Red Roo - No more F to HKG = No more A380/Skybed Mark 1?

[Red Roo]

Thanks to this thread I checked my booking again tonight and saw I had been downgraded. A phone call to AA has seen myself and partner rebooked onto CX for the SYD-HKG flight.

Sorry our team couldn't assist you earlier today. This information was not available to us at that time.

'qantas has not published any changes'... but they managed to get everything loaded into the GDS less than 24 hours later. and that was published by airlineroute.

I'm hoping they didn't go from 'no idea' to 'fully completed' in that time. and if they 'had a pretty good idea' as of yesterday, why not tell us?

If you have a current reservation impacted by these changes, I'd be happy to assist. We do our best to maintain consistency in rebooking, and avoiding multiple notices of change is one way we can achieve this.

 

[Cynicor]

Update- Received a call, my award will be downgraded with a 30k points refund. I have been allocated 14K (upper deck, window exit). While it would be nice to hope that they remember I was booked in F if the 380 does get subbed in for my flight, I doubt I will get an F seat. That said, if RedRoo wants to put in a good word for me...

Any thoughts on seat selection. It's been a while since I've flown anything QF other than Airbus and the 767.

 

[Colster]

Update- Received a call, my award will be downgraded with a 30k points refund. I have been allocated 14K (upper deck, window exit). While it would be nice to hope that they remember I was booked in F if the 380 does get subbed in for my flight, I doubt I will get an F seat. That said, if RedRoo wants to put in a good word for me...

Any thoughts on seat selection. It's been a while since I've flown anything QF other than Airbus and the 767.

Serfty recommends 5b/5j if by yourself, if traveling with SWMBO it seems that 3E/3F are the way to go.

 

[Kangol]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

It might be 'marketed' as an F seat, but it is not generally considered to be up to the standard of modern F. I think BA is the only carrier to offer that seat in long-haul F? The rest use it for business class, including AA (long-haul) and CX and others.

BA do not use that seat in long haul F, or in any cabin IIRC.

The joke about BA's F seat being "the best business class product" relates to the opinion some hold of BA's F product being below F and not much above J...

 

[JohnK]

If you want to blow the points - go CX J or BA F to SIN and then points or dollars to HKG.

I cannot afford to travel in F even on points. I was trying to score a freebie into F but looks like it is not going to happen.

My final destination will always be BKK but right now I cannot get too excited spending 35,000 AA miles for a business class seat in an A330. I would rather go via HKG on the 747 or even A380 if I am lucky but not holding my breath.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

BA do not use that seat in long haul F, or in any cabin IIRC.

The joke about BA's F seat being "the best business class product" relates to the opinion some hold of BA's F product being below F and not much above J...

my humble apologies to BA if that is the case. I read that the AA/CX seats are a slightly smaller version of the BA ones.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you have a current reservation impacted by these changes, I'd be happy to assist. We do our best to maintain consistency in rebooking, and avoiding multiple notices of change is one way we can achieve this.

I appreciate the reasoning, but I think there is also an argument for the passenger to have a role in deciding what is best for them. knowing as early as possible can provide valuable lead time to book award seats on other flights if necessary.

 

[Happy Trails]

If we're on an A380 in the old F section sold as J, do we still get to complain about pax coming downstairs to use the dunnies?

 

[defurax]

If we're on an A380 in the old F section sold as J, do we still get to complain about pax coming downstairs to use the dunnies?

Of course! They are "Upper Deck" pax. The J pajamas will come with a giant U or L to easily discriminate between the lower deck faux F pax and the upper deck riff raff.:mrgreen:

 

[Red Roo]

I appreciate the reasoning, but I think there is also an argument for the passenger to have a role in deciding what is best for them. knowing as early as possible can provide valuable lead time to book award seats on other flights if necessary.

I agree about the early advice. We do our best to contact customers asap, and offer assistance in making alternative arrangements wherever possible using guidelines to maintain consistency.

However the planning and logistics of such operational changes take time. There are several variables involved such as 3rd party booking agents and various internal and external stakeholders. Therefore we feel it's best to communicate details once they're confirmed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree about the early advice. We do our best to contact customers asap, and offer assistance in making alternative arrangements wherever possible using guidelines to maintain consistency.

However the planning and logistics of such operational changes take time. There are several variables involved such as 3rd party booking agents and various internal and external stakeholders. Therefore we feel it's best to communicate details once they're confirmed.

I'm not sure if Qantas appreciates the following examples:

Passenger on an award ticket NRT-HKG-SYD who has their first class ticket withdrawn may now wish to secure a direct NRT-SYD flight on JL.

A passenger flying HKG-SYD-MEL to take advantage of QF F may wish to secure a seat on the non-stop CX flight to MEL.

A passenger flying HKG-SYD in F may want HKG-SIN-SYD in F via CX/BA.

Any of the seats on the alternative routings can go at any time.

An announcement that F is being withdrawn in the same message as the DFW announcement would allow passengers, not the airline, to decide when they look for alternatives.

Passengers may have other means to secure award flights including AA, CX, BA or JL - not just through QF.

 

[JohnM]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

yeah - while every one is different I am often surprised at the angst directed to skybed mk1.

In my case I have never had trouble sleeping on a skybed mk1 or any sloping flat option.

I do have issues in the BA business level flat bed as they are too narrow for this foetal position sleeper.

Agree - and that foot stool thingy that makes the end of the bed is prone to collapse in the middle of the night :evil:.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

I really like the BA J class - especially the upper deck of the 744. Much prefer it over QF Skybeds.

 

[Kangol]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

my humble apologies to BA if that is the case. I read that the AA/CX seats are a slightly smaller version of the BA ones.

Interesting, I haven't come across that. AFAIK, AA, CX, US, BR, DL and soon to be AF use the same Cirrus seat in J... I don't know of any carrier that uses this seat in F. But yes, originally marketed as an F seat.

 

[drron]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

But AA will be changing their seating.The new F and J seats are already in the A321 transcontinental services.Pics here-
Inside American Airlines' New A321 Transcontinental - Photos || Jaunted

 

[Kangol]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

But AA will be changing their seating.The new F and J seats are already in the A321 transcontinental services.Pics here-
Inside American Airlines' New A321 Transcontinental - Photos || Jaunted

AFAIK that is on different aircraft - their "new" cirrus long haul J seat (ie the same as CX/BR/US) is still a relatively new addition and would likely be staying for the near future...

 

[drron]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

AFAIK that is on different aircraft - their "new" cirrus long haul J seat (ie the same as CX/BR/US) is still a relatively new addition and would likely be staying for the near future...

The 772's are going to be refurbed but are losing F.The new J seat is the one in the A321 according to this months AA inflight magazine.

 

[Spongbob]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

Given the announcement by QF, it is odd that the Qantas website is "selling" First class SYD-HKG at $6872 (one-way) for travel between 9 Dec 14 and 31 Jan 15.

 

[markis10]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

Given the announcement by QF, it is odd that the Qantas website is "selling" First class SYD-HKG at $6872 (one-way) for travel between 9 Dec 14 and 31 Jan 15.

They are not selling it, although it may be advertised.

 

[under the radar]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

Given the announcement by QF, it is odd that the Qantas website is "selling" First class SYD-HKG at $6872 (one-way) for travel between 9 Dec 14 and 31 Jan 15.

I cant find that anywhere on the QF website....please show or direct us how to find this