Should I burn a SWU to go J -> F on HKG -> DFW
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
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Posts: 3,226
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.
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.
#5
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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.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CA
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#9
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#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
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Posts: 6,367
I would do the upgrade. I always end the year with a couple left over so this year I did J-F on every flight I could and even booked a less direct routing to go thru LAX to get LAX-LHR. I think the F experience is a nice step up over J and worth it.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
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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.
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.
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.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
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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!
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!
#13
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
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Posts: 6,675
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!
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!
#14
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 40
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
#15
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
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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.
AA offers a handful of flights with international Flagship First class, as the only widebidy with it is the 77W.