SYD/MEL - LHR (J): QF, EK, CX or SQ

[drewbles]

CX ticks a lot of boxes: SC, F upgrade possible between HKG-LHR, aisle access, flat bed, good IFE, good lounge, flight frequency,....

Having flown both CX's new J and QF's Skybins (Mark I and II), i'd take CX over QF any day (if money was no issue).

Also, if the pax is WP, i've found upgrades on CX are actually more numerous than QF.

 

[docjames]

Actually - it really depends on your definition of OPM. If its a tax-dodging multinational with interests in tobacco, arms manufacturing, exploitation of Third world labour etc etc then I say go for the $27K F fare! If it were paid by an orphanage in a Thirld World country then the equation changes again. But if it were a normal business or institution paying the fare the I would be happy saving them the $1.5K or so an "putting up with" CX J class myself. The chance of a F upgrade maybe just isnt enough to entice me to QF because if you don't get it - you have just paid extra money to fly on QF's good but not outstanding J class procuct, similarly the SQ fare looks a little unjustifyable as well.

eastwest101 has elucidated my logic. I just couldnt phase it so elegantly earlier!

 

[legroom]

Having flown both CX's new J and QF's Skybins (Mark I and II), i'd take CX over QF any day (if money was no issue).

Also, if the pax is WP, i've found upgrades on CX are actually more numerous than QF.

I truly appreciate the candid, helpful and above all, courteous discourse.

It was unknown to me that QF WP could be upgraded (? with points / ?status by itself) on CX.

I was under the mistaken belief that it is not available - like EK.

BTW, OPM is from an ethical multi-national, not an orphanage.

I am a little old fashioned where I believe in repaying good deeds, so here is a little story.

My Mk I exit row seats were swapped into row 16 of a refurbished 747 recently.

On arrival at the SYD F lounge, I chatted to Michael about how QF changed the plane only in the last 24 hrs (yes, they do have that right. Stop the flame before it starts, please).

I had been watching EF daily except the last 24-36 hrs when I thought it would be too late for any changes.

Michael took it upon himself to rectify what he called 'a stupid mistake' by QF IT.

Lo and behold, I got BPs for row 14 (Mk II) seats.

To people like Michael, I thought they deserve more than a simple Thank You.

So, if possible (as in this case*, with OPM) I'd like to support my fellow Aussies.

But I'd also acknowledge your suggestion that CX is more than a match for QFi.

Perhaps that's for my AA miles - when I have time away from work !

Happy NY from Tokyo




*: another transpacific J later in the year also goes to QF.

 

[drewbles]

I truly appreciate the candid, helpful and above all, courteous discourse.

It was unknown to me that QF WP could be upgraded (? with points / ?status by itself) on CX.

I was under the mistaken belief that it is not available - like EK.

Sorry I wasn't clearer I was referring to op-ups. CX tend to treat OW Emeralds very well, and there is plenty of evidence of WP's being upgraded at the gate to F from J (likewise on EK, but I know CX have a track record of it).

 

[Newk]

Mate, I look forward to your travel report. I've been in a similar situation a couple of times and what I've done is waited for the next QF sale. I am no expert on the other airlines and can only say that QF J is a wonderful wonderful product, as I guess you already know

 

[Isochronous]

I know its just a straw poll, but in my opinion if I were paying for J class flights out of my own pocket say MEL/SYD to LHR then a lot of your points about different products is worthy of consideration but I still maintain that price would the main consideration (if you were reasonably locked into dates).

The question I would ask is what would the folks here be prepared to pay for those different J class products? For example I searched Expedia on say 18th June SYD-LHR and LHR-SYD on 18th July for 1 stop options and got the following results for return J fares:

China Southern $4964, Finnair $6177 (two stop example via SIN and HEL), Thai $6730, Virgin Australia $6907, Cathay Pacific $7319, British Airways $7543, Virgin Atlantic $7555, Qantas $7572, Emirates $7572!, Malaysian Airlines $8010, Singapore $9016, Ethiad $9717, JAL $11275

So now do the maths and I know this is only one isolated example but would be interesting to see the price justification for the difference in some of those J class fares. Obviously YMMV depending on demand/time of year etc etc

Lounge access is a given if you are paying for J class fares. Obviously my examples exclude using points to upgrade or fly in the J cabin.

Finnair would actually be the best option for SCs since it is 2 stop via HEL! And when their new lounge is finished they will have sauna too.

 

[eastwest101]

Finnair would actually be the best option for SCs since it is 2 stop via HEL! And when their new lounge is finished they will have sauna too.

Yes I noticed that the Finnair codeshare on BA, CX or QF metal to SIN (you can mix and match) and then Finnair metal from SIN-HEL, and then presumably a short hop from HEL-LHR was also one of the most competative priced J fares (apart from the China Southern J fares) - but some people are not fans of the Finnair AY angled-flat seats in J class on their A340s.

 

[legroom]

- but some people are not fans of the Finnair AY angled-flat seats in J class on their A340s.

I knew there must be a catch somewhere !

 

[eastwest101]

I knew there must be a catch somewhere !

But think of the Sauna at the end of the polar A340 flight - a couple of bucket list items in one day!

 

[winfred]

Sorry I wasn't clearer I was referring to op-ups. CX tend to treat OW Emeralds very well, and there is plenty of evidence of WP's being upgraded at the gate to F from J (likewise on EK, but I know CX have a track record of it).

I got op-uped 1 out of 8 flights on CX as a QFF WP over the past 5 years. One of them was HKG-LHR from J to F. The rest are Y or Y+ to J.

 

[Isochronous]

Yes I noticed that the Finnair codeshare on BA, CX or QF metal to SIN (you can mix and match) and then Finnair metal from SIN-HEL, and then presumably a short hop from HEL-LHR was also one of the most competative priced J fares (apart from the China Southern J fares) - but some people are not fans of the Finnair AY angled-flat seats in J class on their A340s.

Aren't AY rolling out a fully flat seat though? Perhaps to HKG or BKK already available?

 

[legroom]

I got op-uped 1 out of 8 flights on CX as a QFF WP over the past 5 years. One of them was HKG-LHR from J to F. The rest are Y or Y+ to J.

Sorry but I am confused with the math.

One out of eight flights only ?

But 'the rest.... Y/Y+ to J' implies there are more than one op up ????

 

[eastwest101]

Aren't AY rolling out a fully flat seat though? Perhaps to HKG or BKK already available?

I am sure there will be better AY experts out there than me - but I was looking at AY flights for April 2014 and it was still showing as A340s, as I understand it 3 of the oldest AY A340s will be gone by 2015 and all of the remaining A330 and A340 fleet will have new Zodiac Vantage seats by 2015 - but until then maybe it will be be a lottery as to which type of J seat you get on the AY SIN-HEL.

 

[RobJ]

I'd definitely vote CX. I don't want to travel through the middle east and in any case Qantas charges more for an inferior product. As well, they've abandoned Adelaide while CX have improved their service. Last year I went CX/AY and liked the Helsinki stopovers even though reindeer tartare made me a bit ill. CX is the better half though and AY don't have a dedicated lounge in HKG.

 

[Bindibuys]

I am sure there will be better AY experts out there than me - but I was looking at AY flights for April 2014 and it was still showing as A340s, as I understand it 3 of the oldest AY A340s will be gone by 2015 and all of the remaining A330 and A340 fleet will have new Zodiac Vantage seats by 2015 - but until then maybe it will be be a lottery as to which type of J seat you get on the AY SIN-HEL.

I have AY Syd-Lhr via BKK (QF metal to BKK) (CX HKG - SYD) in J departing in 16 May, hoping for the winning lottery ticket for that flat bed seat.
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