Upgrade to business from economy on N, O or Q

[NM]

Isn't it great to be able to sleep comfortably in a WHY seat?

I can't sleep comfortably in a Y seat (even an exit row Y seat), which is why I stated me personal preference to upgrade an overnight Y flight whenever I am able. If I could sleep comfortably in a Y seat then I may have a different personal preference. Just because some people can sleep in a Y seat does not alter my personal preference to try to upgrade an overnight Y flight whenever I am able.

However, I will also do whatever I can (within reason) to avoid overnight flights. But sometimes they are unavoidable. When its unavoidable, I will pay for a premium cabin or attempt to upgrade. My next scheduled overnight flight is BKK-SYD, but thankfully have 4E and 4F pre-allocated on BA9.

 

[MarcB]

Hi All - I didn't want to start a new post and this seemed like a good place to put this. I too got an email regarding the limited upgrade opportunity from an upcoming "O" class fare for BNEJFK, JFKBNE. There are 2 of us travelling so BIZ both ways was not an option as we were about 70k pts short. In addition, we are stopping over in LA on the way home for 2 days so we weren't too worried about the BIZ to LAX from JFK. Also, based on ExpertFlyer, looks like on the transcontinental we have scored PE seating (39AB) (2,4,2 config).

Rather than put in a request for BIZ one way, we put in a request for PE BNELAX and LAXBNE. This was based mainly on the fact that from E/F, it looks like we'd still end up with BIZ seats anyway. I'm now having some remorse and thinking we should have either just spent the 144k worth of points for real BIZ class on the LAXBNE so we can experience the full BIZ service - to be honest though, I'd be happy just to get the skybed. Or alternatively, just save them for a planned trip to UK next year where we could book 2 one way BIZ class fares for 156k pts.

What are people's thoughts? I can still call QF and change/cancel the request as our flights aren't until 17 Jul.

Any ideas on likelihood of OPUP? E/F shows:
QF 15 0 BNE 17/07/09 11:05 AM LAX 17/07/09 7:00 AM J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 T9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 QC OC XC E0

Current allocation: 27A/B

QF 16 0 LAX 30/07/09 11:20 PM BNE 01/08/09 6:10 AM J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 T9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 X3 E0

Current allocation: 27J/K

Show's a lot of availability but thought maybe they were trying to oversell??

Cheers

 

[serfty]

Oversell indications can be one or more of:

• the same (Low) number of sets is available across all or most buckets.
• E/F or www.checkmytrip.com does not return a seat map for WHY.
• The number of B/Y/K seats matches those for J/D/C/I with all lower economy fare buckets zero or C(losed).

With loadings like that, I would not be expecting an operational upgrade on either flight.

I would say M (or indeed, K) class would need to be zeroed around 2 weeks before the flight for OP-UP chances to have improved, I would wait until then.

In any case, you can indeed call Qantas FF and cancel the request if you wish.

 

[MarcB]

Thanks Serfty. I'll keep my eye on the availability. Haven't been able to access the seat map through EF for some time but still comes up in checkmytrip. What are your thoughts on the upgrade to PE in general? Worth it? Would you agree that with the EF seat map showing a 2 3 2 config we may end up in a skybed anyway?

 

[serfty]

... Would you agree that with the EF seat map showing a 2 3 2 config we may end up in a skybed anyway?

2x3x2 on a 744 is definitely indicative of Skybeds.

 

[v8Statesman]

is the N, O, Q upgrade special still on?
Not sure if i should buy rededeals or super saver.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[aus_flyer]

is the N, O, Q upgrade special still on?
Not sure if i should buy rededeals or super saver.
Posted via Mobile Device

No, it's not.

 

[serfty]

These N, O Q requests had to be submitted before COB 2nd June.

I believe MarcB may have put the requests in on this basis.

 

[Voyages]

Oversell indications can be one or more of:

• the same (Low) number of sets is available across all or most buckets.
• E/F or www.checkmytrip.com does not return a seat map for WHY.
• The number of B/Y/K seats matches those for J/D/C/I with all lower economy fare buckets zero or C(losed).

I would say M (or indeed, K) class would need to be zeroed around 2 weeks before the flight for OP-UP chances to have improved, I would wait until then.

In any case, you can indeed call Qantas FF and cancel the request if you wish.

serfty, I've ticked the first 2 conditions you mentioned above. In fact, they have C9 D6 I6 J9, the rest is zero (for a long time now), for my QF15 flight on Wednesday. The WHY seatmap isn't available on the checkmytrip site either. However, I can still select HEAPS of seats in the front rows (select_seat function on QF). Is this because of my SG status?

Re op-up chances, is it always WP, then SG, then the rest. Or is it some random process done by the computer system?

 

[MarcB]

Correct. I put the request in before 2 June. Adopted the approach of put it in and cancel it if I change my mind. Can't cancel online though. When I go in, it shows "Upgrade not available" for the other legs on the booking and displays the PE request for the BNELAX LAXBNE legs. To cancel I will need to ring. No guarantee they will let me change it though as I'm outside the request promotion period.

 

[serfty]

... Re op-up chances, is it always WP, then SG, then the rest. Or is it some random process done by the computer system?

Chances of an op-up on that flight are very good.

As for how it's done, there are several ways that might be employed. The priority can vary depending on who's actioning it and whether they follow 'the book'.

Qantas staff have had a facility available to them for around a year.

Here's a post by an FTer who lists their occupation as "Analyst for Airline Industry":

QF Op Ups for AA Plat? - FlyerTalk Forums

I have seen that post and cited it several times.

I was not aware that post which indicated the new philosophy in seat allocation also related to operational upgrade priority.

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.

Such a "Proactive Onload" list may include weighting refernce to one or more of the following:

• Pax FF Tier
• Booking status (confirmed, waitlisted, space-a, etc.)
• Value to QF - a value to the customer independent of any other business process, and is taken from QF's loyalty database
• Direct revenue value

 

[MarcB]

What are people's thoughts? I can still call QF and change/cancel the request as our flights aren't until 17 Jul.

Any ideas on likelihood of OPUP? E/F shows:
QF 15 0 BNE 17/07/09 11:05 AM LAX 17/07/09 7:00 AM J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 T9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 QC OC XC E0

Serfty, interestingly, since this post the other day, availability on this flight has changed significantly...and it is still 3 weeks out.

J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 T9 B9 H9 K9 M8 L0 V1 SC NC QC OC XC E0

Would you consider that the chances of an OPUP are improving?

Is there any anecdotal evidence that single travelers are OPUP'd over 2 people traveling together? I am QFSG, but my travel partner (we're on the same booking) is Bronze.

Cheers

 

[serfty]

If it shows K0* then op-up chances are improving. Also, with W9 T9 any op-up that you might get is likely to be to Y+.

*or something like:

• J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 T9 B1 H1 K1 M1 L1 V1 S1 N1 Q1 O1 X1 E0 or
• ... I9 W9 T9 B0 H0 K0 MC ...

 

[whereishome]

5 weeks out for my next Japan trip. BNE-SYD-NRT on QF in whY (O for BNE-SYD, N for SYD-NRT).

When I picked up my tickets, the TA told me I had been preallocated window seating (as per my QFF preferences) and I asked about the passenger loads. Apprently people are cancelling flights to Japan or re-booking for later in the year because of fears about the terrible threat of swine flu. So there's loads of open seats on flights to Japan at the moment.

Sheep.

This thread has increased my hopes of perhaps getting an offer to upgrade, and seatcounter shows a number of vacancies in every class - I dunno if it's worth an upgrade from disc to premium economy, or just bank on being able to sprawl out across a few economy seats.

However, I can't remember - does QF do cash upgrades? I don't want to use the points, but my flight does come right after tax time and I paid an awful lot of extra this year...

 

[Commuter]

5 weeks out for my next Japan trip. BNE-SYD-NRT on QF in whY (O for BNE-SYD, N for SYD-NRT).

When I picked up my tickets, the TA told me I had been preallocated window seating (as per my QFF preferences) and I asked about the passenger loads. Apprently people are cancelling flights to Japan or re-booking for later in the year because of fears about the terrible threat of swine flu. So there's loads of open seats on flights to Japan at the moment.

LOL! I would be more worried about catching it in Australia than in Japan

However, I can't remember - does QF do cash upgrades? I don't want to use the points, but my flight does come right after tax time and I paid an awful lot of extra this year...

Generally, no (if you go to a counter or telephone to arrange for such, the fares quoted will be high). There are reports about people having received a targeted call to ask them if they would be interested to do so, however.

 

[whereishome]

LOL! I would be more worried about catching it in Australia than in Japan

My thoughts exactly!

Generally, no (if you go to a counter or telephone to arrange for such, the fares quoted will be high). There are reports about people having received a targeted call to ask them if they would be interested to do so, however.

I won't hold my breath. Well, maybe just a little bit.

 

[harvyk]

Sorry whereishome, but I wouldn't be holding out for an op-up, or for them to give you the option to upgrade from your fares. They only give out op-ups if there is an actual reason for them to do so, eg they have oversold a cabin and need to move people out of it.

However, you may be lucky and get a row of seats to yourself. I was once on a flight in Y on a B747, no one on the flight had anyone else sitting next to them, so everyone had either a row of 3 or 4 seats in which to stretch out and sleep on. It's always nice when that happens.

 

[whereishome]

However, you may be lucky and get a row of seats to yourself. I was once on a flight in Y on a B747, no one on the flight had anyone else sitting next to them, so everyone had either a row of 3 or 4 seats in which to stretch out and sleep on. It's always nice when that happens.

I expect that this is a more likely scenario. Either way, I'll be ready to wash down a few Mersyndol with a double vodka if sleep evades me.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

LOL! I would be more worried about catching it in Australia than in Japan


.

Given that most people generally fly with the one airline return...perhaps most of the cancelled bookings are actually the Japanese and not the Aussies :idea:

 

[k_sheep]

Sheep.

You rang