Comparing AY to QR – who wins?
Mar 21, 2019, 5:51 pm
#91
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
Ask that your Russian host writes the invitation until 6 months before the passport expires. As soon as I got my passport, I sent the passport number to my host and received the invitation on same day by email. Then it was 10 days in consulate.
Mar 29, 2019, 5:58 pm
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,104
Mar 29, 2019, 6:46 pm
#93
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 938
Mar 29, 2019, 11:35 pm
#94
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,167
Mar 30, 2019, 2:47 am
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,104
OTOH the nearly 1300€ buys us nearly a week at the Singapore JW Marriott in a suite (with SNA included) so I'll just slum it out in C (btw - the Q-suite was just an amazing product, at least on par with the several F experiences I had on BA, LX & QF)
Mar 30, 2019, 4:46 am
#96
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
Mar 30, 2019, 4:51 am
#97
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Stratosphere
Programs: AY Lumo, AF Platinum
Posts: 254
So I am standing at the J check in desk in MLE when I am approached by a QR rep. He apologized for my delayed bags on the inbound flight and offered me $75 cash compensation on the spot. My bag was only about 7 hours late and I only spent $15 extra because of it. I never complained or thought really much of it, but now I am quite impressed with QR’s proactive approach to customer service.
Mar 30, 2019, 5:24 am
#98
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,167
Mar 30, 2019, 6:13 am
#99
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
So I am standing at the J check in desk in MLE when I am approached by a QR rep. He apologized for my delayed bags on the inbound flight and offered me $75 cash compensation on the spot. My bag was only about 7 hours late and I only spent $15 extra because of it. I never complained or thought really much of it, but now I am quite impressed with QR’s proactive approach to customer service.
Mar 31, 2019, 5:05 am
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,104
Mar 31, 2019, 7:16 am
#102
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Vantaa, Finland
Programs: BAEC GGL, Lounge Key, Accor basic, AY basic, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 163
We were not very impressed. Krug, caviar and seat were good of course but their soft product in J is already awesome. Does not add much to travel F.
Mar 31, 2019, 8:54 am
#103
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 938
The way you're thinking is exactly the logic QR management; offer a business class product so good (QSuites) you don't need to offer a First. But First is first, at least to the old-fashioned among us.
Mar 31, 2019, 11:46 am
#104
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,167
Walking back to the bar makes you realise just how crowded J cabin is.
It is true that QR J is on a level above most J on others, it doesn't make F pointless. True, if you are used to AY J then QR J seems plenty.
But if you regularly fly QR you would probably use your hard earned points mostly on F upgrades.
Mar 31, 2019, 11:55 am
#105
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Vantaa, Finland
Programs: BAEC GGL, Lounge Key, Accor basic, AY basic, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 163
Well, to say you're not impressed by QR First means you're hard to please or cynical. It lacks the privacy within the 8 seat cabin as the seat is not a suite...but it just offers so much more space than J. First class bathrooms that size you can only find on EK 380. And if you like great personalised service and wines, QR First is more than a notch above J. Walk to the bar through the A380 business class dormitory and all of a sudden the J seat looks just so small and mass travel.
The way you're thinking is exactly the logic QR management; offer a business class product so good (QSuites) you don't need to offer a First. But First is first, at least to the old-fashioned among us.
The way you're thinking is exactly the logic QR management; offer a business class product so good (QSuites) you don't need to offer a First. But First is first, at least to the old-fashioned among us.
Don’t get me wrong, it is probably one of the best products out there. I just wouldn’t pay much extra over J.
We had better crew outbound in J, that also affects our opinion.