:D


True true. Also it seems like there's a known "bug" with CX award seats not appearing with the online tool. I'll just have to give QF a call.

Also, why am I seeing seats availability for 30 May to mid-June of 2010 already? I thought these don't open up for 330 days?

Mine as well (though that was in J and 3 years ago) but seems like they've got great hard product .. Hmm.

Assuming availability is not an issue, which would be a more interesting journey:

QF/BA SYD-SIN-SYD + LH F SIN-xFRA-CDG/LHR-xFRA-SIN (is it worth checking out the MUC lounge instead of going through FRA twice?)

OR

QF SYD-HKG
CX HKG-CDG/LHR-xHKG-SIN
QF/BA SIN-SYD

Or should I just wait for the LH 380 and use the points then?

(I knew the moment I start posting this here I'd get only more questions!!! :D )

355 days for QF. AA is 330 days.

I was similarly apprehensive before my SIN/SYD flight in April. In the event I got possibly the best crew I have experienced on any flight ever - personable, friendly, efficient. Just as an example: I was engrossed in a movie when the FA comes over and says "We will be starting our descent in about 10 minutes and expect some turbulence - so now might be a good time to change out of your pj's before the seat belt lights come on. Plus both loos are currently available." Thoughtfulness like that is rare!

I had been very eagerly anticipating flying the A380, especially in F, but ironically the amazing crew was the highlight of the flight.

IMHO both are great trips. The first trip will give you access to the two best lounges on the planet (SYD QF F and LH FCT) with the problem of being on two separate tickets. And yes, it might be worthwhile to fly via MUC as well. Note, that the FCT (in contrast to the FCL) can only be accessed by people departing from FRA not not just transiting there.

The second trip gives you access to the SYD FLounge as well as to the very nice F sections of the Wing and the Pier in HKG. They are both really nice. And CX F is a very nice product by any standard.

I think that rule got rescinded as impractical to enforce.

Thanks all. I'll give AA a call in a few days and let you know what I ended-up with! :D

So I called AA today and while there's availability for CX F on HKG-CDG, there's nothing but coach on SYD-HKG.

She offered me SYD-MEL-HKG in C and HKG-CDG in F.

The upside to this is the CX F, while the downside is no F lounge access in SYD.

And, as expected, there're availabilities for SYD-LHR F.

The downside is that the extra time to get into CDG eats up into my schedule but I suppose I should remember my first rule of award tix redemption: be flexible. Additionally, there's none on the date that I want but the day after.

So ...

If I were to book SYD-LHR F now, and the previous day opens up, any charges for changing this? I can't get a straight answer between two AA agents.

Back to the old question: if SYD-HKG with CX C becomes available, those of you who've down BA F/SYD F lounge/CX C, what would you suggest? I'd lose out on the SYD F lounge, but I'd get CX F and a direct flight to CDG.

As for me, I'll have to sleep over this for now.

no fee to change date/time


If you can get CX F, I would go for it. It is much nicer

Dave

Yes, but the question is whether one leg of CX J and one of CX F is better (for the same miles) as two of BA or QF F. My view would be that if travelling with someone then I'd take BA or QF F all the way. If travelling alone it's less clear cut, but I have an aversion to travelling below the class I'm paying for, so if I couldn't get QF F SYD-HKG + CX F HKG-CDG then I'd still probably go BA or QF all the way.

IME, when using AA miles, you can change date and time ONLY.

Routing or carrier changes will attract a change fee.

I definitely agree with the "travelling below" bit, but your first statement seem to imply that:

BA/QF F SYD-LHR is superior to QF F SYD-HKG + CX F HKG-CDG.

Did I read that right? If so, why?

Thanks for clarifying that.

No, sorry, my post was confusing. My first choice, whether travelling alone or with someone would be QF F + CX F. If travelling with someone then I'd try to avoid CX J at all costs (take BA J if necessary).

Hi all-

First off, a quick question: I called up QF to try and redeem CX F LHR-xHKG-SIN and it seems like a legit routing but they weren't able to see any availability and they checked several days back as well.

Now, I don't have status on AA but they were able to book me into CX J SYD-HKG and HKG-F HKG-CDG. Is it possible that CX releases seats at different times to different carriers or is it more likely that my lack of QF status is blocking the seats? (I can actually see award availability when I use a dummy AsiaMiles account.)

If CX isn't available then I'll go ahead and book BA11 as that'll put me on the 747 into Singapore. And maybe they'll have this new first class next year. :D

So far what I've got is CX J + F for SYD-HKG-CDG. I will keep trying to for QF F but until then I'll stick with CX J despite the cabin because CX110 actually gives me a few hours to catch-up with friends'n family in HKG while getting on QF J doesn't give as much time. Plus, QF J is only available the day before.

I also didn't book BA F straight to LHR because: 1) I wanted to avoid flying BA the whole way 2) I read a few trip reports yesterday and actually scared me off BA F and 3) I prefer to minimize my visit to LHR.

Thanks for all your help so far!

QF makes certain seats available only to status pax but this only applies online. On the phone, QF should see exactly the same as AA. And the fact that AA can book you SYD-HKG-CDG doesn't mean QF should be able to book LHR-HKG-SIN or am I missing someting.

Allright -- I guess it's worth finding out whether AA can see availability as well on LHR-xHKG-SIN. I'll also call QF again and see if my luck doesn't change with a different again.