British Airways SYD-LON - Premium Economy

[becinbloom]

British Airways SYD-LHR - Premium Economy

hi there
can anyone tell me what british airways premium economy is like these day?
Thanks
Bec

 

[becinbloom]

i apologize for incorrect spelling i meant British Airways

 

[ts911993]

i flew it in October. I though it was the equivalent of Qantas Y! My wife thought it was worse! YMMV.

 

[becinbloom]

do you know how it compares with cathay pacific premium economy?

 

[becinbloom]

Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

Hi There
We are comparing Premium economy and Economy seats for return flights to London in May 2014...



Questions:
1. What is Cathay Pacific Premium Economy like? (as they seem to be the cheapest for P.E. in MAY 2014)


2. What airlines has the best long-haul Economy seats in terms of a good recline and good service...



thank you once again --
Bec from Sydney

 

[SeatBackForward]

re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

Hey Bec, London Heathrow's code is LHR, not LND..these AFF'ers will be a pedantic lot!

I'm doing Cathay in Premium next week SYD to HKG, will probably put a report with some pics.

 

[SeatBackForward]

BEc, you've asked the same question over here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-economy-vs-economy-syd-58211.html#post995242

Mods can combine the two threads together.

 

[yohy?!]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

Questions:
1. What is Cathay Pacific Premium Economy like? (as they seem to be the cheapest for P.E. in MAY 2014)

Aus to HKG with CX is on the A330 which has the PE cabin in front of economy and is served by the economy flight attendants - service is a bit patchy as a result. (HKG to LHR will likely be the 777 which I havent flown in PE as yet, will try later this month to the US).

Catering is economy plus a little more - you get a choice of 2 dishes from the business menu as the main, while the second meal is same as economy. Same drinks menu as economy.

Seat is an extra 6 inches of legroom, a little more width and recline than economy in a smaller cabin (feels quieter and a little more private than economy). Cabin layout is 2-4-2 so you have to watch out for the middle seats as you'll be climbing over people - if 2 together best to go the pairs on the sides.

I find Cathay pretty comparable to Qantas PE although Qantas has slightly better seats (the recline feels deeper), not enough to spend more on flying QF though.

CX service is typically superior to Qantas also - more staff per passenger who work harder in my experience

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

Aus to HKG with CX is on the A330 which has the PE cabin in front of economy and is served by the economy flight attendants - service is a bit patchy as a result. (HKG to LHR will likely be the 777 which I havent flown in PE as yet, will try later this month to the US).

Catering is economy plus a little more - you get a choice of 2 dishes from the business menu as the main, while the second meal is same as economy. Same drinks menu as economy.

Seat is an extra 6 inches of legroom, a little more width and recline than economy in a smaller cabin (feels quieter and a little more private than economy). Cabin layout is 2-4-2 so you have to watch out for the middle seats as you'll be climbing over people - if 2 together best to go the pairs on the sides.

I find Cathay pretty comparable to Qantas PE although Qantas has slightly better seats (the recline feels deeper), not enough to spend more on flying QF though.

CX service is typically superior to Qantas also - more staff per passenger who work harder in my experience

Thanks yohy?! i've done CX in J several times last year, so will be interesting to see how Y+ compares.

Small note of correction, the A333 has a 2-3-2 config for Y+, and according to ExpertFlyer, the back row, row 33 is for premium passengers only - which is where I've selected.

I wonder if thats so the Y Crew know who to pay attention to when they come from the main Y cabin, and be discrete to the other Y+ passengers? (I wish)

 

[becinbloom]

hi there
im so sorry i am new to this board so im still working my way around..

 

[SeatBackForward]

hi there
im so sorry i am new to this board so im still working my way around..

Don't worry everyone was new at some stage.

 

[equus]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

Thanks yohy?! i've done CX in J several times last year, so will be interesting to see how Y+ compares.

Flew both last year on CX (award flights, couldn't clear J both ways to AMS, so PE out via HKG and J back).

Haven't endured Y, so can't really compare, but big difference between PE and J. I am sure PE is a step above Y, but J is still a big step above PE.

For some one tall(and with long legs) the CX PE is not great for sleeping. The footrest is next to useless. Better than Y, but when comparing to J (old or new), no contest.

 

[becinbloom]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

I am trying to follow all these J and U abbreviations lol ...a bit confused im leaning more towards booking a Qantas Economy fare on an A380 ... and praying/hoping for an upgrade

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

I am trying to follow all these J and U abbreviations lol ...a bit confused im leaning more towards booking a Qantas Economy fare on an A380 ... and praying/hoping for an upgrade

J=Full business class fare, U = Reward Business class fare.

The chances of getting an upgrade are only slightly increased if you are a high status frequent flyer, and the flight is oversold etc. "hoping" for an upgrade is probably going to lead to disappointment, best to just accept that you'll be in the class you've paid for. Do you have many Qantas FF points you could use to apply for an upgrade?

 

[becinbloom]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

we have bronze status only but with qantas club access and 90k points each...

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

we have bronze status only but with qantas club access and 90k points each...

Here's the points required to upgrade (each)



Your QC access will let you use the Qantas Lounges at both Sydney and London, but I suspect they wont help in any upgrade chances.

 

[becinbloom]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

how do i find out if i can get an upgrade using points on these flights (before i book)

May 12th - QF 1

May 18th - QF 2

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

how do i find out if i can get an upgrade using points on these flights (before i book)

May 12th - QF 1

May 18th - QF 2

You can apply for an upgrade on any booking, the chances of receiving them are altogether different.

If you're booking in discount economy (which is where most economy tickets will be), your 90k points is only enough for one person to get upgraded and only one way, and that is *if* you get the upgrade, you wont know until about 24hrs before the departure.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

how do i find out if i can get an upgrade using points on these flights (before i book)

May 12th - QF 1

May 18th - QF 2

I.e. you can't. Welcome to QFF!

You can apply for an upgrade on any booking, the chances of receiving them are altogether different.

If you're booking in discount economy (which is where most economy tickets will be), your 90k points is only enough for one person to get upgraded and only one way, and that is *if* you get the upgrade, you wont know until about 24hrs before the departure.

 

[markis10]

Re: Premium Economy vs Economy Sydney London

how do i find out if i can get an upgrade using points on these flights (before i book)

May 12th - QF 1

May 18th - QF 2

You can use flightstats.com to see how many seats are for sale, ie Fare Classes: F/7 A/7 P/0 J/9 C/9 D/9 I/9 U/0 W/9 R/9 T/0 Z/0 Y/9 B/9 H/9 K/9 M/9 L/9 V/9 S/9 N/9 Q/9 O/0 G/0 X/9 E/0
Thats for your outbound flight and shows at least 9 seat available in the first, business and PE cabins. What you cannot see is what will be the results when your upgrade is processed and who is ahead of you in the queue. In reality all you can do is see when there is no chance of an upgrade.

With some speculation that Qantas may change the LHR flights, those seats can go pretty quickly if they cancel one of the services.