We are headed from LAX to MEL on an AA ticket, but will be flying on Qantas.
We are both Plat Exs on American, and are wondering if there is any chance of getting upgraded on Qantas -- paying extra at the gate, using miles, handing over our prized stamp collection.
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on how to escape 15 hours of economy, we'd love to know. (And yes, we know, we could have PURCHASED a first class ticket.
You could also purchase a business class ticket which will be cheaper than a 1st class ticket
Also QF offers a Premium Economy cabin which can be more affordable
Looking at the fares, QF seems to have a specially low fare in PE at the moment of $1500 plus taxes and surcharges ( so about $750 r/t more than the lowest fare that QF offers on that route )
I would leave any real hopes or expectations of getting a free upgrade at home; QF has a sensible approach of not giving away the premium products for free though it can occur that an oversold situation occurs and some may get upgraded
As far as handing over money at the gate, they will calculate the fare difference to a fare with no advance purchase restrictions against the fare paid and then charge that plus any applicable change fee
I would definitely recommend considering the Premium Economy fare ; Premium Economy has seating akin to domestic 1st on AA with catering similar to that on QF business. At $375 each way extra , it would be a simple decision if I was travelling
We are headed from LAX to MEL on an AA ticket, but will be flying on Qantas.
We are both Plat Exs on American, and are wondering if there is any chance of getting upgraded on Qantas -- paying extra at the gate, using miles, handing over our prized stamp collection.
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on how to escape 15 hours of economy, we'd love to know. (And yes, we know, we could have PURCHASED a first class ticket.
Any insights would be much appreciated.
1) If you are religious: pray, superstitious:cross fingers for your flight to be so overbooked that you will have a chance for an op up to Premium Economy (not business), of course after QF elites and other OW emeralds have been upgraded. Chances are pretty nill.
2) Pay ~$5,500 extra to upgrade to a "Business Special" Fare (right now over the phone). If at the airport, the upgrade will cost you ~$15,000 for a walk up business fare.
I thought I remember reading somewhere that EXPs get free upgrades to PE if there is space available? Maybe that was many years ago. Anybody know if it's still true?
I thought I remember reading somewhere that EXPs get free upgrades to PE if there is space available? Maybe that was many years ago. Anybody know if it's still true?
There is anecdotal evidence that EXPs have been op'd up to Premium Economy.
Last time I flew LAX-MEL and then SYD-LAX (in 2012), I was stuck in Y. And I asked for possible upgrades at the airport and they told me only if I paid the full fare difference.
I will echo all said but add this; my last experience on MEL-LAX on A380 in Y was superb. Did not get any upgrade but as EXPLAT had F checkin, enjoyed one of the best F lounges I have ever experienced, great massage, chef cooked breakfast, great bubbly and when boarded, met by an inboard customer service manager who personally welcomed me as a OW emerald and asked if I needed anything. He later brought me a J amenity kit and PJ's. .... So to answer your question no upgrade probably, but most likely a great experience from checkin until CPB in LAX.
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I recall someone inquiring at SYD if there were counter upgrades available for the return to LAX - they were told QF does not do that, and the only way to upgrade was to purchase a round trip fare in the desired class.
On rare occasion someone has received an Operational Upgrade, but they are rare and often depend on overbooking in the booked class (and QF FFs will get selected first). I've not heard of this occurring on codeshares, either.
And you can;t take a break outside, either. Good luck... and let us know if you manage any upgrades. (And check the Qantas forum for any other hints.)
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I thought I remember reading somewhere that EXPs get free upgrades to PE if there is space available? Maybe that was many years ago. Anybody know if it's still true?
Absolutely not true, in my experience, and as far as I know, that has never been the case. QF does not give away upgrades.
That said, they can be "accommodating" in certain circumstances. Mrs. tt7 and I flew MEL-LHR-MEL a couple of months ago, her in F on a mileage ticket, me in PE on a paid ticket. On the MEL-SIN leg, the purser came and found me and escorted me downstairs for dinner (and the eight course degustation menu in QF F is excellent, way beyond anything on AA). I spent a few hours on the jump seat in F - the F cabin was fairly empty, so that may have been a contributing factor.
On a similar but different trip (her in F, me in PE), they upgraded me to J on the leg to MEL and brought me some champagne from F.
Travelling back from the UK last month, I booked the ticket relatively late (a couple of weeks out) by which time the available (PE) seat selection was abysmal and I had to settle for 26A - third row and not even an aisle. 24A was available LHR-SIN and 24K was available SIN-MEL (both exit rows) but there's no way to do a split seat assignment on a ticket booked as LHR-MEL (and I tried twice over the phone) - airport only. The day before the flight, the plane was switched to the old configuration even though the QF website showed my old (26A) seat assignment. Called in and was told I was in 36K (third row window - ugh). "Check at the airport". At check-in (at the F check-in desk), a phone call managed to come up with 34B (front row, not exit but a lot better) LHR-SIN but stuck in 36K SIN-MEL "but they'd keep working on it - check in SIN". At the gate in SIN, much pounding on the keyboard (often a good sign) followed by a boarding pass for 11A in J. Not sure if PE was oversold or they just decided to be nice.
As I say, I can't complain about QF's efforts to be "accommodating" in certain circumstances but in my experience, a free upgrade just because there's an empty seat simply doesn't happen. Obviously, others may have a different experience but my understanding (and experience) has always been that it just doesn't happen without some good reason.
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AA members probably don't know but QF has recently started processing upgrades to the gate for QF FF. This means that while in the past, QFF members who may have had an upgrade denied up to 5 hours prior, may now be granted the upgrade. The result is that more people will have their point upgrade request granted, and less opportunities for op-ups for QF elites, let alone AA.
There may be a slim possibility of upgrading at the airport counter. This has been reported for Aus/NZ routes, but I'm yet to hear of any international stations.
If the OP were to somehow obtain enough QF miles (new credit card, friend with excess, etc.) could an upgrade be requested in spite of this being an AA ticket?
Absolutely not true, in my experience, and as far as I know, that has never been the case. QF does not give away upgrades.
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You are Wrong.
During the introduction of PE, QF did a lot of strange things and MANY MANY MANY EXP's were given seats in the PE section during this period ONLY. At that time QF was seating many who paid for PE in the J section and rolling elites in the PE section when Y was full, this included many OW fliers as the numbers being rolled up were substantial. It was during the rollout of the product when aircraft configs were in a greater state of flux.
For the record, OP UPS happen on ALL OW airlines. I have been op upped on QF, CX, BA, all with greater frequency than I have been on AA. While very rare and never to be expected, they do happen when the airline needs them to. And yes, most airlines do their own members first and then other OW members.
If the OP were to somehow obtain enough QF miles (new credit card, friend with excess, etc.) could an upgrade be requested in spite of this being an AA ticket?
if on an AA flight number then no. If on a QF flight number than yes
Even if the OP did somehow manage to get 72,000 QF miles, having no status would put the request at the bottom of the pile and still wouldnt rely on an upgrade being processed
Good luck... and let us know if you manage any upgrades. (And check the Qantas forum for any other hints.)
1/2 the problem solved
