SYD>HKG Suggestions

[SeatBackForward]

Ok so this will be my first OS trip with QF as a WP (love them acronyms). Now..

1) Should I try to upgrade from J to F ? 25,000pts isn't that much considering that the trip itself will earn close to 22k, never flown F before, but I'm thinking "meh J is pretty good already" and I have to do some work on the flight, so its not all leisure

2) First time accessing the QF First lounge, so hoping to get to airport early to see what the fuss is all about

3) As a WP will the J experience be any different to previous OS trips in J as a SG ?

 

[simongr]

1 - Is this on the A380? If so then DO IT! Admittedly not as much fun if you have to do work (is there no way to work around that?)

2 - If you don't upgrade then you can get a great feed.

3 - I wouldn't expect much different. You all get express immigration cards so the CSM meets everyone. Again though if in the A380 you will get access to Emerald City - although I advise everyone not to pick 12E as it is a terrible seat and should be avoided by everyone

 

[SeatBackForward]

1 - Is this on the A380? If so then DO IT! Admittedly not as much fun if you have to do work (is there no way to work around that?)

2 - If you don't upgrade then you can get a great feed.

3 - I wouldn't expect much different. You all get express immigration cards so the CSM meets everyone. Again though if in the A380 you will get access to Emerald City - although I advise everyone not to pick 12E as it is a terrible seat and should be avoided by everyone

Sadly no, 747 although I do at this stage have upper deck exit row window - which is a might fine place to be. Sadly the work can't be avoided as it was that or take an overnight flight and arrive 5am to do a workshop that day..no thanks. Mind you I am very productive on planes, so maybe I can knock it off before the sun sets

I've found the express departure cards at SYD at useful as priority boarding on Qantas domestic....The "guards" by the queues don't seem to care and SYD immigration are quite efficient at getting rid of everyone.

12E hey? pity its not an A380. I *may* be able to change flights on the return onto the A380..but that will need to wait and see.

 

[simongr]

On reflection I would probably be more inclined to upgrade now as I think the difference between 747 F and 747 J much more pronounced than A380 J -> F.

When it comes to upgrading to F now I run through the following:

- Have you done it before? If no then DO IT - if yes - proceed to next question
- How cough is J compared to F - if yes then DO IT - if not much then proceed to next question
- What is your plan for those points? Do you have a family related plan hinging on those points? If No then DO IT - if yes then proceed to next question
- Are those points really that critical or can you re-route a future trip to compensate for the points lost by upgrading...

I find there are a lot of reasons to upgrade

 

[SeatBackForward]

On reflection I would probably be more inclined to upgrade now as I think the difference between 747 F and 747 J much more pronounced than A380 J -> F.

When it comes to upgrading to F now I run through the following:

- Have you done it before? If no then DO IT - if yes - proceed to next question
- How cough is J compared to F - if yes then DO IT - if not much then proceed to next question
- What is your plan for those points? Do you have a family related plan hinging on those points? If No then DO IT - if yes then proceed to next question
- Are those points really that critical or can you re-route a future trip to compensate for the points lost by upgrading...

I find there are a lot of reasons to upgrade

Haha! nice response. On balance the 25k to upgrade from J to F is peanuts really. Although a family trip away next year is on the cards, and this year we used up all my points for it, so that certainly was worthwhile.

Thanks for the advice, once our TA tickets it I'll make the serious decision.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would definitely use 25K points to upgrade J-F on a 747, they are a dying breed and won't be around for much longer. It's a fantastic feeling sitting in the nose of the plane and you can always souvenir a 1A boarding pass.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I would definitely use 25K points to upgrade J-F on a 747, they are a dying breed and won't be around for much longer. It's a fantastic feeling sitting in the nose of the plane and you can always souvenir a 1A boarding pass.

This is true. F class is a real treat and only available on few slected routes. I have to wait for the ticketing to occur, possibly tomorrow, then apply for an upgrade..so 1A may not happen but you never know.

 

[simongr]

I would actually go 4A personally as you end up with more space and there are no overheads over 1A.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would actually go 4A personally as you end up with more space and there are no overheads over 1A.

Even allowing for that there's still a great feeling being in the very nose.
I put my carry-on in the wardrobe for take-off and landing and sit it under the ottoman in flight. Have also been allowed on some flights to store carry-on throughout flight under the ottoman in both 1A and K.
At least we won't be fighting over the same seats

 

[simongr]

More than happy to surrender 1A for a princess

 

[amaroo]

Even allowing for that there's still a great feeling being in the very nose.
I put my carry-on in the wardrobe for take-off and landing and sit it under the ottoman in flight. Have also been allowed on some flights to store carry-on throughout flight under the ottoman in both 1A and K.
At least we won't be fighting over the same seats

+1 for row 1 on a 747. I actually prefer 1K - I'm right handed, cheers

 

[SeatBackForward]

The ticket has been ticketed. I debated over whether to upgrade or not, and in the end, I'm going to stick to J. Upper deck exit row is mighty fine, and the points will be better put towards a family holiday to Cairns next year. F is tempting, but J is a step up for me. It's only been in the past 18months that my owrk place has deemed me "senior" enough to give me J Intl flights.

Besides, it will make getting an Op-Up that ever so much more pleasant

 

[simongr]

Good luck with that Have you checked the loadings?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Good luck with that Have you checked the loadings?

ExpertFlyer shows F as pretty light (for now at least), Still some seats in J downstairs, in the middle of the 2-3-2 config. I'm not expecting an Op-Up - I'm just saying that for me personally J is already a step up, so I'm already pretty happy.

 

[amaroo]

I'm going to stick to J. Upper deck exit row is mighty fine, and the points will be better put towards a family holiday to Cairns next year. F is tempting,

IMO this is a good call. QF747 F hard product has the dreaded three D's (dated, dirty & disappointing) along with BA OF (OF=old F) save your points for the A380 or CX F (ex HKG or somewhere else other than OZ)

 

[SeatBackForward]

Can anyone confirm, do the QF 747 uupper deck window seats have the storage bins? Does this include the exit rows? Not really clear from Sam Chui's photo here:

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using AustFreqFly

 

[Princess Fiona]

Can anyone confirm, do the QF 747 uupper deck window seats have the storage bins? Does this include the exit rows? Not really clear from Sam Chui's photo here:

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using AustFreqFly

Yes they do

 

[SeatBackForward]

Ok another question. QF 88 the late night return flight from HKG on the A330 - do they offer J pyjamas? Trivial perhaps, but I'm going to be doing a solid days work before this and would like to know if I need something comfy to change into or will the J Pyjamas be offered..

PS. I've been using a previous pair under flanelette PJ's at home, they are really warm that way!

 

[SeatBackForward]

My first intl trip as a WP. Things going great so far, just polished off some brekkie in the F lounge, now have about 2.5hrs to kill before boarding! might do some work here then go for a wander around the terminal.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Ok for completeness, heres how the trip went after the F Lounge..

SYD>HKG QF 127, J seat 16k

Upper Deck of the 747 is always interesting, "the bubble" as I like to call it is certainly like being in your own little piece of aircraft. The flight was fine, usual bumpiness in the tropics, and my seat-mate was on his way to Europe. Funnily enough the converstaion between us only began after the IFE broke down and had that 20min wait while it was restarted. I forgot to transfer my file onto my Laptop, so didn't do the work i intended to do, but managed to get something else done. The power plug in the seat couldn't handle my laptop battery, luckily the FA knew exactly what the issues was and told me to try it without the battery, which did the trick, but also meant I had to make sure that at no point did my laptop lose power..

Unusually long queues at HKG immigration though, took me 40mins through the normal Visitors channels, of course I used to have a HK ID card years ago, that certainly makes life a breeze. And I decided to get the A11 bus to Wan Chai rather than the usual Airport Express train. Bagging the front row of the upper deck of a Hong Kong bus...DYKWIA??

HKG>SYD QF88, J seat 5E

I had specifically chosen 4E so not to be in the last row. Arrived at the airport about 3hrs before my flight, After having spent the afternoon wandering around Causeay Bay and Wan Chai marking off items on the wifes shopping list, I was ready to unwind. Thankfully the QF F Lounge at HKG has well serviced showers and I sat down for an hour soaking in the emptiness of this lounge. Finally, just like on the way over, I got bored and decided to wander around the airport. HKG certainly is one schmick airport.

At boarding I got the beep, but knowing that this was a two class service, it didn't excite me in anyway. "moved to seat 5E because laptop power isnt working"..Huh? its a flight departing at 11:30, who plans on using their laptop anyway? Anyhow I make my way to 5E where I find out my seatmate here was also told the same thing and moved from row 4 to row 5...But sure enough there was a couple seated together in what was my pre-selected seat. I assume they were J Newbies as everything seemed very exciting to them, including the game of "where do the headphones plug in"...

So I suspect QF were telling me porkies somehow. The supper meal was cough. The breakfast was pretty good actually, I had trouble sleeping, I think the recline angle was playing on my mind, as I kept having visions of sliding off the seat (not to mention a rather horrible dream involving a plane crash..). Was off the plane and out of the terminal gates in 5 mins, Why is it that I seem to get off planes quicker on International flights than domestic flights these days?

Overall the trip to HK was a success, particualrly as its lead to a trip to KL in six-months time for a follow up workshop!