Alternative PER-LHR?

[songman]

I'm looking at PER-LHR return in Y next year. In an effort to minimise the discomfort, I'd like to avoid the dreaded 3-4-3 layout on Emirates 777. Does anyone have any suggestions for an alternate route, either on QF or with a Oneworld partner, without adding too much cost or flight time? I'd like to maximise point earn where possible, too.

Cheers

 

[casanovawa]

Do the seats on the EK 777 from Perth drop down to 2 on the sides as the plane narrows towards the back??? I know on 747s they do and i usually prefer those seats (as i love my window seat and much easier to climb over one person than 2) and i think on a recent TG 777 flight the last several rows at the back were 2 seats on the side of the plane and i don't mind a seat down the back and not be first of the plane...

The options apart from EK are QR via DOH (i've flown them but not from Perth and was impressed with their Y offering but are they getting OW points/SC at the moment though or not members of OW yet??) which would probably be similar timings to EK, or else you have to go via SIN, KUL, HKG or JNB all of which will add a bit of time onto the trip...

 

[markis10]

Still trying to get my head around whats bad about 3 4 3 in the EK plane, I found it comfortable a week ago with 70% load and noticed a shadow on most middle seats.

 

[docjames]

Next year is a pretty wide range. Any dates / month?

What about Sth African via JNB (+/- connecting to BA in JNB)?

Not Oneworld but could be a one stop option.

 

[eastwest101]

As others have said - Malaysian or Cathay Pacific are the other obvious choices - aside from Qatar Airways who apparently become full Oneworld members about Oct 2013. Lots of different versions of A330-200s and A330-300s in the QR fleet, but for Y class they are all 2-4-2 and apparently only 0.5in wider than the 17in width on the EK 777's, if that extra half an inch is important to you or not.

 

[songman]

Do the seats on the EK 777 from Perth drop down to 2 on the sides as the plane narrows towards the back???

I believe so, yep. 2-4-2 at the back wouldn't be so bad as I'll be with my partner.

Still trying to get my head around whats bad about 3 4 3 in the EK plane, I found it comfortable a week ago with 70% load and noticed a shadow on most middle seats.

I've heard mixed reports about the reduced width in each seat making for a tighter squeeze. A light load would certainly make it less cramped!

Next year is a pretty wide range. Any dates / month? What about Sth African via JNB (+/- connecting to BA in JNB)?

Probably around June-July. Waiting on confirmation of a wedding date, so I'm at the bride and groom's mercy! JNB is an option although my preference is to transit in Asia (which I should've added in my first post).

Malaysian or Cathay Pacific are the other obvious choices

Those are definitely good options, thank you. I've never flown either of these airlines but I'm also keen to see Hong Kong, which makes Cathay a nice option.

 

[eastwest101]

Those are definitely good options, thank you. I've never flown either of these airlines but I'm also keen to see Hong Kong, which makes Cathay a nice option.

Just watch out for CX as I understand that not all fare classes booked on CX actually earn QFF points and SCs.

This thread may be a good guide:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/qff-status-credits-ff-points-27635.html

 

[TAH99]

On the current schedule, Emirates will be flying the A380 out of PER in June July next year, and this may solve your problem.

They are currently booking the 777-300ER out of PER for your timetable, but the Perth Airport A380 Terminal upgrade is scheduled for completion in March 2014, so its possible the may upgrade to A380's out of PER by the time June July 2014 arrives.

T

 

[songman]

Just watch out for CX as I understand that not all fare classes booked on CX actually earn QFF points and SCs.

I'll keep that in mind, thank you.

On the current schedule, Emirates will be flying the A380 out of PER in June July next year, and this may solve your problem.

If that happens, then my problem will definitely be solved! Here's hoping.

 

[jpk]

CX via HKG is not bad, be careful of the fare buckets if you need points/SC. You can get a cheap hotel in HKG and break the journey, if it's less than 24 hours it's not a stopover. Then you do 2 daytime flights = much easier.
There has been some good fares on SQ as well lately and their journey times are excellent out of Perth, not in OW but you can credit them to Virgin Velocity. Also a good place to do a cheap hotel.

 

[songman]

CX via HKG is not bad, be careful of the fare buckets if you need points/SC. You can get a cheap hotel in HKG and break the journey, if it's less than 24 hours it's not a stopover. Then you do 2 daytime flights = much easier.
There has been some good fares on SQ as well lately and their journey times are excellent out of Perth, not in OW but you can credit them to Virgin Velocity. Also a good place to do a cheap hotel.

If I go via HKG I'll definitely stop to visit friends and see the city! SQ is my fallback option - I've had excellent long haul flights with them previously but Velocity points are not terribly useful to me.

 

[DrA]

I just did PER-LHR last week via SIN on BA. It's an alternative, but not a great one.

The QF flight PER-SIN has terrible connections with the BA flights to LHR now that Qantas has moved to one PER-SIN flight a day. On the way over I think I was sitting in the Singapore QF lounge for about 10-12 hours or so. On the way back, I was rushing to make the connection.

It was only about $100 more expensive than the EK codeshare, but I hate DXB and will try to avoid it at all costs if I can. And the mileage earn on BA is terrible now that QF is sleeping with EK rather than BA, although thankfully the SC earn remains the same.

Like I said, it's an option, and something to consider...But my experience last week on the BA sector wasn't great for a multitude of reasons.

 

[jpk]

But my experience last week on the BA sector wasn't great for a multitude of reasons.

I'd like to hear more about how the BA sector was, if you feel like talking about it. I've been thinking of using them but hesitating...

 

[wandering_fred]

Another alternative is to fly your favorite LCC from PER to SIN/KUL/BKK and get a seat in a premium Y cabin to LHR. The seat on the long haul is much better this way and if crediting to QF the SCs would be about the same as the 2 economy segments each way.

If combined with a tag in Europe you can come out well ahead.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[DrA]

I'd like to hear more about how the BA sector was, if you feel like talking about it. I've been thinking of using them but hesitating...

The flight was late departing LHR - not an issue in itself, it happens, but the lack of any kind of update on departure time by BA was frustrating because I had to connect in SIN. Nobody seemed to care as soon as I mentioned connecting to a QF flight in Singapore. Then there were issues with the onboard catering (see this thread for more details), and the subsequent attitude of the cabin crew was appalling at best. The inflight entertainment system is incredibly sub-standard compared to just about every single other full-service airline I've flown in the last 10 years on the long-haul sector to Europe. The plane was filthy, food scraps still stuck to the tray tables etc. from the previous flight.

I dunno, just overall not a good experience. I'm looking into other options for my future European travel.

 

[docjames]

QF303 to JNB, BA to LHR, could do the same vv.