QF PremY now on sale

[Va Bene]

I couldn't see any changes for upgrading from discount economy to Y+.
If it is 96K for MEL-LHR discount Y to J, I wonder what it will be for discount Y to Y+. 50% of this?

 

[serfty]

... Sydney to London return - 192,000 points, not bad! ...

I don't know about that ...

Don't forget the additional £40 in UK departure tax over WHY bookings.

i.e. AUD$657 for Y+ and AUD565 for WHY.

Also, 128K QFF points against 192K.

 

[Petch]

QF PremY vs JQ * Class

Will have a dedicated flight Attendant for the 32 seats (or 40 seats for US flights), so should mean more attentive service

JQ * Class has a dedicated FA; the CSM (or whatever the JQ equiv is)! Plus two more who are "semi-dedicated".

Will get pre-flight champagne

JQ * Class has pre-departure drinks too!

A selection of snacks and drinks available through the flight

JQ * Class has a different (to economy) variety of snacks available from its snack basket, which can be requested at anytime during the flight.

Priority check-in

JQ * Class has a dedicated Check-in Desk

Dedicated boarding lane

JQ * Class passengers are invited to board 1st or at their leisure, and at some ports, where dual aerobridges are operational, a dedicated boarding lane!

According to the QF marketing machine, their premium economy is more than a different seat.

Not too much more than JQ perhaps!

still can't see how this equates to a 100% surcharge on WHY airfares!

While there are people out there that constantly complain about Qantas prices, but don't choose to send the "right" feedback, by finding new airlines to fly... Qantas doesn't need to do much to keep their business!

Well, perhaps reupholster some tired old seats, add a foot net, then, well, why not, jack up the price again!

 

[JohnK]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

While there are people out there that constantly complain about Qantas prices, but don't choose to send the "right" feedback, by finding new airlines to fly... Qantas doesn't need to do much to keep their business!

To be honest there are not many viable alternatives. I tried to look at LCC for personal travel to SE Asia but with schedules that are a major inconvenience and only offering a minor dicsount on full service carriers it is easy to remain with full service carriers.

Qantas used to get my money for travel to SE Asia but since discovering BA World Traveller Plus I have decided to use this product. Unfortunately with QF introducing Y+ the BA service may no longer be available from SE Asia to Australia or priced the same as the new QF Y+ product. There is no way I will be paying $2500 for return ticket to BKK for QF Y+ or even BA WT+.

Then I will have to either go back to WHY or look for LCC alternative with inconvenient schedules.

 

[Danger]

Any word on possible changes to the number of points required to upgrade, now that there's a class between Y and J? (I'm on a BlackBerry at the moment and can't access the QF website)

 

[ANstar]

Seat maps are now online for Y+

Flying with Us - In the Air - Seat Maps - Boeing 747-438 Longreach

 

[futaris]

I suspect it will follow the Full Economy to Business costs to upgrade:

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Flight Upgrades

 

[NM]

Looking at the using points calculator on qantas.com, they have listed all the costs to use your points for Premium Economy. Sydney to London return - 192,000 points, not bad!

https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/calculators/premiumEconomy

until you compare with AAnother AAirline's points requirement for the same route, where 160,000 will get you into F class.

 

[oz_mark]

Any word on possible changes to the number of points required to upgrade, now that there's a class between Y and J? (I'm on a BlackBerry at the moment and can't access the QF website)

Doesn't say, but the terms have been updated a bit, so you can take a crack at business, and if that doesn't work can try Premium Economy.:

(d) Flight Upgrades may only be used to obtain an upgrade as follows:
(i) Economy to Premium Economy class
(ii) Economy to Business class
Note: at the time of registration, Members may also register a request for a Flight Upgrade to Premium Economy. This request will be considered if the Flight Upgrade from Economy to Business class is unsuccessful;
(iii) Premium Economy to Business class
(iv) Business to First class
Note: it is not possible to upgrade from Economy or Premium Economy to First Class.

 

[NM]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

JQ * Class has a dedicated FA; the CSM (or whatever the JQ equiv is)! Plus two more who are "semi-dedicated".
JQ * Class has pre-departure drinks too!
JQ * Class has a different (to economy) variety of snacks available from its snack basket, which can be requested at anytime during the flight.
JQ * Class has a dedicated Check-in Desk
JQ * Class passengers are invited to board 1st or at their leisure, and at some ports, where dual aerobridges are operational, a dedicated boarding lane!
Not too much more than JQ perhaps!

Which is pretty much why Star Class is defined as a premium economy product and not a business class product. However, I would expect the flow of the premium wines in QF W to be a little more generous and perhaps a little more premium than Star Class.

How much is Star Class say MEL-BKK return? How does that compare price-wise to MEL-LHR in QF W?

JQ StarClass MEL-BKK is $1978 return inc
QF W class SYD-BKK is $2552 return inc
QF W class SYD-LHR is $4567 for more than double the distance

So not a lot of difference, and I think I would be paying the extra money for QF.

I also expect we will see an end to Star Class earning business class SCs very soon, with it reverting to the same as QF W class.

 

[ANstar]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

I also expect we will see an end to Star Class earning business class SCs very soon, with it reverting to the same as QF W class.

I'm not so sure.... JQ do market it as business class rather than premium economy.

 

[Petch]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

I would expect the flow of the premium wines in QF W to be a little more generous and perhaps a little more premium than Star Class.

It is evident that “Qantas Brand” premium positioning trajectory is aimed squarely at this principle.

So if everything else “physical” is vaguely equal amongst (market segment) competitors, “Qantas Brand” has the best Food & Wine service in the air. This statement is valid across nearly all product categories; from a short afternoon CityFlyer Economy service, with complimentary food and wine (better than anything a competitor offers) through to International First Class with caviar, a degustation menu and matched five star wines.

BUT, where Jetstar * Class misses in the air; it delivers on the ground - with access to International Business Lounges in most ports and high status+point rewards. Maybe a few pre-flight glasses of Chandon or Chivas may inoculate passengers to the barely palatable food and wine offerings onboard… well, before the pleasant enough desert cart does its rounds. (Perhaps a premium “value based” customer, is a different target to a “Qantas premium” economy customer?)

 

[NM]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

I'm not so sure.... JQ do market it as business class rather than premium economy.

yeah, well as we all know, marketing and reality are often mutually exclusive.

 

[NM]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

It is evident that “Qantas Brand” premium positioning trajectory is aimed squarely at this principle.

And for me, the lack of AA candy is a big incentive to remain a Jetstar Virgin.

 

[Keith009]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

And for me, the lack of AA candy is a big incentive to remain a Jetstar Virgin.

I've to agree there.
No OW benes if stuck down the back either, unlike with QF whY.

 

[pauly7]

And an article to read as well (with a footnote on Tigers new route, poor old Tiger not getting much press!)

Qantas launches premium economy class - News - Travel - smh.com.au

 

[JohnK]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

No OW benes if stuck down the back either....

I looked up 'benes' in the dictionary and also googled it and could not find out a meaning for it. I assume you are referring to OW benefits. :-|

 

[Keith009]

Re: QF PremY vs JQ * Class

I looked up 'benes' in the dictionary and also googled it and could not find out a meaning for it. I assume you are referring to OW benefits. :-|

Bingo.
It should've been bennies.

 

[simongr]

QF claims that Premium Economy:

• Dedicated boarding lane

Can someone explain how this will work? We currently have two lanes - whY and J/F/Elites. Where is this third lane going to come from? Will there be a third BP reader? Given that there are three rows of 8 people (total 24) vs. 62 in F/J - is this lane going to be the fastest moving?

 

[NM]

Can someone explain how this will work? We currently have two lanes - whY and J/F/Elites. Where is this third lane going to come from? Will there be a third BP reader? Given that there are three rows of 8 people (total 24) vs. 62 in F/J - is this lane going to be the fastest moving?

I would not be assuming a third lane. i expect PE passengers can use the F/J lane.