QF F Class - is it worth it?

[Globetrotter]

Hi AFF Crew,

I'm planning a trip to NYC and LAX using FF points and always wanted to try First Class. Looking to fly QF ex. SYD in F and VA direct into BNE in J on the way back.

Not concerned about the points needed but rather if F Class is really worth it (on QF) versus J Class

UA is not an option.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[ejb]

Hi AFF Crew,

I'm planning a trip to NYC and LAX using FF points and always wanted to try First Class. Looking to fly QF ex. SYD in F and VA direct into BNE in J on the way back.

Not concerned about the points needed but rather if F Class is really worth it (on QF) versus J Class

UA is not an option.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi,

IMO it is worth it. However unless you are WP I don't think you will find many F seats to NYC.

ejb

 

[Globetrotter]

Nup not WP. Found a couple of seats but not on the dates I require. I'll keep looking!

maybe I should try and fly F both ways

 

[simongr]

Hi AFF Crew,

I'm planning a trip to NYC and LAX using FF points and always wanted to try First Class. Looking to fly QF ex. SYD in F and VA direct into BNE in J on the way back.

Not concerned about the points needed but rather if F Class is really worth it (on QF) versus J Class

UA is not an option.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Yes - certainly yes if you can get an A380 and certainly yes if you are travelling with your better half as part of a holiday.

In relation to fly F both ways I am a little torn. I would definitely go F out as it is a great start to the holiday but I dont think it is as necessary on the way back. I would however say though that finishing a trip in f is a great full stop to the trip...

 

[NM]

If you have the points, then do it. In my view its marginal as to whether its worth the 50% addition points over J. I would not hesitate if using AA miles where the difference is less than 15% for F over J (72,500 miles for F vs 62,500 miles for J).

For such a long trip, F is v nice.

 

[DTM1]

In my view, while F is nice, it is not worth the premium you have to pay in points to get it.

This is particularly true of the A380, where the business lie flat seat is a big improvement on the 747 J class seat. Also, if you sit in the front J class cabin on the A380, it feels quite separate from the rest of J.

If you are drowning in points and don't know what to do with them, then by all means fly first.

however, if you're likely to travel again in the next year and saving of the points by travelling J will allow you to travel next time in J as opposed to Y, then save the points.

cheers

 

[Dave Noble]

If you have lots of spare points, then I suspect that you wouldnt be asking about value since I would only pay an extra 64,000 for F to JFK if points were of no concern

I would suggest saving the 64k per person and taking business class

As NM said, if using AA miles, it would be well worth the extra 10k

Dave

 

[Globetrotter]

Thanks all. Do you know if Amex MR points can be transferred to AA miles account (which I don't yet have)?

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks all. Do you know if Amex MR points can be transferred to AA miles account (which I don't yet have)?

I think it can still be done indirectly via Starwood Preferred Guest

Transfer from AMEX to SPG at a rate of 1000 MR points gives 330 SPG points

SPG-AA transfers at a rate of 1-1

except If transferring 20,000 , will get a 25% bonus giving 25,000

1st class to USA on AA costs 72500 points ( and will allow a stopover in LAX )

75000 AA points requires 60000 SPG points which requires 181,819 AMEX points

Dave

 

[futaris]

1st class to USA on AA costs 72500 points ( and will allow a stopover in LAX )

They used to allow free stopovers at the North American Gateway, but no longer:

Q: Do one-way awards include any stopovers?
A: Awards between North America and Europe, India, Asia, and Central / South America allow a stopover at the North American gateway. However, other one-way awards do not allow stopovers.

Q: How can I travel to more than one city on a one-way award?
A: Traveling to multiple cities requires multiple one-way awards.

Q: Travel to more than one city was permitted on round-trip awards; why has this changed?
A: Round-trip awards were designed to provide travel to and from one city. We understand that in the past some members benefited by making an extra stop en route. With the introduction of one-way awards, you can still travel to more than one city but it will require multiple one-way awards.

 

[Dave Noble]

They used to allow free stopovers at the North American Gateway, but no longer:

They still do for most international ... I didn't realise that there was an exception for US-SWP ( unless it is just an omission from the list). They have stopped the stopovers at the non-US gateways, just didn't realise that SWP was anexception

Dave

 

[Globetrotter]

Looks like NYC is out so will look at going to LAX only. Having issues getting F class on QF out of SYD so may go J class both ways.

QUESTION: Classic J on QF or V Australia J Class (flat-bed) who would you choose?

(FYI - can't get QF J on A380)

 

[Keith009]

Yes - certainly yes if you can get an A380 and certainly yes if you are travelling with your better half as part of a holiday.

In relation to fly F both ways I am a little torn. I would definitely go F out as it is a great start to the holiday but I dont think it is as necessary on the way back. I would however say though that finishing a trip in f is a great full stop to the trip...

I'd fly F both ways if i can, but if I had to do it one way I'd prefer it to be on the way back. That way you spend the entire trip looking forward to F instead of reminiscing about it only to do a downer and slum it on the way back.

 

[Dave Noble]

Looks like NYC is out so will look at going to LAX only. Having issues getting F class on QF out of SYD so may go J class both ways.

QUESTION: Classic J on QF or V Australia J Class (flat-bed) who would you choose?

(FYI - can't get QF J on A380)

If its flat bed vs skybed, Id go for flat bed every time

Dave

 

[Homer]

I agree with most of the other posters - having flown QF F several times in a 744 and 380, and a variety of J at other times in various airlines as well as QF, IMHO F is absolutely worth the investment over J.

Also if I had to choose between F on the way out or on the way back, I would choose the way back to round out the vacation.

Lastly I don't like QF Skybed Mark I all that much because I don't find it comfortable trying to sleep on an angle, and I've never tried Skybed Mark II, so for me lie-flat wins.

 

[opusman]

I'd fly F both ways if i can, but if I had to do it one way I'd prefer it to be on the way back. That way you spend the entire trip looking forward to F instead of reminiscing about it only to do a downer and slum it on the way back.

That's exactly the reason I've never been interested in those "dual-class" fares. Fine on the way to Europe as you have J to look forward too while you're slumming it in Y - but coming back, having to go back to Y after J would be just too much to bear!

 

[dede]

Are you able to get seat redemptions on F on the A380? I didn't think they were releasing seats? Does anyone know how full F class on the A380 actually is?

 

[Homer]

Are you able to get seat redemptions on F on the A380? I didn't think they were releasing seats? Does anyone know how full F class on the A380 actually is?

I can't comment on overall availability, but three weeks ago I was able to get three upgrades to F, from J, on LHR-SIN on the A380. And there were still two spare seats up the front. I don't think I would have been as fortunate before the current travel downturn but again I can't be sure as all my previous upgrades to F have been as a solo traveller.

 

[Evan]

F is special if you have lots of points i would do it.

 

[cove]

Try out of Melbourne as well as Sydney for First Class.
I went AA for First Class to NYC ex LAX and I was quite surprised at the $5 add on to the points....so very reasonable