QF123 - SYD-DRW-Mumbai - Cabin Classes

[simongr]

Hi all
I am just experiementing with the award engine on QF to see availability for flights SYD0DRW for mrssimongr and I to get to DRW.

I note that QF123 is an avaliable option. AM I right in asusming that this will be flying out of teh int'l terminal so F lounge access (I will be EXP by then) and potentially a spa for mrssimongr? This is an international config A330 - so skybeds for J?


I note that QF123 flies Sunday, Wed, Fri. There only seems to be one int'l config flying back to SYD - QF42 only flying Monday.

So in theory we could fly up Fri and fly back Monday - might be a nice trip


As an aside are there any F services that can be flown domestically? I know you cant book an F award domestically (or least thought I read that here) but are there any flights that have F seats so at least you could sit in an F seat for a short flight.

 

[littl_flier]

AM I right in asusming that this will be flying out of teh int'l terminal so F lounge access (I will be EXP by then) and potentially a spa for mrssimongr? This is an international config A330 - so skybeds for J?

Yes simongr, right on all acounts. Definitely skybeds for J on the A330-300, QF123 also leaves from T1 (int) so I think its about time Mrs simongr was treated to a first class spa after all your flying. Don't think you can book it though as a WP.

I was only thinking last night that this would be a good segment to finish at DONE4 and come home via ADL or PER.

 

[serfty]

... As an aside are there any F services that can be flown domestically? I know you cant book an F award domestically (or least thought I read that here) but are there any flights that have F seats so at least you could sit in an F seat for a short flight.

Generally, Qantas do not allow F class to be booked domestically. e.g. QF73 flies MEL-SYD and had an F cabin, however Qantas normally does not sell seats in First to MEL-SYD PAX, or indeed, MEL-SFO PAX! However, you can get a J seat on these MEL-SFO.

(An attempt to book a First class seat resolves to J MEL-SYD cnx F SYD-sfo)

 

[simongr]

Can you book the flight and choose a seat in F by calling QF though?

 

[JohnK]

I note that QF123 is an avaliable option. AM I right in asusming that this will be flying out of teh int'l terminal so F lounge access (I will be EXP by then) and potentially a spa for mrssimongr?

You can only pre book a spa treatment if you are flying First Class. As spa treatments are normally booked out early and since QF123 departs at 9:30am then my guess would be that Mrs Simongr would not be having a spa treatment before this flight.

I note that QF123 flies Sunday, Wed, Fri. There only seems to be one int'l config flying back to SYD - QF42 only flying Monday.

Does QF42, CGK-SYD, have a transit in DRW on a Monday?

 

[simongr]

Hmm - I though when I checked on teh QF site that it did earlier today - my mistake - I might have just looked at the Mumbai flights :/

 

[Mal]

They used to have F seats between SYD and MEL for sale in some distribution channels. For a laugh, I did it a few times. Nothing like spoiling the off-duty pilot/staff party up front, sipping on Moet or Dom (and being able to finish a good part of the bottle).

There used to also be award seats available. Eventually they pulled the F fares, then a bit later pulled the award seats as well.

I'm not sure there are any flights with F available SYD-MEL to continue an AOneX or similar any more. Best you may get is a substituted 3 class plane where the front cabin is available for allocation and J service.

 

[NM]

Hmm - I though when I checked on teh QF site that it did earlier today - my mistake - I might have just looked at the Mumbai flights :/

The floight only stops in Darwin on the outbound leg due to the headwinds it will encounter on the way too BOM meaning it needs to refuel on the way. The return is non-stop to Sydney. And when QF received the new A330-200s they may choose to operate the SYD-BOM-SYD with an aircraft that can do it non-stop in both directions.

As far as I know, there is on Darwin-Sydney "international" flight in the schedule. But Tiger will soon have a Darwin-Melbourne with connections from SIN if that helps?

 

[littl_flier]

.........But Tiger will soon have a Darwin-Melbourne with connections from SIN if that helps?

Not sure how much this would impress mrs simongr. At least we know he'd have anytime access to the FL.

 

[Keith009]

Not sure how much this would impress mrs simongr. At least we know he'd have anytime access to the FL.

Not as an EXP...:-|

 

[simongr]

Well technically as an EXP I do have anytime access - as I choose only to fly OW

Also still debating whether to get WP status this year as well as EXP.... decisions decisions...

 

[Keith009]

Also still debating whether to get WP status this year as well as EXP.... decisions decisions...

I wish I have that 'problem.'
It's either one or the other for me...

 

[simongr]

OK - going OT now officially - opening the floor to discussions around whether I should get WP/SG status as well as EXP

If the bulk of my September travel was in October then it would be a no-brainer as I have enough travel around then to make WP at the start of a qualification year - so I amguarantwould be guaranteed lounge access for the max time possible if my travel slows so that I can't comfortably make EXP - I would be WP to Sep2009, SG to Sep2010 and QC until April 2011!

I have the following flights after I make EXP and get enough for my J RTW trip for mrssimongr and I:

Date	Carr	From	To	Class	Class	SCs	cough
15-Jun	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open	 -   	 200 
18-Aug	QF	SYD	PER	D	BUS	 80 	 280 
18-Aug	QF	PER	ADL	D	BUS	 80 	 360 
18-Aug	QF	ADL	SYD	D	BUS	 60 	 420 
09-Sep	QF	syd	NRT	d	BUS	 140 	 560 
09-Sep	CX	NRT	hkg	d	BUS	 80 	 640 
20-Sep	CX	hkg	sin	d	BUS	 80 	 720 
20-Sep	JL	sin	nrt	d	BUS	 100 	 820 
20-Sep	AA	nrt	dfw	d	BUS	 160 	 980 
21-Sep	AA	dfw	lax	d	FIRST	 120 	 1,100 
21-Sep	AA	lax	jfk	d	BUS	 100 	 1,200 
27-Sep	AA	jfk	bgi	f	FIRST	 120 	 1,320 
27-Sep	BA	bgi	lgw	d	BUS	 120 	 1,440 
30-Sep	BA	lgw	pfo	d	BUS	 80 	 1,520 
30-Sep	Expired	Expir	Expir	d	Expired	-1,520 	 -   
01-Oct       BA	lca	lhr	d	BUS	 80 	 80 
01-Oct	BA	lhr	hkg	d	BUS	 160 	 240 
01-Oct	QF	hkg	syd	d	BUS	 120 	 360 
11-Nov	CX	syd	hkg	D	BUS	 120 	 480 
11-Nov	KA	pvg	hkg	D	BUS	 60 	 540 
15-Nov	KA	PVG	HKG	D	BUS	 60 	 600 
22-Nov	CX	HKG	NRT	d	BUS	 80 	 680 
23-Nov	JL	NRT	SYD	d	BUS	 140 	 820

Note that the JL flight is planned to be switched to QF if availability comes ... available and is not a 763

So I can either chuck everything to QF from 18 Jul and get WP or I can chuck everything from 1 Oct to QF and SG - I will be SG for the same time period in effect - but at least I will be WP in 2008 which would help with points upgrades.

Benefits of WP:

Better access to UG
Anytime access to QP (mainly a US domestic benefit)
Luggage (not a big deal)
Exit row seat allocation

Costs of WP

Miss out on points for AA (offset a little by no real need for pointson AA as the big trip in Jul 08 is the last major trip planned for a while)

This really is a knife edge decision. You can tell I am erring towards going WP but the sensible side of me is syaing AA ... perhaps I can let the sensible stick with AA and the unsensible side drive me to the Tumi shop for some horrendously expensive (but tax deductible) luggage...

 

[Dave Noble]

Benefits of WP:

Better access to UG
Anytime access to QP (mainly a US domestic benefit)
Luggage (not a big deal)
Exit row seat allocation

No brainer based on your travel; collect to AA

Your travel is in business class anyway and getting upgrades to F are ime easier to get than Y-J plus there is not that great a loss if you miss out; still will have a skybed.

Looking at the US lounge access, you don't seem to have many occasions where you have a purely domestic itinerary anyway. Worst case, you can always pay $50 for a day's membership

Exit row allocation is not that big a deal in J either imo

If you were doing lots of economy longhaul on QF , there might be a benefit, but to me it seems that you are going to waste a lot of valuable miles that could be credited to AA just to get access to exit row seating.


The number of miles that you are doing there is approx 60,000. Credited to AA, thats over 135,000 miles. Thats a business class return to Europe that you are spending to get a few benefits. Plus of course the 135000 miles will be nicely 13.5% of the LT Gold AA status requirements

Dave

 

[Keith009]

[daydream]How nice if QFF would have a double dipping system like SQ PPS - SCs to QFF, mileage to another FFP, eg AAdvantage. Double emerald, and a good mileage earn/burn.[/daydream]

Thanks for the heads up on the QF123 SYD-DRW flight - I want to add DRW into my 2nd DONE4 so that's something to think about. Well, if it isn't yet shelved for the direct by that stage.

OT: Oh and is there something wrong with my EF account, or am I seeing an A330-300 operating SYD-PER early in the morning on the 25th of March 2008 - QF565 departing SYD at 0610. Not like I'd wake up at that hour anyway, even if you promise Dom Perignon on the flight.

 

[serfty]

OK - going OT now officially - opening the floor to discussions around whether I should get WP/SG status as well as EXP ...

Don't forget that if you achieve QF WP, QFF have a 'soft-landing' system.

i.e. If you do not have enough SC's for WP by September next year (1200), you will be dropped one level to SG.

So, If you attain QF WP, you will have complimentary lounge access for a minimum of two years (with Drink Chits in AC's for your G&T's) and access to FL's for at least one year (make your own G&T's).

 

[simongr]

Don't forget that if you achieve QF WP, QFF have a 'soft-landing' system.

I factored that into my calcs for how long I will loungeable:

Currently SG until 30 Sep
WP 29 Sep 2007 give WP until 30 Sep 2008
0 SCs to 30 Sep 2008 gives SG until 30 Sep 2009 (assuming 4 QF flights taken so there would be some SCs)
Suspended QC membership of 7 months remaining kicks in until April 2010

 

[Dave Noble]

I factored that into my calcs for how long I will loungeable:

Currently SG until 30 Sep
WP 29 Sep 2007 give WP until 30 Sep 2008
0 SCs to 30 Sep 2008 gives SG until 30 Sep 2009 (assuming 4 QF flights taken so there would be some SCs)
Suspended QC membership of 7 months remaining kicks in until April 2010

You only need QP membership for those handful of times that you have a domestic US sector with no international connection. Just pay the USD50 for those days; for all other times your EXP ( then PLT if you fail to renew during 2008 for 2009 ) will give you access until end feb 2010

I would say that the 135k+ AA miles is worth more than a cpl of USD50 lounge fees

Dave

 

[simongr]

I am thinking you are right Dave - just seems like a missed opportunity - even though the opportunity isnt really that missed.

I keep justifying it to myself for the upgrades and that the points could be used for upgrades on QF but then my Amex points are probably better used for QF upgrades than AA points...

I am just going to have to be sensible in this regard

 

[Dave Noble]

I am thinking you are right Dave - just seems like a missed opportunity - even though the opportunity isnt really that missed.

I am just going to have to be sensible in this regard

It isn't a missed opportunity really; Having OW Emerald twice, won't make you special . Just collect the extra J r/t to Europe and be a happy traveller

For exit rows, stick to AA and BA where possible and you can pre-select them

Dave