall, and I've been flying with Qantas for a while now !