What does 'upgradeable' mean?

[cgichard]

I no longer have an adequate stash of KF points so I'm looking at paying my way for a MEL-LHR return flight in Y or PE. For the flights I want both Flexi and Flexi Saver seats are available. The former are upgradeable: what does this mean? Could find nothing on the website.

I have some credit card points I could convert into KF miles but could still get only to a total of about 30,000 miles right now. Would it be better to use these up now as part-payment for the flight, or wait and let more accumulate towards a possible upgrade? At this stage only one of the flights I want has PE available. Is this likely to change as they install more PE seats?

In the past I've always tried to get one of the upstairs Y seats on an A380. Are those still available, or Boeing 777 flights preferable in Y these days? Please excuse my ignorance: I haven't been keeping up with SQ's changes of aircraft.

 

[Alanslegal]

Sign up to an Amex Velocity card today or tomorrow and you will get another 81k or so Kris Flyer points

 

[cgichard]

Yes, that would be great, but I'm a poor age pensioner, lucky if I can hang on to my ANZ Platinum Rewards Amex/Visa cards. I'm unlikely to qualify for any new card elsewhere because even drawdowns from a pension-phase SMSF are not counted as income.

 

[Rareified Air]

Upgradeable means you can use points to sit in the bigger seat - if one is available.

 

[cgichard]

Thanks, RA. In the end I went ahead with the MEL-LHR return booking. On my preferred flights I was able to secure only one segment in PE; for the others I picked Flexi Y fares as they are supposed to be upgradeable. But when I click on the Upgrade box on the Manage My Booking, the message is that I couldn't upgrade on those fares. Is there a way to position myself for an upgrade to PE for any of the 3 segments booked as Flexi Y?

A minor point: the class of one of my economy seats given as W - what does that indicate?

 

[dajop]

W is one of the economy booking fare classes - it is actually a "flexi saver" class and is not upgradeable. Only "flexi" fare classes, that is Y, B and E classes are upgradable.

 

[dajop]

Oh also note the KF program does not yet allow upgrades to PE, only business.

 

[cgichard]

Many thanks for your helpful replies, dajop. Re W: I'm wondering if I inadvertently clicked in the wrong column - the flight I wanted was a long way down the page.
I certainly wasn't aware that KF program does not yet allow upgrades to PE, only business. If I had enough points could I upgrade those Flexi Y fares to business? If so I can't work out where to find that option or how many points it would take. If not, then I might as well have taken Flexi Saver instead. I must be missing something here.

 

[Rareified Air]

Different segments of your flight might be fully flexible and could be upgraded, normally the first segment booked determines the overall fare class. You could call the Krisflyer service centre and ask them if any portions could be upgraded but if they do it they will try to charge the full rate rather than the online discounted rate (15%).

 

[cgichard]

Thanks again, RA. Looks like I shall have to phone. And it is the first segment that is stuck as W.
One further question: is it better to try for an upgrade soon after making the booking, or leave it till later nearer the date of travel. I would assume the former, but later would allow me to accumulate more points first.
Do you reckon there's any chance Flexi Y to PE upgrades will become available at a later date, or are there simply too few PE seats?

 

[dajop]

It sounds like you do have at least one sector in W. In the booking confirmation from SQ each sector will have details including "Cabin Class", under that will identify your booking class for each sector. On a recent W class itinerary I booked, all sectors indicate "Economy (W)" under that heading. If you wish to change this to Y, B or E class, you may be able to by calling SQ and paying any fare difference + $20 USD change fee.

It would be good to get all sectors to upgrade, remembering MEL-SIN is 45,000 points and SIN-LHR 65,000 points but MEL-LHR is only 75,000 points (minus 15% if booking online).

 

[cgichard]

My outward travel is Economy W for MEL-SIN, and PE SIN-MEL, so I'll probably stick with that, as I can't see myself getting together enough points (unless by any chance the LifeMiles current +35% offer can readily be changed to SQ points without making a new booking through LifeMiles?). I may wish to alter my return date anyway so that's in flux at present.

 

[dajop]

My outward travel is Economy W for MEL-SIN, and PE SIN-MEL, so I'll probably stick with that, as I can't see myself getting together enough points (unless by any chance the LifeMiles current +35% offer can readily be changed to SQ points without making a new booking through LifeMiles?). I may wish to alter my return date anyway so that's in flux at present.

If you are booked in the very expensive economy classes (Y or B) you may (in theory) be able to upgrade SIN-Europe for 30,000 Life Miles in each direction. But to travel in B or Y fare (>$3k) then pay 60,000 life miles for upgrade on just SIN-LHR (>$1.2K) you might as well try and find a cheap biz fare all the way to LHR on another carrier or at the very least do Y to Asia and get a cheap fare from there in biz!

 

[Rareified Air]

I don't think they will offer upgrades to PE any time soon - that could put them at risk of having existing J customers spend down to travel in Y and then upgrade to PE. There are also limited seats for what should be an in demand product.

If you have the miles available, upgrade direct to business and do it quickly, they have a limited number available for upgrade.

 

[cgichard]

It seems likely that I'll miss out this time. I might be able to accumulate sufficient points by nearer to the date of travel but from what you say all upgrades to business will have gone by that time. After this paid-for trip, perhaps I'll have enough when I next make this journey in 2017. Very grateful for everyone's willingness to help. Not keen to experiment with another carrier: I'd rather stick with what I know and anyway this trip is booked now.