First class seating, availability LAX-AKL?
 

We normally stay to the north with CX and have little QF exposure, but were thinking about LAX-AKL at the start of a OWE A-class. Does Qantas have decent seating (beds) and reasonable availability for 3 pax in first? I saw some comment from AA award travel wannabees that suggested for them at least, getting a seat in first was like finding a diamond by kicking the sand at the beach.

Don't know all the details first-hand, but yes QF has beds in FC -- their FC is supposed to be excellent overall. I think there are only 12 or 14 FC seats per plane, and they're apparently hard to come by for reward travel for one person, let alone 3, as they do sell these seats. Most of the previous discussions have focused on LAX-SYD, which may be more difficult than to MEL or AKL.

A availability on QF26 LAX-AKL (and 25 AKL-LAX) is generally ok. Sometimes QF block out some of the seats as BNE-LAX (via AKL) only. But book early and you should be right. Same goes for QF94/93 that continues/start to/from Melbourne on the 2 days the QF26/25 does not operate.

However, Z availability for reward seats is tight and you will need to make a special request (and have Plat QF status) if you want 3 seats on the same flight.

QF first has flat beds and great service.

Thanks, NM. If I understand your reply, A-class as part of a paid OWE RTW is generally available, but first-class award tix are tight? That works for us, as we would be in the former category.

Being a slow learner about all this stuff it confuses me that there seems to be only one discount first-class code, generally A, but there seem to be different kinds of A with different allocations.

"If I understand your reply, A-class as part of a paid OWE RTW is generally available, but first-class award tix are tight? That works for us, as we would be in the former category."

Thats about right. I have never had any problem getting seats in A class on Qantas.

"Being a slow learner about all this stuff it confuses me that there seems to be only one discount first-class code, generally A, but there seem to be different kinds of A with different allocations."

There is The full fare in P, Discount in A and then reward travel in Z. What do you mean by different kinds of A ?

Dave

Yes, you are correct. You should not have much trouble getting 3 x A trans-pacific. Just be aware that QF do some strange things with blocking for the connecting sectors (ie A availability may be restricted on LAX-AKL but be available LAX-BNE (via AKL) or LAX-MEL (via AKL).

There is only one kind of A booking basis - being discount First. It is used for RTW and other published fares. Free (award) flights in First use Z basis, as do J-F upgrades, and they are heavily restricted.

[This message has been edited by NM (edited 03-25-2002).]