UpgradeMe pricing and success

[IainF]

As a matter of interest, has anyone bid/won on a long haul flight e.g. BNE-LAX or SYD-AUH ?

 

[Richard Lundgren]

Flying SYD - LAX tomorrow and bid from saver to premium and got it at a great price. 4 of us traveling, but now I have a problem as the wife is an extremely nervous flyer, and "needs" a window to calm her nerves, particularly on takeoff, which it seems as though I will not be able to get on this one. Will have to wait and see when I check in tomorrow morning and hope. Bit of a surprise for her and the kids to be up nearer to the pointy end. I just hope she doesn't panic now about no window and request her previous seat

 

[IainF]

Here is the seat map for the SYD-LAX flight.

 

[serfty]

Unless one is 170cm or less in height, avoid row 10!

 

[blackcat20]

Not my ticket but I'm managing the booking.

MEL-BNE on a Friday night. $115 paid for a saver. Offered $200+ to upgrade (can't remember the upper figure). I think its worth it but as I'm not flying I don't get a say.

Convinced the ticket holder to bid. $200 was successful.

 

[jneufeld]

Flying SYD - LAX tomorrow and bid from saver to premium and got it at a great price. 4 of us traveling, but now I have a problem as the wife is an extremely nervous flyer, and "needs" a window to calm her nerves, particularly on takeoff, which it seems as though I will not be able to get on this one. Will have to wait and see when I check in tomorrow morning and hope. Bit of a surprise for her and the kids to be up nearer to the pointy end. I just hope she doesn't panic now about no window and request her previous seat

How much per person?

 

[MartinMemo]

After deciding against bidding for the only eligible segment (of approx 20 I have booked) from PER - MEL on the 24th of this month, I just got an eDM from VA advising it is available and telling me to bid now!

 

[Demonoid]

Just wanted to add that on my recent successful business class upgrade trip, I did not receive the standard 10 SC (which would have corresponded to the original save fare class of my booking), nor did I receive 40SC which would be the norm for business. Instead, I received 20 SC (so a flexi rate). I think that is a reasonable compromise.

 

[DGW]

Just wanted to add that on my recent successful business class upgrade trip, I did not receive the standard 10 SC (which would have corresponded to the original save fare class of my booking), nor did I receive 40SC which would be the norm for business. Instead, I received 20 SC (so a flexi rate). I think that is a reasonable compromise.

Good for you, but this just further illustrates VA's issues...

 

[MH_fan]

Just to confirm, people have been able to bid (or are eligible to bid) for the upgrade on a T fare?

 

[samas]

After deciding against bidding for the only eligible segment (of approx 20 I have booked) from PER - MEL on the 24th of this month, I just got an eDM from VA advising it is available and telling me to bid now!

I have a MEL-PER sector that same day, when I checked a few weeks back it was not eligible to bid. Received similar email yesterday. Logged in and can bid between $150 and $500. (On a Saver fare worth $250). If it wasn't for the fact I am flying with my partner who is booked on a separate free amex flight I would bid $150.

 

[MH_fan]

When do these upgrade bids become available? Is it only targetted via email or does it become available depending on your fare and T-x hours before departure?

 

[blackcat20]

When do these upgrade bids become available? Is it only targetted via email or does it become available depending on your fare and T-x hours before departure?

Mine was 6 days prior to the flight.

 

[Bofter]

I have a MEL-PER sector that same day, when I checked a few weeks back it was not eligible to bid. Received similar email yesterday. Logged in and can bid between $150 and $500. (On a Saver fare worth $250). If it wasn't for the fact I am flying with my partner who is booked on a separate free amex flight I would bid $150.

When I had checked for previous eligible bookings, $300 had been the minimum bid for MER-PER and vv. Now like you I have $150 showing as the minimum bid. Perhaps uptake has not been as strong as VA hoped or they wanted to include some range in there where bids would be unsuccessful. I am still deciding whether to make a $150 bid for my flight on 22 Nov.

 

[AdMEL]

When I had checked for previous eligible bookings, $300 had been the minimum bid for MER-PER and vv. Now like you I have $150 showing as the minimum bid. Perhaps uptake has not been as strong as VA hoped or they wanted to include some range in there where bids would be unsuccessful. I am still deciding whether to make a $150 bid for my flight on 22 Nov.

Depending on what you paid for the original ticket, if $150 bid accepted, total cost of business seat would be $350-500, for a business seat that is usually $1,000 and has only ever been as low as $700 once during a sale (if I remember correctly). Granted you don't get business status credits. By comparison, a Flexi is $469, with 10,000 points to upgrade to business, albeit in this case you get Flexi SC's. Could be a good deal.

 

[MH_fan]

I just checked to see if I could bid for flights in July next year, and I could!

 

[IainF]

BUMP.
Anyone had any luck with BNE (or Syd) to LAX for a successful bid ?

 

[Spacetravel]

BUMP.
Anyone had any luck with BNE (or Syd) to LAX for a successful bid ?

I have a flight booked 16/02 and return 24/02 Syd - LAX upgrade from Premium economy $800 - $1600 are my options.

I put in $820 upgrade for the flight LAX - SYD. Still unsure if I should put a bid on for the flight there. Either way, ill report back how I go.

Considering I paid about $1580 for the flight. Bidding anything higher is silly considering I could just pay for a normal fare and earn SC and points.

 

[IainF]

Let us know if you are successful !

 

[drewbles]

I have a flight booked 16/02 and return 24/02 Syd - LAX upgrade from Premium economy $800 - $1600 are my options.

I put in $820 upgrade for the flight LAX - SYD. Still unsure if I should put a bid on for the flight there. Either way, ill report back how I go.

Considering I paid about $1580 for the flight. Bidding anything higher is silly considering I could just pay for a normal fare and earn SC and points.

You can actually fly NZ-LAX in Premium for around $2500NZD, or ex AU is around $3300-3500, so $800 would sound about right each way, ex AU.