UpgradeMe pricing and success

$95 bid VA412 SYD-ADL. Was only half-full when I got the successful notification yesterday and 75% full when I flew
 
I wonder if someone at VA II has completed an exercise looking at each of the last few months for the number of empty business seats being flown on various routes.

The marginal cost for food/drink/weight addition impact on additional fuel used is a figure that can be calculated accurately.

If I was looking into it, then I'd look at every route in isolation covering:
  • distribution of bids, and distribution of successful bids (broken down by specific flight, not just pairing)
  • empty business class seats by specific flight # distribution
From that it would be easy to see which flights have seen consistent demand at a price for the upgrades and those where the cut-off has seen low to no upgrades taken and non-revenue business seats flown. As the upgrade bidding is for cash (not points? has it changed recently) then a simple matter to trial a lower cut-off for flights which have consistently seen zero upgrades accepted.

Perhaps such a trial started in April...

It would make a lot of sense.

Prior to the post above for the $80 BNE/MEL on VA 314 - has anyone been successful on this flight, or pairing since VA II took flight? If so, what price, when & do you remember how many empty, if any, business seats when you flew?
 
Hi All,

I am a Gold Qantas Member but travelling from MEL to SYD with Virgin for work and didn’t want to waste my QF FF points on a short trip. I have read all the offers people put in for their UpgradeMe and at the time of booking flights were $79, that same seat is now $299 (3 days prior to flying). I’ve set my bid at $155, but have noticed there is only 1 business class seat remaining, what are my chances of getting a successful? Most seemed to have bid less and had success. Unsure if it’s just the time of year or because the early morning interstate flights are popular for business travel.
 
If the seat remains available, I'd say you have a good chance as it doesn't seem too many offer that much for that distance. Of course, it may be allocated/sold in advance so you never know.
 
Read our AFF credit card guides and start earning more points now.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

If the seat remains available, I'd say you have a good chance as it doesn't seem too many offer that much for that distance. Of course, it may be allocated/sold in advance so you never know.
Thanks for that, I suppose if there is a cancellation too. I just want the lounge access and extra luggage to take on board so I don’t need to check in any luggage.

If I am unsuccessful am I able to travel with my 16” Laptop in a backpack + an overnight travel suitcase to take onboard?
 
Thanks for that, I suppose if there is a cancellation too. I just want the lounge access and extra luggage to take on board so I don’t need to check in any luggage.

If I am unsuccessful am I able to travel with my 16” Laptop in a backpack + an overnight travel suitcase to take onboard?
More likely to be successful if the laptop is in a slimline shoulder bag than a backpack (unless slimline which is unlikely).

Places like Harvey Norman etc often sell off brandname (HP) laptop bags with 3 sleeves to take multiple laptops that even with 3 laptops are only around 3 to 4 cm thick and have a shoulder strap. Pre-covid, 2019 got one for $15 and wished I'd bought it years earlier.

Great for travelling (especially going through security as the bag's opening is wide enough that laptops never catch. Also handy for hard copies of travel documents in a sleeve of their own.
 
Good to know! I have one of these bags in 15”
unsure if my 16” laptop will fit, my physio won’t be happy I’m using a shoulder bag with my neck problems. Should I have heard back about the success by now? Flight is on Tuesday?

 

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.

Staff online

  • NM
    Enthusiast
Back
Top