Kiwi Flyer

Not on any of my flights.

I note there is at least 1 QF AKL-SYD flight that has switched to 733!

Kiwi Flyer

Don't forget it is normally much cheaper ex-NZ.

serfty

My last 3 763's flights AKL/SYD have all been international configuration with me happpily enjoying the space on those beastie that 24Fs provides. ^

My next flight on Saturday shows the international configuration as well - again 24F is preallocated.

justin_krusty

Yeah 24F is one of the best QF Y seats, love it

Kiwi Flyer

Note to self - in future try to book the same QF AKL-SYD flights as serfty. On second thoughts LA, EK and NZ are more attractive options anyway.

vecta

The best. IMHO of course.

vecta

Ooh I didn't know that! Will check it out now, thank you Sir.

Leumas

For a trans-Tasman trip, I always buy 2 one-way tickets. The ex-NZ leg is a lot cheaper.

serfty

I have 80% of my TT return trips booked ex NZ.

It means that most of the time I have open ended travel to AKL with no return.

e.g. Business return (current lowest fares):
.

• AKL-MEL-AKL
  • Qantas: NZD1,244.30 (~AUD1,032)
• SYD-AKL-SYD
  • Qantas: AUD1,310.70 (~NZD1,640)(includes CC fee)

tallboy

Getting back to the OP, one other aspect now worth considering in J class is seat comfort. As I understand it the LA A340 fleet has now been completely reconfigured with the new LA business class seats. I have flown these on their B767s within South America and consider them to be one of the best J class seats around. Very nicely designed and comfortable with a fully flat bed. In fact more comfortable and functional than the old LA F seats, which weren't too bad themselves.

I guess this aspect may not often be fully utilised travelling between SYD and AKL, but IMHO the new LAN J seats are far superior to the QF Skybeds (even the fully flat on the A380, which I found disappointing) and so this makes LA a tempting choice for the onward journey to South America, especially booked under the QF321 code share.

Other comments?

tallboy

Sydney travellers consider yourselves lucky.

All QF scheduled services MEL-AKL are now 737 of some description, including the hideously retimed QF25.

Lonely Flyer

Do they now keep turning the 747 around LAX-AKL-LAX?

Kiwi Flyer

a/c do AKL-LAX-BNE-LAX-AKL

Kiwi Flyer

I'm well aware of that. However for AKL-SYD which used to have nothing but widebodies they now have both JQ's A320 and QF's 737 on the route. A major change.

serfty

It was only a few years ago that MEL/AKL had 2 763's each way every day (IIRC QF33, QF134, QF39 & QF34). Then in 2005 747 on QF25/QF26 were taken from BNE and QF33/QF34 got whacked. (Later on QF39 was renumbered QF133).