UpgradeMe pricing and success
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D
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Sounds reasonable, given the VA POM run in Y is often priced well over what it's worth (IMHO).
jackthomas
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Successful Bid
Minimum: $140
My bid: $160
BNE-SYD on E-Jet
Hardly worth it and had somewhat of a minute of instant regret.... But oh well
Minimum: $140
My bid: $160
BNE-SYD on E-Jet
Hardly worth it and had somewhat of a minute of instant regret.... But oh well
MH_fan
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$140 minimum bid for SYD-BNE is just not worth it, especially when you find out that the minimum bid for SYD-MKY, for example, is $120! There've been a couple of times where the minimum bid for SYD-BNE has been $120 and, for that price, I'd certainly bite. Prices quoted are from Saver fares, by the way.
D
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I think many more would be enticed to bid if they gave the extra SCs.
Moopere
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I'm honestly struggling with the long game plan on these types of schemes. I know quite a number of airlines are doing it now - but whats the deal? Short/immediate game, sure, easy, you get to fill otherwise empty business seats and extract a few more coppers from the PAX, then go to on re-sell the original Y seat ... great.
But long game, if PER-MEL is about $1900 one way full business, discount Y is around $250 and successful bids are being reported at circa $300 ... the PAX is then in J for around 550$ ... I mean SC's and FF's be damned, just travel J everywhere and don't worry about the whole 'game'. Why _ever_ bother with flexi tickets? - they really aren't very flexible nowadays anyway and you no longer need them as a step-up to J. Points? Why bother with the FF thing? Current pricing for that hypothetical PER-MEL is discount Y + 30,000 points, even if you only value those points at 1c each its the $300 value they are also asking in straight cash to up to J - why bother? Just pay cash and lead a clutter free and easy life?
Don't take this post the wrong way - new schemes offering good value for money - wheeee - I fully intend to examine this previously dismissed option (dismissed by me) and utilise it. But I wonder at the future fate of my points hoard and what 'point' (pun) there is to keeping them. Leading from that is a 'whats the point' moment in relation to status as well - if I end up flying all over the country in Y upgraded J seats, I don't need status for anything useful*.
* Well, except for international lounge access/perks I guess.
But long game, if PER-MEL is about $1900 one way full business, discount Y is around $250 and successful bids are being reported at circa $300 ... the PAX is then in J for around 550$ ... I mean SC's and FF's be damned, just travel J everywhere and don't worry about the whole 'game'. Why _ever_ bother with flexi tickets? - they really aren't very flexible nowadays anyway and you no longer need them as a step-up to J. Points? Why bother with the FF thing? Current pricing for that hypothetical PER-MEL is discount Y + 30,000 points, even if you only value those points at 1c each its the $300 value they are also asking in straight cash to up to J - why bother? Just pay cash and lead a clutter free and easy life?
Don't take this post the wrong way - new schemes offering good value for money - wheeee - I fully intend to examine this previously dismissed option (dismissed by me) and utilise it. But I wonder at the future fate of my points hoard and what 'point' (pun) there is to keeping them. Leading from that is a 'whats the point' moment in relation to status as well - if I end up flying all over the country in Y upgraded J seats, I don't need status for anything useful*.
* Well, except for international lounge access/perks I guess.
Read our AFF credit card guides and start earning more points now.
The only downside is you are not guaranteed to get a J seat going the bidding route. You're taking a punt and hoping that the seats don't sell so you can nab one with the minimum $300 bid. If you value your points the best way I can see is buy a flexi ticket and then use 9900 points, or as you mentioned, if you have a truckload of points (which i don't) just buy a saver fare and 30k points to upgrade.
Moopere
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As you know, from our discussion a few posts ago - I did exactly this, Flexi to J by adding 9900 points. Who doesn't like J? But I wouldn't have been heartbroken to travel Y as its still decent on the VA 330's. So, this is the perfect scenario for one of these upgrademe options. Put in the bid, if it comes through, and anecdotal evidence is suggesting it very often does (at least right now), then wheeee! If not, its ok.
Now of of course I would have been annoyed to have paid Flexi and not been able to upgrade, this was the point of getting a flexi ticket. Theres a small gamble in there, but you can reduce the risk with a bit of research (though not entirely remove it).
The numbers look like this to me:
PER-MEL one way
* Business Reward, 36,600, guaranteed seat (so long as stock is available of course). No SC or FF points earn.
* J outright, $1899 ($1424 if you include the 'value' of returned FF) , guaranteed seat, returning 80SC and 9500FF points (assuming you don't have status).
Interestingly, this inflated dollar price suggests that points are worth 5c each (1899 / 36,600 reward points price). I don't necessarily agree, but nevertheless, lets use this figure for this hypothetical. Returned points 'value' then is around $475. 80SC? As in my previous post, you have to wonder what upgrademe pricing means to the whole status game and if there is much ongoing residual value in holding gold/platinum. Always hard to put a dollar figure on SC's. Same with flight segments. Both segments and SC's are needed to gain/retain status but have no other useful inherent value. If we're already travelling J then status isn't really needed. I'm inclined to assume a $0 value for this hypothetical but am open to other interpretations.
* Discount Y points upgrade to J, $250 ($187 including returned FF) + 30,000 points, 20SC, 1250FF (suggesting FF=1c each as Y reward = 19700 points, however, lets assume you'd use points for future J rewards at 5c each as above).
* Flexi Y points upgrade to J, $559 ($420 inc returned FF) + 9900 points, 40SC, 2795FF.
* Discount Y upgrademe money to J, $250 ($187 inc returned FF) + $300 = $550, 20SC, 1250FF
Value proposition then:
* J reward = 36,600 FF = $1830 (its really 1899, but I've rounded everything down points/value wise)
* J outright = $1424
* Y- points up = $187 + 30K=$1687
* Y points up = $420 + 9.9K = $915
* Y- + bid = $187 + $300 = $487
Of course, there is a 'funny' in the calcs above, need to be careful to not use points twice. Need to use 30K to up from Y- to J, but where do those points come from? If flying only then you can't remove the value of those points from the original ticket cost ... but lets assume those points come from elsewhere, like credit card spend at woolies or BP or something. In any event, the margin differentials are so huge it doesn't really make a difference to the point being made.
Its hard to make an argument against using upgrademe money - at least right now.
If J is important and a guaranteed seat is required then $$ is the only way, sure. If J is important but you're willing to take a little risk and do a little background work, then J rewards or one of the points upgrade options is a decent option, though Y- up to J with points appears to be a bit overpriced. If J is viewed as being nice, but not really imperative, and so long as paid/prebooked J PAX haven't scooped up most or all the available seats then Y- + money bid seems far and away the easy choice.
It probably going to be a temporary situation I guess (?) As more and more travellers cotton on to this the success of low value bids will start to dry up ... you'd imagine.
Now of of course I would have been annoyed to have paid Flexi and not been able to upgrade, this was the point of getting a flexi ticket. Theres a small gamble in there, but you can reduce the risk with a bit of research (though not entirely remove it).
The numbers look like this to me:
PER-MEL one way
* Business Reward, 36,600, guaranteed seat (so long as stock is available of course). No SC or FF points earn.
* J outright, $1899 ($1424 if you include the 'value' of returned FF) , guaranteed seat, returning 80SC and 9500FF points (assuming you don't have status).
Interestingly, this inflated dollar price suggests that points are worth 5c each (1899 / 36,600 reward points price). I don't necessarily agree, but nevertheless, lets use this figure for this hypothetical. Returned points 'value' then is around $475. 80SC? As in my previous post, you have to wonder what upgrademe pricing means to the whole status game and if there is much ongoing residual value in holding gold/platinum. Always hard to put a dollar figure on SC's. Same with flight segments. Both segments and SC's are needed to gain/retain status but have no other useful inherent value. If we're already travelling J then status isn't really needed. I'm inclined to assume a $0 value for this hypothetical but am open to other interpretations.
* Discount Y points upgrade to J, $250 ($187 including returned FF) + 30,000 points, 20SC, 1250FF (suggesting FF=1c each as Y reward = 19700 points, however, lets assume you'd use points for future J rewards at 5c each as above).
* Flexi Y points upgrade to J, $559 ($420 inc returned FF) + 9900 points, 40SC, 2795FF.
* Discount Y upgrademe money to J, $250 ($187 inc returned FF) + $300 = $550, 20SC, 1250FF
Value proposition then:
* J reward = 36,600 FF = $1830 (its really 1899, but I've rounded everything down points/value wise)
* J outright = $1424
* Y- points up = $187 + 30K=$1687
* Y points up = $420 + 9.9K = $915
* Y- + bid = $187 + $300 = $487
Of course, there is a 'funny' in the calcs above, need to be careful to not use points twice. Need to use 30K to up from Y- to J, but where do those points come from? If flying only then you can't remove the value of those points from the original ticket cost ... but lets assume those points come from elsewhere, like credit card spend at woolies or BP or something. In any event, the margin differentials are so huge it doesn't really make a difference to the point being made.
Its hard to make an argument against using upgrademe money - at least right now.
If J is important and a guaranteed seat is required then $$ is the only way, sure. If J is important but you're willing to take a little risk and do a little background work, then J rewards or one of the points upgrade options is a decent option, though Y- up to J with points appears to be a bit overpriced. If J is viewed as being nice, but not really imperative, and so long as paid/prebooked J PAX haven't scooped up most or all the available seats then Y- + money bid seems far and away the easy choice.
It probably going to be a temporary situation I guess (?) As more and more travellers cotton on to this the success of low value bids will start to dry up ... you'd imagine.
Moopere
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I recently tried this theory, in the spirit in which its intended I think - book your tickets, hope for the best but no cry no foul if nothing comes of it. Anyway, thought I'd present my findings which seem a bit 'meh' given others favourable and interesting experiences on this thread.
Decided last minute to get out to DPS late this year from PER. Of course almost everything is already sold, no matter the airline, so pricing getting out was pretty high. For my dates, VA was suggesting:
PER-DPS using a promo code:
Y- = $478
Y = $518
J = $589
There was reward availability, though I had an inkling it might have been limited. I wanted to go, so I was prepared to wear some cost here as I'd left it to the last minute. The above pricing suggested a full J using $$ was far and away the best value for money. Even though its a 73H and J is pretty ordinary.
DPS-PER using promo code:
Y- = $178
Y = $450
J = $559
Ok, this looked like a prime example to try on the upgrademe bid thing. J is still a reasonable price I might add, its a 3.5-4 hour flight, similar to PER-MEL, so anything less than the domestic J price of $1899 seems good. But I'm not all that fussed unless the choice is made obvious. $178 looked tasty and I thought ... lets test this upgrademe bid thingy to see what happens. As the J price is only about a third of regular MEL-PER and given the flight distance/time/etc is almost the same, perhaps J upgrades might be available for $200 or so? Even the anecdotally 'standard' $300ish price might be available.
No.
Minimum bid, AU$450
I find that a tad odd. Honestly, I wouldn't take it even if it were $300, because total price is then $478 and you miss a substantial sack of SC's and FF. Obviously the upgrademe bid price isn't directly linked to the J asking price as I thought it might have been.
Decided last minute to get out to DPS late this year from PER. Of course almost everything is already sold, no matter the airline, so pricing getting out was pretty high. For my dates, VA was suggesting:
PER-DPS using a promo code:
Y- = $478
Y = $518
J = $589
There was reward availability, though I had an inkling it might have been limited. I wanted to go, so I was prepared to wear some cost here as I'd left it to the last minute. The above pricing suggested a full J using $$ was far and away the best value for money. Even though its a 73H and J is pretty ordinary.
DPS-PER using promo code:
Y- = $178
Y = $450
J = $559
Ok, this looked like a prime example to try on the upgrademe bid thing. J is still a reasonable price I might add, its a 3.5-4 hour flight, similar to PER-MEL, so anything less than the domestic J price of $1899 seems good. But I'm not all that fussed unless the choice is made obvious. $178 looked tasty and I thought ... lets test this upgrademe bid thingy to see what happens. As the J price is only about a third of regular MEL-PER and given the flight distance/time/etc is almost the same, perhaps J upgrades might be available for $200 or so? Even the anecdotally 'standard' $300ish price might be available.
No.
Minimum bid, AU$450
I find that a tad odd. Honestly, I wouldn't take it even if it were $300, because total price is then $478 and you miss a substantial sack of SC's and FF. Obviously the upgrademe bid price isn't directly linked to the J asking price as I thought it might have been.
UpgradeMe points request confirmation just came through for BNE-ADL on Sunday.
Traveling TSV-BNE-ADL on Sunday. Mrs sbv72 asked if we could upgrade BNE-ADL leg to J. I gave her the options of using points @ 2 x 17,500 or UpgradeMe minimum bid at minimum $210 but no guarantee it would be accepted.
With 15% bonus transfer on at the moment it required 60,000 CBA reward points for 34,500 velocity points. Had just snuck in last ATO payment on the Diamond AMEX so the points for 2 upgrades cost $145 after tax.
Compare this to at least $420 minimum bid, or use CBA points at Myer for $322.
Time to find a new credit card for ATO.
Traveling TSV-BNE-ADL on Sunday. Mrs sbv72 asked if we could upgrade BNE-ADL leg to J. I gave her the options of using points @ 2 x 17,500 or UpgradeMe minimum bid at minimum $210 but no guarantee it would be accepted.
With 15% bonus transfer on at the moment it required 60,000 CBA reward points for 34,500 velocity points. Had just snuck in last ATO payment on the Diamond AMEX so the points for 2 upgrades cost $145 after tax.
Compare this to at least $420 minimum bid, or use CBA points at Myer for $322.
Time to find a new credit card for ATO.
Last edited:
roncritch
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Hmm $450 plus price of Y makes it dearer than standard J fare both ways. Who sets these prices?? As a newbie with Virgin, I put in for one in December on these routes, ...but the J fares were around $800 at that time. They are now down to the above prices.
Guess I will either pay and guarantee my seat or drop my offer altogether.
boylero
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I applied for an upgrade bid $395 for BNE to PER and snagged a result. Original fare was paid by work Y Q. Haven't flown VA J yet so looking forward to it on the A332. Thumbs up for VA with this option. Anyone can tell me what SC's and FF points I'll earn as a SG?
Moopere
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I presume the Y paid for by work is Y- (Saver)? If so, you'll get SC's as per the original booking - 20SC for BNE-PER
https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Earn/StatusCredits/
Great Circle Mapper
FF will depend upon the fare paid, not sure if they include the upgradebid in the calculation - someone else here will know. Normally, for domestic, its 5x$$ paid.
gwilli1
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The minimum bid on SYD-CNS-SYD for me on a $125 Saver e/way back in October was $180 . I bid $180 and didn't get it on the way up & bid $185 and it was accepted on the way back .
henleybeach
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I just flew ADL-PER , with a $150 Y ticket . Did the MIN bid of $150 last Friday and it came through.
All up the best $300 I have spent , the flight was chockers in Y . J was 6/8
All up the best $300 I have spent , the flight was chockers in Y . J was 6/8
Original fare of $141 Bris - Per purchased through the Virgin cc discount offer, placed bid for $405 and received confirmation email today for both travelers. For a 5+ hour night flight, money well spent. Now all Virgin need is more A330 with this great J product.
boylero
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6 days out and I receive this 
Thank you for submitting an UpgradeMe Premium Bid offer to upgrade your upcoming Virgin Australia flight. We are currently reviewing your offer.
You can make changes to your offer up until three days prior to your scheduled departure date.[SUP]1[/SUP]
We wish you the best of luck and look forward to welcoming you onboard.
Modify or cancel your order.
Thank you for submitting an UpgradeMe Premium Bid offer to upgrade your upcoming Virgin Australia flight. We are currently reviewing your offer.
You can make changes to your offer up until three days prior to your scheduled departure date.[SUP]1[/SUP]
We wish you the best of luck and look forward to welcoming you onboard.
Modify or cancel your order.
i_hate_the_tulla_freeway
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Doing the SYD - HBA run in a couple of days. Original fare was $124ish after GPR23 discount. Upgrade bid of $210 worked fine, so all up $335 down to Hobart which is about half the published J fare.
I miss out on the credits but what price are the credits worth ? I'd rather keep the $300 plus saved and blow it at Franklin or somewhere.
I miss out on the credits but what price are the credits worth ? I'd rather keep the $300 plus saved and blow it at Franklin or somewhere.
djfuzz
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Anyone have experience with UpgradeMe on the LAX run recently?
Have PE tickets booked and got the email offering a J upgrade for a minimum of $1200 each - which as a I recall is the same as, if not more than, the difference between the PE and J tickets when I originally booked, making it pretty poor value.
I'd be perfectly happy with PE as the quieter cabin was one of the main draws, but the thought of it being chockers with Y upgraders is the only thing that makes this offer in any way slightly attractive.
Have PE tickets booked and got the email offering a J upgrade for a minimum of $1200 each - which as a I recall is the same as, if not more than, the difference between the PE and J tickets when I originally booked, making it pretty poor value.
I'd be perfectly happy with PE as the quieter cabin was one of the main draws, but the thought of it being chockers with Y upgraders is the only thing that makes this offer in any way slightly attractive.
Last edited:
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