Qantas Business to First Upgrade and Lounge Access

[mella2007]

It's a shame you didn't find these forums before you booked so the friendly people here could have assisted you with better value for points.

However do enjoy yourself!! It's your honeymoon and I'm the sure you'll both have magical memories and a laugh about it in years to come. All the best

 

[mannej]

Forgot to mention the SYD-HNL flight was 3 hours delayed, so we had to pay almost $150 in change fees for our HNL-OGG flights with Hawaiian Airlines. Qantas offered no help in the process because we didn't book the Maui leg directly with them. How do you even do that? If you go to Qantas.com it says they don't fly to Maui. At a loss on that one.

Unfortunately that is the risk you run when you purchase separate tickets.

 

[trooper]

True... but I hope mella2007 has summed it up correctly... and having ALSO flown long-haul (a number of times) in "Recliner" seats I will still say..

It's better than down the back!!!!!

Again.. Congratulations and best wished for your life together...

 

[Jack_OC]

Wow I wish I had seen your post before I booked - I had no idea how old the business class is on this route! Why don't they say something on their web site when you're booking your flights?

I subsequently went back to the web site and looked at all the brochure material on the site about business class and found a small condition at the bottom of one of the pages about the lack of skybeds on the route... They couldn't have hidden it better if they tried! They also don't mention about what you get instead of the skybeds! You think they could mention it at some point during the booking process? Also - if you read the section on "entertainment" in international business you'll laugh - no exclusions or conditions there.

What a waste of 288,000 points and $1500 in 'taxes'.

Thanks Qantas - that's why Australia chooses to fly with you for international travel.

I understand your disappointment and agree with you that QF (and others) really don't make it obvious enough that business class varies on different planes/routes. However, I don't think you can say your points were wasted. It would have cost you a minimum of $4k for two economy returns, so even if you take the view that Business was no different to economy, your points saved you at least $2,500. But bad and all as this Business product is, it's a lot better than economy, so you got more value than that for your points. Yes, you could have done better on a different route, but definitely not a total waste. Anyway, forget about it now and have a great honeymoon!

 

[mannej]

Of the 3 carriers on that route - they do use the older of the planes, but they have the most room in their business class.

Hawaiian does have personal IFE, but with the iPads coming online, that option will atleast be provided for.

It has been the topic of much discussion as to why QF are still sending their 767's to places like HNL (and up until recently MNL and NRT), but they seem to be able to justify it for what ever reasons.

 

[financialminimalism]

Unfortunately that is the risk you run when you purchase separate tickets.

but how do you book with Qantas to Maui?? I just rang 131313 and asked and they said they don't offer flights there and suggested booking with another carrier. I said we used our points for the booking and she said we definitely can't book with them points or pay to Maui. We would have happily done so, but the web site won't let you choose it as a destination either.



We had a great honeymoon, thanks all for your well wishes. The service and food we received on the flight was great as well, so you can't fault them for that; they did a good job handling a very grumpy group of business class passengers! I wish I had found the forum sooner to not fall into the trap, but in fairness they should explain or show the different types of products they offer, rather than just show the best and you don't know what you'll end up getting if you're unlucky flying on an older aircraft.

Thanks all!

 

[mannej]

If you can't purchase them on the same ticket, you will need to allow for extra time in your connections, as you are not protected should you miss your flight.

As for the info, this is what was found on the QF website. They do state explicitly that no Skybeds are on the HNL run.

 

[financialminimalism]

If you can't purchase them on the same ticket, you will need to allow for extra time in your connections, as you are not protected should you miss your flight.

As for the info, this is what was found on the QF website. They do state explicitly that no Skybeds are on the HNL run.

Qantas advised to leave a minimum of 2 hours for inter island connections. We allowed almost double that. However the mechanical fault delayed us several hours, eating up any time we had originally allowed. You would have had to allow a minimum of a 5-6 hour stop over if you wanted to factor in for their delay.

I agree it was that on the website - I found the exclusions text at the bottom of the page after we returned. It doesn't say what you do actually get though. It was describes the best they have to offer in business class, then say it doesn't apply to the route. Which begs the question, what are you getting?

Also, if you click the link on the same page you pointed out called Entertainment, it describes an advanced system with hundreds of titles, telephone, etc. It makes no mention of route exclusions on that page, yet when you get on the 20+ year old plane, there is actually no personal entertainment system, let alone advanced. Flight attendants just resort to handing out DVD players to passengers. Very misleading according to the link you shared.

 

[mannej]

The page I showed you isn't misleading at all. It does state you don't get skybeds going to HNL.

A small technicality, but the international 767's are 5-6 years off 20, so not quite there yet.

 

[JohnPhelan]

It makes no mention of route exclusions on that page, yet when you get on the 20+ year old plane......

When you're having a go at Qantas for a lack of accuracy, it rather unmdermines your position when you make inaccurate claims yourself!

QF currently has four 767s in international configuration - two of them came into service in 1997 (OGR and OGS), the other two in 1998 (OGT and OGU). So they are 14 and 15 years old. Not quite the same as your quoted "20+ year old plane". (Let alone the fact that they are currently undergoing a complete interior refit.)

Bottom line - you were a lot better off in J on the 767 than you would have been if you'd been sitting in Y.

For what it's worth, I've just come back from HNL - both ways got A330s. And to be honest, I probably would have preferred the 767 for the return (daytime) leg.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas advised to leave a minimum of 2 hours for inter island connections. We allowed almost double that. However the mechanical fault delayed us several hours, eating up any time we had originally allowed. You would have had to allow a minimum of a 5-6 hour stop over if you wanted to factor in for their delay.

I agree it was that on the website - I found the exclusions text at the bottom of the page after we returned. It doesn't say what you do actually get though. It was describes the best they have to offer in business class, then say it doesn't apply to the route. Which begs the question, what are you getting?

Also, if you click the link on the same page you pointed out called Entertainment, it describes an advanced system with hundreds of titles, telephone, etc. It makes no mention of route exclusions on that page, yet when you get on the 20+ year old plane, there is actually no personal entertainment system, let alone advanced. Flight attendants just resort to handing out DVD players to passengers. Very misleading according to the link you shared.

if it was a mechanical delay, and you followed their advice (allowing minimum 2 hours for the connection), I would write them an email and request the $150 change fees to be refunded. They can only say 'no'.

I know there are many people who say they prefer the mechanical problems to be discovered on the ground (etc etc) but 4 hours is considerable and if you were looking at a comparison, EU compensation specifically excludes mechanical problems which it deems are within the carriers control.

A short email takes a few minutes and could be worth $300. If not cash, then as a business class passenger they might give you vouchers for future travel.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Unfortunately that is the risk you run when you purchase separate tickets.

Especially outside the alliance structure

 

[Sprucegoose]

but how do you book with Qantas to Maui?? I just rang 131313 and asked and they said they don't offer flights there and suggested booking with another carrier. I said we used our points for the booking and she said we definitely can't book with them points or pay to Maui. We would have happily done so, but the web site won't let you choose it as a destination either.



We had a great honeymoon, thanks all for your well wishes. The service and food we received on the flight was great as well, so you can't fault them for that; they did a good job handling a very grumpy group of business class passengers! I wish I had found the forum sooner to not fall into the trap, but in fairness they should explain or show the different types of products they offer, rather than just show the best and you don't know what you'll end up getting if you're unlucky flying on an older aircraft.

Thanks all!

That's why we exist here, to experience share and learn.

Glad to hear all went well and the good luck you had when they found that fault on the ground was timely.

JohnK had a similar problem with Virgin business seating and advertising on the E190.

They are making a mini series out of this now!!

 

[zachary.august]

Just for future references you can book on Qantas to Maui by calling them. You are required, however, to buy full fare for either Y or F on the inter-island runs. When you book simply advise you wish to travel on QF 3 and connect to (for Maui) say AA 7783 (this is a Hawaiian Airlines operated route) or a different inter island flight. You can even earn SCs You clearly got an uninterested agent. Very simple a 10 minute exercise at most. They'll even print your BP in Sydney and then (once you clear immigration) there is a Qantas desk where you hand over your bag again (which has been tagged) and then its loaded on your HA flight. All very simple and very easy.

You could also use the website and do a multicity booking if you don't like phones. You could also pick Messa Airlines as well if you were inclined.

 

[MrJetset]

And yet noone has mentioned that JQ fly that route....

 

[Pushka]

We are flying Business Singapore Adelaide in an A330. Are we in for the same disappointment? Can't really complain as it is a points redemption.

 

[mannej]

We are flying Business Singapore Adelaide in an A330. Are we in for the same disappointment? Can't really complain as it is a points redemption.

No - you will have skybed Mk1, except for an extreme circumstance (I.e the grounding or 380 issues)

 

[Pushka]

Thanks mannej. Only a six hour flight which is good.

 

[love_the_life]

Hi Pushka - we have done this flight in J before - it's a nice flight and there are sky beds. Is the leg to pick up your Europe flight for the cruise or something different? Being only 6 hours is it a direct from Adelaide?

 

[Pushka]

Hi Pushka - we have done this flight in J before - it's a nice flight and there are sky beds. Is the leg to pick up your Europe flight for the cruise or something different? Being only 6 hours is it a direct from Adelaide?

Yes. Direct flight Sin to Adl. It's the last leg of our trip. It worked out thousands of dollars cheaper to fly business class to Europe once we used Singapore as our main exit point. So Adelaide-Singapore y with SQ during the day, so easy, then Emirates Bus from Sin to Dubai then eventually Istanbul, then Greek Islands, then cruise which goes to Israel Egypt Croatia Turkey (Ephesus) then Venice. Then Emirates Bus back to Singapore then onto Adelaide the next night with Q. All up flights cost $8000 ish in Bus for two except Adel Singapore. Bargain!