QF to Japan - redeem in PE or book in Y and apply for points upgrade

[bjm76]

Hi all

Hoping a few of you have some thoughts here...

Me and partner will be travelling from SYD to NRT for holiday in May next year. Looking at QF flights as we have ~240,000 points between us and I think we have two options:
1. Redeem points and fly in PE - plus $1,000 in taxes (available for the dates we want)
2. Buy Y seats and apply for upgrades - would be about $1,200 each plus chance of no upgrade and overnight flights both ways in Y.

Guess my questions are:
1. Are the loads on the QF flights to/from NRT usually favourable for points upgrades (even for those with lowly PS like myself)?
2. What would other members do? Redeem points and pay the taxes or take the chance with an upgrade? We can probably request the upgrade from full Y to J and PE so would perhaps help our chances?

Really not keen to fly Y on this flight, given both are overnight flights. But of course am tempted by the chance of upgrade to J....

Appreciate your advice.
Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Points upgrade might never come through... but looking at Jetstar, you can get premium economy (their business class) for around $1550 (return!). That doesn't include lounge access, but I would take that option any day over losing all your points, plus heavy fuel surcharges.

You could also use part of your points and fly one way full business class on either Cathay, Qantas or JAL to (or from) Tokyo, and then buy Jetstar the other way. And you'd have lots of points left over! That would be my preferred option.

 

[TomVexille]

My only advice is that if you book Y you need to be prepared to fly in Y.

 

[Sprucegoose]

My only advice is that if you book Y you need to be prepared to fly in Y.

Yes damn good advice there!!

 

[dodgeyhack]

One option that seems to be available between SYD and NRT on QF is to pay for an upgrade at check-in.
I'm not sure why this is offered between these ports, but it's definitely an upgrade you're paying for and not a fare change to a higher class.
Y-PE was about $400 each when we did it (my wife was on super discount non upgradable economy and mine was an upgradable fare).
Probably not much use to you since you're able to put in for a points upgrade but thought I'd mention it anyway.

 

[Katie]

Is PE available on QF metal to/from Japan? Are they still flying 747s there?

 

[TomVexille]

Is PE available on QF metal to/from Japan? Are they still flying 747s there?

744's are still on the route... for now

 

[bjm76]

Thanks so much for the responses!
I am looking at the J redemption for one leg and then booking JQ in "Business" for the other leg.
The paid upgrade at check-in is interesting, I didn't think QF offered these?

Good call about the 747 still being on the route, is there talk about the 747s being replaced by A330s on the SYD-NRT route?

 

[blu]

JQ for the day sector OOL-NRT. Return QF J overnight. That's what we do. Chances are it will be a reburbished 747.