Originally Posted by
Dave Noble
The benefit for paid premium travel of "there will be fewer empty seats in First, Business and Premium Economy on many occasions" is an incentive to use other carriers
Not really as many other carriers also have more generous upgrade programmes to QF. In fact QF is still probably the stingest of the big carriers and I very much doubt that WPs will see any difference in respect to getting upgrades. I've been denied upgrades quite a number of times over the years and I have a strong feeling I will still be denied.
Don't forget that QF upgrade awards are still some of the most, if not the most expensive in the industry. It's almost always better value just redeeming a F or J award rather than trying to upgrade into those cabins.