Using QFF to Upgrade to Business Class (First Timer)

No Child Support on 31/05/2023 - 10:26

Hi all, travelling to hong kong from melb and was pretty stoked when i saw Business Class classic reward seats were available for the dates i want to go. Unfortunately im a few thousand points short of having both legs in business class. If i was to purchase an economy flight with cash, is it safe to assume i can use the points to upgrade to business as I can see it being available for that particular day? One thing I don't want is to buy a ticket and the classic rewards seat is not available anymore

Cheers

Travel Frequent Flyer Qantas Frequent Flyer Reward Points

Comments

  • Shadowsfury on 31/05/2023 - 10:55
    +3

    Not necessarily and its a waste of points as the upgrade is barely any less than you just redeeming directly for BC (i.e. it is almost as if whatever you paid for economy ticket is ignored)

    A few thousand isn't much - may be worth seeing if a family member can transfer you the amount you need

  • JR63 on 31/05/2023 - 10:58
    +5

    https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/class…

    It is not safe to assume this. Unless you have platinum status, your upgrade request will only be processed 24 hours prior to the departure date, and (if there are any seats left at this point) only after everyone else with a status higher than you has had their upgrade request processed. It's very hard (especially these days) to get points upgrade on flights, even for those with higher status.

    If you want to fly Business Class, you're best off acquiring the rest of the points either via top-up points, buying something from the Qantas wine store with bonus points or asking someone for points.

    • blonky on 31/05/2023 - 11:46
      +2

      This ^ and be aware the lowest tier (Sale?) fares can't be upgraded with points

    • No Child Support on 31/05/2023 - 12:19

      Thanks! The trip isn't for another few months so ill just get the points required. Appreciate the reply

  • Ponka on 31/05/2023 - 11:06
    +2

    I think as everyone else has said, you should just purchase/enquire the extra few thousand points you need. Not entirely sure how long it takes for the Qantas Wine bonus points to be credited into your account, but usually the bonus you get from buying the wine is about the same cost as purchasing them outright.

  • theoracle30 on 31/05/2023 - 11:19
    +1

    I'd book one-way in Business ASAP, then look at getting the extra points needed through Qantas Wine or buying top-up points if you don't want to wait. The risk of doing it this way is that someone books the other seat while you're waiting for the points to come in. Don't buy an Economy fare and bank on an upgrade - for international flights, upgrades can't be confirmed immediately, even with reward seat availability.

  • Wiadro on 31/05/2023 - 11:28

    Yes
    No
    Maybe

    • jjjaar on 31/05/2023 - 11:37

      I don’t know

      • maxyzee on 31/05/2023 - 13:26

        Can you repeat the question?

        • TheRealCher on 01/06/2023 - 14:43

          Alan joyce is not the boss of me

  • Tech5 on 31/05/2023 - 11:35

    This is the case for domestic. If reward seat is available, you can book economy and upgrade. Not true anymore for international

  • randomusername2017 on 31/05/2023 - 11:39

    (First Timer)

    Consider Virgin Economy X.

  • Thor Bargain God on 31/05/2023 - 12:09

    One thing you didn't mention was how long you had until your flight. I'm assuming it is sooner rather than later, but if you do have time, you could try to gather the points via signing up for a credit card, refueling at BP, shopping at Woolworths and other such means. I've managed to earn over 350,000 points in a bit over a year, but that was mainly through a couple of credit card deals - you have to spend a certain amount within 60 or 90 days to qualify for these and the amount of points on offer seem to have diminished since I claimed my bonuses. I'm sorry if I am wasting your time and stating the obvious, however these might be options to bridge the points gap, short to medium term. If you already have a credit card that earns points, you might consider prepaying for a few bills etc. If I knew how many points you needed, it would be easier to hone in on a potential solution. I know a lot of people say purchasing points is very expensive, but if the number required is only small, it might work out OK.

  • Meho2026 on 31/05/2023 - 13:24

    If those seats are still available you can buy them today by paying to top up your points.
    Read here https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/top-u…
    Other strategies are unlikely to work because business classic rewards are in such demand, any delay and you lose out.

  • Drakesy on 31/05/2023 - 13:36

    Wouldn't bother upgrading, only if you're buying it outright with points is where the value is.

  • Cacao on 01/06/2023 - 22:14

    Just wanted to say I just got $3k points by signing up to zip pay and spent $50 points were awarded immediately. Good luck!

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