Waitlisting for higher class award seat?

[Emkay]

Wonder if anyone can tell me what I might have done to get a better outcome on a recent jaunt?

In July 08 I bought from Qantas a oneworld Circle Asia & SW Pacific ticket in business class for May 09 travel BNE-SYD-NRT-AOM-NRT-PKG-HKG-BNE, for myself. At the same time I tried to get my wife business class award seats on the same flights, and was successful for every flight apart from SYD-NRT - could only get her economy for that one. Flying QF to NRT, JAL to PKG, CPX to HKG, then QF home. I'm OW Emerald.

Tried with Qantas multiple times between July and May to get her changed to a business seat on that QF SYD-NRT flight, with me coughing up the extra points, witout luck each time, but was told to keep trying as they might release more. In the last couple of days was even told they had her waitlisted in case of cancellations. Last day, was told to try on check-in in BNE. On check-in, told to ask in SYD. In the SYD First Lounge (how schmick!!), told sorry - nothing.

Anyway, we board and she takes the long walk down the back to find herself sitting next to much more pleasant and communicative seat neighbour than she would have had if she was up the front beside me. This lady (QFF bronze) was on a classic award economy seat. She told my wife that Qantas had phoned her out of the blue several days before the flight and had offered her the opportunity to upgrade her award economy seat to business class, if she wanted to shell out the extra points. She declined.

Obviously, at some point in that final week there was at least one business seat on that flight that Qantas were prepared to let go to award travel. Why did they offer (unsought) it to a bronze member rather than to a platinium that they ought to have known was looking for it - was it because it was only for a plat's wife? What could I have done to get a better outcome?

[NM]

Ewmkay, you describe a strange set of events. I have never heard of Qantas allowing a "waitlist" for an award flight, be it an upgrade, different flight, or just a date change. I am surprised they offered to waitlist her for a business class award. As far as I am aware, there is no ability to waitlist for an award flight.

I also have never heard of anyone being offered to upgrade an award flight by shelling out more points. There has been a recent promotion where people who have purchased economy fares that are usually not eligible for upgrades (N, O, Q or E fares) have been offered the ability to waitlist for a point upgrade. Some of these were offered via a phone call from Qantas relating to a specific flight and other via a generic promotion received via email. But I have not heard of anyone being offered such an upgrade for an award flight.

[norby]

NM, a long time (2004) ago I was waitlisted for an award flight upgrade. I was flying over to LHR with a family member (WP) and I'd booked my flight (using their points) in Y, but to my surprise when they booked a (paid) flight in J, they were able to upgrade me with their points. On the way home (some 9 months later, sans family member) I was confirmed Y on QF2 with J 'waitlisted' - or so said the itinerary. I went to check in at J, and whilst they could see the waitlist, the BA staff said there was only 1 free seat, but, of course, they couldn't book me into it, I'd have to see the Qantas staff in the lounge... I spent the entire 24 hours peeping through the curtain into J, knowing what I was missing out on.

I contacted Qantas when I got back, and whilst apologetic had no explanation for me...

[Davo70]

I also have never heard of anyone being offered to upgrade an award flight by shelling out more points. There has been a recent promotion where people who have purchased economy fares that are usually not eligible for upgrades (N, O, Q or E fares) have been offered the ability to waitlist for a point upgrade. Some of these were offered via a phone call from Qantas relating to a specific flight and other via a generic promotion received via email. But I have not heard of anyone being offered such an upgrade for an award flight.

Not sure if this was mentioned in another thread however this happened to me in late May (around the time of the targetted upgrades).

Back in Feb I booked 4 seats (2x Y award seats + 2x O seats on the Kids Fly Free deal). 3 days before our departure QF phoned and offerred a points upgrade to J for all 4 seats. Jumped at the chance !