Using points for upgrades - does it happen regularly?

[Philosiphier]

Hi,

I'm hoping some people here who have a far more extensive travel history and experience than myself, may be able to help.

We are planning our trip for next year to include Hawaii and Las Vegas. Our plan was to fly Sydney-Honolulu-Vegas-Honolulu-Sydney. I have already booked our business class flights to Honolulu using points, however there are now no business class return seats from Honolulu (using points). I was thinking then, of paying for economy tickets and using points to hopefully upgrade to business on our way home.

Now I guess my real question is this - are our chances of being able to use points for upgrades better if we fly home from Honolulu or Vegas? I have heard many stories of people who get knocked back after requesting upgrades using points, and not many success stories.

Can I have some thoughts on this?

Thanks so much!

Zoe.

 

[drewbles]

Personally id suggest looking for an "instant upgrade" YUP/KUP Farrell on AA from HNL to LAS say via SFO. For some routing they are very cheap (cheaper than flexible economy by a long way) and will earn you first class status credits and cabin bonus in the deal. Look on the AA site (just put in HNL-LAS and look. At the instant upgrade results, connecting through somewhere usually to make it cheaper).

 

[Philosiphier]

Personally id suggest looking for an "instant upgrade" YUP/KUP Farrell on AA from HNL to LAS say via SFO. For some routing they are very cheap (cheaper than flexible economy by a long way) and will earn you first class status credits and cabin bonus in the deal. Look on the AA site (just put in HNL-LAS and look. At the instant upgrade results, connecting through somewhere usually to make it cheaper).

I have tried looking on this site.. but cannot find any cheap instant upgrades?

 

[Sprucegoose]

What are you trying to achieve, a bigger seat, free coffee or higher status and more points?

 

[Philosiphier]

What are you trying to achieve, a bigger seat, free coffee or higher status and more points?

I don't drink coffee and am not interested in status points - I would just like a bigger seat on the way home - my partner and I are both quite tall and horrific memories of flying return to London from Sydney in cattle class are pushing me to make this a slightly better journey. Isn't this the logical reason people choose to fly in business class?

 

[Sprucegoose]

I don't drink coffee and am not interested in status points - I would just like a bigger seat on the way home - my partner and I are both quite tall and horrific memories of flying return to London from Sydney in cattle class are pushing me to make this a slightly better journey. Isn't this the logical reason people choose to fly in business class?

People have many motivations for their actions!!

Is a lie flat bed important? If it is a night flight?

There is a good deal with UA J return at present as well. $4.3k ish I believe.

Does the solution need to be points? If not what is the budget?

 

[Philosiphier]

People have many motivations for their actions!!

Is a lie flat bed important? If it is a night flight?

There is a good deal with UA J return at present as well. $4.3k ish I believe.

Does the solution need to be points? If not what is the budget?

eeeee... well a flat bed would be BRIALLIANT! But yeah, unfortunately it is the $'s which are causing me to look at the points upgrade option.. so we are looking at around $1000 each to come back from Hawaii, or probably $1500-ish if we were to fly back from Vegas.. I think this is kinda average for economy costs?

 

[Alanslegal]

Now I guess my real question is this - are our chances of being able to use points for upgrades better if we fly home from Honolulu or Vegas? I have heard many stories of people who get knocked back after requesting upgrades using points, and not many success stories.

If you don't have any status with QF it is unlikely you will get an upgrade. There's an entire thread re: upgrades, how it generally works and how a flyers status 'positions' them in the upgrade queue/lottery.

eeeee... well a flat bed would be BRIALLIANT! But yeah, unfortunately it is the $'s which are causing me to look at the points upgrade option.. so we are looking at around $1000 each to come back from Hawaii, or probably $1500-ish if we were to fly back from Vegas.. I think this is kinda average for economy costs?

If Jetstar's "business" class tickles your fancy, then you could possibly get a one-way fare ex-HNL for around $1K. Just make sure you allocate rows 1 ... as everything else is pretty ordinary imo. Otherwise if you choose to fly LAS-LAX/SFO-SYD , then at least pay for exit row seats and get a bit more room. (If you have status, then at least pre-allocate seats (see Airline Seating Charts - Best Airplane Seats - SeatGuru for what's good).

 

[ozmille]

Never had any luck with points upgrade... And QF J on the HNL route isn't that great either.