QFF for Dummies

[SilenceFOOL!]

Please excuse my ignorance (I wont even try to hide it) for asking this question.
I'm new, dazed and confused and in desperate need of help.
I'm a QFF but...er, have never actually used any of my points. Fly Q perhaps only once a year the majority of my points come from credit card spend. Have a fair few up my sleeve and want to use them- who'd have thought?
Question 1- Q website points calc states MEL-HKG rtn 60000. When trying to book award flight it's calculating it at 72000. Surely, Q wouldn't be stinging me 12000 because I can't get a direct flight out of MEL and, instead, I'm going via Sydney even though I don't want to?
Question 2- am I reading it right when Q website states they fly Airbus to Hong Kong from MEL....though I've trawled through 3 months of flights and can't find a single one (only 747/767).

What am I missing here?
Thoughts, opinions, advice?

 

[Dave Noble]

Question 1- Q website points calc states MEL-HKG rtn 60000. When trying to book award flight it's calculating it at 72000. Surely, Q wouldn't be stinging me 12000 because I can't get a direct flight out of MEL and, instead, I'm going via Sydney even though I don't want to?

If you route via SYD then the mileage of MEL-SYD-HKG will be used to calculate the cost. I would suggest a call to QFF and see whether there is availability on CX direct to HKG

Dave

 

[Mal]

CX = Cathay Pacific (Just in case you're not aware of what CX stands for).

BTW, Welcome to AFF!

Qantas flies one flight per week to Hong Kong using an Airbus A330-300. QF187 which leaves Sunday night and routes through Sydney.

Personally I would fly Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong over Qantas just about any day.

 

[SilenceFOOL!]

Thanks boys
(Mal, I could feign offence but...yes, had NO idea what CX was! )

I note SeatGuru says Cathays Airbus 330 has better (more) pitch and width than Q - important for me being tall but what else? Better food, nice FAs?

Ooh I have another question that you might be able to answer.
Re: rtn leg from HKG with Q- I wasn't able to find the Airbus at all, into SYD or otherwise.
What's the go there, then? Presumably it IS coming back?

Cheers.

 

[straitman]

Thanks boys
(Mal, I could feign offence but...yes, had NO idea what CX was! )

I note SeatGuru says Cathays Airbus 330 has better (more) pitch and width than Q - important for me being tall but what else? Better food, nice FAs?

Ooh I have another question that you might be able to answer.
Re: rtn leg from HKG with Q- I wasn't able to find the Airbus at all, into SYD or otherwise.
What's the go there, then? Presumably it IS coming back?

Cheers.

Slightly OT.

Why are you chasing the A330 :?: They are 10% slower than the Boeing product.

 

[NM]

Thanks boys
(Mal, I could feign offence but...yes, had NO idea what CX was! )

I note SeatGuru says Cathays Airbus 330 has better (more) pitch and width than Q - important for me being tall but what else? Better food, nice FAs?

The seat pitch is the same (60 inches). Personally I find the QF Skybeds are a step ahead of the CX equiv seats. The CX design is older and the bed is at a steeper angle (not as bad as it was before CX revised their seats a few years ago).

So in my mind, QF wins for seat comfort and features (such as massage, shoe storage etc), but CX wins on IFE quality. Food is similar. Service is consistently good on CX and QF can be better or worse depending on the crew on the day.

Note that if purchasing a ticket and using QF FF program, then you don't get the status bonus when flying with CX.

Ooh I have another question that you might be able to answer.
Re: rtn leg from HKG with Q- I wasn't able to find the Airbus at all, into SYD or otherwise.
What's the go there, then? Presumably it IS coming back?

For the return leg, take QF30 as it is a daytime flight and on 747-400 aircraft. Avoid overnight flights like the plague whenever you can!

The only reason you see a QF A330 operating MEL-HKG as QF187 is because the MEL-SYD portion of the flight (it operates MEL-SYD-HKG) is a repositioning flight for the aircraft to get it back to SYD. In fact it may not even be the same aircraft that operates both legs. The return QF188 is always HKG-SYD only.

 

[JohnK]

The seat pitch is the same (60 inches).

Not in economy! I think the OP is looking for a WHY award.

Question 1- Q website points calc states MEL-HKG rtn 60000.

 

[NM]

Not in economy! I think the OP is looking for a WHY award.

In that case they need to consider the QF slimline seat at 31 inch compared with CX non-slimline seat at 32". I find them to be very similar as far as comfort and space is concerned.

 

[SeaWolf]

Slightly OT.

Why are you chasing the A330 :?: They are 10% slower than the Boeing product.

I keep seeing this myth repeated and it's simply not true.
Refering to specs sheets of the different aircraft:

| TYPE | CRUISE | MAX |
| A330 | 871    | 913 |
| A340 | 907    | 940 |
| B747 | 913    | 977 |
| B767 | 871    | 913 |
| B777 | 892    | 945 |

As you can see, the difference in cruise speed is about 4.8% between the fastest and the slowest. If someone would point out anything I've missed, I'll be glad to hear it.

 

[serfty]

... Question 1- Q website points calc states MEL-HKG rtn 60000. When trying to book award flight it's calculating it at 72000. Surely, Q wouldn't be stinging me 12000 because I can't get a direct flight out of MEL and, instead, I'm going via Sydney even though I don't want to?...

MEL-HKG direct is 4581 miles, under the 4799 limit for 'zone 5' award travel and 30K QFF points. MEL-SYD-HKG is 5019 miles, well into 'zone 6' and 36K QFF points.

 

[SilenceFOOL!]

Thanks to all for info.

Reason I am "chasing" the Airbus is because I was under the distinct impression it was
a) newer (infact the common thread I have come across on other websites re: Qs 747/767 ageing fleet is that they're rubbish and about to fall apart! ),
b) The seating seating config suits me (for 2 pax travelling together),
c) The 2 pax are tall and I believe Airbus is roomier-ISH and,
d) I have already flown this route on both 747/767 with Q and I thought it's time to try something new!

Decided I'm going to get to SYD with JQ stay a few days and then fly out on the 330 and same back (hopefully) on QF188, correct? Parking at Avalon should save me some a bit,too. I'll use the diff to buy a Coke onboard for $8

 

[d15.in.oz]

The 2 pax are tall and I believe Airbus is roomier-ISH…

QAN group A320s & A330s, in Y, are roomier-ISH; in width! [A320 the seat, A330 A&K gap to window.] But not necessarily pitch (but that is comparative).

YMMV

 

[serfty]

... Parking at Avalon should save me some a bit,too. I'll use the diff to buy a Coke onboard for $8

Depends upon how long you are going to park.

Avalon Airport

Parking at Melbourne Airport - Long Term

After 14 Days Tullamarine is cheaper ...

 

[Keith009]

While the A330's 2-4-2 config is slightly nicer in Y than the 3-4-3 on a 744, I'm not sure I'd go through all that extra hassle to get on the former. I'm not sure how much more different Y on the A330 will be to the 744 apart from config.

The somewhat bad timing of the outbound on QF29 might be something to consider of course, as it is a red eye and will arrive in HKG at a less than optimum time for hotel check in. Maybe try to get on QF187 MEL-SYD-HKG on the outbound - you get ur A330, a better timed flight, and if booked on a single flight number all the way - the award counts as MEL-HKG I believe. But good luck with a flight that only operates once a week (in its entirety).

 

[NM]

I keep seeing this myth repeated and it's simply not true.

From the current QF schedule, the A330 flight SYD-HKG (QF187) is scheduled at 9:30 hours while the 744 flight (QF127) is scheduled as 9:00 hours. That is 5.2% longer flight time for A330 over 744.

Now given that ground handling and ATC requirements are built into those schedules and are going to be the same for both aircraft types, I will assume the actual flying time is 1 hour less than the schedule time, making it 8:30 vs 8:00 as the variation in cruise speed, which is then relates to a 5.9% speed difference.

One of the reasons Airbus has been branded with the slow speed reputation relates back to the initial A340-300 model that was distinctly underpowered. This was because the original engine for which the aircraft was designed was not available at the time the aircraft was ready for manufacture and the only available engine was significantly underpowered. This meant the A340 could not climb quickly enough to reach the more efficient cruise altitudes that the 747 and 767 could use on the same routes, resulting in longer flight times and hugher fuel burns that Airbus had originally promised.

These performance limitations have been overcome with later aircraft models and the speed and performance difference between A330/A340 and 747/767 is generally less than the 10% that was experienced with the early model A340s.

Another good comparison is on the HKG-LHR route where CX operates both A340-300 and 747-400 aircraft. The schedule for A340-300 is 13:15 while the 747-400 is 12:50. So again it is clear that the Airbus is slower than the Boeing (same operator, different aircraft type), but its not a 10% difference in flight time.

 

[grey goose]

As a qff how do i book on cx flights using qff points?

 

[NM]

As a qff how do i book on cx flights using qff points?

At the moment there seems to be a problem with CX flights showing up on the QFF on-line award booking system. So the only option is going to be to call QF and use an agent to make the booking, which will cost an extra 2500 points.

 

[straitman]

I keep seeing this myth repeated and it's simply not true.
Refering to specs sheets of the different aircraft:

| TYPE | CRUISE | MAX |
| A330 | 871    | 913 |
| A340 | 907    | 940 |
| B747 | 913    | 977 |
| B767 | 871    | 913 |
| B777 | 892    | 945 |

As you can see, the difference in cruise speed is about 4.8% between the fastest and the slowest. If someone would point out anything I've missed, I'll be glad to hear it.

OK. From the manufacturers web sites the numbers aren't all that far apart.

A330
Cruising Speed Mach 0.82 (541 mph, 470 knots, 871 km/h at 35,000 ft cruise altitude)

B747ER
Typical Cruise Speed at 35,000 feet 0.855 Mach 567 mph (913 km/h)

Certainly only about 4-5%

From the guys who fly them & I need to talk with a few friends to confirm these numbers.

Actual cruise speed that is used:
B747 M.85 & A330 M.78 which is where I got the 10% from.

When the Airbus goes faster so does the fuel :!:

 

[JohnK]

So the only option is going to be to call QF and use an agent to make the booking, which will cost an extra 2500 points.

My advice would be to politely ask QF to waive the 2,500 FF points booking fee as it is not your fault you can't book CX flights online.

They were happy to waive the 2,500 FF points booking fee for my RTW award as I was not able to book it online. Valid routing but the booking engine just would not accept it.

 

[SilenceFOOL!]

...try to get on QF187 MEL-SYD-HKG on the outbound - you get ur A330, a better timed flight, and if booked on a single flight number all the way - the award counts as MEL-HKG I believe. But good luck with a flight that only operates once a week (in its entirety).

Ooh, it must just be that I'm lucky cos there are HEAPS in Jan/Feb/Mar 08 which is when I'm travelling. Also lucky for me it's purely recreational so very flexible on dates!

Haven't been to Honkers since just after the handover to the Chinese when I flew Q return with 5 nights accom thrown in for the princely sum of $600:!:
Those were the days...