QF108 to QF94, worth the risk?

[Reggie]

After reading thirteens thread, I am wondering if the QF108 to QF94 connection is too ricky especially as I dont really need to do it.

I will be in MSY and am flying to MSY-DFW-JFK-LAX-MEL-PER, just to fly QF108, but due to many posts here relating to how late 10late is, maybe I should forego it and just fly MSY-DFW-LAX-MEL-PER

I would like to hear others experiences or waht they would do.

 

[Dave Noble]

To me it would be pretty much a no brainer. JFK is in the wrong direction and adding extra flights in increases the risk of a problem occurring; take the most direct routing

Dave

 

[thirteen]

Its not the worst.... as in my flights yesterday, when the QF10late was muuuuuch too late to pick up Q94 at least you're still on a plane to Australia.

But AVOID the JFK connection because weather causes horrid delays and then you have queues of flights waiting to take off, land, de-ice (yesterday).

One of those situations caused my luggage to get lost (lost, stolen, etc) yesterday

 

[NM]

It all depends on the impact of being delayed back into MEL. If QF108 is late and missed te QF94 connection, QF will re-accommodate you on other flights (most likely QF108 to SYD and then connect to MEL). So if you can cope with being late into MEL then the risk is minimal. But you are certainly going the long way home.

 

[wandering_fred]

I... So if you can cope with being late into MEL then the risk is minimal. But you are certainly going the long way home.

For those of us paying our own tickets, unable to afford Biz and wanting to credit to AA, the long way home would be
MSY-ORD-YYZ-LHR-SIN-SYD-MEL with the BA sections YYZ-SIN in Y+:shock:
Just buy the BA ticket in Singapore :mrgreen: when you start out.

YMMV

Happy wandering (the long way home)

Fred

 

[NM]

Happy wandering (the long way home)

Why is it that I can't get The Eagles song out of my head?

 

[Reggie]

To me it would be pretty much a no brainer. JFK is in the wrong direction and adding extra flights in increases the risk of a problem occurring; take the most direct routing

Dave

Thanks Dave, you have reinforced what I was thinking. I originally planned to deliberatley fly back to JFK, for the mileage and SC run and to give the QF service on QF108 a go. I having been worrying about the QF10late tag it had been given, and now with thirteen's experience it has now brought it right to the surface

I beliver Serfty took this flight a few months ago, but I think I will give it a miss.

 

[littl_flier]

Reggie, having done this flight last night when QF108 was delayed 2 hours out of JFK, they did hold QF94 and the CSM mentioned that they will usually try and hold QF94 and QF175 if there are a few pax transferring. Last night about 20 pax transferred.

I have no idea whether they really hold them or if it had something to do with QF108 being full after QF12 went AWOL meaing the pax would have been stranded in LAX.

It's a matter of personal prefence and your willingness to be rebooked and travel to MEL via SYD in the worst case scenario. At least you get a comfy skybed to LAX though.

On a complete side note, QF107 picked up Wunula Dreaming in LAX and the same aircraft did not do the full turnaround SYD-LAX-JFK-LAX-SYD due to maintenance issues. AFAIK, Wunula had performed MEL-LAX and was then placed on LAX-JFK-LAX-SYD. But that's just some random trivia. And today's departures to the US out SYD don't look any better either. :shock: (QF107 and QF73)

 

[dajop]

I will be in MSY and am flying to MSY-DFW-JFK-LAX-MEL-PER, just to fly QF108, but due to many posts here relating to how late 10late is, maybe I should forego it and just fly MSY-DFW-LAX-MEL-PER

I would like to hear others experiences or waht they would do.

What type of fare r u on? If you're on a business class fare that books into the First cabin in the US, another option maybe MSY-MIA-DFW-LAX-MEL-PER. OK you don't get the QF108, but the 4:25pm MIA-DFW is on a 777, with proper first, and connects nicely thru DFW to QF94. Plus you stay in the southern half of the country, which should have better weather at this time of the year.

 

[Reggie]

Reggie, having done this flight last night when QF108 was delayed 2 hours out of JFK, they did hold QF94 and the CSM mentioned that they will usually try and hold QF94 and QF175 if there are a few pax transferring. Last night about 20 pax transferred.

I have no idea whether they really hold them or if it had something to do with QF108 being full after QF12 went AWOL meaing the pax would have been stranded in LAX.

It's a matter of personal prefence and your willingness to be rebooked and travel to MEL via SYD in the worst case scenario. At least you get a comfy skybed to LAX though.

Thanks littl_flyer for your information. I'm not worried about being transfered to SYD, its that I'll end up in why across the Pacific as it's in late JAn and seats tend to be pretty full. Also QF would probably send me SYD-PER, which again isn't a probelm in itself, othr than clearing SYD imm and customs is a pain I am trying to avoid.

Its all food fro thought.

 

[Reggie]

What type of fare r u on? If you're on a business class fare that books into the First cabin in the US, another option maybe MSY-MIA-DFW-LAX-MEL-PER. OK you don't get the QF108, but the 4:25pm MIA-DFW is on a 777, with proper first, and connects nicely thru DFW to QF94. Plus you stay in the southern half of the country, which should have better weather at this time of the year.

Dajop, that is a good idea, I could then see what AA's real first product looks like, rather than making assumptions based upon on AA DOM first. More food for thought.

 

[Optics]

After reading thirteens thread, I am wondering if the QF108 to QF94 connection is too ricky especially as I dont really need to do it.

I will be in MSY and am flying to MSY-DFW-JFK-LAX-MEL-PER, just to fly QF108, but due to many posts here relating to how late 10late is, maybe I should forego it and just fly MSY-DFW-LAX-MEL-PER

I would like to hear others experiences or waht they would do.

Another consideration is that the QF108-94 connection does not allow enough time to sample the new TBIT lounges. Getting a shower in prior to the long flight across the pacific is really worthwhile in my opinion.

 

[Reggie]

Another consideration is that the QF108-94 connection does not allow enough time to sample the new TBIT lounges. Getting a shower in prior to the long flight across the pacific is really worthwhile in my opinion.

Another good point made. Is the TBIT new lounges open as yet?

 

[serfty]

... I believe Serfty took this flight a few months ago, but I think I will give it a miss.

Certainly did: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/149749-14-post.html

If I ever take QF94 again, it will not be on a connection from QF108 ... I have a disposition that makes me dislike being treated like cattle.

 

[Optics]

Another good point made. Is the TBIT new lounges open as yet?

Yes, I was in the new FLounge last month and it is quite good, definitely a step above the interim lounge . The showers are very good and are shared with the J lounge.

 

[MelUser]

TBIT - J/QC lounge is good although a bit busy in evening. Food quality is certainly very high.

Wednesday 5 December, QF 108 passengers did not make QF 94 - not sure what happened to them. It meant that QF 94 was somewhat empty - 2 in F. J about 2/3s full, 180 in Y.

 

[thirteen]

TBIT - J/QC lounge is good although a bit busy in evening. Food quality is certainly very high.

Wednesday 5 December, QF 108 passengers did not make QF 94 - not sure what happened to them. It meant that QF 94 was somewhat empty - 2 in F. J about 2/3s full, 180 in Y.

Yeah that was me. We were put back on the QF108 to SYD, then flew on to MEL if required.

 

[Reggie]

another option maybe MSY-MIA-DFW-LAX-MEL-PER.

Done, booked today, goodbye 10Late, (not worth the risk), hello new TBIT Flounge.

 

[djfuzz]

Reggie, having done this flight last night when QF108 was delayed 2 hours out of JFK, they did hold QF94 and the CSM mentioned that they will usually try and hold QF94 and QF175 if there are a few pax transferring. Last night about 20 pax transferred.

New member here. This little bit of advice from littl_flier saved me a lot of worry when I returned from the US a couple of weeks ago. I'd been so wound up hoping for my upgrade on QF94, that I'd totally forgotten the fact that the dreaded QF108 could miss the connection. So given the terrible weather in NY that week, I watched the preceding daily departures only the see QF108 delayed consistently by three or more hours.

Thankfully on the day the flight was perfectly on time (and the CSM echoed what littl_flier mentions above, they'll hold QF94 if QF108 is delayed by less than 2 hours). Surely enough, we were all herded onto the bus at gate 44, then had a huge walk to the gate 101 at TBIT, with about 10 minutes to spare before QF94 boarded - and this was on a night that everything was on time! Got the upgrade on the whole flight too, which was lovely - it's the only leg I've not been able to upgrade on before, and I was thankful to be able to actually sleep through it for once.

Whether things are as dandy when the flight is significantly delayed (as seems to be far more common) I'm not as sure. Might avoid the risk and stick to QF108 the whole way in the future, though connecting through Sydney also raises the issue of the less generous domestic baggage allowances.

PS. I may be showing my ignorance here - what does DONE4 stand for?

 

[littl_flier]

New member here. This little bit of advice from littl_flier saved me a lot of worry when I returned from the US a couple of weeks ago. I'd been so wound up hoping for my upgrade on QF94, that I'd totally forgotten the fact that the dreaded QF108 could miss the connection. So given the terrible weather in NY that week, I watched the preceding daily departures only the see QF108 delayed consistently by three or more hours.?

No problems djfuzz. Welcome to AFF and great first post!

PS. I may be showing my ignorance here - what does DONE4 stand for?

A DONE4 is a business class RTW where D is business class, ONE is Oneworld Explorer (segments limit rather than mileage limit) and 4 is a four continent fare.

There can be:

L: Enonomy
D: Business
A: First Class

ONE: Oneworld explorer

3, 4 or 5 continent fares.

For more info on the fare, have a look here: oneworld - oneworld Explorer


Congrats on the upgrade!

Cheers,
littl_flier