Why was I upgraded?

[FlyingKangaroo]

Flew QF 28 from Santiago to Sydney yesterday, booked on a paid fare in Premium Y. SG status. No upgrade requested or bid for.

Checked in online 24 hours before flight and noticed that PY cabin looked very empty. Saved boarding pass showing my PY seat.

At airport, I went to a kiosk to collect a paper boarding pass and it spat out an upgrade to J. No explanation.

Why might this have happened?

The only thing I can think of is that on my outbound a few weeks ago, a delay on QF 27 from SYD-SCL resulted in a missed LATAM connection to Sao Paulo and the rebooked flight saw me downgraded from PY to Y on that LATAM sector. Could that be it, as some sort of courtesy way to compensate for that downgrade? Or was this just dumb luck? Given the flight looked so empty, it didn't seem likely it would be a result of PY being overbooked.

 

[justinbrett]

Don't look a op-up horse in the mouth.

 

[AIRwin]

They know you're the Flying Kangaroo!

 

[Denali]

Did the other pax in Premium Y get bumped as well?

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Don't look a op-up horse in the mouth.

I decided not to ask questions until I'd landed back in SYD.

Post automatically merged: Nov 3, 2023

Did the other pax in Premium Y get bumped as well?

No idea.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Flew QF 28 from Santiago to Sydney yesterday, booked on a paid fare in Premium Y. SG status. No upgrade requested or bid for.

Checked in online 24 hours before flight and noticed that PY cabin looked very empty. Saved boarding pass showing my PY seat.

At airport, I went to a kiosk to collect a paper boarding pass and it spat out an upgrade to J. No explanation.

Why might this have happened?

The only thing I can think of is that on my outbound a few weeks ago, a delay on QF 27 from SYD-SCL resulted in a missed LATAM connection to Sao Paulo and the rebooked flight saw me downgraded from PY to Y on that LATAM sector. Could that be it, as some sort of courtesy way to compensate for that downgrade? Or was this just dumb luck? Given the flight looked so empty, it didn't seem likely it would be a result of PY being overbooked.

The simple answer is that they needed your PEY seat, for some reason.

The economy cabin could have been oversold. They might have been short on catering. Your original seat in PEY might have been broken.

While the seat map might have looked empty, did you get a look once on board?

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

While the seat map might have looked empty, did you get a look once on board?

Went back specifically to take a peek and several seats still empty once on board yes, which is what made it seem so curious.

 

[mrsterryn]

Great flight to be upgraded on

 

[justinbrett]

If anyone is going to get an op up, a SG+ in Y+ is going to be it. This used to be a much more common occurrence 15-20 years ago.

It may have been for flight attendant ratios, weight and balance etc.

 

[opusman]

My only (that I remember) international op up was on SYD-EZE in the same conditions; booked in Y+ and op up to J without any explanation.

Coming back we got J seating but with Y+ service so I have yet to actually sit in a Y+ seat!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Flew QF 28 from Santiago to Sydney yesterday, booked on a paid fare in Premium Y. SG status. No upgrade requested or bid for.

Does your name happen to be Richard Goyder or Alan Joyce by any chance?

The only thing I can think of is that on my outbound a few weeks ago, a delay on QF 27 from SYD-SCL resulted in a missed LATAM connection to Sao Paulo and the rebooked flight saw me downgraded from PY to Y on that LATAM sector. Could that be it, as some sort of courtesy way to compensate for that downgrade?

No. But a downgrade by LA should result in reimbursement of the fare difference at a minimum.

Or was this just dumb luck?

Whilst that may explain how Alan Joyce managed to remain at the helm for 15 years, I can’t see that as an explanation here. I fly QF a fair amount and have yet to receive any sort of up. Meanwhile the handful of times I’ve flown Air Canada I’ve received a couple of OpUps.

-RooFlyer88

 

[RooFlyer]

I fly QF a fair amount and have yet to receive any sort of up

As I mentioned before, back of the line, buddy. I've flow 547 sectors on Qantas (plus more on TAA) and I can't recall ever receiving an op-op.

Does your name happen to be Richard Goyder or Alan Joyce by any chance?

Don't be silly. "Economy +" .... "paid"

 

[kangarooflyer88]

As I mentioned before, back of the line, buddy. I've flow 547 sectors on Qantas (plus more on TAA) and I can't recall ever receiving an op-op.

But I’m… World Platinum! Do you know who I am?

Don't be silly. "Economy +" .... "paid"

Still surprising to see an OpUp like that especially on a long haul route with low loads as the OP mentioned.

 

[Pushka]

Not for your benefit, it was a consequence of Qantas needs. Which is how upgrades work. Random lottery.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF don't tend to do op ups a whole lot - but of course it does happen from time to time. Certainly not something to be expected at any time. I wouldn't ask why but just be happy and enjoy - specially on such a long haul route

Post automatically merged: Nov 4, 2023

But I’m… World Platinum! Do you know who I am?

Since only one person recognises this as a thing - no, they don't know who you are.

 

[Capricornus]

Went back specifically to take a peek and several seats still empty once on board yes, which is what made it seem so curious.

The empty seats you saw belonged to LA. The flight was full as far as QF inventory is concerned.