Quality of J on Alaskan and American Airlines

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frankie4fingers

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Hi all

The wife and I are off to NY in Sept. We are flying J with Singapore on the way from Mel to JFK which has come from rewards points thanks to a transfer from Amex.

We have QFF economy award seats booked from NY to Honolulu via LA. The leg from JFK to LA is with Alaska Airlines and the leg from LA to Honolulu is with American Airlines.

Thanks to a recent points deal with a new credit card I have enough QFFs to almost upgrade both legs to business but not quite. What I would like to do is secure one leg though whilst I accrue the remaining points I need for the other leg (assuming availability of course).

Question is which is the better J offering between Alaskan and American?

Never flown either so not sure.

Thanks
 
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Alaskan generally has better service than American, although it can vary from terrible to very good on the US airlines.

The aircraft type could make a difference here. Alaska Airlines doesn't have lie-flat J seats, but American does on some aircraft types. What are the specific flights are aircraft types you're choosing from here?
 
Alaskan generally has better service than American, although it can vary from terrible to very good on the US airlines.

The aircraft type could make a difference here. Alaska Airlines doesn't have lie-flat J seats, but American does on some aircraft types. What are the specific flights are aircraft types you're choosing from here?
According to the E-Ticket the Alaskan Airlines flight is AS1399 and the AA is AA143.

Flightaware shows the American Airlines as an Airbus A321 whereas the Alaskan aircraft type just says 32Q.

Does that detail help?
 
Is that the case when you have booked the economy flights using QF points which is what we have done?

You can sort of upgrade economy flights originally booked using QF points ....... if award seats come available to QF in business class.:D

But it is not an upgrade as such, you are cancelling your economy seats and booking new seats in business and there will be change penalties associated with that :eek:
 
On AA143 American normally uses recliner business/first class seats, so not lie-flat.

I would still book American rather than Alaskan as the points required for AA J are lower than AS F. (As others have explained, you can't actually upgrade with points - you would need to cancel and rebook the award into the higher cabin class.)
 
If you upgrade on the AS flight, your baggage will be free. You will also get lounge access in JFK & LAX.
 
Thanks to all for the advice, will call Qantas and see what kind of charges we will be up for and work out whether to look to jump.
 
Thanks to all for the advice, will call Qantas and see what kind of charges we will be up for and work out whether to look to jump.

Personally I don't think the upgrade is really worth it. While it is a 5 hour flight, it's pretty much the same as Qantas domestic 737 buisness class seating... which is just as uncomfortable as economy after a couple of hours :( There's no lounge access or anything else. Meal serivce is done and dusted in a hour (and still quite 'basic').

Settle back in coach and spring for a double gint and tonic (or whatever else you prefer) and save the points.
 
Meal serivce is done and dusted in a hour (and still quite 'basic').
That actually depends on time of day. I have been served a "multi-course" meal on LAX-HNL before, which is as good as anything QF throws out on MEL-PER, for example. Plus AA give you dessert... yum

You do have to take note of the time when you book, as flights that leave after a certain time only offer snacks from a basket (which is crazy).
 
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