QF12 JFK-LAX-SYD Mixed cabin

[penguino]

Hi all

First time posting. The info on this forum has been super helpful.

I have booked my mum a classic reward flight on QF12 JFK-LAX-SYD. The booking is mixed cabin on the two legs and from what I can calculate, Qantas pro-rata charged.

JFK-LAX - Premium economy (Z)
LAX-SYD - First (P)

This will be her first time in F and neither of us have any status. As this is a treat for her, I just wanted to ensure she can make the most of the experience so I have some questions.

1) Is there a dedicated check-in at JFK for F and can she use it given she is only flying PE on the first leg?
2) Can she use the AA flagship lounge at JFK given she is only flying PE on the first leg, but F on the second.
3) I thought I would be able to request an upgrade to J on the JFK-LAX leg, but when I try to request online it says the fare type is not eligible. Is this correct? (not that I expect she will win the upgrade lotto given no status). She flew PE all the way on QF11 and I was able to request an upgrade on both legs (although both unsuccessful).

Thanks in advance.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

upgrading award flights is very expensive and terrible value. It can be done, but IIRC they charge you almost double the normal amount.

What you can do is keep checking to see if business class award seats open up on the JFK-LAX and then move her into business class, you might be able to do this on line, you might need to call.

I would use the first class checkin at JFK. I don’t know how Qantas handles lounge access in this case.

 

[maroonone]

Just ring QFF to request the upgrade. The difficulty is one flight number different aircraft which the system doesn’t like particularly with mixed class

 

[justinbrett]

You are fine for lounge access as you are covered by oneworld rules (same day connection):

• First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
• Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
• You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.

As for check in - lets not confuse the matter - there's Flagship First (actual first) and First (Business). For the latter, it's just a special queue and you would have no problems lining up there. Even if you're not supposed to the agents wouldn't be bothered to send you on your way, and I'm fairly certain you would be entitled since you are connecting to an international first class flight.

I'm not sure whether you could use Flagship First (the dedicated area). According to their website, Flagship First is only for AA operated flights, but I've seen some third party sites say that oneworld flights are eligible but I don't think that's correct (Flyertalk confirms the AA website).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wasn't sure if JFK-LAX was less than 5 hours. If it's under 5 hours, no problems. If it's slightly over 5 hours, are they going to quibble?

I thought QF would have had a first class, oneworld emerald check in of it's own? If not, business class will be allowed as the OP is continuing in F.

 

[justinbrett]

I wasn't sure if JFK-LAX was less than 5 hours. If it's under 5 hours, no problems. If it's slightly over 5 hours, are they going to quibble?

That's not the rule. It's International long haul (5 hours +) with international short haul and domestic.

JFK-LAX is domestic, so not subject to the time restriction. It's 6:05 for the record.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's not the rule. It's International long haul (5 hours +) with international short haul and domestic.

JFK-LAX is domestic, so not subject to the time restriction. It's 6:05 for the record.

Wow. Is that a change? I thought it used to be defined as less than 5 hours, but I must have been mistaken.

 

[justinbrett]

Wow. Is that a change? I thought it used to be defined as less than 5 hours, but I must have been mistaken.

Are you looking at this article? This says exactly what I have said and what is on the oneworld website (as I have quoted above).

Otherwise - could you please share the source? Oneworld trumps AFF anyway...

EDIT - you changed your post just as I replied. Disregard.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are you looking at this article? This says exactly what I have said and what is on the oneworld website (as I have quoted above).

Otherwise - could you please share the source? Oneworld trumps AFF anyway...

EDIT - you changed your post just as I replied. Disregard.

Clearly my mind has been playing tricks.. I always read it as 'short haul international or domestic' rather than 'international short haul, or domestic'

Thankfully the times when this distinction actually matters are very few and far between, so it hasn't been material until today!

 

[penguino]

Thank you both for your replies.