Upgrade business using points????

[pottsy]

I have booked a 'sale' fare online to UK and have now discovered am ineligible for an upgrade with 'some' of my 'many' points!
Grateful for any advice/knowledge on whether or not we QFF's can 'ever' use points for an upgrade (as most fares 'seem' to fall into ineligible category.)
I am a silver member...........................and disappointed, only going for two wks so was looking forward to business, at least from Melb.

 

[mannej]

I have booked a 'sale' fare online to UK and have now discovered am ineligible for an upgrade with 'some' of my 'many' points!
Grateful for any advice/knowledge on whether or not we QFF's can 'ever' use points for an upgrade (as most fares 'seem' to fall into ineligible category.)
I am a silver member...........................and disappointed, only going for two wks so was looking forward to business, at least from Melb.

Generally the cheaper fares are ineligible for upgrades. These are E,N,O,Q and X classes.

Even if you did have an eligible fare, you would not be guaranteed success, as you go into the upgrade lottery.

Your option would be to change the booking to a more expensive fare bucket, but as stated you wouldn't find out about your upgrade until much much closer to the flight.

As an aside, all domestic fares are upgradeable, and can be confirmed at the time of request should there be availability in the appropriate fare bucket.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have booked a 'sale' fare online to UK and have now discovered am ineligible for an upgrade with 'some' of my 'many' points!
Grateful for any advice/knowledge on whether or not we QFF's can 'ever' use points for an upgrade (as most fares 'seem' to fall into ineligible category.)
I am a silver member...........................and disappointed, only going for two wks so was looking forward to business, at least from Melb.

When booking you just need to make sure that the flight is eligible for upgrades before finalising and paying. On the QF site you can see the terms and conditions of the fare you are booking as you go through the process.

As you move up the QF ladder through SG, WP, and WP1 your chances of securing an upgrade increase. I have used points to upgrade international sectors a couple of times this year.

Like you I got caught out a few years back. It's one of those occasions when you have to chalk it up to experience.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

May not happen this time, but there has been a couple of occasions in recent months where Qantas has opened up the upgrade function for all ticket buckets. Offers appear to go out via email but the capability is there for everyone. I managed to get an upgrade request in on a sale fare this way though in the end cancelled when they offered the companion fare J offer which was too good to refuse. Keep you eye on the Qantas site and also this forum as that's how I came to hear of it

 

[JetLagged]

Have you rung the Qantas FF help desk and asked them nicely if you could, please, pretty please .... ?

I've done this a number of times - requested an entry into the upgrade lottery - and haven't been knocked back once!

 

[Andyzx]

you might be lucky to be offered an upgrade, oops someone has said that.

My upgrade email came through about 2-3 weeks prior to the flight, so you might be lucky. My email was for a flight to HKG, so if that is your route you might be lucky

I have also heard that they are starting to offer upgrades for sale (points) during check in and right up till departure, but i have no details.

Best of luck - LHR is much better in J

 

[Alanslegal]

I would look for 'good' economy seats and try to pre-allocate into those now. There can be very good seats even in Y, well relative to other Y seats of course If you're on an A380, seats 80A/K, 71D, paid exit rows 79B/C 79H/J are some examples.

 

[pottsy]

Thx so much everyone for all your advice. Will make use of it all. Greatly appreciated.