Best F products between Australia & USA?

[wafliron]

Hi AFF,


Myself and my significant other are planning a month-long holiday to the USA in May 2013. The Oz -> USA and vv flights will be on points, and as I've always wanted to experience F I'm thinking of "splurging" for F seats in at least one direction.

Given the above, I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on the relative quality of the F products of the various airlines which fly from Australia and to the USA and vv? So that I know which airlines I should be looking at first (no pun intended) when searching for appropriate award seats.

A few other bits of info:
- In case it matters, we'll be working our way from the east coast to the west coast of the USA (or vv), so I assume LAX and JFK will be the most logical arrival/departure points. Can be flexible and arrive/depart from other cities if there was a good reason though.
- Don't worry about availability of award seats at this point - that will come later - except perhaps no-SQ due to the fact I don't think you can get to the USA with SQ without using Suites, which from what I understand you can't book using points.
- Points will be coming from Amex MR (to any of their 8 partners as needed) / CitiBank CR (to SQ or CX/AM as needed), plus I should have c.500k QF points by the time I book, so pretty much any OW or *A airline is fine.
- I don't mind travelling the "long way" (via asia or similar) - in fact that would in some ways be preferable, given the F flight will be something to be looked-forward-to, not a chore


Also, while I'm at it: anyone know if there is a significant weather difference between the start and end of May in either the east cost or west coast of the USA? We can either start on the west coast in early May and end on the east coast in late May, or vv - any difference / reason we should choose to go in one direction or the other?

Thanks!

 

[cove]

I believe that the points on SQ A380 is up towards a million each way out of SIN but you should check by calling Kris as I haven't asked in the last 12 months.
QF A380 in First out of MEL and SYD is really good.
It can get sticky and hot in New York as summer approaches so I would try to go there first.
Los Angeles is best when you stay near the coast west of the 405 freeway for cleaner air and milder weather.

 

[Mwenenzi]

With less F flights now than previous times you do not have that much choice
Cathay well worth consideration. Look on FT for Seat 2A latest TR (SFO-HKG-JNB) On The Road Again: Another Boring First Class Trip Report from Seat 2A - FlyerTalk Forums
and Cathay Pacific and Qantas First Class SFO-HKG-MEL-SYD-LAX including QF A380 First - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[amaroo]

Cathay well worth consideration.

If I couldn't get a direct flight on QF A380......CX would be my next choice.

QF A380 to HGK - CX from there or vice versa

If I had the coin I would go via FRA & hop on LH A380....that bird looks very,very good.

 

[wafliron]

I believe that the points on SQ A380 is up towards a million each way out of SIN but you should check by calling Kris as I haven't asked in the last 12 months.

Ouch! Once I'm closer to booking I'll definitely call SQ to find out what the suites points-cost would be (as suites would be an amazing experience I'd imagine), but if it's anything like that it's out of the question.

It can get sticky and hot in New York as summer approaches so I would try to go there first.
Los Angeles is best when you stay near the coast west of the 405 freeway for cleaner air and milder weather.

Thanks for the tip.

With less F flights now than previous times you do not have that much choice

Thanks for the links, I'll read up on those next time I have a spare hour or two.

If I had the coin I would go via FRA & hop on LH A380....that bird looks very,very good.

Now that really is the long way around I'd imagine the extra points cost would probably be cost-prohibitive though?


OK, so it sounds like QF and CX are getting all the votes - has anyone flown both and can give a direct comparison? Is Thai worth considering? From a quick search it looks like CX has an advantage over QF in terms of general F award availability - can a QF WP request QF F award seats to be released, like we can for QF J and Y?

Also, can someone confirm how far out QF and CX release their award seats? I think it's 365 days and 330 days respectively, but I'm not 100% sure?

 

[cove]

LH is thought of as one of the best in First from a couple of flyers I have talked to recently. Their Frankfurt experience was wonderful.

 

[dfcatch]

WP can request an F classic seat (or at least we could prior to WP1), haven't tried it since.

353 days I think???? (Serfty might correct me) if booking direct, or 330 days if booking via AA or similar.

CX I'm not sure of.

 

[Alanslegal]

I would fly QF A380 to HKG and then CX F to JFK If that won't work, QF A380 to HKG, then OZ F to ICN and JFK

 

[wafliron]

WP can request an F classic seat (or at least we could prior to WP1), haven't tried it since.

Thanks. Might get the chance to find out The other tempting option if I go with QF is to book a JASA and join the upgrade lottery... I do want to try F, but the SCs are also tempting.

353 days I think???? (Serfty might correct me) if booking direct, or 330 days if booking via AA or similar.

Thanks... paging sertfy! If I go with QF or CX I'll have the option of booking either via QF or CX AsiaMiles.

I would fly QF A380 to HKG and then CX F to JFK If that won't work, QF A380 to HKG, then OZ F to ICN and JFK

Thanks for the tip.

Hmm, was just looking at some award seats ~11 months out and I'm struggling to see any MEL-HKG or SYD-HKG QF flights on te A380 - just a mix of A333 and 747? Does the A380 only operate certain days, or am I blind?

 

[Paddy55]

Don't just look for JASAs... There's some nice FASAs around too!
Helps avoid the upgrade lottery, too

 

[wafliron]

Don't just look for JASAs... There's some nice FASAs around too!
Helps avoid the upgrade lottery, too

Yeah, will try for FASAs too, just don't like my chances given what I'm seeing WRT F availability on QF ~12 months out.