Sanity Check my 110K decision (F Award on QF) (to merge)
Eliciting board experts perspectives on this.
Yesterday I snagged a LAX-MEL First Miles Saver on Qantas for mid February 2020. It's on a five day hold. Departs LAX at 1055PM, arrives MEL 950AM. 15hr 55 minute flight. Obviously looking forward to the F cabin service and the lie-flats. Haven't checked yet in-flight offerings or departure lounge in LAX. But it is an overnight flight (so service offerings may be less?) Still, the lie-flats and three cabin service will be very nice for a 16 hour flight.
So here is where my sanity check is coming in. Same day, there is a 80K Business MilesSaver available on Fiji Air. Departs LAX 1030pm, arrives MEL 1145am. 18hr 15 minute flight. 1 hour connection in NAN (Fiji). Aircrafts listed are 333 and 7M8. Assume the Max will be switched out and both Business cabins would be similar to domestic F. Not Qantas International F obviously, and 8 hours is long (especially 2X). But it is 30K miles difference and only two hours longer total flight time. That 30K is another Business Saver Award ticket from SYD or MEL to ACK, or ACK to NAN, as part of same trip.
I'm leaning towards keeping the Qantas for the overall experience seeming much better (??). I may end up on Fiji Airways Business Award back, unless I buy a Qantas ticket. But for travel time only a couple hours longer and still in a domestic F equivalent type seat/cabin -- still -- it is 30K miles savings. (I did notice there seems a lot of LAX-NAN-SYD or AKL combination Business class award availability across the board (many months of) right now on Fiji Airways. (Kind of wondering why folks aren't snapping up these $80K awards and if the Fiji airways product in general is not considered that good of a deal?)
Looking for thoughts on comparative value from those familiar with the products/trips/comfort. This is my first long haul trans pacific trip. Thanks!
P.S. I used to travel fairly frequently for work but don't any longer. Most likely the ~ 400K miles I have now will be about all that I have until they are gone. At least not significant additions. Now I mainly do short Caribbean flight vacations and DC to BUF a few times a year, and buy flights now based on flight times and costs (not building AA points). i.e., 30K of miles is not entirely negligible, for me to not consider/ask the questions.