Upgrades for platinum on international flights

[abstraction]

I've been platinum for several years, all from discount economy as i work for an NGO/charity. As you can imagine, that's a lot of long-haul flying as you don't get as many status credits.

I was talking to a guy who said he never buys business seats because he always gets upgraded. In the last year i've been upgraded to discount economy twice. That's it. I used to get upgraded to business now and then.

Is this because I'm discount economy? Am i unfortunate? Or are other people's experiences similar. Does anyone know the logic behind the upgrades?

I never fly Cathay without at least one leg being upgraded to business.

Note: I'm not talking about using my points to upgrade. Just those wonderful strikes of generousity of the airlines.

 

[medhead]

I'm also platinum mostly from discount economy flights. I've had one upgrade and that was from a classic award.

It seems from discussion on AFF that upgrades are more likely if you are on a more expensive economy fare.

 

[TonyHancock]

I had a lucky period of three Op-Ups with QF which pretty much coincided with the GFC. Not had one for 9 months.

I will say though that on every return flight to Oz (10 in the last year, 7 in Y or Y+) the CSM has handed out express cards for immigration and customs. I have also had bulkhead seats on every non J trip.

There are some things that QF do for WP's.

 

[simongr]

I have never had an OpUp from QF from whY (red-e-deals and supersavers) domestically or J int'l. I have never had an upgrade from CX J to F.
My only OpUp was on BA where my wife was sick on a connecting flight, we spent the night in a hospital/hotel and caught the same flight the next night that was on an award J to F.

 

[anat0l]

The simple answers are:

• Operational upgrades only happen when they need to.
• It's all luck, but Platinums have more luck than those of lower status than them

I've had my share of operational upgrades over a few years, and all of them have been from Red e-Deals (some lowest fare bucket, a couple not-so-lowest fare bucket).

 

[notzac]

I've had exactly one upgrade from QF, but also don't expect any. Why? QF are practically masters of the revenue management game -- it seems that operational upgrades are almost never necessary, at least by comparison to other airlines.

There's also the small point that I'd be right towards the bottom of the pecking order of WPs in terms of average revenue per pax; there would be plenty of other moar suitable candidates on a given flight where upgrades were deemed necessary. Doesn't stop me complaining about not getting upgraded though!

 

[Archphoto]

I was Platinum for almost 5 years, and flew regular International flights approximately every 5 weeks.

During that time, I *never* received an upgrade from QF, never had a points upgrade request granted (even asked 6 weeks in advance) and basically gave up on Op-Ups from QF.

I have had better luck with CX, JAL and BA - the latest one being 2 Op-Ups in the one day: Y to Y+ at check-in, and then to J at the gate. Kudos to BA!!

Think it all comes down to the day, the load and a myriad of other things as to who gets and Op-Up, and who doesn't on any given day. :mrgreen:

 

[Princess Fiona]

I've been WP for 2 years, have never received an op-up and don't ever really expect to. I almost always lodge points upgrade request for long-haul J-F, have had almost 100% success rate with this ( 747 mind you, 0% with A380). Shrek has had 2 domestic op-ups SYD -MEL in 4 years, no international .

 

[Briz.QffBoi]

I've been WP for 2 years, have never received an op-up and don't ever really expect to. I almost always lodge points upgrade request for long-haul J-F, have had almost 100% success rate with this ( 747 mind you, 0% with A380). Shrek has had 2 domestic op-ups SYD -MEL in 4 years, no international .

I got an op-up last week out of Mt Isa - BNE, along with about 4 other WP's. The day before Easter it was packed out the back and oversold. This seems to happen a bit to me out of TSV also. I'm usually on a red-e or super-saver - but got to admit I fly a bit.

Seems to me some ports look after their regulars more than others - also pays to get to know your regular crews too - as I've had a couple "after-take-off" op-ups.

On the well worn runs - BNE/SYD, MLB/SYD i think its a cough shoot most of the time - and tends to be first in, best dressed for those who like to do the lounge early!!

 

[awarty]

In the 5 weeks since I turned WP I've flown 7 international flights and scored 3 upgrades (2 x Y to Y+, 1 x Y to J)

The Y to Y+ upgrades were on QF 5/6, once due to a 4 class aircraft operating a 3 class route, once due to the Easter rush.

The Y to J upgrade was more interesting, as is my usual practice on QF52 (BOM-SIN) I got my pre-assigned 23B changed to 45B (exit row) at the gate, 30 min into the flight the CSM (who had greeted me 5 min earlier) comes to me and says that we have a slight seating change for you and escorts me to J. :mrgreen:

All the Y fares were deep discount, either sale or Red-e-Deal.

Last year was my first year flying QF and I made WP 2 weeks before my membership year ended, 95% of my flying was discount Y and neither my organization nor I am 'significant' in Qantas' scheme of things.

Needless to say, I don't expect these upgrades, but I do think that it is a fine way of recognizing frequent flyers.

Now, if only the BOM ground staff could remember to put priority tags on my bags so that they aren't the last ones off the belt............

 

[erko_adam]

I'm only SG status, but have been upgraded twice this year on BA9/QF302 BKK-SYD. Coming back last week, I had booked an exit seat in Y, was upgraded to 13J on check in, then to 62A (upper-deck) at the gate. Have to say that 62A is a great seat, felt like I was in my own little world the entire flight :mrgreen:

Seems there may be some merit in chosing codeshare flights over QF operated if there's a choice. QF2 (I think ??) leaves around the same time as BA9, BKK-SYD, and I have never had an op-up, admittedly have only ever flown it coming back from Europe so I'm not sure if that makes a difference..

 

[JetLagged]

During that time, I *never* received an upgrade from QF, never had a points upgrade request granted (even asked 6 weeks in advance) and basically gave up on Op-Ups from QF.

Archphoto - I don't know which of the gods of flying you have offended, or which Qantas toes you accidentially stepped on. In the last couple of years of being Platinum and flying SYD-LHR 4 times a year, I've got my points upgrade each time from J to F (well, all except one leg which I have harped on about enough by now). And those trips even included fares which stated that points upgrades were not allowed: a nice chat to the Premium desk, and, hey bingo!

 

[JetLagged]

I've been WP for 2 years, have never received an op-up and don't ever really expect to. I almost always lodge points upgrade request for long-haul J-F, have had almost 100% success rate with this (747 mind you, 0% with A380).

Dear me, Princess - think Shrek needs to do some thumping somewhere. Why every not on the A380 - have I just been lucky or something but 99% of my J to F points requests on the A380 (preferred planes of choice) has been granted. What r u doing wrong, or what am I doing right? Ahh, the great mystery of the points upgrade lottery!

 

[Voyages]

I had a lucky period of three Op-Ups with QF which pretty much coincided with the GFC. Not had one for 9 months.

Same... here

 

[koro25]

Mrs and myself got upgraded to J from discounted Y from HK to SYD recently. Turned WP about 3 months before the status was reset early this year. This was my 1st upgrade since turning WP. Had 2 upgrades, 1 from y to Y+ on SYD-SFO and y to J from BNE to LAX due to ops reasons early last year . As the check in lady said "HQ has selected you for a upgrade" would mean these things are done via some algorithm run in some application. OP hope you get your upgrade soon.

 

[Archphoto]

Archphoto - I don't know which of the gods of flying you have offended, or which Qantas toes you accidentially stepped on. In the last couple of years of being Platinum and flying SYD-LHR 4 times a year, I've got my points upgrade each time from J to F (well, all except one leg which I have harped on about enough by now). And those trips even included fares which stated that points upgrades were not allowed: a nice chat to the Premium desk, and, hey bingo!

Hopefully nobody's - I try to keep a low profile. :mrgreen:

I put it down to "just one of those things" - if I got upgraded, great, if not - can't say I didn't try.

Surprisingly, as others have said, BA offers for upgrades have been more forthcoming! I can't request upgrades from them, but in the past 2 years, no need to - I've been upgraded on the 3 flights I've taken with them, 1 including my partner who is only Bronze (which totally surprised me!).

Due for another BA trip in June - have requested an exit row in anticipation of a long trip in Y; will have to see how it goes - I'm not WP any more, fell to Gold, but maybe I'll get lucky. . . .

 

[JohnK]

Is this because I'm discount economy? Am i unfortunate? Or are other people's experiences similar. Does anyone know the logic behind the upgrades?

It is simple. Op-ups are a lottery. As a Silver member back in 2004-2005 I was upgraded to business class on both legs of a SYD-BKK return.

I never fly Cathay without at least one leg being upgraded to business.

And again everyone's experience is different. I have been upgraded from business to first on CX several times but never been upgraded from economy to business. And I think the problem lies in that I value the economy to business upgrades much much more.

I had a lucky period of three Op-Ups with QF which pretty much coincided with the GFC. Not had one for 9 months.

Come to think of it QF does not love me anymore. I can't remember my last op-up....

 

[Chatterbocks]

Does anyone ever get upgraded J to F on QF long haul flights? I am platinum and mainly fly J.

Also, for those who have used points to upgrade to F, is it worth it? I have never flown F and am pretty happy with J. I don't drink alchohol when I fly so the French plonk doesnt mean anything for me

 

[ab156]

Does anyone ever get upgraded J to F on QF long haul flights? I am platinum and mainly fly J.

Also, for those who have used points to upgrade to F, is it worth it? I have never flown F and am pretty happy with J. I don't drink alchohol when I fly so the French plonk doesnt mean anything for me

I got an at the gate upgrade to F once out of LA... flight was delayed by 14 hours so all the F's from the night before were switched to the SYD flight resulting in all of F being upgraded J. Don't really count that one although it was an intriguing experience watching how poorly QF ground staff and PASSENGERS dealt with the situation. A little bit of common sense made the experience quite bearable and entertaining!

Points upgrade - question has been dealt with several time before on here. My summary, if you have the points and are not saving for a specific target then you should do it on the A380, I recommend keeping your powder dry on 747 flights.

 

[TonyHancock]

My summary, if you have the points and are not saving for a specific target then you should do it on the A380, I recommend keeping your powder dry on 747 flights.

I would agree with this generally apart from the very long haul daytime flights. (The one I'm specifically thinking of is MEL/SYD to LAX. My preference here is to upgrade whether it is a 747 or 380. 14 hours in Y or even Y+ whilst fully conscious is a little difficult for me. :-|