Almost two years since flown QF - Row 1 and Domestic Upgrade Q's
Feb 20, 2019, 1:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR / QF LTG
Posts: 829
Almost two years since flown QF - Row 1 and Domestic Upgrade Q's
Based on the UK I have moved to BAEC (now Gold) but due to timing am also QF WP. Have booked a trip back to Oz and thought I would use some of my 500,000 QFF points to upgrade. EF tells me there is U class available for an Economy to Business upgrade, yet the request shows as pending. Economy fare class booked is L and Q, which appears to valid. Two others were granted instantly. Has something changed as I seem to meet the criteria on the qantas.com.
Also, I notice Row 1 is booked on a lot of the flights. Appreciate this is some time away, but I would have thought they would be open to WP, or OWE if I enter my BAEC number. Is this also new?
Thanks!
Also, I notice Row 1 is booked on a lot of the flights. Appreciate this is some time away, but I would have thought they would be open to WP, or OWE if I enter my BAEC number. Is this also new?
Thanks!
Feb 20, 2019, 2:38 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
WP is quite common. Very common on Oz domestic (eg SYD-MEL). It’s 4th in the pecking order after staff & crew, CL and P1. The front row(s) might open up at T-80 hours.
Feb 20, 2019, 6:22 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
On domestic flights the first row of economy and business is blocked off except for CL and sometimes P1 (varies by flight and route, but never available for low status like WP 
and fwiw OWE is below WP for upgrade clearance purposes ).
and fwiw OWE is below WP for upgrade clearance purposes ).
Feb 21, 2019, 12:29 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,994
At T-80 hours the seat maps 'open up' and WP can indeed generally select from the front two ros of economy.
Never say Never.
(T-80 is 3 days and 8 hours before a flight. So if you flight is at 5pm on the 24th then at 9am on the 21st any unallocated seat can become available.)
Last edited by serfty; Feb 21, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Feb 21, 2019, 9:50 pm
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
The thread had already covered the T-80 situation, so it was not relevant to repeat it in my post And it is NEVER for prior seat allocation, not even WP status. At T-something EVERYONE can select, so even bronze (no status) can get it. And often do
And it is NEVER for prior seat allocation, not even WP status. At T-something EVERYONE can select, so even bronze (no status) can get it. And often do
Feb 21, 2019, 10:56 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,994
Also, with "notional seating" it depends on several variables such as who's on the flight, how sold it may be, etc. whether bronze gets access to those seats at t-80.
I have seen both situations within the last week when assisting my bronze brother. In both cases seats were unallocated in row 4 at t-80. One flight he could select a row 4 seat, in the other no.
Feb 22, 2019, 1:51 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR / QF LTG
Posts: 829
Well, I have an EF seat alert set and will check at T-80h and see what is available! Just don't recall now being able to get Row 1 on QF before, but it has been a while. Thanks for the replies.
Feb 23, 2019, 7:25 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Little old dog box, in Adelaide
Programs: Now back at base level for these 2:QFF-now NB, Virgin-Velocity-NR
Posts: 404
Have you checked and see if the points are still there?
Have you had activity in the past 18 months with QF?
Points get deleted from accounts with no QF activity of 18 months.
Have you had activity in the past 18 months with QF?
Points get deleted from accounts with no QF activity of 18 months.
Feb 23, 2019, 7:43 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR / QF LTG
Posts: 829
For sure, credited the occasional BA flight to make sure nothing expired in 18 months.
Feb 25, 2019, 6:38 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SYD, GOT
Programs: BA GGL; SK EBG; QF LTG; Hilton Diamond, A-Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,724
If /U/ is available and upgrade says pending, I give QF a call and most times they wiggle it a little, my status on QF is gold.
(if anyone is worried about their points expiring, please feel free to order some wine to my house. Happy to oblige :-) )
(if anyone is worried about their points expiring, please feel free to order some wine to my house. Happy to oblige :-) )
Mar 3, 2019, 1:38 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR / QF LTG
Posts: 829
- Because my MCY - SYD - MEL route was part of an international itinerary, this will be classed as an International Classic Upgrades. (Got her to read out the T&C's and it didn't even say this).
- Explained I'd already upgraded online SYD - MEL and SYD - PER online, with instant confirmation. She said this was a mistake and will write to the web team to get it fixed.
- Asked to speak to her manager, she eventually came back and said they would upgrade MCY - SYD as a favour.
- Was tempted to HUACA but I'd already spent 30m on the phone, so asked to speak to her manager again.
- He agreed with everything I said and the upgrade was processed in a few mins.
I normally wouldn't bother a J upgrade on such short flights but have a few QFF to use and crediting to BAEC only got me minimal TPs and Avios.
Mar 3, 2019, 2:42 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
An unfortunate way to get what you want - even if the phone agent was out of their depth. IMO once you throw the “supervisor” card, all pleasantness in the interraction evaporates.
Mar 3, 2019, 3:46 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR / QF LTG
Posts: 829
I’ve done my stint in customer service and hate asking for the manager, and always ensure I treat any customer service representative with respect and how I would want to be spoken to. The result is exactly as you describe with a downward trend in her attitude. However this QF agent was just making stuff up, and wasn’t too pleasant to begin with!