Does anyone know if these are generally available on "specials" to Europe. We usually wait until about November when the specials come out with the airlines to book our trips. I was wondering if we take one of these specials, whether we would then be able to upgrade so that we can get some sleep on the flights over. This question might be specific to NZ or maybe Australia - we have about 40,000 air points with Qantas from previous trips.

FK: I don't know if special fares can be upgraded but there is usually a special on Business Class once a year and it's just a matter of catching it at the right time. The airline could probably tell you when their next sale will be. I have heard one travel guru say that due to the economic downturn, the airlines will be releasing fewer air miles seats because they so desperately need paying customers. However, you can purchase seats with a combination of cash and miles, and/or you can buy extra miles if you need to qualify for an award seat.
I understand that Business class seats are also available from some tour companies now, but a seat sale can usually beat their price.

Hi FK
You can use your points to upgrade on a discount fare as long as it is not an N, O or Q class. You can request an upgrade but you will not know whether you have got it until you check in at the airport. Whoever has the highest Frequent Flyer status get any available seats. So it's a bit of a gamble. You are probably aware that Qantas has recently changed over their points system where you can do the cash/points combination purchase or just the points on their own. To upgrade from discount economy to business class is 96000 points one way to London. I think you would have to fly via Australia if going with Qantas so could maybe upgrade on that leg or between Australia and Singapore?
Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by augusta:
Hi FK
You can use your points to upgrade on a discount fare as long as it is not an N, O or Q class. You can request an upgrade but you will not know whether you have got it until you check in at the airport. Good luck

As Augusta has said you cannot upgrade on an N, O or Q class on Qantas.
We always ensure our travel agent books seats that can be upgraded.
The total points needed for the upgrade depends on whether you have a Discount Economy Fare, Full Economy Fare or Premium Economy.
You can either upgrade to Premium Economy, Business or First.
We are flying to Bangkok in Nov and have enough points to upgrade both ways to Business - fingers crossed.
One way to find out if you have the upgrade is to check your points balance before heading to the airport - if the points have reduced you have the upgrade. Sometimes they do this up to 24 hrs prior to the flight.
Our next aim is to First Class - maybe to the US in Feb.

This has nothing to do with F.K.'s question but speaking of upgrades reminds me, I was speaking to someone the other day who, several years ago, was traveling Sydney to the U.S. & had booked economy. On check in she asked how much it would be to upgrade to business & was sold a return business class seat for an extra $A1500!!!!! Now obviously this depends on what the airline has left on the day & perhaps all airlines don't do it, but IMO it is certainly worth asking the question.

quote:

This has nothing to do with F.K.'s question but speaking of upgrades reminds me, I was speaking to someone the other day who, several years ago, was traveling Sydney to the U.S. & had booked economy. On check in she asked how much it would be to upgrade to business & was sold a return business class seat for an extra $A1500!!!!! Now obviously this depends on what the airline has left on the day & perhaps all airlines don't do it, but IMO it is certainly worth asking the question.

That's a terrific deal, if you don't mind leaving your seat to chance. Unfortunately, that's not an option for me, so I have to watch for special offers because I'm not willing to mortgage my firstborn.

What I meant was, that if purchasing economy, it is worth taking the risk on check in to ask the question.

quote:

What I meant was, that if purchasing economy, it is worth taking the risk on check in to ask the question.

Understood and absolutely agree! There's nothing to lose by asking, if you don't have to depend on the answer. I don't know what fares to Europe are like where you are, but from here a full price Business Class fare can cost as much as a year of college tuition, and I can't pay that in good conscience.

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:
This has nothing to do with F.K.'s question but speaking of upgrades reminds me, I was speaking to someone the other day who, several years ago, was traveling Sydney to the U.S. & had booked economy. On check in she asked how much it would be to upgrade to business & was sold a return business class seat for an extra $A1500!!!!! Now obviously this depends on what the airline has left on the day & perhaps all airlines don't do it, but IMO it is certainly worth asking the question.

Certainly tempting! We sent our son back to NZ to stay with his grandparents while we travelled to the UK. Used airpoints for his flight and would you believe it HE got upgraded to business class for free! He had a great time but I hate to think how much he ate in Qantas Club unsupervised.

quote:

Originally posted by augusta:
Certainly tempting! We sent our son back to NZ to stay with his grandparents while we travelled to the UK. Used airpoints for his flight and would you believe it HE got upgraded to business class for free! He had a great time but I hate to think how much he ate in Qantas Club unsupervised.

Wouldn't you just know that would happen to a young person, that no doubt, would handle economy far better than us. I do often wonder how the decision is made as to who to upgrade.

Once upon a time, or so my Mum tells me, ... you might arrive @ the airport to board and they'd offer you a free upgrade - just 'cos they had the seats vacant.

I gather because of terrorists etc etc today this rarely happens - but points, cash and luck can still play a part in it.

I feel if you are a single traveller, FF Member, Lounge Member, and/or extra polite, you might have more chance, than others.

What a wonderful way to start the trip.

Thanks everyone, this is exactly what I wanted to know. Yes, Qantas does fly out of Christchurch, so we don't necessarily have to get to Australia first. I had thought we might use our FF points to upgrade on a leg to/from Singapore and then would probably have to change to Singapore Airlines to fly direct to Cairo and on to Europe as I want to see Egypt on the way over (all assuming hubby agrees on this trip I am planning ).