SYD - LAX Y on A380 or J on 747?

[Ken1]

I'm booked to fly SYD - LAX in Y on the A380 and return in J on the A380 in July/August 2009. I can get a J seat on a 747 on the same day I leave SYD travelling via MEL and then to LAX via AKL on QF25. Alternatively I can leave a day early and travel via BNE on QF15, which would be better than going via MEL and having the stopover in AKL.

I had thought it would be good to try both Y and J on the 380 but seeing a J seat available via BNE or MEL it's very tempting. I have enough points left to change and couldn't afford to pay the cash price for a J fare.

We did a trip to the U.S.earlier this year, in J both ways, the first time we'd ever travelled J, and it was wonderful. Has anyone travelled Y yet on the 380? I'm thinking it's probably worth the extra travelling time to go via BNE in J on the 747.

 

[Dave Noble]

Would be a no brainer to me. Take the J on a 747. The A380 is just a plane and the seats in economy are just economy seats

Dave

 

[simongr]

Would be a no brainer to me. Take the J on a 747. The A380 is just a plane and the seats in economy are just economy seats

Dave

Completely agree. If there was a choice between whY on the A380 or whY on a 747 I would take the A380. Similarly for the J option but if it is ever a zero cash decision between J and whY there is no debate for me.

 

[Febs]

Always J over Y...but here's a question for you all....

You're traveling SYD-LAX in Economy...hoping to grab a seat on the A380 and upgrade (using points) to J, but then you find all the A380 Y seats are gone and you have to fly on a 744. Would you still use the points to upgrade to J?

Personally, I'm not going to, but I would've if I snagged a seat on the 388 (there was 1 seat available when I went to book - in Y, and we need to fly discount economy). I would've upgraded one-way to see what the 388 J class was like, but I'm not willing to spend 72,000pts one-way to upgrade to a cabin I've been in plenty of times. I'll take my exit row, WP benefits, knock myself out with a few drinks and sleep all the way.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[NM]

You're traveling SYD-LAX in Economy...hoping to grab a seat on the A380 and upgrade (using points) to J, but then you find all the A380 Y seats are gone and you have to fly on a 744. Would you still use the points to upgrade to J?

Absolutely! If I was willing to spend the points for an upgrade on an A380 then certainly would have done the same on the 744. In fact, if I thought the chances were better on the 744 I would have booked that one.

 

[docjames]

+1 on the J on any plane vs Y any plane (presuming $0 cost)

 

[Evan]

Its not a short trip ! take J on the 747. (I would in a heartbeat anyway)
E

 

[Febs]

Its not a short trip ! take J on the 747. (I would in a heartbeat anyway)
E

14hrs of comfort, or 1/2 a free round-the-world ticket*? I know which I'd rather.

*Not inc taxes and surcharges.

(I'm down to my last 102,000 QFF pts now, after spending 300,000 odd on 2 x RTW's. Gotta save!)

 

[Evan]

14hrs of comfort, or 1/2 a free round-the-world ticket*? I know which I'd rather.

*Not inc taxes and surcharges.

(I'm down to my last 102,000 QFF pts now, after spending 300,000 odd on 2 x RTW's. Gotta save!)

When you look at it that way ! hmmmmm... If you save up even a few more QFF pts you can do that trip in J also
E

 

[Keith009]

No debate - gimme J anytime over whY.

Don't see what's so special about traveling in a bigger vehicle other than traveling in an enhanced product. Comparing J and whY though is really just comparing apples and oranges, whY is still "whY????!!!!" when compared to J no matter how enhanced.

 

[Febs]

No debate - gimme J anytime over whY.

Don't see what's so special about traveling in a bigger vehicle other than traveling in an enhanced product. Comparing J and whY though is really just comparing apples and oranges, whY is still "whY????!!!!" when compared to J no matter how enhanced.

Bigger vehicle meh, but the enhanced product and all that goes with it (lounge, bar etc..) - that's worth checking out.

I guess for me, it's a matter of "put up with 14hrs of less comfort and save ~$1,500 from my next personal trip". If I was experiencing something new (like 388 J, or 388 F which is what I was originally going to request an upgrade for*) then sure...but for a cabin I've been in plenty of times, AND when the Y trip will be as comfortable as possible (exit row, WP benefits etc..) - I'll put up with it.

Edit: Yes I realise about the best possible use of points is a Y->J upgrade on SYD-LAX...but to me, it's not a good use of points at all. To each their own.

Cheers,
- Febs.

*Originally going to book in J, but client's travel policy changed.

 

[simongr]

14hrs of comfort, or 1/2 a free round-the-world ticket*? I know which I'd rather.

*Not inc taxes and surcharges.

(I'm down to my last 102,000 QFF pts now, after spending 300,000 odd on 2 x RTW's. Gotta save!)

This is the great thing about this forum - the disparity of views

I always favour J over whY and am prepared to do less trips if that is the option. Partially though that is driven by the limited number of trips that I can take and the fact that I am funding two people (2.1 next next year). So I would rather got to the UK every two years than every year at the moment.

Subject to any possible changes to travel plans next year I forsee in the future enough points annually for a regional J trip or bi-annually for a UK J trip.

 

[Alanslegal]

I'm thinking it's probably worth the extra travelling time to go via BNE in J on the 747.

And I'm thinking that is what you should do

 

[JohnK]

14hrs of comfort, or 1/2 a free round-the-world ticket*? I know which I'd rather.

No brainer. I would sacrifice 14 hours of comfort if it meant I had more FF points for a RTW. Although at the rate I am accumulating FF points I am wondering when I will get the chance to use them for a RTW before they are devalued further!

 

[Bundy Bear]

After having flown in the A380 in Y; take the 747 in J no contest.

A380 in Y although nice was way to cramped for my liking, sure it has a nice TV but leg room sucked.