First class upgrade on QF1

[jase05]

I put in a request recently MEL > SIN and the first upgrade came through. I thought it was great, and as I’m not platinum I don’t ordinarily have access to the first lounge. So given access to that lounge, including the spa and then a day time flight to enjoy the food and service onboard it was worth it. On the rerun flight i decided to not put in a request on the basis there is no QF 1st lounge in Singapore and as it was an overnight flight, I don’t think sleeping in first vs business is differentiated enough to justify the points.

Have never flown F on QF but the seats on their A380 in J are quite possibly the most uncomfortable J seats I’ve ever tried to sleep in and was horrible. I would hope the seating is far better in F and the feedback on here suggests that to be the case.
Personally for me on an overnight flight seat/bed comfort is my number 1 priority over food, service etc

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Have never flown F on QF but the seats on their A380 in J are quite possibly the most uncomfortable J seats I’ve ever tried to sleep in and was horrible. I would hope the seating is far better in F and the feedback on here suggests that to be the case.
Personally for me on an overnight flight seat/bed comfort is my number 1 priority over food, service etc

You've never tried to sleep on an overnight MH Boeing 737 departing midnight then?

Definitely the seat and bed is more important an a night flight. QF F supper service is basic anyway: wines the same but narrow choice of food. Usually best to either eat on the previous flight or in the lounge before boarding, have a couple of Champagnes on board if you're that way inclined and then get some shut eye.

 

[coco50]

In a frenzy of status chasing fever I booked a return business flight to the UK.

Never bought anything other than economy in my life and have had only one bizzo experience earlier in the year.

Then I see QF dangle this upgrade button in front of me for 75k points and I start to think upgrading isn't just a good idea but some kind of imperative...

Questions I had to the more experienced flyers are:

1. Part of me thinks I'm being ridiculous - should just enjoy the bizzo experience and build up to the first class thing some other time?
2. A lot of reviews suggest the QF A380 bizzo cabin is pretty tired and not all that great- is this just a case of nitpicking/first world problems?
3. Is first class worth the 75k points?
4. What are my actual chances of a sucessful upgrade on this route (departing 13 Dec)?

Is it worth the 75K points? Hell yeah! Chances of success? The earlier you go the better your chance. A lot depends on your status. Seeing that the flight is at the busy time of the year, it may not be successful, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[Hermes]

I upgraded with points a couple of years ago (MEL-LHR) -- 140K from memory -- just for the experience. Usually travel J.
Food much the same as J. Service better (better staff-pax ratio). Bed very comfortable.
Wouldn't do it again. BTDT now.
BTW, I relaxed in what I remember as the QF lounge at LHR. Or is memory failing -- was it the BA F lounge? An earlier post said there is no QF F lounge at LHR.

 

[notqantas]

In a frenzy of status chasing fever I booked a return business flight to the UK.

Never bought anything other than economy in my life and have had only one bizzo experience earlier in the year.

Then I see QF dangle this upgrade button in front of me for 75k points and I start to think upgrading isn't just a good idea but some kind of imperative...

Questions I had to the more experienced flyers are:

1. Part of me thinks I'm being ridiculous - should just enjoy the bizzo experience and build up to the first class thing some other time?
2. A lot of reviews suggest the QF A380 bizzo cabin is pretty tired and not all that great- is this just a case of nitpicking/first world problems?
3. Is first class worth the 75k points?
4. What are my actual chances of a sucessful upgrade on this route (departing 13 Dec)?

QF First is fine as an aspiration, but is proven consistently to be an astoundingly weak experience in delivery. The A380 cabin is tired and the attitude and performance of the Qantas First crew is often the same.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

QF First is fine as an aspiration, but is proven consistently to be an astoundingly weak experience in delivery. The A380 cabin is tired and the attitude and performance of the Qantas First crew is often the same.

"astoundingly weak" is a gross misrepresentation of the QF F product.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

"astoundingly weak" is a gross misrepresentation of the QF F product.

I think it's a reasonably fair statement for the price point. Compared to top-tier carriers it is not strong. I they were pricing it in the $7,000-$8000 range to the UK it would be a different assessment. But not at $16K.

 

[TheEmu]

Having already stumped up the cash for your first J trip, I’d stick with it, to be honest. Even QF’s tired 380 J seats should be light-years ahead of all of your other flying to now. The SIN-BNE leg on the 330 will be The best cabin of the trip. To burn your QF points, there are much nicer ways to experience F: 90k (+$325) for mel-sin on EK405 is an excellent example, IMHO. And quite often available...

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I think it's a reasonably fair statement for the price point. Compared to top-tier carriers it is not strong. I they were pricing it in the $7,000-$8000 range to the UK it would be a different assessment. But not at $16K.

True on the price point but the same could be said of CX J: everyone, including myself, loves the great seat but CX can charge like a wounded bull for it. But even when you consider the poor wine on offer I wouldn’t regard CX J as “astoundingly weak”

 

[jomar]

We have the same dilemma as the OP, with an added wrinkle. We've put in for a J->F upgrade for 2 pax (I'm SG; this is QF1 SYD-SIN on Nov 24th if anyone feels like looking up loadings; 25K points per person) and one pax has requested a gluten free special meal.

Does anyone have any experience of QF GF catering in F? Or of the interaction of special meal requests and J->F upgrades? It would be nice to visit the Flounge for the first time, but if the GF catering on the plane is going to turn into a disaster area I would rather cancel the upgrade request...

 

[GoldCanyon340]

We have the same dilemma as the OP, with an added wrinkle. We've put in for a J->F upgrade for 2 pax (I'm SG; this is QF1 SYD-SIN on Nov 24th if anyone feels like looking up loadings

6 F seats available

 

[froggerADL]

I say go for it. F is much nicer than J and you are guaranteed aisle access. You can get 75,000 QF points from one credit card sign-up bonus. As for the comments about the poor QF product here is my recent experience:

This time last year I flew Qantas F SYD-DXB-LHR on an award ticket. While a little tired, the F suite is still excellent. The FAs were great. On the DXB-LHR leg I mentioned that I love the F PJs and that I wear them at home, so I was given four pairs. Later, the same FA served me a glass of Penfolds RWT and I told him that it is a really nice wine. I took a bottle of that with me too! And, no, I wasn't hinting. I didn't need to use the call button once.

Last week I flew EK F MEL-DXB-LGW on an award ticket. It's a better hard product and I love caviar which Qantas don't do. The booze is also top-notch. The service was nowhere near as attentive as QF and if I wanted a drink I had to use the call button almost every time. On arrival at DBX there was no aerobridge to the upper deck so all F & J pax had to walk down the stairs. I require wheelchair assistance and had to wait 30 minutes for the truck to arrive and then another 30 minutes until I got to the lounge. My luggage was left at DBX so I had no clean clothes for my first 24 hours in London. Fortunately, my walker made the flight. An hour was wasted at the airport sorting this out. EK have not contacted me about the lost luggage (possibly to apologise for the inconvienience to an F pax), it was just handled by airport baggage services.

Based on those two experieces, I'd choose Qantas.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I say go for it. F is much nicer than J and you are guaranteed aisle access. You can get 75,000 QF points from one credit card sign-up bonus. As for the comments about the poor QF product here is my recent experience:

This time last year I flew Qantas F SYD-DXB-LHR on an award ticket. While a little tired, the F suite is still excellent. The FAs were great. On the DXB-LHR leg I mentioned that I love the F PJs and that I wear them at home, so I was given four pairs. Later, the same FA served me a glass of Penfolds RWT and I told him that it is a really nice wine. I took a bottle of that with me too! And, no, I wasn't hinting. I didn't need to use the call button once.

Last week I flew EK F MEL-DXB-LGW on an award ticket. It's a better hard product and I love caviar which Qantas don't do. The booze is also top-notch. The service was nowhere near as attentive as QF and if I wanted a drink I had to use the call button almost every time. On arrival at DBX there was no aerobridge to the upper deck so all F & J pax had to walk down the stairs. I require wheelchair assistance and had to wait 30 minutes for the truck to arrive and then another 30 minutes until I got to the lounge. My luggage was left at DBX so I had no clean clothes for my first 24 hours in London. Fortunately, my walker made the flight. An hour was wasted at the airport sorting this out. EK have not contacted me about the lost luggage (possibly to apologise for the inconvienience to an F pax), it was just handled by airport baggage services.

Based on those two experieces, I'd choose Qantas.

Service can be luck of the draw. I have just had 4 legs with EK with amazing service on every one. I particularly compare the DXB-MEL legs - very tired when we got on, as we were travelling from Africa, they gave us a quick bite to eat, made up the bed had a lovely sleep, woke up hungry and had a full meal. When we did the same journey with Qantas a few years ago, the first part was the same, lovely quick servuce with a bowl of soup and bed made up and nice sleep. Fell to pieces when I woke up and got a whole lot of attitude when I didn’t want the streak sandwich and asked if there was anything else and a lot of sighing when I said was it possible to get some cheese and crackers.

I have had lovely service from Qantas at times, but F is not cheap and I am very easy going, so I want an airline that is going to meet my needs without me having to be pushy - I don’t enjoy it. Food and alcohol way better on EK - once again if I am paying for it I am looking for value for money.

 

[CaptJCool]

I think it's a reasonably fair statement for the price point. Compared to top-tier carriers it is not strong. I they were pricing it in the $7,000-$8000 range to the UK it would be a different assessment. But not at $16K.

Agree not worth $16k

On FF Points, 192k will see you one way Aust to LHR (unless you fly ex-Perth where it’s cheaper)
So invest your 75k on a wing and a prayer. The FFers I’ve met who’ve flown QF F rave about how good is the bedding !!

PS note in Jan this year, the Mel-LHR F Sale return was $9995. Next years offering in Oct 18 for 2019 was nearer $11k than $10k. At that rate would deliver QF Plat EVEN without a DSC. Today it’s $11,324 for Mar 19....

 

[lilkid28]

Yes register to upgrade. It's just another credit card signup to get that 75k bonus points back, or more.

 

[dacom]

I would go for it, however the chance are slim to none. I tried the upgrade path probably 10 times in the past and never ended up sitting in first.
I only ever got upgraded, the very first time flying LHR to MEL, to my surprise in Dubai boarding the final leg, he ripped my boarding pass without saying anything and printed a new one. To my surprise it had a seat assignment of 5K. Couldn't believe my luck, had a big smile on my face and didn't even get charged the points for the upgrade. Thanks Qantas

 

[kermatu]

I would go for it, however the chance are slim to none. I tried the upgrade path probably 10 times in the past and never ended up sitting in first.
I only ever got upgraded, the very first time flying LHR to MEL, to my surprise in Dubai boarding the final leg, he ripped my boarding pass without saying anything and printed a new one. To my surprise it had a seat assignment of 5K. Couldn't believe my luck, had a big smile on my face and didn't even get charged the points for the upgrade. Thanks Qantas

If you didn't put an upgrade request for this flight then it sounds like it was an operational upgrade. If so, no points deducted!

 

[dacom]

If you didn't put an upgrade request for this flight then it sounds like it was an operational upgrade. If so, no points deducted!

yes i did put in an upgrade request for the whole LHR-MEL trip but didnt get the upgrade leaving LHR.
It may have still been an operational upgrade but i'm extremely happy it was me who got it

 

[lilkid28]

I would go for it, however the chance are slim to none. I tried the upgrade path probably 10 times in the past and never ended up sitting in first.
I only ever got upgraded, the very first time flying LHR to MEL, to my surprise in Dubai boarding the final leg, he ripped my boarding pass without saying anything and printed a new one. To my surprise it had a seat assignment of 5K. Couldn't believe my luck, had a big smile on my face and didn't even get charged the points for the upgrade. Thanks Qantas

At least you got the longer leg of the flight upgraded, and for free! Well done.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re QF F product for the price.

I think it's so relative isn't it? And subjective?

If you paid $16k (let's say) it's maybe not the best, given you could just as easily go SQ, QR or EK and thus you'd probably be flying QF for other reasons (eg: loyalty, DSC, whatever). Of course folks who can afford $16k just for the travel component of a trip are either on corporate fares or rather well off (and good for them ).

However, as pointed out, if paying with points, which are not imppossible to come by (eg sign up bonuses, epiqure and so on) then it's a different value propoisitiuon, as is upgrading.

and to each their own too.

The other thing is a couple of what I would call broad generalisations have been made about the cabin crews in F and service attitudes. I don't flow QF F a lotm but I've flown it enough between AU and the US and UK (luckily!) that I've had enough variation to know that in general I feel at least the crews are pretty good. I've had some.. odd experiences with some crew members making me feel like a request was an inconvenience (eg a steak sanga while they were doing prep for brekky) but in general they have been excellet and showing levels of personal attention. On more than one sector I've had a FA recognise me from other flights and that's been a bonus.

As we all know, and to varying degrees "love" QF can be inconsistent and yes this happens with the crews.. we're all human. Not an excuse in any way, when you get a bad one, you get a bad one (or a good one having a bad day). It also in a way can depend on what you go in with (tiredness, expectation, needs).

and of course some folks value different aspects of the product.

for me if my focus was on F&B I'd go for SQ or EK (wine/champ/spirits) etc...
for sleep the QF product with the new(ish) bedding is super comfortable. It's been the best sleep in the sky I've had by a long way and compared to the old it's amazing how different the experience is. New SQ suites (with the separate drop down bed) would be a strong contender too).. the current EK F product on the 380's (have not tried the new new 77W) for me is comfy but a tad narrow and somehow not on par with the QF bed).
And if you want the shower and the bling.. EK or EY obviously!

yes, the QF F suites are dated.. and while they are getting a "refresh" it's nothing major (compared to the J suites going in place of the skydroops) which is major.. but I am sure it will improve it a little bit.

Obviously at the premium end, and the F end, it's totally reasonable and understandable to be picky about product - relatively few get to have these choices or dilemmas.. and those of us lucky enough to enjoy such experiences (I think) definitely know how variable products can be and for the price (or points/miles) paid then yes absolutely be critical of the product offered.

just some thoughts