Qantas seating changes! No more First on 747s! New A380s without F!

[gumpy]

QF is not the best F airline IMHO.

There are other choices out of OZ on OWE.

Not all routes are affected but the FLOUNGE may be??

It's not I agree but it's still a very decent product in the A380 and QF is by far the easiest F I can get into via a J ticket + Upgrade.

I can afford PE and cheap J tickets but not a straight out F... unless there's a massive special on and it's a very special occasion...

 

[Princess Fiona]

It's not I agree but it's still a very decent product in the A380 and QF is by far the easiest F I can get into via a J ticket + Upgrade.

I can afford PE and cheap J tickets but not a straight out F... unless there's a massive special on and it's a very special occasion...

And that's why they are cutting back on it. I would think that on many flights there are more passengers on upgrades, op-ups than are full fare paying. Sad but inevitable :-(

 

[simongr]

I am a loyal QANTAS customer, however if I am spending around $14K return for myself and +1 to go to Bangkok several times a year then I am now going to try other carriers. I don't think the actual product delivered warrants a 300% premium over Deathstar *Class.

What decent alternatives to BKK would there be? Do some of the Arab carriers route via BKK?

I would think that unless it was direct then any soft benefits would be offset by the averse routing?

 

[anat0l]

What decent alternatives to BKK would there be? Do some of the Arab carriers route via BKK?

I would think that unless it was direct then any soft benefits would be offset by the averse routing?

I think EK and/or EY route a service through BKK and connecting with Australia.

TG offers F. Seat is not anything exciting from what I can see in pictures, although I have no idea if it is/looks dated.

Then there is the indirect option of SQ, although your SQ to SIN would be in R and then your onward would most probably be in regional J (no idea if they operate F equipped aircraft on SIN-BKK).

Then there is also BA, but their F services to BKK only operate out of SYD, and the aircraft they are using on this route are predicted to be some of the last that will be upgraded to the new F product.

 

[Princess Fiona]

What decent alternatives to BKK would there be? Do some of the Arab carriers route via BKK?

I would think that unless it was direct then any soft benefits would be offset by the averse routing?

EK flies SYD-BKK usually easier to book as most people prefer the direct SYD-DXB, from my distant memory it does not add more than a couple of hrs on trip to Europe.

 

[bossreggie]

It would be EK via SYD.

Bear in mind though that I have to go via SYD anyway with Qantas. If I include the J DOM fare MEL-SYD-MEL to the F EK fare I would pay about the same as QANTAS.

I'd miss out on the F Lounge in SYD but that's not so bad. I will also get free airport Transfers in BKK and MEL.

It's a 777 with First Class Suites so I will have more privacy. I don't require SC's so I'll see how this goes!

 

[gumpy]

And that's why they are cutting back on it. I would think that on many flights there are more passengers on upgrades, op-ups than are full fare paying. Sad but inevitable :-(

=(

but it's not the worse thing in the world for them is it?

I mean its a way to reward very frequent flyers... Their balance sheet improves everytime we burn points. I'd imagine about a 3rd to 2/5ths of the passengers are full F paying? yes or even less then that you reckon?

 

[Sprucegoose]

I think the QANTAS F hard product on the 744's is pretty rubbish really. I have had few recent flights and IMHO the cabin is tired and dated. (as were the cabin crew)

I am a loyal QANTAS customer, however if I am spending around $14K return for myself and +1 to go to Bangkok several times a year then I am now going to try other carriers. I don't think the actual product delivered warrants a 300% premium over Deathstar *Class.

I think that from now on I will only fly QANTAS med - long haul on the A380.

I am considering Etihad for our next trip to Europe now as they have some

specials at around $21k return for both of us.

I have flown Thai and very surprised with the quality of service. Not sure if they have a F product out of Aus.

Hire a jet??

 

[jamesatfish]

I tried EK's A380 First suites a few weeks ago on a quick weekend getaway to NZ with my wife, and they were fantastic. Great couple-friendly layout, nicely appointed suites (though the gold trim on everything is a bit over the top for my liking) and the luxury of the in-flight shower (and resultant huge bathrooms) is great.

Of course they also served Dom Perignon rather than that Tattinger rubbish currently doing the rounds in QF First - big brownie points there!

I did miss the F Lounge in Sydney but the Emirates one is pretty nice and the food wasn't too bad for a buffet-style service.

Am seriously considering switching to EK the next time we head to Europe as a family - will keep flying QF when by myself to retain WP each year and take advantage of the better seat layout on EK when flying with my wife & daughter.

 

[bossreggie]

I "accidentally" had to fly THAI in October as when I went to check in I had less than 6 months validity on my passport. I found the staff to be very friendly. The plane was a 777 two classes so I flew J. I still prefer a little more room but I otherwise had no issues with them at all.

I have flown EK F suites many times to Europe and when I am travelling alone I love the solitude 1A gives. I used to fly EK to AKL regularly but swapped to QF to ensure I was racking up a lot of SC's.

I am re-evaluating my travel spend ATM and I am more than likely to spread it around a little more. I think when NZ gets its' first new 777's I will give their premium cabin a try.

 

[NM]

Given that you would need to transit in SYD, perhaps the EK chauffeur service available for F and J passengers may be a good option for getting from domestic to international terminal.

 

[bossreggie]

Given that you would need to transit in SYD, perhaps the EK chauffeur service available for F and J passengers may be a good option for getting from domestic to international terminal.

Haha... I'll take the QANTAS bus as I will be arriving on a QANTAS flight.

I have booked my next trip now so I will see how it goes.

 

[JohnPhelan]

So what will happen to SYD-LHR via BKK? It will be serviced by a 744 without F or is the plan for BKK to receive A388s? I recall QF saying that LAX and LHR will continue to have F.

I would be pretty certain that, in the longer term, all QF flights to LHR (whether via SIN, BKK or HKG) will be operated by A380s. This might take quite a few years to implement, but I think that's the way it will go.

Flights to the US will probably mostly be A380s as well (though with some 787 services to ports other than LAX).

Do bear in mind, though, that only half the planned A380 fleet will have F seating, so having an A380 on a route will not guarantee that F will be available; I suspect F will be offered on particular flight numbers only.

What will be interesting will be to see if QF does eventually order some 747-800 aircraft (which I hope it will).

 

[serfty]

Moved some post to a more pertinent thread:

• http://www.australianfrequentflyer....yer-program/congrats-to-bossreggie-26525.html

 

[JohnK]

I am a loyal QANTAS customer, however if I am spending around $14K return for myself and +1 to go to Bangkok several times a year then I am now going to try other carriers. I don't think the actual product delivered warrants a 300% premium over Deathstar *Class.

Now there is something I thought I would never read. Someone comparing JQ *Class with QF First Class.

I have never flown QF First or JQ *Class but from all the reports I have read JQ *Class would not come anywhere near QF Business Class and I would find extreme difficulty justifying flying JQ *Class over QF economy.