UPGRADE SUCCESS?
 

Thought id start a thread for people who have had success in upgrading on Qantas with points or upgrade credits.Maybe you could put when you requested and how long it took to get confirmed.
it may give others hoping for upgrades a little hope-or hopelessness!!
I'll start it. I requested travel companions Y-J syd paris for 18th sept on 4th sept. still not confirmed.
no status on QFF sapphire OW

My record so far with international Y->J (as a 'Gold'):
- 1 successful immediately (~5 weeks in advance)
- 3 waitlisted (~4-5 weeks in advance) and subsequently confirmed ~72 hours before departure
- 2 waitlisted and missed out (BC fully booked in both cases).

My record so far, 1 out of 1, my very first upgrade request with QF http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Booked a red-e-deal fare BNE-CNS for Dec a few weeks ago. Called up QF to request upgrade immediately after booking confirmation. Used an upgrade credit. So far I have been very pleased with QF reservations for handling my various request such as seat selection in international Y, linking the PNRs of separate international and domestic itineraries etc.

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UA 1P, QF Silver
I like NZ,NG,NH,UA,SK,LH & QF
Star Alliance defecting to Oneworld

Never had any problems using miles to upgrade between SYD and AKL. Upgrade seats were available as close as 2 days before departure.

MEL-LAX J->F, requested 3 days prior, no success.
FRA-SIN J->F, requested 3 weeks prior, waitlisted, cleared 7 days out.
SIN-MEL J->F, requested 3 weeks prior, waitlistes, no success.
MEL-BNE Y->J, on-departure QC request, successful.
SYD-LAX B->J, requested 3 days prior, immediate success (selected flight knowing availability)
LAX-BNE B->, requested 2.5 weeks prior, immediate success (selected flight knowing availability)

QF Platinum FF.

I'm 0 for 0, but every international QF flight that I've been on has had multiple empty seats in F (including QF10/11 which is specially protected due to high demand). QF appears to prefer to fly empty in F rather than make the seats available for upgrade or award. I love this policy when flying QF but it really is very inefficient and should be reviewed. An empty seat in F on QF has negligible benefits for the other F passengers (it does not improve the experience or service). And I have yet to see the new wine list, I am thinking that it is only on paper and not actually stocked.

I think you mean QF11/12 (SYD-LAX-SYD). QF 10 flies LHR-SIN-MEL and is the return service of QF9 (MEL-SIN-LHR).

I wonder if the emply seats are remaining even though there are people waitlisted for upgrades, or if there is not the demand for the upgrades? Remember that QF are not overly generous with giving upgrade credits to those travelling on discounted fares - someone just reaching platinum will have earned 5 upgrade credits in their 12 months. And perhaps people are saving the points for free flights (which you cannot waitlist) rather than upgrades?

QFF Platinum.

I get a lot of op upgrades, so rarely request one. Every request referred to below has been with upgrade credits, not points:

- DWN-SYD Y to J, no availability so I
decided not to waitlist, got an op
upgrade anyway.

- SYD-AKL-SYD, return flight confirmed
immediately, waitlisted for outbound
and confirmed the day of departure.

- SYD-LAX-SYD, Y to J, confirmed a week
before departure on SYD-LAX, no joy on
the return flight. Did get an op
upgrade LAX-ORD on the same trip.

- Multiple SYD-PER-SYD and SYD-CHC trips,
usually confirmed either at the time of
booking, or a couple of days prior to
departure.


In terms of actual award bookings, no problems. Latest itinerary was NTL-SYD-AKL-CHC-AKL-SYD-NTL, in January, all in J (except NTL-SYD-NTL) for two pax, myself and a bronze QF club member.


I still maintain that most of those whingeing about a lack of award availability are trying to book MEL-BNE on Good Friday, 3 days out from departure (or similar).

Normally get what I request (Biz to F) when flying from NY or LAX. HKG - Syd hasn't been too much of a problem.
I do try and be a little flexible and will plan around availability if I have the luxury.
HOWEVER. i am flying BA to LHR and back as I can't take the risk of not having the flat bed. (I can't waitlist without having a seat booked , and they generally catch the double bookings on the same day for BA/QF)

Also managed to get a discount eceonomy to Biz X 2 for late September, but that was panning about 3 plus months in advance.

Am very happy with the option to burn points to get some sleep on the o/nite flights.

Got a SIN-LHR Y-to-J confirmed in 2/02 about 54 months prior to travel date whilst Bronze - was confirmed on QF31 in 9/01 with QF9 showing zero availability in U class, then they handed QF31 over to BA for a few months and shifted me onto QF9.

Got two CBR-SYD red e-deals upgraded to J - the flight was a birthday present for my 7 year old nephew and God-son, so I did not mind paying the 5000 points each, this was whilst I was still Bronze and confirmed when requested about a week prior.

Got two SYD-MEL red e-deals upgraded to J, requested about a week prior - was Gold at this stage.

Had an ODU confirmed at OOL QF Club for an OOL to SYD flight - was a 73H and I wanted to sample the J seats on them.

So overall, 100% strike rate, although for the SIN-LHR flight I did have to fly a day later than I was originally confirmed.

Dave

My recent experiences with upgrades. All were for myself and a friend

FRA-SIN - Waitlisted, cleared within 12 hours
SIN-PER - Waitlisted, cleared within 24 hours
PER-MEL - day of departure ok
MEL-BNE - day of departure ok
BNE-CNS - *sob*
CNS-BNE - Day of departure ok
BNE-CBR - *sob*
CBR-MEL - Day of departure ok
MEl-CBR - Day of departure ok
CBR-MEL - didnt bother
MEL-LAX - Confirmed at time of request

Dave

just to report to my own post.
requested 2 b/c upgrades from syd to paris. split the booking 4 days ago as it wasnt looking good.
one upgrade just came through for tomorrow but the other didnt
checked availablility for LA syd on 10th oct and they said it wasnt lookin good.
Will waitlist 14 days out.