Comparing Skywards with oneworld?
Feb 11, 2006 | 6:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MEL, land of Oz
Programs: QF Plat & LTG; A3*A Gold; Avianca LM; IHG Platinum, Accor All Gold
Posts: 433
Comparing Skywards with oneworld?
Hello all,
I am a QF WP (Platinum) member (oneworld Emerald) and need to make a few work trips to Dubai this year. I have not travelled with EK and so am not a Skywards member but am considering flying EK for these trips due to better pricing and schedules. We have budgeted for J class, but hard to justify the extra expense and to a lesser extent time of travelling CX via HKG.
I am interested in the relative merits of the Skywards program vs QF, particularly with regard to earning and use of miles and other benefits. I have read something here about bonus miles for web bookings, which seems a good incentive.
I am also interested in comparison of the biz class product between EK and QF/CX, as I gather EK can be quite variable. I am tall, so legroom and seat comfort is important to me.
Has anyone faced a similar situation? Able to compare the FF programs? Any knowledge or advice appreciated.
Cheers from sunny MEL.
I am a QF WP (Platinum) member (oneworld Emerald) and need to make a few work trips to Dubai this year. I have not travelled with EK and so am not a Skywards member but am considering flying EK for these trips due to better pricing and schedules. We have budgeted for J class, but hard to justify the extra expense and to a lesser extent time of travelling CX via HKG.
I am interested in the relative merits of the Skywards program vs QF, particularly with regard to earning and use of miles and other benefits. I have read something here about bonus miles for web bookings, which seems a good incentive.
I am also interested in comparison of the biz class product between EK and QF/CX, as I gather EK can be quite variable. I am tall, so legroom and seat comfort is important to me.
Has anyone faced a similar situation? Able to compare the FF programs? Any knowledge or advice appreciated.
Cheers from sunny MEL.
Feb 11, 2006 | 6:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, AC *S, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 9,791
Hey,
When flying J class you get 50% bonus status miles in addition the web booking bonus (non-status)
Skywards has a relatively low requirement for its silver level status wise (25,000) but when flying J class, many of it's rewards are useless such as lounge access. Also, premium rewards are really really expensive.
The EK product can be quite variable. Right now, the A340-500 (nonstop MEL-DXB-MEL) has quite a good product - the best in the EK fleet- but nowhere near as good as CX / QF in J IMHO as it is still a cradle seat but has a nice massage feature with a seat pitch of about 60". The IFE will blow you away.
However, on the other end of the scale, the B777-300 that flies via SIN should be avoided at all costs. The seat pitch is 46" in J until the planes are reconfigured so if you are tall, that won't be too comfortable.
Cheers
When flying J class you get 50% bonus status miles in addition the web booking bonus (non-status)
Skywards has a relatively low requirement for its silver level status wise (25,000) but when flying J class, many of it's rewards are useless such as lounge access. Also, premium rewards are really really expensive.
The EK product can be quite variable. Right now, the A340-500 (nonstop MEL-DXB-MEL) has quite a good product - the best in the EK fleet- but nowhere near as good as CX / QF in J IMHO as it is still a cradle seat but has a nice massage feature with a seat pitch of about 60". The IFE will blow you away.
However, on the other end of the scale, the B777-300 that flies via SIN should be avoided at all costs. The seat pitch is 46" in J until the planes are reconfigured so if you are tall, that won't be too comfortable.
Cheers
Feb 15, 2006 | 12:11 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: AF Plat a vie, EK Gold, SQ PPS
Posts: 758
We flew EK ZRH DXB MRU on a 343-500 and 777-300 in J. Yes, the IFE systems blows you away BUT the seats are incredibly uncomfortable. None of us sleep and even my 8 year old could not get comfortable. The plane is great (my kids loved the stars in the 'sky' on the ceiling at night) but the service is so, so and very unreliable. I do not think any of the flight attendants even in J had worked for the company for more than a year and it showed!! The business lounge in DXB is packed and even the non smoking areas were filled with smoke. I would choose them anyday in coach because I don't expect great service or comfort and my three boys are entertained for even 12 plus hour flights but I wouldn't pay out of my own pocket for business.