F Options Through Asia (OneWorld)

[jamesatfish]

Can anyone provide any suggestions on routes between the US - SE Asia - Australia that still have First on OneWorld carriers?

I’m planning a US trip (NY) and my go-to pre covid used to be booking an ACIR26 with a stopover in HKG on the way there.

These days however it seems none of the OW carriers fly First through a single SE Asian city.

Unfortunately my trip is before CX resume F on their HKG-JFK route in late March.

SIN is out as it seems no OW carrier flies direct to the US from there, and from HND to Australia there are no F services.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not really.

out of AU you have qantas and BA offering F to SIN. From there you’d need to hop to HKG or TYO to pick up CX/JL. Not sure if there are any AA flights left with F, might be a few.

 

[SydneySwan]

J is pretty comfortable these days if you are prepared to slightly lower your standards.

 

[encryptededdy]

You could do SYD-xSIN-xHKG-xHND-JFK on QF, CX, CX, JL to get First Class all the way through. I don't think JL does SIN-HND in F, hence the CX via. HKG.

 

[jamesatfish]

J is pretty comfortable these days if you are prepared to slightly lower your standards.

To be fair I haven't flown international J (NZ doesn't count) for 5+ years so I don't have any recent experience on that front. That said it's also about not wanting to pay for a First fare but only be able to book Business on any of the longer legs.

You could do SYD-xSIN-xHKG-xHND-JFK on QF, CX, CX, JL to get First Class all the way through. I don't think JL does SIN-HND in F, hence the CX via. HKG.

Thanks for the suggestion, will check it out. Shame that it now needs connection through 3 cities in Asia, makes it a little less useful for short-duration business trips.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To be fair I haven't flown international J (NZ doesn't count) for 5+ years so I don't have any recent experience on that front. That said it's also about not wanting to pay for a First fare but only be able to book Business on any of the longer legs.


Thanks for the suggestion, will check it out. Shame that it now needs connection through 3 cities in Asia, makes it a little less useful for short-duration business trips.

Could do F to SIN, then only need F/J SIN-HKG or J SIN-TYO.

 

[RichardMEL]

It's been awhile since I've looked at those Circle Pacific fares, but bouncing around between HKG and TYO - could that start to hit the MPM for such a fare? specially if travelling to NYC or other east coast US destination?

I'd say to suck it up and take a J sector between SIN-TYO to connect to JL F is probably the best product bang for buck and least bouncing around asia options for F service.

 

[sudoer]

Plenty of good info in the thread already, just adding that MH operates their old A350 F (now branded "Business Suites") into NRT, these are still coded as F/A class and earn QFF SC at F rates.

If Starlux eventually joins Oneworld, as some industry commentators expect will happen, that would open up some more opportunities in this space.

 

[Himeno]

JL has F on JL37/36 between HND and SIN. Only sold on the JL and AA codes.

 

[encryptededdy]

JL has F on JL37/36 between HND and SIN. Only sold on the JL and AA codes.

Has that always been a thing? I feel like I didn't see that when I last checked (and was deciding between a DGLOB34 and AGLOB34)

 

[Himeno]

Has that always been a thing? I feel like I didn't see that when I last checked (and was deciding between a DGLOB34 and AGLOB34)

No idea how long it's been a thing. I've never looked for F seats, except where I could do a points upgrade on a QF flight.
I saw that they had F seats on JL37 on Wed and checked it on expertflyer.

JL has 3 daily flights between Singapore and Tokyo. 1 to Narita, 2 to Haneda. Only 1 has F.

 

[elanshin]

Alternatively you can hope that JL actually follows through and put the 773 betwen SYD <> HND which would bring F to SYD.

Right now their booking shows 773 for some months and there were talks pre covid of JL switching into 773 (at least for the busy season) but it hasn't happened yet.

Another alternative is QF J (has F seats but not service) on QF127 to HKG direct. I believe CX also has a SYD > HKG service that is F seat sold as J with J service on their 773.

 

[encryptededdy]

I believe CX also has a SYD > HKG service that is F seat sold as J with J service on their 773.

I'm currently booked on one of these flights later this month in J, however it doesn't let me select the F seats (not even through WhatsApp or calling - apparently you used to be able to), so it looks like if you want the F seats you have to ask at check-in and hope all the Cathay Diamonds haven't taken the seats before you.

If I was OP and using a circle pacific fare, I'd want to book in confirmed F

 

[drron]

Just to confuse things JAL sometimes puts the 773 onto other Asian sectors. On 31/12 JL031 had the 773 and we were upgraded to F with F service
But on 031 today a 789 and a cramped J seat.

 

[jamesatfish]

Many thanks everyone - the first hand knowledge here is always amazing!

I think I’ll explore JL from JFK-HND, getting to SIN on the JL F service if possible then SIN-SYD on BA or QF.

 

[encryptededdy]

JL from JFK-HND

Look out for the new A350-1000 with their brand new F product on JL5 on this route. It'll be every other day for now, but it'll likely become daily from April.

I was looking a while ago on JL6 and couldn't find any "A" space (only "F"), but hopefully you have better luck.

 

[sudoer]

Has that always been a thing? I feel like I didn't see that when I last checked (and was deciding between a DGLOB34 and AGLOB34)

No, it's a relatively recent thing. I believe JAL dropping the 77W to ORD has allowed the SIN and BKK routes.