First PE flight on QF - Any tips?

[b1463065]

Hi Gang,

I have some flights booked to LHR in PE, Purchased via BA but on QF code share. Thanks to this forum and the various reviews, I realised pretty early-on that QF have the best PE product and thus made sure that all BA legs were on QF Metal. Ideally I would have booked it all through QF but the difference in price was quite astounding. QF - $4,700 versus BA - $2900 although I did have 15% off BA as im a MLC customer. Very excited to be flying premium for a change!

SYD- SIN BA7305 - 747 - 35A
SIN -LHR BA7309 - A380 27A

LHR -SIN BA7310 - A380 - 27k
SIN - SYD BA7306 - 747 -35k


I'm a QP,Silver and wanted to enquire about the following:

1. Having never flown PE, I have no idea if my seat choices are any good? If anyone has any experiences of these seats please let me know good/bad?
2. Are the 747 seats better than the A380, I heard they are old business skybeds that are nearly lie-flat?
3. I have roughly 65 minutes between connecting flights, thats pretty tight? Seems like ill be off one and on to another. I was hoping to get a shower, Im guessing I wont have time?
4. Whats the lounge situation in T3 LHR for a QP Silver? Seems like some people have had issues in the past?
5. Another tips for to make this a more enjoyable experience?
6. due to my lowly status im guessing i cant get access to the front two rows of PE?
7. Thinking of buying a First lounge pass to make this more memorable, is it that good?
8. Can I charge my phone/laptop at my seat?

Many thanks & much appreciated.

 

[Andyzx]

Yes this was a good deal, even a bargain to answer some of your questions my opinions there are others
1. Try seat expert or seatguru and make your own mine up as there are different config's for the flights
2. 747 and A380 seats are the same onboard, the location is different. 747 they are close to the exit door so good for your quick turnaround. A380 back of upstairs so might be quiet for the sleeping leg
3 No problem unless your inbound plane is late Shower, this will be difficult as it is a busy time in SIN
4. QP members get access to the Intl lounge Post your flight details in the meetings section of AFF and search for your flight days, some kind soul might get you access to the F lounge. Make sure you take your QP card. The lounge dragons in LHR may not let you in without it. Boarding card is not sufficient.
5 Enjoy looking at those that pass you going to Y, remember that that is you usually. Eat, drink and be sensible
6 Try checking seat plans at T-80 hours you may get lucky with the fwd rows
7 ?
8 A380 yes, 747 maybe depending on config but I think so.

 

[ajw373]

2. Are the 747 seats better than the A380, I heard they are old business skybeds that are nearly lie-flat?

Not quite. The seats in PE on both 747 and A380 are more or less the same as each other and are a bit like business seats were before skybeds. They are most certainly NOT skybeds.

4. Whats the lounge situation in T3 LHR for a QP Silver? Seems like some people have had issues in the past?

As for your access you should have no issues getting into the T3 BA Business lounge. The issues you speak of have been sorted for the flights you are taking.

 

[b1463065]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Happy flying.

 

[harvyk]

2. Are the 747 seats better than the A380, I heard they are old business skybeds that are nearly lie-flat?

For a while some 747 flights were using the lower deck J cabin for PE pax, but I would not be holding your breath on that one. The PE seats are like the DOM J seats. They are not beds, but more like big comfy air chairs with a tray table and TV build in.

 

[blu]

see here for QF A380:
Best seats: Premium Economy, Qantas' refurbished Airbus A380 - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[blueflamenco]

Nice find

In answer to your question.. "5. Another tips for to make this a more enjoyable experience?"

I would say - look forward to the experience (it certainly beats economy!) but don't over think it and build it up too much or you may be a little disappointed.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[haggiscat]

It's great if you're there to enjoy the flight and are happy to recline with a few drinks and watch some tv/listen to music. Friend found it pretty average for sleeping. Worth the price difference in either case, particularly if its a choice between that and 50E.

I'd qualify that by saying the biggest problem is getting stuck. If you have seats in front of you and no aisle access, forget it. The people in front will recline immediately after takeoff and the crew on my flights didn't request they move forward even for the dinner service. Of course this is simply poor design of the cabin as you can't sit the equivalent of four domestic J seats together like that without middle access - they should charge a bit more and rejig it a bit.

On the SIN-FRA sector I was stuck in a middle seat and would much rather have been sitting in the first row of Economy.

 

[blu]

We had exit row UD A380 (38JK?). The Croser fiz was nice but the seat got uncomfortable by about 8 hours. Would I do again - yes definitely.