Should I burn a SWU to go J -> F on HKG -> DFW
 

I just scored a $1,170 one way ticket from HKG -> DFW -> CUN in J (from this thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/prem...-act-fast.html )

There is SWU A inventory available for me to move J->F, but looking at the seatmap, only interior seats are available. My thoughts are that I should probably just stick with a window seat in the mini-J cabin, having only flown this route in F once, I feel like the difference isn't that big. But my last experience was a long time ago and I thought I'd solicit feedback from fellow flyer-talkers.

I would - it's a super long flight and the bigger bed/more private cabin definitely makes the experience a bit better. I would also check back once in a while to see if any of the window seats open up ^ Enjoy!

It is so hard to clear swu that it could expire

Go for it. Unless you have other plans for that SWU. F doesn't have a footwell so more space for your feet when sleeping, plus the swiveling seat is cool.

Depends on whether you think you can use the SWU later. IMO, J-->F isn't worth it unless you have SWUs to burn or no likely travel plans.

done this several times, well worth it.. I believe its the longest flight on AA you can take

This. I used a SWU last year for the same leg. There's more space but less privacy. And all I did was sleep.

Another thing to consider: the upgrade will also grant you access to the CX First Class lounges at HKG.

OP is an EXP so he/she would already have that regardless of if they were in Y/J/F...

I just did this, and have flown both J and F a number of times, and I have mixed feelings. The service in F is way better, and the pajamas are actually better (bigger even within a size) in F than in J. The F seat is way better for working & hanging out, because of the swivel, etc.

But if you're a side or stomach sleeper and not of slender build, I think the J seat has more wiggle room where it counts -- I find that in the F seat, I'm weirdly constricted on both sides by the vertical barriers and it is very difficult for me to find a comfortable position to sleep, even though my feet have ample room. In the J seat, I can bend my knees in a natural position and because of the vacant space under the desk area, I have ample room there, and I still have enough room not to be unhappy with my feet.

For me, if I knew I was just going to sleep, I'd personally pick J. If I was going to be awake a lot, using the service, eating the meals, working a bit, and only using the bed to doze a bit, I'd go F. The big unfortunate thing is I've made the "wrong call" a few times now -- I've burned the SWU in advance thinking I'd want to enjoy F on occasions when I've ended up just wanting to sleep, and I've refrained from burning it on flights when I then ended up in J with an empty glass for 12 hours having to get myself a refill from economy because the J FAs disappeared.

So I only got 4 system-wide upgrades, and had already burned one for the outbound from Y -> J going to Seoul. I wasn't planning on doing the upgrade but I decided to based on everyone's feedback here. The flight isn't until September (and I'm surprised they already have 4 other people booked in F), I'll set Expert Flyer alerts up for all four of those windows and hope for a schedule change so I can do HKG -> LAX (eat at flagship dining) -> JFK (eat at flagship dining again) -> (sleep at my apartment + as long of a stopover/layover as they'll give me) -> Cancun.

I also figured that it's arguably a good value for a SWU because if I was doing a mileage upgrade for this, the cash co-pay would be higher than the Y->J cash co-pay. I'll probably end up doing some mileage upgrades this year, but that's basically all I use my miles for anyway, so that's ok.

Thanks again to everyone for your feedback!

Double FFD is enough to make me burn one, too. Sounds like a great itinerary if you can get the reroute.

I've flown this route a handful of times and I've always used an SWU. HKG-LAX departs at nighttime. Ask them to hold your dinner, sleep for 6-7 hours, eat, drink, eat, drink, doze, arrive in LAX at 4 PM, catch a connection, get home and fall asleep. something super cool about swiveling your chair towards the window and doing some work looking at the ocean

What are you keeping them for, if not to upgrade?

AA offers a handful of flights with international Flagship First class, as the only widebidy with it is the 77W.