UpgradeMe pricing and success

[IainF]

So I booked a flexi BNE-MEL today to spend a weekend away. I was thinking of using points to upgrade but I thought I would plug the figures into UpgradeMe and see the results.
So this is the difference between the UpgradeMe minimum cost versus just paying the difference.









Minimum of $500 for outbound to use UpgradeMe and minimum of $200 for the return leg.

Sorry but this is only $76 cheaper than paying for the difference between L & J classes, without the benefit of J SCs or points.

 

[eastwest101]

So I booked a flexi BNE-MEL today to spend a weekend away. I was thinking of using points to upgrade but I thought I would plug the figures into UpgradeMe and see the results.
So this is the difference between the UpgradeMe minimum cost versus just paying the difference.

View attachment 19772




View attachment 19771


Minimum of $500 for outbound to use UpgradeMe and minimum of $200 for the return leg.

Sorry but this is only $76 cheaper than paying for the difference between L & J classes, without the benefit of J SCs or points.

Hmm yes - another case of the VA Marketing Dept being about 12 months in front of the VA/Velocity IT Web Site design team?

 

[hummel]

Thanks for the information however I couldn't help but notice they're now rating their own website!

 

[obrienja]

That's unfair hummel. If they were rating their website the needle would be broken & hanging off the bottom & you'd have to log in half a dozen times to view it.

 

[DGW]

That's unfair hummel. If they were rating their website the needle would be broken & hanging off the bottom & you'd have to log in half a dozen times to view it.

I hate to stray O/T but the website really is a joke. Online seat selection appears to be broken again; I tried to change my seat for my LAX-MEL leg tonight a few times over the last few days and kept getting error messages, so I gave up and called the Platinum desk... Flashback to January.

 

[carpenteria]

For what it's worth, it does work on fares purchased with the 2 for 1.5 offer. Given as of December I can no longer get the "discount" on the flexi fare, it does have some attraction. For example, my most frequent run of late is TSV-SYD. Business saver is $679, Flexi is $306 (+points for UG). If I am travelling with my wife though and using the card and want an upgrade, dropping the minimum bid (assuming it is successful) of $200 plus the discounted saver fare of $101 (stupid enhancement) comes out at a cost less than the flexi itself (just) with no points burnt.

Mind you that's also not getting the extra status or points, but given I will rarely book flexi after December it isn't the worst thing I've seen. But outside of discounted flights yeah probably not worth it. Speaking of discounts, does anyone know if you can upgrade on sales fares?

 

[Nicholas Wood]

Thanks but no thanks.....

 

[Deleted member 29185]

does anyone know if you can upgrade on sales fares?

Their web blurb states "saver fares and above"........

 

[Ljc108]

Avid reader first time poster ... The VA UpgradeMe is thumbs up in my books !! Booked 241 saver fares, was successful with our UpgradeMe bid to J class - sorry anti UpgradeMe peeps - the riff raff was well behaved ! And to top it off, received flexi SC contrary to the UpgradeMe SC fare rules. Purchased a lotto ticket for Saturday night in case my good luck was still continuing

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Avid reader first time poster ... The VA UpgradeMe is thumbs up in my books !! Booked 241 saver fares, was successful with our UpgradeMe bid to J class - sorry anti UpgradeMe peeps - the riff raff was well behaved ! And to top it off, received flexi SC contrary to the UpgradeMe SC fare rules. Purchased a lotto ticket for Saturday night in case my good luck was still continuing

Welcome to the forum Ljc109 .

Nice to hear UpgradeMe worked well for you. Would you mind me asking what the bid process was? ie single bid, minimum price, winning price etc and also where the trip was from and to.

 

[IainF]

Welcome Ljc108.
Congrats on the good use of 241 and the upgrade !
Can you let us know the route & the amount that was succesfully bid so we can track?

 

[Ljc108]

Thanks Swanning

Per Adl / winning bid $310pp / VA range 200 - 400
Bid via AFF link 6 days prior to flight, hk email from VA two days later. No seats sold in J class and only 4 flexi left when I place bid.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thanks Swanning

Per Adl / winning bid $310pp / VA range 200 - 400
Bid via AFF link 6 days prior to flight, hk email from VA two days later. No seats sold in J class and only 4 flexi left when I place bid.

Thanks for the info. So to clarify, when you flew, were you and your +1 the only J pax or was it filled up with other upgrades? Did you just decide on $310 or could you see other bids and knew you could just go $200?

 

[Ljc108]

Thanks for the info. So to clarify, when you flew, were you and your +1 the only J pax or was it filled up with other upgrades? Did you just decide on $310 or could you see other bids and knew you could just go $200?

Yes we were 241 pax. Decided on higher bid due to the fact we were 241 pax. We couldn't see other bids nor did we know if anyone else had bid - silent auction. On the flight there were 4 pax (2 spare seats) inc us in J class unsure if other two were upgraders or purchasers.

 

[kevrosmith]

Haven't had any luck with this yet. Booking for this Friday in Saver fare (can't work out exact Fare Bucket... does anyone know how I can find this out?) Flight on E190, EF showing 4 (of 6) fares available in J, but I keep getting the "booking not eligible" message. There are also still Business Reward seats available on the flight ("2 seats left", according to the Reward Seat search engine.)

ExpertFlyer:


I've been checking for the last 5 days (since the 7-10 day window kicked in). I'm wondering if even within the Saver fares, whether particular buckets are eligible or not.

 

[nickykim]

Possibly based on projected loadings - I have two return bookings in the system, none of the four flights are deemed "eligible". If I do a dummy booking the business class seats are noted as "only X seats remaining" and adjacent flight are similar.

 

[kevrosmith]

Some more comparisons:

Flight next Fri 01-Nov SYD-CNS. Saver fare eligible for Upgrade Me Premium Bid. (Was working from last week, so outside of the 7-10 day window). Bid range: $200-$400. Original Saver fare was $283. Flexi would've been $326 + 9,900 to upgrade. Business Saver $865 and Business $1,019. Classic Business Reward is 32,200 (with current 15% discount promotion).

Flight for Wed 18-Dec PER-BNE. Saver fare eligible for Upgrade Me Premium Bid (5 pax on booking). Original Saver Fare $367. Bid range: $300-$500 per pax.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Flight next Sunday 3 November ADL-PER. Saver fare originally $169 (paid $155). VA asking $200-$400.

I don't think I will be paying $200 for E90 J. Can't see the value in it personally.

 

[pwae]

Decided to try this out for a flight this Friday, SYD -> PER.
Previously booked a cheap saver fare (SG, so lounge beforehand), but decided to try my luck at "Upgrade Me". $350 bid for J, was successful. This was below their "Good" rating, (i.e. below half way), think I should have went lower TBH.

Upgrade is as marked as a ZUPSV fare.
Cabin looks like it will only be 2pax at the moment too, so should be a nice quiet flight

 

[MartinMemo]

Flight next Sunday 3 November ADL-PER. Saver fare originally $169 (paid $155). VA asking $200-$400.

I don't think I will be paying $200 for E90 J. Can't see the value in it personally.

Similar here - Mine Nov 22 MEL-PER-MEL. Can only upgrade the return 3 1/2 hours, not 4 1/2 hours. This is the A330 with lay flat and asking $300-600... Lix bought for $165 each way. I know its cheap, but at the same time doesnt come across as worth it to me...