Dilemma on F redemption
 

I was to travel w/ my gf to Europe this year but late last year that plan was scuttled but now it looks like it's on track again for next year. As the 330 days mark is coming-up, I've started examining my options in earnest and for awhile I thought I had a great plan, so .. let's see:

Itinerary:

SYD-xHKG-CDG (AA points, esp. now that things are based on one-way costs)
LHR-SIN (Amex points)
SIN-SYD (AA points)

I was thinking that I'd get to experience 3 different F products but even when playing around with QF's award redemption tool actual F awards with QF seem mighty rare while there are boatloads with BA. So, at this point I've resigned to just CX + BA F.

Also, this way I get to experience 3 major oW hubs' F lounges: SYD, HKG, LHR.

However, it's also just come to my attention that there is no more CX F offering on SYD-HKG route!!! :( :( :(

I am now tossing-up two options:

1. Book a SYD-LHR flight and get to CDG on my own (try the train, etc.) and get to try the SYD F lounge (I don't know if they'll allow a SYD-xLHR-CDG redemption) OR

2. Just redeem the CX F flights and fly C SYD-HKG, missing out on SYD F lounge, but getting the chance to try HKG's F product on the HKG-CDG (747).

3. The other thing that concerns me is that while BA does fly a 747 LHR-SIN, it doesn't seem to do so SIN-SYD (though it does BKK-SYD). Can anyone confirm this or am I just an idiot in reading flight schedules? I've heard not so nice things about the BA 777 F product.

Any other comments?

How about using QF F to get to HKG and then connecting onto CX to CDG if you can get availability. There is no requirement to use the same airline for each sector

BA does indeed operate a 777 from LHR-SIN-SYD. The seats and service are exactly the same as on the 747 , just that there is a galley n door at the front.

If you do have to fly via London to get to CDG, there is no issue with that at all ; also since the CDG flight departs from Terminal 5, you would get to visit the BA T5 lounges

Personally, I would not be rushing to fly BA to SIN/BKK or QF ex LHR until it moves to T3. The lounge isnt that good in T4

Dave

You know what--I got it so wrapped-up in my head that there'll be no QF F award seats available that I didn't even consider that option. I'll definitely keep this in mind, though I'm doubtful given the scarcity of QF F award seats even with QF's own award tool.

Bummer on the T4 lounge. As this will be for June next year, do you think it might be moved to T3 by then? (Does anyone know the timeframe for this move?) I thought BA's F lounge had the molton brown spa ... I thought it was going to be a nice experience.

I would have thought that the flights would have moved by then given that they are still slated for a move later this year

Dave

I would seriously consider flying BA in J. The difference in price (or miles) is much bigger than the difference in comfort or service.

Try to book as many CX flights as possible in F. CX F is just way above CX and QF (CX has 9 seats in the nose of the 747 where BA and QF have 14 seats).

If the OP is doing LHR-SIN and SIN-SYD, they should opt where possible for the QF31/32 services which are operated by the A380. Product should be pretty good and certainly up to CX standards, although sadly there are a lot of reports of lousy service which is a definite negative.

I suppose that's probably true of nearly every airline with the exception of maybe EK and SQ with their suites. That said, this is to be a special trip and as she has tasted J (albeit only NZ), I'd like to surprise her with F.

I wish I could but I do have to visit LHR and SIN. I somehow doubt that AA would let me route the flight LHR-xHKG-SIN given that BA and QF both have direct offerings for the route.

Is it POSSIBLE???

You're the second person to write a post that implies QF F award seats are easy to get. Why is it that I can even see QF F award seats on QF's award tool? I would love to try QF's F in 380 (more than anything just so I can try another 380 ... :D ) but I was doubtful there'd be any openings. I would definitely like to try as QF31/32 (can't remember which one is the one that goes LHR-SIN) leaves just after noon and gets into SIN in the morning instead of evening.

Not easy, but certainly not impossible, especially if you change your booking closer to the time of departure, if not the day before!

I have not tried the new crew on the A380, but I had to admit that I dreading the thought as at the moment as the reports are pretty negative.

Whilst we all know QF is probably the slowest when it comes to a meal service, in the past when the service (and F&B) has been very good. The London crews (which were/are a mix of ex-Aus experienced and ambitious crew with a smattering of UK based colleagues) seemed in particular to be of a very high calibre, but now with all the new cabin crew agreements everything seems to be in a state of flux with the A380 appearing to suffer the most. My personal expectations are therefore very low for an upcoming F flight (not award) although it will be nice to see the difference between the QF A380 and the SQ A380 in F.

FWIW, I was very underwhelmed by the SQ F suite experience. Good yes, but definitely not brilliant and certainly did not live up to the hype they created.

If redeeming for a Europe-Asia 2 award, it should be. Both SIN and HKG are in Asia 2 and the mileage via HKG is only 12% over the LHR-SIN direct mileage , so would be surprised if it was not allowed

Dave

I'm looking at my schedule and given the timing, I think what I may do is go ahead and book the LHR-SIN on BA and then a day or two prior I'll check if there's any availability on the QF one.

But, that said ...

Why do I want to try QF. I'm suddenly remembering my past experience in QF J and suddenly I'm thinking, who cares about trying different products. I'll just try to keep this consistent.

In fact, now that I think about it, I'll follow the suggestion to maximize on CX and see if I can't get CX F LHR-xHKG-SIN.[/QUOTE]

I've always thought that was the case, but good to know many others think the same way!

I forgot that LHR-Asia 2 is done by Amex points which means redeeming with QF. The QF online tool doesn't seem to allow this ... or rather, it doesn't seem to show anything BUT BA and QF flights. Is this just a limitation of the tool and I should call or should I just get the BA flight and be done with it?

While we're at it, I know it's the wrong forum, but does LH's F seat really look as bad as I think they do?? They look like old C/J product offering from some airlines!

FYI- as a test I tried to look for HKG-SIN availability with QF's online redemption tool and it's giving me routes like HKG-SYD-SIN, there's one involving BNE event! :rolleyes:

Anyone know what's up with this?

Only NZ? NZ has one of the best J products out there and I would prefer them over many F offerings.

One reason why you might not be seeing F openings while other say it is easy to get them might be status.

WPs and SGs see heaps more availability than people with no or PS status. So while the flight might not be available to to you it might be to others. So the solution will be to talk to AA/QF about this as they might see more availability than you can see using your QF account.

Actually, there have also been very positive reports here. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qanta...e-its-due.html

My recent experiences with CX services have been really mediocre so I personally would now take QF over CX any time.

Depends on a/c. On 747 it is an old F seat - quite comfortable (better than old C) but lack of privacy and poor IFE. On A340 it is a better seat and 1-2-1 layout gives more privacy for single travellers (albeit not as good as a suite on certain airlines).

And adding to this, LH F is not about the hardware (until the A380 arrives). The strength will be a good service and a great soft product in regards to lounges etc. in FRA and MUC.