A few questions on A380 F from MEL

[Nat]

Hi guys,

I managed to find a cheap return anyseat award booking in F on the A380 to LHR in early November. I am based in Sydney and really wanted to try F on the A380 for this trip but I could only find flights from MEL. I've booked the flights as I'm happy to make the short trip to MEL to experience the A380 - I have a few questions I thought you might be able to help me with....

1) Is there any/much difference between the SYD and MEL F lounges? I have been to SYD but not MEL. As I am on an anyseat award will I get a call regarding a spa treatment/can I book one?

2) I am booked on QF9 1st November returning on QF10 23rd November. Both are listed as A380 flights but I was wondering what the chances are of these being switched to a 747? I know there was/have been a few spare A380s as they stopped using them on the US routes for a while?

3) Is the 8 course tasting menu / degustation available on QF9?

4) I'm only a QC Bronze, it has assigned me seats but I can't change them yet, at what point am I able to select seats, is it just when I check in at 24hrs?

Thanks!
Nat

 

[nlagalle]

Hi guys,

I managed to find a cheap return anyseat award booking in F on the A380 to LHR in early November. I am based in Sydney and really wanted to try F on the A380 for this trip but I could only find flights from MEL. I've booked the flights as I'm happy to make the short trip to MEL to experience the A380 - I have a few questions I thought you might be able to help me with....

1) Is there any/much difference between the SYD and MEL F lounges? I have been to SYD but not MEL. As I am on an anyseat award will I get a call regarding a spa treatment/can I book one?

2) I am booked on QF9 1st November returning on QF10 23rd November. Both are listed as A380 flights but I was wondering what the chances are of these being switched to a 747? I know there was/have been a few spare A380s as they stopped using them on the US routes for a while?

3) Is the 8 course tasting menu / degustation available on QF9?

4) I'm only a QC Bronze, it has assigned me seats but I can't change them yet, at what point am I able to select seats, is it just when I check in at 24hrs?

Thanks!
Nat

Hi Nat,

In regards to the 2 F lounges - really size is the difference. SYD is much bigger, but MEL feels more intimate.

As for the a/c changes very hard to say, but you should be ok.

Cheers,

Nick

 

[samh004]

4) I'm only a QC Bronze, it has assigned me seats but I can't change them yet, at what point am I able to select seats, is it just when I check in at 24hrs?

You should have no troubles calling QF up and having them allocate you seats over the phone. I’d check Seat Guru first for some ideas, unless you know where you want to be already.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I like SYD F better than MEL but only due to the size. An example, I have had to wait to eat in Mel due no seats but never in Syd.

The 8 course degustation is only available ex-Australia IIRC so you should be right. I flew F ex USA so missed it

They should ring you for the spa if you ate booked in F. Otherwise ring them a week out.

All the seats are fantastic so I wouldn't worry. I had 4F in the middle, but once you shut the walls up you wouldn't know where you are!!

Enjoy, I am very jealous!

 

[cove]

Hi Nat,
Your use of MEL as the start of an A380 First flight was good thinking.
You are eligible for the spa treatment and the facility is similar to Sydney as far as the rooms are concerned.
The dining is like the old "silver service" you used to get about 25 years ago at five star hotels. Definitely do the meal and spa service prior to departure.
The cabin in First takes a few minutes to work out so board a few minutes early and play with the settings while the flight attendants get you champagne and nuts.
My partner enjoys the take off camera show that you can watch as the plane takes off.
Don't ever think your ticket on points gives you any less entitlement to a cash paid ticket as they are equal. Being below Silver is fixable if you do a JASA run from SYD to a couple of those adjacent cities and back if you want seat selection and have points to spare.

 

[samh004]

I think you should also get access to the AArrivals lounge in LHR T3.

 

[tuapekastar]

I think you should also get access to the AArrivals lounge in LHR T3.

Indeed, is true, and it is not a bad little setup (I cannot compare to other arrivals lounges as it is the only one I've been in).

Plenty of showers (29 according to website - I used one and it was fine), hot and cold breakfast items (including scrambled eggs, bacon etc. in bains-marie), a few internet terminals, free wi-fi, and a 'free' phone for local calls which I could not make obtain an outside line. :evil:

Did not notice alcohol, but certainly was not looking for it at the time.

It's not a big lounge, but does not need to be, and is open I think until early afternoon.

 

[Nat]

Great thanks for the info everyone! Looking forward to the trip

Nat

 

[anat0l]

Firstly (no pun intended) well done on snagging your FASA! I assume you found one that was either (a) affordable or (b) very close to the Classic price. In any case, they are very rare unless you have a lot of points to burn.

1) Is there any/much difference between the SYD and MEL F lounges? I have been to SYD but not MEL. As I am on an anyseat award will I get a call regarding a spa treatment/can I book one?

As mentioned, MEL lounge is smaller but more intimate. In addition, since there is less traffic in total going through MEL than SYD, it feels a lot quieter.

I haven't had the full QF F experience before, but if you don't get a call regarding pre-booking a spa treatment within a few days of your flight, you probably won't be out of your league in calling and requesting one.

An ASA pretty much acts like a ticket you would've paid in cash, except there are different "currencies" for penalties and changes. So I wouldn't expect you to get short-changed in the experience any way (and those on Classic awards also the same boat for that matter).

2) I am booked on QF9 1st November returning on QF10 23rd November. Both are listed as A380 flights but I was wondering what the chances are of these being switched to a 747? I know there was/have been a few spare A380s as they stopped using them on the US routes for a while?

Aircraft changes are always unpredictable If the flight were in a week's time and someone forced me to place a bet then my inkling would be that you would get an A380. I realise that doesn't help, but not much will. Just hope for the best.

3) Is the 8 course tasting menu / degustation available on QF9?

Yes it should be available.

4) I'm only a QC Bronze, it has assigned me seats but I can't change them yet, at what point am I able to select seats, is it just when I check in at 24hrs?

Best way is that if you can't change it online then call QF.

 

[Nat]

Firstly (no pun intended) well done on snagging your FASA! I assume you found one that was either (a) affordable or (b) very close to the Classic price. In any case, they are very rare unless you have a lot of points to burn.

A classic award would have been 384,000 + taxes - I managed to get the any seat price for 444,000 points which I thought was worth it as I will get the SCs and points for the flight on this ticket type

 

[bossreggie]

Enjoy your trip.

Just a little hint with regards your lighting. You can control all your lighting from the touch panel next to you. There is though, a Brass light, which is almost above your screen. This one is switched off and on simply by touching the illuminated part! I only mention this, as on one of my flights I took off during daylight and once it became dark that particular light was annoying me... Took me ages to work it out.

Oh and remember your "sash" seat belt.

 

[Nat]

Enjoy your trip.

Just a little hint with regards your lighting. You can control all your lighting from the touch panel next to you. There is though, a Brass light, which is almost above your screen. This one is switched off and on simply by touching the illuminated part! I only mention this, as on one of my flights I took off during daylight and once it became dark that particular light was annoying me... Took me ages to work it out.

Thanks bossreggie!

 

[paul d]

Hi nat , i also am flying QF9/QF10 in March on classic rewards and am a mere bronze mortal - I rang Qantas 6 weeks ago and selected my seat over the phone ( people have said 3A is good but i suspect they are all pretty darn fancy ) and all they said was it wont change as long as the aircraft does not change . Then i logged on to my bookings and there it was -3A . The flight leaves at 17.05 as you know and i am planning to get to F lounge around 13.30 but i have been told not to over indulge as it is not a sprint race .... more like a marathon !!!!! Have fun - I will let you know how i go late march !

 

[gumpy]

A classic award would have been 384,000 + taxes - I managed to get the any seat price for 444,000 points which I thought was worth it as I will get the SCs and points for the flight on this ticket type

Is that 440k points both ways?

 

[anat0l]

Is that 440k points both ways?

I assume that since the Classic price was quoted at 384k, we can assume that the 440k price was for a return. Otherwise, I'd have to be pretty desperate to blow 440k on a one-way, even if it is an ASA and even if it means you didn't have to pay 700k - 1mil++ points.

 

[Nat]

Hi nat , i also am flying QF9/QF10 in March on classic rewards and am a mere bronze mortal - I rang Qantas 6 weeks ago and selected my seat over the phone ( people have said 3A is good but i suspect they are all pretty darn fancy ) and all they said was it wont change as long as the aircraft does not change . Then i logged on to my bookings and there it was -3A . The flight leaves at 17.05 as you know and i am planning to get to F lounge around 13.30 but i have been told not to over indulge as it is not a sprint race .... more like a marathon !!!!! Have fun - I will let you know how i go late march !

Awesome let me know how you go - I've had a look at the seat maps but still can't decide what seats to select!

 

[Nat]

I assume that since the Classic price was quoted at 384k, we can assume that the 440k price was for a return. Otherwise, I'd have to be pretty desperate to blow 440k on a one-way, even if it is an ASA and even if it means you didn't have to pay 700k - 1mil++ points.

Yeah the 444k points is the total for both ways - So 60k points more than the classic award but I should earn at least 30k points for the flight and didn't have to pay taxes...

 

[anat0l]

Awesome let me know how you go - I've had a look at the seat maps but still can't decide what seats to select!

There are A, F and K seats.

When all the privacy dividers are up, the A seats face a wall (that forms the left side of the F seats). The F seats face into the right aisle, as do the K seats. (When I say 'face' in this context, I mean that the opening to the suite goes in this direction. The actual seat in "flight position" is different: for A and K seats, your natural flight position is facing the window. For the F seats, flight position will have you facing the left aisle (i.e. when the dividers are up they will face a wall).

5A is the most private of the suites, but it is also a bassinet position and close to the galley. You may or may not be able to get / request this.

Ultimately, we all know there's no such thing as a bad F seat . If it were up to me, I'd be getting one of the window seats (choosing as appropriate depending on what you want to see out the window where you are flying). Of course, having said all of that, I think that's far too much information just to make a trivial decision!

 

[dfcatch]

There are A, F and K seats.

When all the privacy dividers are up, the A seats face a wall (that forms the left side of the F seats). The F seats face into the right aisle, as do the K seats. (When I say 'face' in this context, I mean that the opening to the suite goes in this direction. The actual seat in "flight position" is different: for A and K seats, your natural flight position is facing the window. For the F seats, flight position will have you facing the left aisle (i.e. when the dividers are up they will face a wall).

5A is the most private of the suites, but it is also a bassinet position and close to the galley. You may or may not be able to get / request this.

Ultimately, we all know there's no such thing as a bad F seat . If it were up to me, I'd be getting one of the window seats (choosing as appropriate depending on what you want to see out the window where you are flying). Of course, having said all of that, I think that's far too much information just to make a trivial decision!

I got moved from 1A to 5A in the lounge as the IFE wasn't working.

5A is awesome. Very private.

But anat0l is right - no bad F seat.

I booked my parents into 2A/3A and I'm sure they'll love it.

Personally I like the A seats as the aisle is quieter.

 

[Sprucegoose]

A classic award would have been 384,000 + taxes - I managed to get the any seat price for 444,000 points which I thought was worth it as I will get the SCs and points for the flight on this ticket type

The other way there is a JASA and request a F upgrade. I've got one booked in June and picked up AKL SYD LAX for 84,000 points plus some kiwi cash.

In LOTFAB I will get a W+ return, hopefully for under 4k, with the AUD edging over parity, could well be cheaper.

An UG on return to J could also be a possibility.