baliktad

Comparing DL BusinessElite to CX F is a bit like comparing a Japanese capsule hotel to a suite at the Four Seasons. Technically you can use both as accommodation for the night but the experience is so vastly different as to be almost incomparable.

I have flown DL's newest BE product in their 767-400 and I couldn't even lay my arms and shoulders flat due to the narrowness of the seat. CX F is the only seat I've been able to lay down flat and ROLL OVER and still have room left over.

northtoalaska

not sure i understand what you are saying.

my tickets FAI to LON via SEA/KEF (one week stopover)
and
CDG to FAI via KEF/SEA

were not "purchased" it was total award, first class, the whole way and back.

eponymous_coward

I'm saying that FI has very liberal stopover rules for KEF on PAID tickets (which isn't all that common- try getting a stopover on a domestic ticket from a USA carrier). Not surprising that AWARD tickets (even through another airline) have similar liberal rules and are an exception to AS's "stopover or open jaw, not both" rules.

It's meant to encourage tourists to spend money in Iceland... and Iceland needs currency.

beckoa

And I want to spend some $ in KEF this summer, but no saver awards to be found ex-ANC on FI

BarryAZ

I posted this (I thought on this thread). We had success booking 1st class on Cathay Air (160K miles x 2) -- LAX/HKG/BNE outbound and SYD/HKG/LAX return.

With your plan for October 2014 -- if you have 240K for two -- you could book a similar route -- and handle the booking in November. Alternatives to Cathay (which I've read will be a NICE experience albeit significantly longer flying time) would include Qantas (probably a tough get -- 220K business class for 2) or Delta (210K business class for 2), which you can search for online on the Alaska site and which seems to have increased availability, or Fiji Air (used to be Pacific Air) for 220K business class via Nadi.

A few other notes, Delta has moved to 777's for the long haul flight which should make for a more comfortable flight than they had in the past in business class, and Fiji will have shifted from older 747 jets to brand new A330's with lie flat seats as well.

With Delta and Fiji -- the window is 330 days (it's 360 for Cathay).

We were able to grab the outbound seats at 355 days and they were miraculously held for 28 days so that when I went to grab the return seats we were able to complete the deal.

One other consideration for you as you are in San Jose -- with Cathay you might be able to arrange SFO/HKG/Sydney and save the flight down to LAX.

BarryAZ

I've also noted that the availability is much improved for business class flights on Delta compared to what I was seeing six months ago.

For our trip next year, the 'cachet' of Cathay 1st class was something I was interested in any my wife was VERY interested in <smile>. Also, as I like to plan far in advance, the extra 30 days for the window (360 versus 330) was attractive.

That being said, I suspect the *next* time we plan to go to Australia (and I suspect there will be a next time), we will consider Delta as an option -- and then figure round trip additional flights to NZ and back as part of the plan.

BarryAZ

I suspect one might also be able to do that with Fiji (Air Pacific) in Fiji (ie outbound to Australia, return via NZ, plus a layover in Fiji.

Of course sometimes (at least in the past though perhaps this will improve with the daily LAX/NADI flights using the A330's) that layover is due to surprise schedule changes....