Flight advice: MEL to ORD business class v premium econ options on OW

[nezbit]

Hello,

Need some advice. I have a work trip coming up for 5 days in Chicago and have two options for travel. Would you rather fly:

Option 1 (23h in Premium Econ)

MEL to LAX on Qantas Premium Economy (QF93)

21:10 - 18:30 (~14h)

Transit in LAX (~4h) with oneworld sapphire status

LAX to ORD on AA Economy (AA1683)

22:54 - 05:03 (~4h)

Returning ORD to LAX on AA Economy (QF3102)

17:00 - 19:17

LAX to MEL on Qantas Premium Economy (QF93)

OR

Option 2 (30-36h in Business)

MEL TO HKG on CX Business Class (CX104)

Transit in HKG (2.5h)

HKG to LAX on CX Business Class (CX880)

Transit in Lax (2.5h)

LAX to ORD on AA First Class (AA762)

Returning ORD to LAX on AA First Class (AA419)

Transit in LAX 3h

LAX to HKG on CX Business Class (CX881)

Transit in HKG 4.5h

HKG to MEL on CX business Class (CX163)

(both depart this Sunday and start return next Friday)

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

If I had to pick, the business class by far ... Premium economy overnight you're still upright...so you have 14 hour upright overnight, then an upright red-eye on a US domestic flight...if you get an oasis config plane your knees will be jammed.

Is AA an option ? Their prices to LAX seem to be cheaper with greater I class availability for business.

Risk of CX though is if you get a cancellation somewhere you could be trapped in HK?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Under normal circumstances, the CX J option would win. But given the situation through HKG at present, the Y+ would be less risky.

 

[Lynda2475]

Did corporate travel agent check if there was any J available from SYD - DFW - ORD on QF or AA? Would be easy to add on a MEL-SYD.

DFW and ORD are both AA hubs.

In normal times Id agree CX J options will leave you best placed to arrive rested, but personally not keen to transit KH atm due to Covid restrictions.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Welcome to AFF, cross-posting is usually discouraged as it splits the discussion: Flight advice: PE on Qantas (23h) or Business on CX (30-36h)