I know for me the common theme for op-up's has been almost every time flying on leisure routes that are sold out in Economy Class. I've got no doubt that if I was competing against the WP's I'd still be sitting in the back of the bus with my SG status. Though I was surprised to get the op-up to WT+ from WT on my last flight on BA from SIN-SYD (and it's convinced me to pay the extra for WT+ seats in future now, definitely echo the sentiments of others on the board in regards to that!). But apart from that, it's been routes like SYD-AYQ, BKK-SIN, GRU-EZE and SCL-IPC where various oneworld airlines have put me up the front of the plane, none of them prime time business routes I'd guess (well not the flights I was on anyway!) :D

Had my first op-up this year - happened last week. BNE-CNS on a 763, which was in international configuration. The flight was full in both classes.

I checked-in 5 minutes before the flight closed, which is my normal practice - and it worked very well last year, I received about 6 op-ups. Not this year though, only 1 so far...

A rare treat - full breakfast, IFE, Dreamtime seat, Charles Heidseck Mis-en-Caves 2000 (if I wished), and good crew.

My only op-up of any significance was as an Emerald on QF2 LHR to BKK.

My pre-allocated 34A was printed on my BP issued in FCO that morning but it got rejected by the reader when I when to board the Flying Kangaroo. Seat 11J was my compensation. ^

Some good advice there! ;) Late checking has always been one of my theories as the majority of my intl op ups have been when I've checked in REALLY early or SUUPERR late. Then again theres been some in the middle, some not at all, and others which had other events comebined with a late check in.... one day.. maybe just one day we'll figure the magic formula out :)

Well you have to check-in, so maybe thats the common factor :p

Your theory is interesting; while I accept what you say about time pressures to find people to op-up to sit groups together, surely it'd be a fairly simple matter to find a lone high-status passenger, give him an op-up, and then move the other passenger into the seat now left vacant by the op-up, thus leaving a block for a family-group (or similar) to sit together? Er, I think that makes sense. That way, the higher-status pax gets the op-up, and the family gets to sit together.

But then, I too have never received an op-up, just thought that I'd add my own theory to the mix!! Interestingly, my father, who's WP, regularly seems to get op-ups on BA from Y to J when flying European flights... He's not that big a BA or QF flyer (achieves status by several LHR-SYD F Flights/year).

Richard

how late?
 

How late did you check-in? Do you know when Qantas closes check-in for international flights?

Higher-status, Yes - Highest-status, maybe not.

My last Domestic op up was December 2002; when a CSA at BNE "forgot" to debit the FF points from my account for a BNE/MEL flight. The last "real" one prior to that was a SYD/BNE flight in October 1999.

By comparison, my International record is a little better (and I'm most grateful too!) with my last "real" op up being September 2003 on BA SIN/LHR from WT+ to J (we were on our honeymoon!!). CX op upp'ed me in December 2001, AA in August 2001 (J to F, if that's classified as an upgrade) while my last with QF was in January 2001 on a domestic sector (SYD/BNE) of an Intl ticket (after a trip BNE/SYD/SIN/PER/HKG/SYD). In fact, that was my most successful op up run...3 flights in a row (SIN/PER, PER/HKG and HKG/SYD)...well, it helped that I was dating one of the FA's and the CSD simply told me to come on as the last pax and he told me where to sit in J!).

The best one overall was 6 August 2000, flying QF44 AKL/SYD (on a FF award ticket) after a Bledisloe Cup match in AKL...I was op upped from Y to F and got invited into the cockpit for the landing.

The latest ive checked in is 10 minutes before scheduled departure on QF 26 bound for AKL/BNE .. the flight was running a little late and I got a nice black boarding pass, and an escort through TBIT security :)

Sorry guys, but why on earth would checking in late increase your chances of an op up ? I don't get it. This amazes me, I had always assumed - as one of the reasons I guessed why I am up'ed so often is that I am one of those who generally checks-in very early - that these things work on a 'first come, first served' basis - e.g. 1 up available, first WP to check-in gets it. Would be most grateful if someone could please explain to me the Late Theory ! Ta.

My guess on the late theory is where its overbooked, IF airline holds off op-upping and less no shows than expected would mean an op-up late in the process. However, this assumes airline prefers to make the op-up at check-in rather than at lounge or gate or even onboard the a/c (for someone more important to them who has already checked in by this stage).

NB I dont subscribe to late or early check in theories.

I don't think you can generalise or say 'these are the rules'. Even if there're rules, I can't see how the public will ever going to know about them...

In terms of checking in early or late, I can see both sides. My personal (very limited) Op-up experiences have always been check-in early.

If you check-in early, the airline will know you're definitely going to be on the flight. That includes those that are on connections, i.e., checked in hours ago when they checked in at their first flight. Since the airline knows you'll be there and they happen to have oversold, then they can move the early check-ins and clear the space. In fact, both my Op-Ups have been when I was on connections (my 2nd or 3rd flight of a journey).

When you check-in late, the airline often have to juggle people for seating arrangements - families, groups, elites' preferences, etc. In addition, if the number of oversold is low, they'll hold off any upgrades until absolutely necessary. Rather than playing musical chairs/seats with a large number of people, and move the minimal amount of people around, just upgrade the occasional ones and you'll be done. The airline basically have the time between closing check-in and departure to get it sorted, so just move the minimal amount of people makes sense.

Anyway, we all know for Op-ups to happen, it also needs the appropriate dance, like a rain dance and planets to align...

So both have their merits and effectiveness. I don't usually have time, especially on domestic flights, to check-in early, so I check in at the last moment instead.

Theory hasnt worked tonight NM :rolleyes: Sitting in QP Melbourne thru to AKL and desk informs me they cant upgrade at the airport, I should have arranged it beforehand. :confused: Excellent John Loxton cab/sauv 2002 eases the pain however. :)