UpgradeMe pricing and success

[abagail]

Thanks clipped_wings - It might be a nice surprise at the airport for my trip home

 

[JK1964]

Has anyone here ever redeemed their Amex free domestic flights with Virgin - and then managed to upgrade with points? I have heard it was possible, but saw an article that inferred it was a loophole that had recently been closed by Amex.....and that now you would have to pay to upgrade,

Booked BNE to CNS via free AMEX flight. Was told at booking that it was not possible to upgrade the flight. Checked on ‘my bookings’ on Velocity site and could not change any aspect of the booking. Went into booking about 6 weeks later and for some reason the system then allowed an upgrade.

 

[clipped_wings]

Booked BNE to CNS via free AMEX flight. Was told at booking that it was not possible to upgrade the flight. Checked on ‘my bookings’ on Velocity site and could not change any aspect of the booking. Went into booking about 6 weeks later and for some reason the system then allowed an upgrade.

Did you pay for the upgrade with points or $$$ please?

 

[JK1964]

Did you pay for the upgrade with points or $$$ please?

Points

 

[clipped_wings]

Points

Oh that's cool. It definitely adds more value to those free flights if there's an opportunity to improve one's position further forward

 

[JK1964]

Oh that's cool. It definitely adds more value to those free flights if there's an opportunity to improve one's position further forward

Sure, but I don’t know how or why it happened, as it was made clear to me initially by both AMEX and the Velocity call centre that I could not upgrade the booking. Not great value at 17,500 points each way but seeing flight was free ......

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Doing SYD - ADL on Friday night (in J, points upgrade from Y) and have bid $120 per seat for the return on Sunday which was the minimum and is now 'Under Review' according to the email I received yesterday so we'll see how we go.

Came through this morning which is roughly T-72

 

[clipped_wings]

Sure, but I don’t know how or why it happened, as it was made clear to me initially by both AMEX and the Velocity call centre that I could not upgrade the booking. Not great value at 17,500 points each way but seeing flight was free ......

Yes, I agree. But at the rate we are all able to churn points these days, and the generous flight allowance that an Amex card provides, why would you NOT upgrade? I say, burn those points, have an epic time in Business Class and ENJOY!

You'll have more points again in no time

 

[CPMaverick]

Received an email for a 'special offer' to upgrade approx 3 days before my flight. UpgradeMe min bid was $80 for LST-MEL. I put in the minimum and it came through approved in about 2 hours.

Short flight, but it was a happy hour getaway fare for $60 to begin with so $140 all-in to sit in J isn't bad. I also like to support VA's J class when they offer it on the cheap, in the hopes it doesn't die off one day.

 

[Dan_]

My 2 upgrades to J for VA7 from Y+ just came through. My bid was $1200 a seat.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

BNE-POM Minimum bid $130 off a circa $300 Go Plus.

Pretty happy with that!

 

[Must...Fly!]

AKL-MEL, lowest bid is $120! I submitted it a while back but just cancelled the bid.

It feels crazy as it's cheap but I was looking at the cabin this morning and thought...well, I rarely eat on board these days. And I won't be WP for much longer, but I am now so row 3 is sorted. Better to keep the money in my pocket for when I am back to being a lowly gold, and a stupid low offer comes along...

Go on, tell me I'm mad...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Did you try to use you WP complementary upgrade?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Did you try to use you WP complementary upgrade?

Not on an eligible fare for that.

That was also one of the reasons I decided against, I'm sure a 737 J trip will come up eventually when I use one of the upgrades.

 

[flying_duck]

BNE - CBR Thursday night 7pm
Elevate Fare booked a few weeks ago
$100 bid (minimum) given a few days ago
Upgrade processed t-48

 

[Mattg]

BNE-SYD Sunday night
Getaway fare
Minimum bid of $130 approved

 

[Deleted member 29185]

LST-MEL for $80
AKL-MEL for $120
BNE-SYD for $130
BNE-POM for $130
BNE-CBR for $100

All minimum bids as described above.
BNE-SYD must see higher J occupancies if the minimum bid has any logic behind it.

 

[flying_duck]

LST-MEL for $80
AKL-MEL for $120
BNE-SYD for $130
BNE-POM for $130
BNE-CBR for $100

All minimum bids as described above.
BNE-SYD must see higher J occupancies if the minimum bid has any logic behind it.

SYD - BNE elevate fare minimum $105 accepted t-48

Interestingly @swanning_it that route is more expensive than bne-cbr for me as well. Even though there’s only one other person in J.

 

[docjames]

Received email offering discounted bid offer (25% lower).

Submitted minimum bid $125 and 12hrs later was accepted (BNE-MEL). 2 days out from flight.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Received email offering discounted bid offer (25% lower).

Submitted minimum bid $125 and 12hrs later was accepted (BNE-MEL). 2 days out from flight.

Do you mean they reduced their set minimum bid by 25%? If so, perhaps no one took up the offer? I've never seen an email like that before.