QF Business - 747 v A380

[pythonisman]

Hi all, I've done a bunch of reading around both here and online reviews elsewhere but was wondering if anyone who had first hand experience could comment:

I've got a trip coming up to the US with work on QF in J in March, and I'm hoping push a little here and try to maximise my hops (i.e. fly into and out of Australia via a port that isn't SYD) to maximise SC earn, but I don't want to trigger warnings in our booking system (managers get sent alerts when lowest logical airfares aren't taken, and quote the price difference).

At the moment for the lowest price, I can do SYD-MEL-LAX-MIA in 'discount' J, and all my return options are flexible (actual J booking class) business tickets. I can choose between either MIA-LAX-SYD; MIA-DFW-SYD or MIA-LAX-BNE-SYD by the looks of it (via MEL on the A380 is about another $1200)

My question- Is it worth sticking to the A380 operating flights - i.e. does the aircraft add significantly to the experience? I've done a few flights on the SQ A380 and remember that it's fairly quiet and comfortable, but I've only been on a 744 once, which was only for a 2 hour flight, so don't really have any first hand data to compare. (Is there still a risk of getting a non-refurb'd 744 transpac with QF?)

If you'd go the A380, would you go via LAX or DFW? It appears the only flights I'm being offered MIA-LAX or MIA-DFW are narrow bodies (thumbs down for transcon!) versus on the way over, LAX-MIA is operated by an AA 777.
I will be QFF Silver on the flights over, and should be Gold on the flights back (I will attain gold after the first leg of my outward trip)- not sure if that's relevant or helpful.

Appreciate any thoughts or insight, I'm hoping to book these flights in either today or tomorrow.

 

[RooFlyer]

Everything being equal (and it never is) I think the A380 is better than the 747, but in the context of your trip, I think the experience would be much the same. I have done the A380 TPAC in J plenty of times but reverted to 747 on my current trip and didn't regard it as a step down (but then I'm a bit sentimental to the 747s!).

I think the chance of your getting a non re-furbed 747 TPAC is pretty low, but can't be discounted. But then again, you also can't discount that your A380 may also be subbed for a re-furbed, or non re-furbed 747!!

LAX or DFW? I'd let timing be the discriminator. The QF J lounge at LAX is new-ish and pretty nice, and less crowded now the F part is open. At DFW you'd get the AA lounge, which isn't bad for AA lounges. But then again, the booze and food is better at the QF lounge at LAX.

Bottom line? I'd go A380s via LAX both ways, but personally I wouldn't be too fussed.

Are your AA flights in J or 'F' type fare buckets? Others here are far more expert on this, but their 'F' is essentially the same as J experience wise, but you get 'F' SCs and points on QFF. I'm not sure what the discriminator is whether a trip is in a J or F fare bucket. When I got AA Award flights across the US, I got 'F' rather than J on a couple of legs. Don't know how/why.

BTW there are threads here on what to do (eg sights/shops to see) with X hours layovers at DFW or LAX if an even lower fare is available by having a gap between connections.

Your QFF status won't be relevant if you are travelling J (even discount J) all the way.

 

[pythonisman]

Cheers for the reply.

Everything being equal (and it never is) I think the A380 is better than the 747, but in the context of your trip, I think the experience would be much the same. I have done the A380 TPAC in J plenty of times but reverted to 747 on my current trip and didn't regard it as a step down (but then I'm a bit sentimental to the 747s!).

This is kindof what I figure. I think the 747 is a beautiful aircraft, and that the A380 is just a gigantic beast of a plane- was mainly trying to work out if the experience was significantly different between the two. At the moment I'm leaning 744.

Are your AA flights in J or 'F' type fare buckets? Others here are far more expert on this, but their 'F' is essentially the same as J experience wise, but you get 'F' SCs and points on QFF. I'm not sure what the discriminator is whether a trip is in a J or F fare bucket.

They'll be booked through work travel and under QF tickets- I'm pretty sure they'll be in a J fare bucket. The seatmap for the AA 777 has discrete 'F' and 'J' cabins too, meaning I'm pretty sure I'll be in the latter one, versus on the narrowbody where I assume J = F = about the same as our domestic J seats on a QF or VA 737.

Thanks again for your feedback.

 

[UP4014]

Once you are in the seat and the seats are the same, I could not see much of a difference, in fact once I was asleep there was no difference.


Matt

 

[Limewood]

I'd take the 747 upper cabin any day, only about 20 Mk11 lay flat seats, own galley and two FA's.

Mrs Lime and I have done BNE/LAX then DFW/BNE it was excellent on the old bird.

 

[craven morehead]

I'd take the 747 upper cabin any day, only about 20 Mk11 lay flat seats, own galley and two FA's.

Mrs Lime and I have done BNE/LAX then DFW/BNE it was excellent on the old bird.

+1 :mrgreen:

 

[knasty]

+2. Gotta love the 747.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I'd take the 747 upper cabin any day, only about 20 Mk11 lay flat seats, own galley and two FA's.

Mrs Lime and I have done BNE/LAX then DFW/BNE it was excellent on the old bird.

Agreed. It's pretty special up there. The upper deck of the A380 is nothing special. The 747 has it all over the ULAB, IMO.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

+747 best in the sky

 

[Limewood]

Has its own loo too.

Must say it looked so funny everyone in that little cabin wearing roo PJ's.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

+747 best in the sky

I too agree.... That must make it +5 for the 747.

Nothing beats a flight on the " Queen of the skies".

 

[pythonisman]

I too agree.... That must make it +5 for the 747.

Nothing beats a flight on the " Queen of the skies".

Excellent.
I am now booked (but not ticketed, waiting for the approvals to come through) on the A380 outbound, returning on the 747.

I couldn't agree more that the 747 is probably the best looking airplane going - I'll be proud to fly it before Qantas kill her off!

Thanks for the feedback guys - made my decision easier!

 

[Kefci2000]

The main reason I would go A380 on the way out is the potential to upgrade via points to F

If in F and have tight connections you will likely to get fast tracked through LAX customs.

Better bed, better food/wine etc

On the way back nothing beats 14A or K on the upper deck of the old bird

 

[dajop]

Can't help but think there's a sentimental bias here to the 747. I am ambivalent, if slightly favoring the A380 because it is quieter. Maybe because I've not yet experienced the 2-2-2 configuration on its upper deck, when its only 1-2-1 it doesn't feel that crowded.

 

[EuroFlyer]

I have done both the 747 and A380 and to me there is nothing better than upper deck of the 747.the same seat and like pointed out less seats etc upstairs

Agreed. It's pretty special up there. The upper deck of the A380 is nothing special. The 747 has it all over the ULAB, IMO.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have only done J once on an A380 and once on an 747, so not a huge comparison. I was in the mini cabin on the A380 and upstairs on the 747. There were only 18 in the mini cabin on the A380 and it just felt quieter and more spacious than the 747 upper deck.

 

[UP4014]

I too agree.... That must make it +5 for the 747.

Nothing beats a flight on the " Queen of the skies".

Make it +6 for the 747.

Matt

 

[Kendall Roy]

Was devastated when my upcoming SYD-HKG-SYD B747 run was sub'd out for an A380! Fortunately the big fella redeemed himself by allowing me to select F cabin seats

 

[pythonisman]

OK I'm all away and ticketed - woo!
Here's the kicker question though - Should I put in a request for an upgrade to F from MEL-LAX on the '380? (45k points)...

 

[kevrosmith]

OK I'm all away and ticketed - woo!
Here's the kicker question though - Should I put in a request for an upgrade to F from MEL-LAX on the '380? (45k points)...

I'd say, Yes!