Upgrading with paid fare vs classic redemption

[drcam]

A question regarding upgrades:

Say there is business class Classic Rewards availability for both legs of a return flight from Sydney to Bangkok.

If instead of redeeming my points for this trip, I instead buy an upgradeable cash fare, am I guaranteed an on-the-spot upgrade with points when I request the upgrade, or do I have to wait? Does the fact that there is Classic redemption availability mean that I get upgraded on the spot?

 

[williamsf1]

INT upgrades are only confirmed closer to departure. You are better off to book the reward seat if it is open

Domestic are cleared if avaiable

 

[UP4014]

If you buy a lower class and request an upgrade you'll be on the list, if you're on the top of the list great but if you're not you take your chances closer to time.

 

[RichardMEL]

No. That is only for domestic. If you see reward seats to/from BKK (for example) - grab them. Without high status your chances are small when it comes to flight time to be upgraded.

 

[@WhiteboardKing]

If only there was a matrix to help work such things out, very luck of the draw and seats dependent... I have P/E tickets pending J upgrade on QF93/94 and will be waiting until the last 24hrs, to know if I get lucky. My only grace is I have P/E seats already, but I imagine P1, WP, G, S will all still get preference, even if only booked in Econ. P/E just puts me ahead of other Bronze flyers in Econ that have requested same. Just not "upper class" enough

 

[RichardMEL]

If only there was a matrix to help work such things out, very luck of the draw and seats dependent... I have P/E tickets pending J upgrade on QF93/94 and will be waiting until the last 24hrs, to know if I get lucky. My only grace is I have P/E seats already, but I imagine P1, WP, G, S will all still get preference, even if only booked in Econ. P/E just puts me ahead of other Bronze flyers in Econ that have requested same. Just not "upper class" enough

You pretty much have outlined your matrix right there.

QF, like most airlines, do prioritise by status. QF do leave the upgrade processing till relatively close to departure because of the desire to sell as many tickets as possible (again, like most airlines).

Yes a W (PE) ticket will absolutely trump pretty much all Y fares in the same band for processing - note that Bronze are processed with Gold and Silver from 24 hours out, so in that respect you've probably mostly got CL, P1 and WP in front of you, plus of course any SG or PS in W already (and then it comes to fare paid).

And yes it is a lottery

 

[drcam]

 

[Matt_01]

@WhiteboardKing in addition to what @RichardMEL mentioned above the 'lottery' also works on date requested but is still status based. If I understand the system correctly assume a PS(1) puts in for an upgrade on the day the flight opens and they a first one the list. A week later PS(2) put in for a upgrade PS(1) in still first in the queue. Another week later WP(1) puts in for an upgrade, they jump to the front of the list and the next WP that request becomes second on the list etc., etc, etc. P1's and CL's jump the front of the list and as this continues until the seats start to get released up to 7 days out for P1's and CLs, including any upgrade requests that they have put in for family, the other status levels get released somewhere between 24-48 hours. Depending how many seats are available it can be slim pickings if there a number of status PAX travelling and requesting upgrades.

 

[@WhiteboardKing]

@WhiteboardKing in addition to what @RichardMEL mentioned above the 'lottery' also works on date requested but is still status based. If I understand the system correctly assume a PS(1) puts in for an upgrade on the day the flight opens and they a first one the list. A week later PS(2) put in for a upgrade PS(1) in still first in the queue. Another week later WP(1) puts in for an upgrade, they jump to the front of the list and the next WP that request becomes second on the list etc., etc, etc. P1's and CL's jump the front of the list and as this continues until the seats start to get released up to 7 days out for P1's and CLs, including any upgrade requests that they have put in for family, the other status levels get released somewhere between 24-48 hours. Depending how many seats are available it can be slim pickings if there a number of status PAX travelling and requesting upgrades.

Thanks, that's how I understood it. I am working on the assumption the only things in my way are status and seat availability. I booked and requested 9 months ago and have P/E class booked. Held much higher hope before the A380 was pulled off the run... slimmer seat pickings