A380 operating QF79 MEL-NRT on 21/10/19 [as a "Points Plane"]

[ja1]

Wow.. i completely forgot about this and of course all F and J was gone by 7:30.

Did manage to book a PE though - and I haven't flown on QAN for years now (so completely dusty Bronze pulled out of the cupboard with points that had been slowly devaluing over the last few years, only preserved with the occasional Woolies topup once a year).

A friend also booked a PE so we figured a couple of days in Tokyo never hurt anyway and if QAN really do make it an entertaining flight (extra marketing, giveaways etc) that'd be kind of neat.

Anyone here who booked F able to guest in people into the F lounge in MEL, pretty please ?

 

[Lynda2475]

Looks like there must still be a number of Y tix available on these flights, as I just got an email from Qantas saying its not too late to book these.

Wonder if not fully taken up, if they may abandon these offers? 5 days is a very short visit to Japan.

 

[Himeno]

Just got a reminder email about the points plane.
Totally wrong dates for what I need.
Looking at AU-Osaka arriving Oct 25.

 

[odysseus]

Looks like there must still be a number of Y tix available on these flights, as I just got an email from Qantas saying its not too late to book these.

Wonder if not fully taken up, if they may abandon these offers? 5 days is a very short visit to Japan.

It arose due to empty seats on charters, so this is just an extra revenue (points reduction) and goodwill opportunity for them for marginal extra cost.

They come out ahead from it however many seats are sold, plus helps marketing in the community so no reason for them to not continue with it in the future.

 

[downgraded]

Just got a reminder email about the points plane.
Totally wrong dates for what I need.
Looking at AU-Osaka arriving Oct 25.

The speed the premium seats went vs QF still reminding people Y seats are still available is a good reminder of the non-desirability of the Y reward proposition.

 

[ja1]

So can we get a summary - how many AFF people are on this flight and how are people coming back to AU ?

I had originally thought about coming back via HK (through VA) but that is not looking like a great idea now..

I noticed there's a 'points first' as opposed to 'points only' 747 flight as well (which I assume is another thread..)

 

[alexy23]

@ja1 I'll be there. Are you in F or J lounge? I can guest 1 pax into J lounge.

Who else is going?

 

[furiousmango]

Getting close now! Mate and I are in J, coming back on JL/CI KIX-TPE-MEL. Anyone able to guest us into the F lounge?

 

[gtrod]

Looking forward to this flight. Managed to snag an F seat. Really glad to have done it given the program changes resulting in more points needed for new bookings.

Also trying ANA for the return on their NRT-PER direct flight. 50,000 points for J in a throne seat (booked through united).

I usually use points between MEL and PER but the new price of 41,500 points for J really seems quite high. Qantas may be pricing themselves out of the frequent flyer market. Certainly will have me considering options.

Just a heads up. ANA sent me the following info regarding the Emperor's coronation on 22nd October:
Between October 19 and 26, 2019, a large number of foreign dignitaries will be
visiting Japan, and traffic restrictions are scheduled to be put in place on
expressways and public highways within the Tokyo area.
We recommend that customers using Haneda and Narita airports allow plenty of time to
come to the airport.

There's also a one off public holiday on Tuesday.

 

[Himeno]

Just a heads up. ANA sent me the following info regarding the Emperor's coronation on 22nd October:
Between October 19 and 26, 2019, a large number of foreign dignitaries will be
visiting Japan, and traffic restrictions are scheduled to be put in place on
expressways and public highways within the Tokyo area.
We recommend that customers using Haneda and Narita airports allow plenty of time to
come to the airport.

There's also a one off public holiday on Tuesday.

They are still doing the palace area events on Tuesday as planned, but have delayed the planned parade until Nov 10 due to damage from the typhoon last week.

 

[ja1]

Travelling with a friend on QF79 tomorrow. As per furiousmango - anyone able to guest into F ? I'm not really expecting anyone could but I figured it's worth an ask

We will be trying to checkin around 7am(ish) as we've booked an overnight hotel near Mel airport to get in nice and early..

I have no status with QAN sadly but friend does.

I figured I would be one of many AFF on board who could write about the experience back here..

I looked at lots of return options but decided on JL711. Coming back PE which cost 70K points plus approx $250. Which was a little ouchy (as a VA flight back was going to be approx 50K points - but that was economy all the way and a lot longer and would end up via HK which is a problem at the moment..)

 

[ja1]

@ja1 I'll be there. Are you in F or J lounge? I can guest 1 pax into J lounge.

Who else is going?

Thanks very much for the offer Alex - Friend has since got QAN status so he's able to guest me into J. I hope anyway !

I don't think enough of us are on the plane to guest into F sadly (I'm assuming only a P or P1 could bring a guest in ? or does a F pax have the ability to bring in a guest as well?)

 

[DC3]

... I looked at lots of return options but decided on JL711. Coming back PE which cost 70K points plus approx $250. Which was a little ouchy (as a VA flight back was going to be approx 50K points - but that was economy all the way and a lot longer and would end up via HK which is a problem at the moment..)

JL will be a much better experience.

 

[ja1]

We need an AFF pin.. to help identify each other. And depending on how you wear the pin it can be 'yes i am an AFF member and happy to say hi' or 'yes i am an AFF member and I do not want to talk..'

Or is there already an AFF pin and I just don't know about it ?

 

[DC3]

... it can be 'yes i am an AFF member and happy to say hi' ...

... and, if you don’t wear it, ‘I do not want to talk’.

 

[danintas]

Flew QF79 in F yesterday. The promised distinctive inflight service with special on-board experiences including a bespoke coughtail and meal service, signature pyjamas and inflight giveaways was limited to the coughtail only which I didn’t try. The PJ’s were the usual Martin Grant, and the meal service was exactly the same as experienced on a recent flight to SIN on QF35. I can’t recall any announcements about inflight giveaways. The only distinctive touch was a headrest cover with a Points Plane logo.

Despite this, it was a pleasant flight arriving into NRT 20 minutes early. Noticed a few spare J seats and there was an announcement about spare seats on the main deck. Flying back on the A330 QF80 next Saturday in J.

 

[moa999]

Reportedly was more special for those down back.. those in Y/PE got PJs and J Amenity kit