First into Asia & USA - Options?

[jamesatfish]

It's been a long time since I've been on AFF, with my absence tied to a lack of international travel as a result of having a second child....

It appears that quite a lot has changed since I last booked an overseas flight around 18 months ago.

I used to book the OneWorld ACIR22 Circle Pacific fares to travel to Hong Kong and the west coast of the USA in First, flying QF's A380 SYD-HKG, CX's 777 to SFO and QF again back to Australia.

I've just gone to book the same trip again and discovered that there are no longer any OneWorld options to fly First into Asia.

I assume this is old news to the regulars here - so does anyone have any suggestions for a non-OneWorld alternative to the Circle Pacfic fares, with an airline that has a First cabin across those major sectors?

Other than some trips on Emirates pre-alliance I haven't flown a non-OW airline for the last 15 years, so any suggestions would be most appreciated.

 

[JessicaTam]

It's been a long time since I've been on AFF, with my absence tied to a lack of international travel as a result of having a second child....

It appears that quite a lot has changed since I last booked an overseas flight around 18 months ago.

I used to book the OneWorld ACIR22 Circle Pacific fares to travel to Hong Kong and the west coast of the USA in First, flying QF's A380 SYD-HKG, CX's 777 to SFO and QF again back to Australia.

I've just gone to book the same trip again and discovered that there are no longer any OneWorld options to fly First into Asia.

I assume this is old news to the regulars here - so does anyone have any suggestions for a non-OneWorld alternative to the Circle Pacfic fares, with an airline that has a First cabin across those major sectors?

Other than some trips on Emirates pre-alliance I haven't flown a non-OW airline for the last 15 years, so any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Depending on the day QF is using A380s SYD-HKG, with J service for the F seats. Not quite the same, but pretty close.

 

[trixydoza]

My preferred points-based route to the US these days is MEL/BNE-SIN in EK F for 90,000 QF points and then SIN-NRT-SFO/LAX/ORD on NH F for 99,000 LifeMiles. Not that that helps with revenue-fare options...

 

[dajop]

Can be done on star alliance. SQ to SIN and UA from SFO to SYD. I think various combinations Asia-SFO.

 

[Isochronous]

Is JL F on SYD-NRT permanent? If so maybe you could route exHKG via NRT on JL to continue using Circle Pacific F fares.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's been a long time since I've been on AFF, with my absence tied to a lack of international travel as a result of having a second child....

It appears that quite a lot has changed since I last booked an overseas flight around 18 months ago.

I used to book the OneWorld ACIR22 Circle Pacific fares to travel to Hong Kong and the west coast of the USA in First, flying QF's A380 SYD-HKG, CX's 777 to SFO and QF again back to Australia.

I've just gone to book the same trip again and discovered that there are no longer any OneWorld options to fly First into Asia.

I assume this is old news to the regulars here - so does anyone have any suggestions for a non-OneWorld alternative to the Circle Pacfic fares, with an airline that has a First cabin across those major sectors?

BA still flies SYD-SIN in F, you could connect from there to HKG (some CX services SIN-HKG sometimes offer F, but are subject to aircraft substitution)

CX F across to USA and then QF F home.

(You could also fly CX F HKG-Tokyo Haneda and then JL F Haneda-SFO)

Is JL F on SYD-NRT permanent? If so maybe you could route exHKG via NRT on JL to continue using Circle Pacific F fares.

JL F SYD-NRT ended 28 March.

 

[jamesatfish]

Thanks all for the quick and very helpful responses!

My preferred points-based route to the US these days is MEL/BNE-SIN in EK F for 90,000 QF points and then SIN-NRT-SFO/LAX/ORD on NH F for 99,000 LifeMiles. Not that that helps with revenue-fare options...

The EK flight idea does help thanks - I can't make it part of a one world fare (unless it has QF flight numbers) but at least it'd be an SC earner.

Is JL F on SYD-NRT permanent? If so maybe you could route exHKG via NRT on JL to continue using Circle Pacific F fares.

Sounded good, but I saw MEL_Traveller's note that I just missed that option.

Depending on the day QF is using A380s SYD-HKG, with J service for the F seats. Not quite the same, but pretty close.

This would work pretty well. I asked the QF agent what aircraft were being used on that leg (thinking of the new Business Suites on the A330) but was told they're all 744s the weeks I was looking at flying.

Do you know what days the A380 is servicing that sector?

Can be done on star alliance. SQ to SIN and UA from SFO to SYD. I think various combinations Asia-SFO.

Do you know if Star Alliance do a multi-leg fare similar to the OW fares? I've heard good things about SQ First, though not so much about UA.

BA still flies SYD-SIN in F, you could connect from there to HKG (some CX services SIN-HKG sometimes offer F, but are subject to aircraft substitution)

CX F across to USA and then QF F home.

(You could also fly CX F HKG-Tokyo Haneda and then JL F Haneda-SFO)

JL F SYD-NRT ended 28 March.

I didn't realise BA still serviced that route - I assume it's their 744?

That might be the best option, depending on timing of flights SIN-HKG. Will check it out further!

 

[dajop]

Do you know if Star Alliance do a multi-leg fare similar to the OW fares? I've heard good things about SQ First, though not so much about UA.



I didn't realise BA still serviced that route - I assume it's their 744?

That might be the best option, depending on timing of flights SIN-HKG. Will check it out further!

Star Alliance has a circle pacific product, not as good as the one world product as it doesn't go beyond the west coast (North America) but if only going to SFO it works. There's a couple of SQ F aficionado's on AFF, unfortunately I'm not one of them. :-(. But no doubt they would suggest A380 F suites to LAX (via NRT not HKG though )

I forgot about BA service to SIN, that would probably give best flexibility in terms of operating daily. It's operated by new 777-300ER aircraft in the inferior cabins hard product a step up from the old 744's they used to run to SYD.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do you know if Star Alliance do a multi-leg fare similar to the OW fares? I've heard good things about SQ First, though not so much about UA.



I didn't realise BA still serviced that route - I assume it's their 744?

That might be the best option, depending on timing of flights SIN-HKG. Will check it out further!

You raise a good point... the BA flight is an afternoon departure from SYD, arrving 9.45pm. This connects with a CX service to HKG at 0120 (but it's a regional configured aircraft). BA uses their 777-300 on the route now.

Star alliance has similar RTW fares. This would allow you SQ and All nippon... however... back from the USA your options are limited to United F for a pure transpacific (non-stop).

I actually find UA F pretty good.... their beds are very comfortable, service can be very good (as good as CX/SQ)... but their meals are what you'd describe as 'comfort food' rather than 'gourmet' that some other airlines attempt. However... for the price you're going to pay for F class, they don't necessarily represent good value for money.

 

[Isochronous]

CX has inconsistent F offering on SIN-HKG. Do JL have any ex SIN F services?

 

[jamesatfish]

According to the QF timetable, the A380 is only flying SYD-HKG until 12 April, when it reverts to a 744 until 26 May. As I won't be flying this week, there goes that option.

It doesn't look like JL are of much help - they appear only to fly a 763 between SIN and NRT.

The SIN-HKG sector is only 4 hours so the lack of F on that flight isn't as big an issue as the timing of the connection. QF127 into HKG arrives early enough that I can do what I need to do and fly out to the US on the midnight express that evening. Connecting via SIN means having to overnight in Hong Kong which adds extra time away from home.

I'll look further into the Star Alliance offering - the pricing looks pretty much on par with OW so it's just a matter of finding a schedule that works.

Failing that, I might just stick to my previous plan and take a cup of concrete with my QF J seat to HKG. From what I can see the MEL-HKG flights on QF29 are on the A330 with the new Business Suite layout, so an A or K seat on that aircraft might be a pretty good compromise.

 

[eminere]

I didn't realise BA still serviced that route - I assume it's their 744?

SYD-SIN is served by the B77W.