UpgradeMe pricing and success

[DeanCorp]

It’s 6.40pm and I haven’t had a success or unsuccessful email from Virgin yet. I panicked and increased bid to $155.00 so I hope I get the upgrade

 

[MooTime]

It’s 6.40pm and I haven’t had a success or unsuccessful email from Virgin yet. I panicked and increased bid to $155.00 so I hope I get the upgrade

You must really dislike sitting in economy, haha!

If there's no other bidders you'd win the upgrade with the minimum bid.

At $155 plus original cost of ticket, you could've nearly paid for the J outright. Received all status credits and points.

 

[DeanCorp]

You must really dislike sitting in economy, haha!

If there's no other bidders you'd win the upgrade with the minimum bid.

At $155 plus original cost of ticket, you could've nearly paid for the J outright. Received all status credits and points.

I just want the lounge and no line especially with the extra backpack

 

[DeanCorp]

I realised I’ve bid $170, still no email and when you look at the flight now it shows unavailable to even buy the seat. Not liking my chances, but surely I would’ve got a decline by now.

 

[hydrabyss]

I realised I’ve bid $170, still no email and when you look at the flight now it shows unavailable to even buy the seat. Not liking my chances, but surely I would’ve got a decline by now.

They like to drag it out as long as possible I find. Also someone may change flights or cancel last minute.

 

[DeanCorp]

I’m back home now, UpgradeMe Premium Bid offer to upgrade the flight(s) listed below was unsuccessful.

The business class seat was showing as $699 before it became unavailable. The flight was completely full not a single spare seat even in economy. I had offered $180 and still unsuccessful.

In summary, I wouldn’t recommend the UpgradeMe, as I realised afterwards, you could just pay $65 for lounge access and have the same perks and sit with less leg room for your hour flight. They didn’t care at all that I brought a backpack and carry on luggage into economy.

Sydney Virgin lounge was very outdated and crowded, not worth the money in my opinion. Average food options, I have allergies to onion/garlic so all I could eat was a bread roll, everything else was out of bounds. Luckily I had work to do, so just had a beer and finished off my work.

Thank you everyone for your help and good advice!

 

[kerfuffle]

I’m back home now, UpgradeMe Premium Bid offer to upgrade the flight(s) listed below was unsuccessful.

The business class seat was showing as $699 before it became unavailable. The flight was completely full not a single spare seat even in economy. I had offered $180 and still unsuccessful.

In summary, I wouldn’t recommend the UpgradeMe, as I realised afterwards, you could just pay $65 for lounge access and have the same perks and sit with less leg room for your hour flight. They didn’t care at all that I brought a backpack and carry on luggage into economy.

Sydney Virgin lounge was very outdated and crowded, not worth the money in my opinion. Average food options, I have allergies to onion/garlic so all I could eat was a bread roll, everything else was out of bounds. Luckily I had work to do, so just had a beer and finished off my work.

Thank you everyone for your help and good advice!

Sorry, but paying $65 for Virgin Lounge access isn't worth it. That's like a sale fare in Choice to Melbourne ...

I haven't been unsuccessful when bidding using UpgradeMe the few times I've used it.

 

[DeanCorp]

Sorry, but paying $65 for Virgin Lounge access isn't worth it. That's like a sale fare in Choice to Melbourne ...

I haven't been unsuccessful when bidding using UpgradeMe the few times I've used it.

The ticket was only $79 from SYD-MEL when I booked. It was an extremely busy flight, I doubt UpgradeMe was possible for that flight since I bid $180 and still didn’t get it. The flight to SYD was far less busy.

 

[Major]

Sorry, but paying $65 for Virgin Lounge access isn't worth it. That's like a sale fare in Choice to Melbourne ...

I haven't been unsuccessful when bidding using UpgradeMe the few times I've used it.

Everyone has their own value for lounge access. Some consider $65 as good value, others do not.

 

[Astro]

Everyone has their own value for lounge access. Some consider $65 as good value, others do not.

Agree with that statement. We are amongst many who never pay for lounge access so our perceived value is different to others who don't regularly fly.

 

[ozstamps]

YMMV

We were stuck in ADL lounge for 3 hours on Monday, due to equipment issues.

I'd have gladly paid $65 for that, if faced with a 3-hour wait in the zoo outside, even if I had zero status!

A decent meal and snacks, (now self serve at last) and quite a few drinks, all in peace and quiet and comfort, and free Internet.

For long usage, the value is up there now.

 

[benjy]

Bid the minimum $100 on tonight's (Thursday) 1755 OOL > MEL and approved.

 

[xen0n33]

Successful upgrade SYD-HBA at $85 (minimum was $80). Put my bid in the night before the morning flight and was approved within the hour - assumed this meant a near empty J cabin, but it ended up completely full.

 

[Port Power]

My bid was successful for PER-KNX yesterday. This flight is just over two hours. Y fare paid was $249. J usually $905. Email suggested to bid $360. I bid $240, which showed as “fair”. Success email received 14 hours before flight, as in I saw it at 10pm the night before. There are only 8 J seats on that flight and I was allocated 1D. 1F remained empty.

I felt it was worth it for the whole experience, not just the lounge. Especially as the bar wasn’t open when I left at 12:30pm.

This was my first Virgin flight in J, and I was HUGELY impressed! (I regularly fly PER-MEL in J on QF.) Cabin manager wonderfully efficient and nice and friendly. Water or sparkling wine offered before take off, which is something QF dropped years ago. Excellent meal and further wine. And the silk rope to keep us ‘special”. Overall excellent and personal experience.

Sorry my post is long winded, but I wanted to acknowledge excellence.

 

[Ktan89]

Booked SYD-OOL a few weeks ago for $99 per person (2 people on itinerary) one way.

Received the upgrade bid via email tonight for a flight well over a week in advance.

View attachment 204976

l'd bid "maybe" $80 - $90, but the flight is just over an hour, l don't see the value in this one at all.

Minimum bid is $150 per person.

$99 x 2
$150 x 2

= too much for a 1 hr 20min flight.

Booked SYD - OOL on Monday this week @ $119 for this Friday. Received an email to bid for upgrade with the minimum bid at $80 per pax.

I would do it but having lounge access already, I don't think it will be worth it....

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Booked SYD - OOL on Monday this week @ $119 for this Friday. Received an email to bid for upgrade with the minimum bid at $80 per pax.

I would do it but having lounge access already, I don't think it will be worth it....

Depends on whether you want a business seat and meal on the way to OOL or not..

 

[kerfuffle]

Depends on whether you want a business seat and meal on the way to OOL or not..

And getting off the plane ASAP

 

[Must...Fly!]

And getting off the plane ASAP

Though if the OP is WP, it's much of a muchness between row 1, 2 or 3...

 

[Brizz]

No confirmation email but SYD - BNE boarding pass for tomorrow am is showing 1A - bid was minimum at $80.

There look to be 5 other J seats available, so maybe an extra $80 is worth it to them?

I don't normally go for the upgrade as I agree with the comments above, but am travelling with the Boss so a perfect opportunity to watch his face drop as I sit in J and ask him why the company hasn't given him business? LOL

 

[AustSerbKor]

I'm doing a day trip Bne to Syd tomorrow and applied the minimum bid of $80 each way not expecting either. I got confirmation for the morning flight this morning but was surprised later to also get the afternoon trip as well. I see most people referring to having loung access with these upgrades, so that is breakfast and a quiet beverage in the afternoon taken care of. Unless it's worth waiting for the inflight breakfast.