Qantas LAX-JFK service reduced to 5 services per week

[markis10]

Very disappointed in this change - although I can appreciate why they've made this change there is now no premium cabin option to fly to/from JFK.

My question to the experts here - what's the next best option for the LAX-JFK leg? My wife and I (and baby daughter) were booked on QF108 JFK-LAX-SYD in F in July, but we've now been automatically changed to the A330 service in J for the JFK-LAX sector.

It doesn't look like AA are flying their 3-class 777s on that route on that day, so it seems our choices are to stick with the A330 or switch to an AA 3-class 762.

Which option would people recommend? Both have flights with suitable timings to connect to 108 from LAX, and as a WP there's no difference in lounge access either way, so I'm just interested in what will be the most comfortable flight. I've flown the AA 762s before but never on the internationally configured A330 QF are now using on that sector.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

To me a change would result in no improvement in flight, if you stay with QF you get the compensation and at least the Skybed. I have no recent experience with american domestic flights but I am not sure they would be better than QF J on the A330.

 

[openseat]

The end of 747 transcontinental services by QF. To think there was the unique distinction of QF running 747 transcontinental services on two different continents only a few years ago.

Perhaps more significantly, QF are the last to run a US transcontinental 747 service. It is a big change given how many US airlines in the 70s and 80s ran 747s across the US. Most services now, apart from AA, are narrow bodies. I suppose the last North American transcontinental service will be CX JFK-YVR.

I had hoped to fly the 747 transcontinental service in late September since I thought they would be putting the A380 on the service as a sort of flagship - what a shame they went in the other direction and downsized it. The unique distinction is now QF are running A330 transcontinental services on two different continents.

While I'm having a whinge, I'll just add my wish for the resumption of the westbound daytime LAX-SYD service.

 

[jamesatfish]

To me a change would result in no improvement in flight, if you stay with QF you get the compensation and at least the Skybed. I have no recent experience with american domestic flights but I am not sure they would be better than QF J on the A330.

Is the Skybed on the A330 the same as the A380 or the 747? That is, is it a fully-flat bed or the angled version?

 

[markis10]

Is the Skybed on the A330 the same as the A380 or the 747? That is, is it a fully-flat bed or the angled version?

Same as the 747.

 

[MarcB]

Very disappointed in this change - although I can appreciate why they've made this change there is now no premium cabin option to fly to/from JFK.

My question to the experts here - what's the next best option for the LAX-JFK leg? My wife and I (and baby daughter) were booked on QF108 JFK-LAX-SYD in F in July, but we've now been automatically changed to the A330 service in J for the JFK-LAX sector.

It doesn't look like AA are flying their 3-class 777s on that route on that day, so it seems our choices are to stick with the A330 or switch to an AA 3-class 762.

Which option would people recommend? Both have flights with suitable timings to connect to 108 from LAX, and as a WP there's no difference in lounge access either way, so I'm just interested in what will be the most comfortable flight. I've flown the AA 762s before but never on the internationally configured A330 QF are now using on that sector.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I'm affected too - both with an aircraft change eastbound in December - and a cancelled service in Jan 11 westbound. Westbound I have been transferred to an AA service and am currently getting my TA to advise how I can move to a QF service the next day. Having done the transcontinental JFK-SFO service a few years back, it's not an experience I wish to relive in a hurry. I am in Y so not an issue regarding any downgrading, but I will let you know how I go.

The issue I face is lack of relevant class availability in the Y cabin to move days - but my view is if QF change the flight, they either put me on the one I want, or I can just cancel with no penalty. The FAQ's on the industry site certainly seem to indicate that cancellation without penalty is an option for affected passengers who are not happy with the new arrangements.

 

[jamesatfish]

Thanks for the info re the seats on the A330.

Just spoke to QF - in relation to the downgrade from F to J I was offered compensation - 25,000 points for a classic award booking, and $200 for a cash booking. Apparently these are standard compensation figures set by QF rather than case-by-case figures.

 

[N860CR]

$200 seems terribly low for a drop from first to business. Surely the fare difference would be more than that?

On another note, my TA had no problems changing the dates to put me back onto QF108. I personally prefer the 330 to the 744 anyway so I'm not too fussed, except for having to cash out for an extra night in New York (cause it's not expensive or anything....)

Is anyone else booked on the now A330 QF26 LAX-AKL? I can't get the seat map to load and for some reason my travel partner and I have been allocated seats that aren't together.

 

[jamesatfish]

$200 seems terribly low for a drop from first to business. Surely the fare difference would be more than that?

It's a bit hard to quantify as Qantas don't provide a price for just JFK-LAX on their website, but the between JFK-SYD the difference between F and J is about $3,100. Given the sector lengths (~1800mi vs ~7500mi) the trans-con leg is about 20% of the total flight distance, so 20% of the fare difference would have been a better start (~$600).

I've written to QF Customer Service in relation to this reimbursement but have not yet received a reply.

 

[dajop]

I've written to QF Customer Service in relation to this reimbursement but have not yet received a reply.

Good luck. I can see how QF came up with "their" calculation - it costs $7052 more to fly SYD-LAX rtn in F (vs J). It costs $7289 more to fly SYD-JFK rtn in F (vs J). The difference being $237...

 

[jamesatfish]

Good luck. I can see how QF came up with "their" calculation - it costs $7052 more to fly SYD-LAX rtn in F (vs J). It costs $7289 more to fly SYD-JFK rtn in F (vs J). The difference being $237...

I can see where you (and Qantas) are coming from with this way of thinking - it's just that I value the difference between J and F on a 6 hour flight as being greater than $200. On the AA 3-class services the difference between J and F on the same sector is around $1000 AUD.

I'll wait and see what happens if (when) I get a reply from Qantas.

 

[dajop]

I can see where you (and Qantas) are coming from with this way of thinking

Yeh just playing :evil:'s advocate.... trying to work out why the diff would be only $200, as I too would expect it to be more.:!:

 

[markis10]

I can see where you (and Qantas) are coming from with this way of thinking - it's just that I value the difference between J and F on a 6 hour flight as being greater than $200. On the AA 3-class services the difference between J and F on the same sector is around $1000 AUD.

I'll wait and see what happens if (when) I get a reply from Qantas.

I also can see where QF are coming from, you cannot book the flight as a standalone, only as a continuation of the flight from Syd, and for that you get a discount, and its that same discount that is being refunded for the change in class, comparisons with similar sectors are moot. Does not mean it does not suck though.

 

[MarcB]

I'm affected too - both with an aircraft change eastbound in December - and a cancelled service in Jan 11 westbound. Westbound I have been transferred to an AA service and am currently getting my TA to advise how I can move to a QF service the next day. Having done the transcontinental JFK-SFO service a few years back, it's not an experience I wish to relive in a hurry. I am in Y so not an issue regarding any downgrading, but I will let you know how I go.

The issue I face is lack of relevant class availability in the Y cabin to move days - but my view is if QF change the flight, they either put me on the one I want, or I can just cancel with no penalty. The FAQ's on the industry site certainly seem to indicate that cancellation without penalty is an option for affected passengers who are not happy with the new arrangements.

By way of update, I can confirm that my TA managed to move me to the next day (Friday) despite a lack of relevant availability. QF were happy to make that change, but did not want to change the routing (I had offered an option of flying LAX-BNE instead of SYD). There was no charge for this change.

The aircraft change has caused some issues with seat allocation though. Despite this sector now being operated by 2 different aircraft, when I try to select seats, it shows as one sector (JFKSYD) with one seat map - that of the A330. Had to ring QF to get the seating done manually and that saga continues!

As for those unhappy with the class changes, I'd suggest you explore your options regarding getting your whole trip repriced (and fly) in J. I know this sounds like crazy talk, but I agree that $200 for F to J downgrade is hard to swallow. At least if the whole trip is in J, you stand to get a 7-10k fare adjustment rather than $200! Save your F trip for a route you can fly all the way I say! Certainly the QF FAQs regarding this change indicate a refund is an option with no penalty - but of course in F, that is a no brainer anyway...

 

[Kefci2000]

Has anybody flown the JFK LAX route on the AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-200?

Am flying J class early Sept, and wondered best seats?

I assume they are similar seats to 747 (ie not quite fully flat)?

 

[ejb]

Has anybody flown the JFK LAX route on the AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-200?

Am flying J class early Sept, and wondered best seats?

I assume they are similar seats to 747 (ie not quite fully flat)?

Although I haven't travelled that route I can say the seats are the same as the 744's and having only 5 rows of 6 seats there really isn't (IMHO) much difference. Window or aisle being the main decision.

Front row has slightly more pitch.

ejb

 

[docjames]

Although I haven't travelled that route I can say the seats are the same as the 744's and having only 5 rows of 6 seats there really isn't (IMHO) much difference. Window or aisle being the main decision.

Front row has slightly more pitch.

ejb

Theres and advantage to being in the middle block as both pax have aisle access without climbing over the other one.

 

[Kefci2000]

Although I haven't travelled that route I can say the seats are the same as the 744's and having only 5 rows of 6 seats there really isn't (IMHO) much difference. Window or aisle being the main decision.

Front row has slightly more pitch.

ejb

Thanks have chosen 1E

 

[ejb]

Theres and advantage to being in the middle block as both pax have aisle access without climbing over the other one.

That is true but I don't find that to be a problem on the A333.

ejb

 

[NM]

The A330 Skybeds are the same as the ones used in Zone A (nose section) of the 2-class 747-400. They are slightly different to the Skybeds used on the upper deck and main lower deck on the 747-400. The A330 version has a narrower arm rest between the seats. But the actual seat width, pitch and slope are the same.

If travelling solo, I always look for any available E or F seat in the A330 business class cabin.

 

[MarcB]

Not sure if anyone else saw this, but Qantas have quietly increased capacity on the LAX-JFK vv route from 2 December. An additional service will operate taking it to 6 per week - up from the 5 it dropped to in July.

This is not published on the agents site, but is in the latest edition of the agents newsletter, News on Q available from qantas.com/agents.