I see QF has changed the LAX to JFK portion of QF11/12 from the old 747 to the Dreamliner. Previously I've had a lot of success with points upgrades from PE to J but given the capacity difference between the A380 and the Dreamliner (64 vs 40), does anyone know how this difference in capacity can change the probability/practicality of an upgrade?
This has been changed for some time now. Should still be ok as its all relative to numbers of economy pax upgrading, 787 has a lot less Y/W pax then A380/B747. In saying that I doubt QF rarely filled a B747 LAX-JFK. 787 were full back in Jan both ways though when I flew this route, and that consisted of upgrades going through 24hours before and few seats in J and W going to staff pax where final sales weren’t made. By then flights closed and no further upgrades...You will be surprised there’s usually handful of seats in premium cabins left still...just look out for announcement at gate made prior to boarding for all standby pax to collect tix!
This has been changed for some time now. Should still be ok as its all relative to numbers of economy pax upgrading, 787 has a lot less Y/W pax then A380/B747. In saying that I doubt QF rarely filled a B747 LAX-JFK. 787 were full back in Jan both ways though when I flew this route, and that consisted of upgrades going through 24hours before and few seats in J and W going to staff pax where final sales weren’t made. By then flights closed and no further upgrades...You will be surprised there’s usually handful of seats in premium cabins left still...just look out for announcement at gate made prior to boarding for all standby pax to collect tix!
Staff on standby that make it into premium cabins are often taking the place of no-shows or missed connections. No airline would intentionally forgo a revenue opportunity just to give a no revenue staff traveller a more comfortable seat.
At the time the Boeing 747 was doing the route, Qantas said they were flying about 300 passengers per day to New York, where Qantas' three-class Boeing 747 (with SkyBed IIs) seats 364 passengers, so about 82.4% full on average.
By contrast, the Boeing 787 now doing the daily flight has only 236 seats, so I'd expect the load factor to be even higher - and by extension, the chance of an upgrade lower, unless there's significant overselling in the lower cabin classes - with the rest of the passengers presumably now carried by American from LA or Dallas.
Yep, no airline would do that - just making it clear that few seats will keep open for last minute sales and not for upgrades. But as standbys, you don’t book a flight with the hopes of no shows, you book a flight that has most available seats, generally 24hours before, after all upgrades done...if your flight is full particularly on an intl I wouldn’t be surprised that there’s probs around 20standbys filling every last seat across all cabins. They are rarely ever a fully sold commercial flight.
I had business from LAX to JFK just before christmas (Saturday) on a paid seat cabin was full when boarding but previous day had a few spare seats that could be selected.
On the JFK to LAX just before New Years (Friday) I (P1) got two upgrades from full economy to business for myself and partner.Day before flight when picking seats cabin was half empty
i tried to upgrade from PE to Business from HKG to MEL using points. No seats available, but discovered that staff were occupying seats in Business on this flight.
I complained, but was just brushed off, A moment that gave me cause for further complaint.
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QF11 change from 747 to 787 & upgrades
DVDA
DVDA
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 12 Nov 2017
Total posts 14
I see QF has changed the LAX to JFK portion of QF11/12 from the old 747 to the Dreamliner. Previously I've had a lot of success with points upgrades from PE to J but given the capacity difference between the A380 and the Dreamliner (64 vs 40), does anyone know how this difference in capacity can change the probability/practicality of an upgrade?
Dan22
Dan22
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Aug 2013
Total posts 165
This has been changed for some time now. Should still be ok as its all relative to numbers of economy pax upgrading, 787 has a lot less Y/W pax then A380/B747. In saying that I doubt QF rarely filled a B747 LAX-JFK. 787 were full back in Jan both ways though when I flew this route, and that consisted of upgrades going through 24hours before and few seats in J and W going to staff pax where final sales weren’t made. By then flights closed and no further upgrades...You will be surprised there’s usually handful of seats in premium cabins left still...just look out for announcement at gate made prior to boarding for all standby pax to collect tix!
Speak
Speak
Member since 30 Dec 2014
Total posts 25
Staff on standby that make it into premium cabins are often taking the place of no-shows or missed connections. No airline would intentionally forgo a revenue opportunity just to give a no revenue staff traveller a more comfortable seat.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
At the time the Boeing 747 was doing the route, Qantas said they were flying about 300 passengers per day to New York, where Qantas' three-class Boeing 747 (with SkyBed IIs) seats 364 passengers, so about 82.4% full on average.
By contrast, the Boeing 787 now doing the daily flight has only 236 seats, so I'd expect the load factor to be even higher - and by extension, the chance of an upgrade lower, unless there's significant overselling in the lower cabin classes - with the rest of the passengers presumably now carried by American from LA or Dallas.
Dan22
Dan22
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Aug 2013
Total posts 165
Yep, no airline would do that - just making it clear that few seats will keep open for last minute sales and not for upgrades. But as standbys, you don’t book a flight with the hopes of no shows, you book a flight that has most available seats, generally 24hours before, after all upgrades done...if your flight is full particularly on an intl I wouldn’t be surprised that there’s probs around 20standbys filling every last seat across all cabins. They are rarely ever a fully sold commercial flight.
jared7825
jared7825
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Feb 2018
Total posts 30
I had business from LAX to JFK just before christmas (Saturday) on a paid seat cabin was full when boarding but previous day had a few spare seats that could be selected.
aeromedic
aeromedic
Member since 06 Jun 2017
Total posts 8
i tried to upgrade from PE to Business from HKG to MEL using points. No seats available, but discovered that staff were occupying seats in Business on this flight.