Bid Now Upgrade Success Stories
Mar 22, 2017, 5:03 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Canberra, Australia
Programs: QFF Platinum (56% LTS), Europcar Privilege Elite VIP
Posts: 81
Flying W HKG-SYD on QF128 with my wife....was invited to bid now to upgrade to J. Bid AU$320 x 2 which was just over the minimum and didn't hold out much hope. Got a call from my credit card provider (MBNA) to say they had declined a request for payment from Qantas as it looked suspicious???!!!! I told them to allow it but now Qantas are refusing to re-try and have rejected my bid!!!
Bloody MBNA scuppering my chances of a cheapish upgrade to QF J!!!!!!
Bloody MBNA scuppering my chances of a cheapish upgrade to QF J!!!!!!
Mar 22, 2017, 4:24 pm
#17
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Nobody knows but obviously it varies by demand, so long routes like SYD-PER (where J is useful) would be rarer. I don't fly Y in Oz too often but about 2 or 3 of my last 4 segments have had the paid upgrade offered (however these have minimum cost higher than the classic upgrade, fwiw). Doubt that 50% is a representative offer rate, but it isn't rare.
Mar 24, 2017, 4:05 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,552
Cool, thanks. 
Is it exactly a week before each flight you get the email, or what should I expect? My booking is a multi city trip, with 3 separate segments on 3 separate dates - but all in April. I have SYD>CNS, CNS>AYQ, and MEL>SYD, all about 4 days apart.
Is it exactly a week before each flight you get the email, or what should I expect? My booking is a multi city trip, with 3 separate segments on 3 separate dates - but all in April. I have SYD>CNS, CNS>AYQ, and MEL>SYD, all about 4 days apart.
Mar 25, 2017, 9:45 pm
#19
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
The timing isn't a set number of days before, and it is separate for each sector....determined by yield management but a week before is typical, can be later but at least 72 hours prior. I'd guess good upgrade chance for CNS-AYQ., less so on the other sectors. Good luck.
Apr 1, 2017, 12:16 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: AA
Posts: 12
SFO-SYD in less than a week. Paid 2300USD rt in premium economy. I bid 835USD -> SYD, 755USD for return. How likely, based on previous experience would they accept it? Obviously the idea is to be slightly higher than everyone else but figured I would give it a go. I have no status with Qantas but I do have platinum with AA. Just curious 
Apr 2, 2017, 4:40 pm
#25
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
SFO-SYD in less than a week. Paid 2300USD rt in premium economy. I bid 835USD -> SYD, 755USD for return. How likely, based on previous experience would they accept it? Obviously the idea is to be slightly higher than everyone else but figured I would give it a go. I have no status with Qantas but I do have platinum with AA. Just curious
Apr 3, 2017, 1:23 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,991
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
D9 I9 on both indicates a reasonable chance.
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing SFO on 06/04/17 12:00 AM for SYD, Returning on 15/04/17 12:00 AM, Flying QF, Direct/Non-Stop Only
Frequency
Flight Stops Depart Arrive Aircraft Reliability
QF 74 0 SFO SYD 744 Unavailable
06/04/17 11:25 PM 08/04/17 7:00 AM 71% / 26m
Available Classes: J9 C9 D9 I9 W5 R5 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0
QF 73 0 SYD SFO 744 Unavailable
15/04/17 1:00 PM 15/04/17 9:30 AM 60% / 39m
Available Classes: J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R8 T7 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 G0
Apr 6, 2017, 4:46 am
#29
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
The Y0 indicates a sure chance (at least for some upgrades). Oversold in economy so got to opup some people and might as well take points/money for it.