Skybed question
 

Could I please have some advise from some people who have physically sat in sky beds.

I am debating about sending Mrs Puchu to Edinburgh next year using QF.

Contemplating ponying up the points to ask for a J ticket.

My worry is if the booking is successful, whether or not Mrs P will be able to cope on a longhaul in a skybed. I've watched the demos and looked at the pictures of seats in both classes, but just can't make up my mind. Skybeds look lovely and long, (which would please me), but a little narrow and an odd angle, which might trouble her on such a long haul.

Mrs P is entering a more mature phase in life and, how shall I say...is built very low to the ground and definitely for comfort, not speed. She also has dodgy hips and back which are not going to improve.


Assuming the J booking is possible, would the slope on the bed and the narrowness of the Skybed seat cause her problems?

Would we be just as well off saving the points, asking for a spot near a bunch of empty seats in economy and putting up the armrests (which is what she normally does if she wants to sleep).

If she does get J class (I'm plat, so it may be possible) and her back starts playing up during the SIN-LHR sector, would the FA's be willing to move her to a flat first bed or back to empty economy seats?

Also, does anyone know how busy the PER-SIN-LHR run normally is in April?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-Puchu

The Advertising of the QF Skybeds is one of the most misleading ones I have seen. You don't really get that much room except for list 4 seats on the 744 (the upper deck emergency rows) as you slide into the next row. I think the BA NNCW will be a good option given the new enhancements (softer cushions) so it will better for the back and more comfty. I find the Skybeds to be OK but the NNCW is better. But since you are ex PER you don't get much option. (CX is worse ex PER as they use the regional J seats)

The Skybed is wider than BA's NNCW, and similar width to CX's NBC. The Skybed also has a fantastic massage function, which could be just what Mrs Puchu needs. As to the slope, BA's product has none. That being said, you need to decide room (Skybed) v slope (NNCW).

I would try and organise 23D or 23F - the aisle seats at the front of the cabin - and as Platinum you should be able to preallocate one of these seats. This will really help with easy ingress to and egress from the seat.

As for sitting in the seat, the best J seat in this part of the world for sitting in is the QF Dreamtime seat - but the Skybed is pretty good too. NNCW is narrower, but OK to sit in as well.

Thank you for your replies! Friendly and honest information is just what I was after.

Thinking about the QF/BA comparisons just made me think of another idea, being those flat J's on BA codeshares.

Award availability at this stage doesn't seem too flash, so we may have to take the risk and book economy and request an upgrade. I know that there is a QF flight that codeshares and uses a QF plane to SIN and a BA plane to LHR. Are QF likely let us try for an upgrade on that BA codeshare flight with my points? I was under the impression that upgrades can only be done on pure QF flights, but I'm hoping that's just me misunderstanding the codeshare setup.

Given we'll probably stop for a day or 2 in Singapore, we could possibly go up and down to SIN on a QF Y and just do the SIN-LHR in the codeshare BA J.

Please do keep comments coming, either QF or BA seating is of interest.

Thank you!

-Puchu

Unfortunately you are right you can't upgrade on anything other than 100% operated QF flights. Therefore you can't tap into the Z upgrades on BA.

Also do note that upgrade procedures on QF (using points) are now different. I am sure other members here can brieft you on that aspect in more detail.

Given you circumstances I think you might as well try and WL for the upgrade on QF all the way to LHR.

My mother physically sat in a skybed last year & rated it high. She is of a mature age ;) (but, I suspect, a tad more mature than Mrs Puchu)also has hip problems & is larger than the average Y seat. She said it was comfy, she had no problems except for the fact that she couldn't work the seat! The FAs were no help in this regard, just told her to keep pressing the buttons & that the seat would not eject her out of the plane. :D

One of the real benefits of the QF Shybeds and CX seats (and - for that matter - any other product with the hard shell backing) is that you can use the shell infront as a handle to make getting up / down easier. Saves the person getting the sh!its when the back of their seat is moved and jerked.

Perhaps willyroo's suggestion about row 23 may not be so good as the lack of seats in front may make getting up / down a little harder?

Those who are of limited mobility certainly will not be allocated an exit row (row 16).

Im sure if you told them about her back problems you could get a exit row seat. As some one else said, when the skybeds fold down into the back of the seat in front, your basically stuck in the bed for the night! lucky i had a aisle seat!. I would choose QF Skybed, but i would say that BA's seat arrangement might be a bit better when in reclined position though. Because even if she does get E or F she can still get out.

Heres what i was lookign at
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Bri..._747-400_A.php

If you want true comfort and convenience, why not look at an F ticket award. It wasn't that much more than J in terms of points (ppre May 35) not sure what it costs now.

If you are short on points then you could do a combination of WHY to SIN and F from SIN to LHR.

IIRC, the bulkhead row downstairs has some room at the front when the seat is fully extended.

I'm happy to be corrected, but every time when seeking Row 16 or other exit row seating (on the 744), I have always been asked if I have any mobility problems or other physical impairments which might affect my ability to use / operate the exits.

One more thing to consider, Puchu, is the likelihood of your "bunch of empty seats in economy" actually coming true. We've all been on flights where there have been loads of empty seats and stretching out has been possible, but that has not been my experience of late. I mostly fly trans-pac so have no idea what the loads are like to the UK, but if you book economy thinking that if (read: when) your upgrade doesn't clear, you can always toddle down the back and push up a bunch of armrests, you may be in for a pretty uncomfortable flight when you find that eamus, mrs eamus, the little miss eamus and hundreds of others like us are jammed into every nook and cranny back there. You may want to send some smoke signals up querying load factors. In the brave new world of everyone flying, in your situation I would (in order) look for award F, award J, pay for J, pay for WT+ on BA, or plan on misery. Upgrades are hard to come by, and getting harder. If J is outside your budget, crack open the search function for the QF/AY, QF/AF, DONE4 or Circle Explorer tickets.

Even if not asked when making the seat request, there's nothing stopping check in downgrading to another seat if they think you're not strong enough to operate the exits. So could end up with much worse seat.

Good luck getting a kangaroo route J class ticket with points. They are few and far between even if your a Platinum or Gold member! Try to book as far in advance as possible to secure any chance!

It is possible ...!
 

I've just managed to book a reward trip on J from AKL to LHR via HKG using a OneWorld award at 283,000 points on CX, BA and QF metal. I also managed to make a change by telephone within an hour of booking as it had not been "ticketed" yet. Must admit that the person at QFF in MEL on the phone was very helpful!!

Now, a quick question - BA 028 LHR to DXB operate a 777-200. Does this have NNCW beds or the cradles? Checkmytrip.com shows the 2-4-2 configuration indicating NNCW but I thought I should ask the experts ;) Thanks!!

I believe all of BA's 747 and 777 fleet have been converted across to NCW and their 767 fleet are in the process of being 'dusked'.

From experience, I find OW RTW Awards relatively easy to redeem compared to standard OW or RT awards. OW RTW fares also have the advantage that where you cannot find your desired flight, you can often find a similar partner flight available around the time of your first choice. The OP who started this thread however was discussing a standard RT award (and I am guessing perhaps even an upgrade award)which unless you are willing to book many months in advance can be very difficult.

Back to the OPs original question about the Skybed seat, personally I think it is much roomer than the BA mortuary slab, even if they have been fitted with the new mattress (must admit that I have not tried the new mattress yet, although hope to soon)!