GA cash upgrade J to F a goer ?
Jan 20, 2017, 9:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 762
GA cash upgrade J to F a goer ?
Hi guys,
I am looking at travelling to LHR from MEL and would love to experience the much acclaimed GA F.
The options are as follows:
1/ MEL-CGK-SIN-LHR on one ticket in J which is A$2650 one way then (hopefully ?) cash upgrade at check-in at CGK to F
2/ Make up own way to CGK and then fly on a confirmed F revenue fare CGK-SIN-LHR this comes in at A$4000 without accounting for positioning costs to CGK which will probably be Air Asia in Y/J which is $250/650 respectively if I book it far in advanced. Let's just say I would do the J option so that's A$4650.
So my question is, would option 1 would be a goer ?
Are GA known to accept cash upgrades at check-in ?
Need this to be an absolute goer as the whole purpose of going to CGK is to fly F ?
I already suspect that option 2 is more of a goer even for the certainty of it but just wanted to hear from others who have flown GA J before if they have been offered upgrades to F and if they have, how much was it ?
Thanks
I am looking at travelling to LHR from MEL and would love to experience the much acclaimed GA F.
The options are as follows:
1/ MEL-CGK-SIN-LHR on one ticket in J which is A$2650 one way then (hopefully ?) cash upgrade at check-in at CGK to F
2/ Make up own way to CGK and then fly on a confirmed F revenue fare CGK-SIN-LHR this comes in at A$4000 without accounting for positioning costs to CGK which will probably be Air Asia in Y/J which is $250/650 respectively if I book it far in advanced. Let's just say I would do the J option so that's A$4650.
So my question is, would option 1 would be a goer ?
Are GA known to accept cash upgrades at check-in ?
Need this to be an absolute goer as the whole purpose of going to CGK is to fly F ?
I already suspect that option 2 is more of a goer even for the certainty of it but just wanted to hear from others who have flown GA J before if they have been offered upgrades to F and if they have, how much was it ?
Thanks
Jan 21, 2017, 3:56 am
#3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
GA have a BidUpgrade system so upgrades needn't wait until check in. But that's as far as my knowledge goes (I have a J ticket which is ineligible for BidUpgrade, more's the pity, and will be asking at LHR myself).
Jan 22, 2017, 3:10 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: BRU & CGK
Programs: GarudaMiles, Qatar Privilege Club, Miles&More
Posts: 206
Hope this information can help you out a bit.
Jan 22, 2017, 9:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 361
I presume only the highest J fares are eligible for the bidupgrade. Because of a medical emergency I needed to reschedule my QR flight and ended up cancelling it and booking a J ticket with GA 2 days in advance and ended up paying around €2800 for a one way ticket CGK-AMS. I then received the bidupgrade mail and did a bid of about €300. As there were only 5 people in F and thus 3 empty seats and J cabin was pretty full, I presume they only open the bidding system to the highest fare class(es).
Hope this information can help you out a bit.
Hope this information can help you out a bit.
Who is eligible to participate in a bid of BidUpugrade?
If you are flying with Garuda Indonesia, holding a confirmed ticket document number starting with 126, then you are eligible to participate in submitting a bid amount for BidUpgrade Garuda Indonesia, except for passengers with the following criteria :
- Passengers holding economy ticket with G (ticket for group), H, S, L, & X booking class
- Passengers holding business class ticket with I & O booking class
- Passengers holding reward ticket or free ticket
- Passenger traveling with infant
Am I eligible to make an upgrade offer?
Garuda Indonesia will send an invitation email of BidUpgrade to all eligible passengers and invite them to make an offer. Garuda Indonesia will send the invitation at :
- the latest 7 days prior to departure of the first sector of the booking for international flights,
- the latest 4 days prior to departure of the first sector of the booking for domestic flights.
If you do not receive any invitation email, you can verify your booking eligibility to make an offer by providing your last name and booking reference at http://www.garuda-indonesia.com/bidupgrade.
reference: https://www.garuda-indonesia.com/id/en/contact/faq.page
choose category bidupgrade
Jan 23, 2017, 12:27 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 762
I presume only the highest J fares are eligible for the bidupgrade. Because of a medical emergency I needed to reschedule my QR flight and ended up cancelling it and booking a J ticket with GA 2 days in advance and ended up paying around €2800 for a one way ticket CGK-AMS. I then received the bidupgrade mail and did a bid of about €300. As there were only 5 people in F and thus 3 empty seats and J cabin was pretty full, I presume they only open the bidding system to the highest fare class(es).
Hope this information can help you out a bit.
Hope this information can help you out a bit.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I don't really understand fully what you are saying.
Was your 300 euro bid successful ? Did you end up flying in F ?
What fare class was your J ticket booked into ?
Jan 23, 2017, 1:46 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: BRU & CGK
Programs: GarudaMiles, Qatar Privilege Club, Miles&More
Posts: 206
I tried to find the original fare class, but it seems to have been lost somewhere. Anyway, the €300 bid was successful and I ended up flying in F.
By the way, it seems that GA gives you miles and tier miles for flying F, even if you fly on an upgraded J ticket! At least with GarudaMiles, not sure how it would be credited to other FFP's. The €300 extra is already recuperated with domestic award tickets
Mar 21, 2017, 9:32 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,530
Mar 21, 2017, 10:45 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
I bid $100 for SIN-DPS, I will not pay more for a 738. My fare was high, should have booked it when it was $145 o/w I ended up paying $200 in Y, booked too late.
Last edited by djjaguar64; Mar 21, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Mar 24, 2017, 2:27 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Jakarta
Programs: BA GGL, GA PLAT, SQ Gold
Posts: 527
Upgraded from Flexible Business Class (C) to First at Heathrow the cost was £499.00 one way about 2 weeks ago
Currently on a CGK-LHR AMS-CGK return both flights in First cost would have been £2900 or 45 Million Indonesian if booked on line , but we receive a corporate discount , so it works out at around 40 Million IDR , best value first class available , although i have to say i prefer a night flight , but ill take the day one at that price .......
Bid Up Grade - It works ok , but better value is to be had at the airport
Currently on a CGK-LHR AMS-CGK return both flights in First cost would have been £2900 or 45 Million Indonesian if booked on line , but we receive a corporate discount , so it works out at around 40 Million IDR , best value first class available , although i have to say i prefer a night flight , but ill take the day one at that price .......
Bid Up Grade - It works ok , but better value is to be had at the airport
Jun 28, 2017, 8:41 am
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
I upgraded yesterday from super-inflexible business (I class, booked in the Black Friday sale) to First at Heathrow for £500 one way. This as part of LHR-CGK-MEL with 6hrs at CGK, with the full F service from plane door to lounge etc.
I also overheard someone else say they were offered (and declined) £429 for economy to business.
I also overheard someone else say they were offered (and declined) £429 for economy to business.
Last edited by dsf; Jun 28, 2017 at 8:45 am Reason: added Y->J price
Jul 8, 2017, 5:54 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
One more data point - at CGK today 2.5hrs before flight I enquired about paying up to F and was told not within 4 hours of the flight. Considering the LHR GA86 leaves at 0745 that's a hell of an early start required!
Jul 4, 2018, 9:38 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 15
I upgraded yesterday from super-inflexible business (I class, booked in the Black Friday sale) to First at Heathrow for £500 one way. This as part of LHR-CGK-MEL with 6hrs at CGK, with the full F service from plane door to lounge etc.
I also overheard someone else say they were offered (and declined) £429 for economy to business.
I also overheard someone else say they were offered (and declined) £429 for economy to business.
Do you think it is cheaper to upgrade to first class instead of bidding ?
Jul 10, 2018, 7:56 am
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
Note that was a year ago, so the policy could have changed.
Originally Posted by betaepo2
Do you think it is cheaper to upgrade to first class instead of bidding ?