Upgrading to F?

[pfish]

Hi all

I realise this is a bit subjective, however I would value your thoughts.

Soon to be Mrs pfish and I are heading off for a DONE4 in about three weeks. Our first international flight is MEL- SIN, and after a bit of time travelling SE Asia we then head from Hong Kong to London on QF. My question is: is it worthwhile using my qff points to upgrade to F on one or both of those QF flights? The soon be Mrs pfish has never flown first (on any airline) and the flight from HKG to LHR will be a homecoming for her after living in Australia for a while so thought that could be a nice way to arrive.

Love to hear your thoughts.

 

[simongr]

Upgrading to F for long haul is always worth it if you have the points

I assume you know how the process works but will explain a little here. The awarding of upgrades is done in line with the QFF status of the PAX starting with CL, WP, SG, PS, NB and within those groups by the time of request. Requests open 3 months before the date of travel.

You will only find out whether you are successful within 18-10 hours before departure.

Depending on how many points you have I would definitely upgrade to F but if you are restricted on Points then I would upgrade the legs you can enjoy most as this is more experience than comfort you are going for. these would be daytime flights and not teh second flight in a sequence (i.e. dont burn points getting off a J flight, clambering onto an F flight and falling asleep).

You could request upgrades on all flights and then cancel upgrades as you get closer to departure if you can see heaps of F availability on the flight you want upgraded least.

What status are you?

S

 

[pfish]

Thanks for the info.
I am platinum but partner only silver.
Having said that, last two upgrades (Y - J) have come through for both of us.
i also have a paper ticket - does this make a difference (other than not doing it online)?

 

[simongr]

You will be in a good position for your upgrades I think

Paper makes no difference.

 

[NM]

i also have a paper ticket - does this make a difference (other than not doing it online)?

The need to request the upgrade via the phone is the only difference.

Its these types of upgrades that I use my QFF points for. My most recent was J->F on MEL-HKG, and well worth it in my opinion. I find this the best value use of QF FF points for my situation.

Just be aware of the rod you will be creating for yourself. Once the fairer half has experienced F, there will be no going back. Its the start of a new travel lifestyle.

 

[Flying Fox]

Just be aware of the rod you will be creating for yourself. Once the fairer half has experienced F, there will be no going back. Its the start of a new travel lifestyle.

Totally agree with NM here. If you start your new life together with J or worse still F seating for the Mrs, then you will have set the bar very high for all your future travel.

Its an expensive but legal drug.

As it has been said here before by a few 'My Mrs believes that J is the new Y, and F is the new J'.

Have a great trip!

 

[ejb_nz]

Totally agree with NM here. If you start your new life together with J or worse still F seating for the Mrs, then you will have set the bar very high for all your future travel.

Its an expensive but legal drug.

As it has been said here before by a few 'My Mrs believes that J is the new Y, and F is the new J'.

Have a great trip!

I would agree totally with both NM & FF on this point. Be very careful about introducing F to the wife.

I travelled in J for my honeymoon (mrs ejb first J) and have still not managed to get her back to Y for even SYD-MEL flights.

I have no intention of introducing mrs to F, wallet could not stand the shock.

ejb

 

[simongr]

Ugh - on the upcoming trip mrsimongr is in J syd-hkg-jfk-lhr-lca-lhr-hkg-sin and the F sin-syd - looks like I am in for trouble...

 

[Batesy]

Pfish. Get on the phone to QF and regsiter for the F upgrade now. I took Mrs batesy on a done4 for our Honeymoon in 2006. For the first international leg I upgraded the two of us to F from SYD to SFO, long flight. I didnt tell her that we were in F until I took her into the Sydney F check in counter, great surprise!. We were looked after well in the Flounge, which had only been open a week and even better on board, especially Mrs Batesy as getting married is apparently all about you. Its great experience just once!!


DO IT NOW!!!

 

[pfish]

Thank you so much for all the replies. Will jump on the phone now.

I do realise i am setting the bar high, ever since an upgrade (op-up actually) MEL - LHR last year she hasn't looked back...

cheers everyone.

 

[jamesatfish]

My question is: is it worthwhile using my qff points to upgrade to F on one or both of those QF flights?

I'd definitely go with the upgrade to F MEL-SIN if you can get it. My wife and I just came back from a 2 week round-the-world trip in QF First, and it certainly is fantastic. I prefer F mainly for the bed (I haven't spent much time in QF J but last time I did I found it hard to sleep on the angled bed) but the freely flowing Dom Perignon certainly doesn't hurt either!

Although the MEL-SIN flight is shorter than HKG-LHR you will get to take advantage of the F Lounge in MEL, which (assuming it's as nice as SYD) is a great way to start the trip, especially if your wife takes advantage of the Spa whilst you are there.

As for those people lamenting the standards they set when taking their wife in F (or J) for the first time, I came across a bloke the other day who seemed to have the perfect solution - he sat in F LHR-SYD whilst his wife and kids travelled somewhere at the back. He was certainly a far braver man than I.

 

[NM]

Although the MEL-SIN flight is shorter than HKG-LHR you will get to take advantage of the F Lounge in MEL, which (assuming it's as nice as SYD) is a great way to start the trip, especially if your wife takes advantage of the Spa whilst you are there.

Yes, the MEL FLounge is as good as the SYD FLounge in my experience. However, do note that as an upgradee you cannot pre-book a spa treatment slot. So need to turn up early.

Also, as a Platinum FF member, they have access to the FLounge and F check-in anyway, regardless of the upgrade success.

 

[Flying Fox]

Ugh - on the upcoming trip mrsimongr is in J syd-hkg-jfk-lhr-lca-lhr-hkg-sin and the F sin-syd - looks like I am in for trouble...

Oh no. You have my condolences!

As for those people lamenting the standards they set when taking their wife in F (or J) for the first time, I came across a bloke the other day who seemed to have the perfect solution - he sat in F LHR-SYD whilst his wife and kids travelled somewhere at the back. He was certainly a far braver man than I.

Wow, is he still married or even still alive?

 

[Dave Noble]

Wow, is he still married or even still alive?

He could well be travelling on business where the company is paying for the ticket with the others just coming along on own money. Would not be too surprising to see them in different cabins in this situation

Dave

 

[drron]

He could well be travelling on business where the company is paying for the ticket with the others just coming along on own money. Would not be too surprising to see them in different cabins in this situation

Dave

Even if it were this scenario I would be down the back.

 

[Mal]

Even if it were this scenario I would be down the back.

So true. Marital harmony comes at a price!

 

[Dave Noble]

Even if it were this scenario I would be down the back.

Not a wise move with some companies. If a company is paying for business due to a need for person to be able to work effectively on arrival, to give away the seat to someone else could leave the person in serious issues.

In the case where one is being funded for work and the other is a tag along for a holiday, there is no justifiable reason for swapping and could be grounds for action by the company against the employee. The travelling partner can hardly be surprised if separated for the flight if they are buying a cheapie ticket for the fly along

obvious low level response from a company would be to no longer fund business class travel since the employee has indicated that they do not need it... worst case dismissal for charging for a business ticket and giving it to an unauthorised person

I have worked for companies which have clear instructions that downgrading is not permitted.

Dave

 

[Evan]

Your all soft
I don't feel so bad about leaving her down the back ! If i was working then for sure no chance i would change seats.
E

 

[thegurio]

Absolutely - its easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission

But in this instance fully warranted, yes brave too, but warranted. The guy was on the flight to work the family was there to keep him company. Oh if only my company did this, but then again i am the company and i aint paying for it!

 

[Flying Fox]

Your all soft E

You've never met my wife !!!!

Only kidding. But if you ever read this dear, it was a typo