Im going down under next year sometime and will use AA miles for the trip in F class. Which would you do? QF from lax to syd or CX from the US to HKG layover a few days then Syd? Which airline has a better First Class product? Or here is another take BA to LHR hang out there for a few days then BA LHR SYD which I think stops in SIN. I guess what im looking for is comments on the whole first class experance. Thanks!!

I think what will matter most to you is convenience. QF is more direct, hence faster. Both CX and QF offer a good F product but of course, I'd opt for CX anytime.

It depends on how much time you want to spend on planes....
My optinion: CX F is the best of the three. I like QF a little better than BA. The crew typically is more friendly, personal. Otherwise similar seats, similar food, same lounges. The BA layout is a bit better because in a window seat you have a little more privacy.

ditto unterwegs; comments

i havent tried QF myself.
but i will rate CX way above BA.

(however, the Brits i know do sincerely prefer BA's F)

Sounds like QF, BA, and CX all offer an excellent First Class product!

FewMiles..

------------------
[ FlyerTalkers' Resources on the Web ]
[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage ] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk ]

I went to australia using AA miles last summer. I flew on CX through HKG for 140,000 miles. I believe that this is the best deal out there for mile redemption. The BA awards cost a lot more miles. I've never been on Qantas F so can't comment on that, except that it's hard to beat CX F. If you have never been to HKG, or wouldn't mind spending a few days there, then I say go for the CX award.

BA and QF all have the bed seats and are set at an angle
Some of CX planes still use the old F class seats so beware

I had the same question about 8 months ago and I chose the CX award. I won't be taking the trip until Feb/Mar and haven't flown on any other airline except American for the past ten years so I can't offer much in the way of help until after my trip.
I can tell you that it was because of FTers that I chose the CX award and will be spending 4 days in Hong Kong, 4 days in Sydney, 4 days in Cairns and got an invol re-route on the way home via SYD-HKG-LHR with a weekend stay in LHR to top the trip off.
If you do choose CX plan far in advance as they have cut their flight schedules from North America and seats may be tight.
Good luck and have fun.

Did your reward ticket include the Sydney-Cairns flight? Also, how is your involuntary re-route working? Did you have to request it?

Oops, sorry that wasn't clear.
I used another award on QF in for the Sydney-Cairns segments for another 40K miles.
As for the invol. re-route, they cancelled the HKG-LAX flight I was supposed to return on, and it worked out to re-route me thru LHR would put me in only 2 hours after my original flights were supposed to get me home, without any further overnights. So I did request it (little did they know they were feeding the fires of an obsessed mind - only here have I found other people that would rather be flying on a plane that have to stay in another hotel)
The weekend in LHR is another story

How far in advance did you book? We are thinking of going in late 2002. Funny your doing exactly what I want to do. HKG for a few days then SYD for 2 days then up to Cairns (great barrier reef) Would you also be staying at the Hayman or Lizard Island lodge?

I stayed up until midnight on the 330th day in advance of each flight to book each segment to make sure I got the seats....maybe a bit compulsive, but I did it anyway.
If you are also going to Cairns, you may want to book QF as you can add that to your QF award at no extra cost in milage (they allow 1 0r 2 intra-australia segments on the award ticket).
If you do choose QF and are traveling in late 2002 then keep in mind they'll be starting a non-stop flight DFW-Auckland later this year. It might be fun to see if you can get that one instead of connecting in LAX, esp if you do live in Dallas!

The QF award might be best for you with a direct DFW-Auckland flight if it's available. Then you can do both SYD and Carins on the same award.
Do the CX and HKG on another trip.

[This message has been edited by crAAzy (edited 12-26-2001).]