747 to Perth...?

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newflyer

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Hi all,

Hope everyone is well, and had a enjoyable Chrissy and New Years!

Just a quick question - I'm travelling to Perth next week (ex-Cbr) and have the option to go via Cbr (737-800) or via Sydney or Melbourne on one of the big old 747-300s (QF583 or 481).

Having not done any intl travel, can anyone tell me what these like to travel on? I have enough FF points to upgrade to Business Class, too, so I'm wondering what's better - direct flight from Cbr-Perth (737-800) or Cbr-Syd, then Syd-Perth (747-300).

I don't care about SCs or anything like that - more just the experience (food, flight, seats, etc)!

Thanks,

NF
 
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The 743 is more comfortable, plus lots more opportunities for an upgrade. And you'd be earning extra points and SCs compared with the direct flight.

If you can afford the extra time, cost (if any) and (small) hassle factor of a connection I'd take the indirect flight.
 
In your case I'd go the 743 ...

If you were looking to upgrade, check out the current J cabin seat availability and select the flight with the most. This should increase your chances of successfully upgrading.

If availability is about equal, the ex SYD flight is scheduled 30 minutes longer so you can enjoy your flight that little bit more (and get more ff points).
 
serfty said:
In your case I'd go the 743 ...

If you were looking to upgrade, check out the current J cabin seat availability and select the flight with the most. This should increase your chances of successfully upgrading.

If availability is about equal, the ex SYD flight is scheduled 30 minutes longer so you can enjoy your flight that little bit more (and get more ff points).

Is it still the case that if Business class award seats are available, then you can points upgrade to those (from an appropriate Y booking class - not red-e-deal)? ie. do they come from the same bucket? That's the theory I used a couple of months ago in a similar situation, and either it worked, or I was just lucky.
 
tuapekastar, I hope that's the case!

Basically, my employer will meet cost of fully flexible economy class ticket - I was hoping to use my FF points to upgrade to business class.

Can anyone tell me if that upgrade can be done in advance, or whether I can only do it 'on departure' (which I guess would make the chance of J class reliant on the number of others booked into j class on the flight)?

Thanks!
 
It's a domestic upgrade.

If you can book an award Business class seat on a flight you can also upgrade into that seat as soon as you are ticketed in WHY on the same flight.

Other than that an on-departure upgrade is an option. (Not good in the OP's case as they need to transfer from another flight and might miss out.)
 
I'd take the 743 any time over a 737. IFE is way better (in-seat screens) and upgrading to business puts you in International standard seats, not the pseudo-business seat in the 737. In fact I now try to plan all my transcontinental travel around the 743. I've been successful at getting points upgrades on my 3 most recent trips.

The question is really how long this will go on for. I was told that one of the aircraft was due for scrapping in the next couple of weeks and I can't see QF filling the gap with 744's.
 
newflyer said:
tuapekastar, I hope that's the case!

Basically, my employer will meet cost of fully flexible economy class ticket - I was hoping to use my FF points to upgrade to business class.

Can anyone tell me if that upgrade can be done in advance, or whether I can only do it 'on departure' (which I guess would make the chance of J class reliant on the number of others booked into j class on the flight)?

Thanks!

newflyer, as serfty has subsequently said, you can (and IMO should) upgrade as soon as the ticket is purchased. I followed the sequence check for J award availability on 743 flight(s), purchase it/them, then log in to qantas.com.au and snag the upgrades straightaway. I guess there is a very remote chance the availability could disappear between purchasing and upgrading but you'd be very very stiff! Enjoy the flights!:) And the seats/in-seat IFE/food/complimentary plonk etc., as previously posted, is a good experience.
 
Thanks to some great advice on this very forum, I enjoyed the upper deck of the 747 yesterday Sydney to Perth.

The poached eggs, tomato, bacon, toast breakfast was delicious. The water, apple juice, orange juice and hot towels were also very nice. The entertainment was IFE, not AVOD but still pretty good. There were 6 or so movies to choose from, the FA announced to check the "from Australia" entertainment guide. So it is something to enjoy. :D
 
One 747-300 is up for sale (-EBT) and Nalanji Dreaming (-EBU) is currently sitting at AVV in a dismal state, awaiting a decision as to her future (can only speculate as to what will happen).

Interestinly, I still cannot find any 747-300s flight on MEL-PER-MEL after Saturday 24th March 2007. Perhaps QF have forgotten to load some NS07 schedules, although if this is not the case, 747-300s will only be flown domestically, SYD-PER-SYD (disregarding adhoc/seasonsal/event flights).

I'm in agreement with other posters, in that you should choose the 747-300 service across to Perth. The aircraft is pleasant to fly on and features the loop-based personal IFE system, Dreamtime seats and mood lighting. On the odd occassion a 747-400 (2/3 Class) may operate SYD-PER-SYD in lieu of the 743 due to a number of reasons, although it is more likely the 743 will be downgraded to a 767 than be operated by a 744.

Regards
 
Wunala Dreaming said:
One 747-300 is up for sale (-EBT) and Nalanji Dreaming (-EBU) is currently sitting at AVV in a dismal state, awaiting a decision as to her future (can only speculate as to what will happen).

Interestinly, I still cannot find any 747-300s flight on MEL-PER-MEL after Saturday 24th March 2007. Perhaps QF have forgotten to load some NS07 schedules, although if this is not the case, 747-300s will only be flown domestically, SYD-PER-SYD (disregarding adhoc/seasonsal/event flights).

I'm in agreement with other posters, in that you should choose the 747-300 service across to Perth. The aircraft is pleasant to fly on and features the loop-based personal IFE system, Dreamtime seats and mood lighting. On the odd occassion a 747-400 (2/3 Class) may operate SYD-PER-SYD in lieu of the 743 due to a number of reasons, although it is more likely the 743 will be downgraded to a 767 than be operated by a 744.

Maybe there are just not enough 743's to go around. -EBT was getting close to time for a d-check anyway, so I guess as good a time as any to try to sell it. Though I don't know who would want one.

As for MEL-PER-MEL and 743's, it is interesting that they are not on the timetable, as though do reappear late in the year. Certainly I found some in November when I was recently checking some options out.
 
oz_mark said:
Maybe there are just not enough 743's to go around. -EBT was getting close to time for a d-check anyway, so I guess as good a time as any to try to sell it. Though I don't know who would want one.
Most likely future for the QF 743s is a freighter conversion. Still a lower purchase/conversion cost than a 744, and freight does not complain about flying on a 20 year old bird with no AVOD.
 
Thanks, as always, for the helpful advice everyone.

As it stands, I've managed to get an upgrade to J class (10,000 pts) on QF481 from Melbourne next Monday night. I was hoping to go ex-Syd, but my travel agent said there were no 'upgradable' seats available!

Same story for the return journey - QF580 (the 747 to Sydney leaving at 12.15pm) apparently has no upgradable seats. Aye carumba - out of interest, does anyone know just how many seats are typically made available for upgrades?

Still, I'm looking forward to it. Haven't been on a 747 before, so it'll be a cool experience!

NF
 
Wunala Dreaming said:
On the odd occassion a 747-400 (2/3 Class) may operate SYD-PER-SYD in lieu of the 743 due to a number of reasons, although it is more likely the 743 will be downgraded to a 767 than be operated by a 744.

Regards

Given the loads I've observed on the 743 flights, I don't think a simple substitution of a 767 for the 743 would cope and from what I read here, I'm not sure they would have enough 767's to fill the gap.
 
What day are you coming back on QF580

There seems plenty of D class so a good chance that a U (award/Upgrade Business Class) or two may become available.

I suggest you keep trying to do that on-line upgrade thing twice a day until you succeed.

If still no go and you have QP access, get to PER airport as early as possible and try for an 'on-departure' upgrade.
 
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Thanks Serfty - appreciate the quick response. I'm booked to come home on the Friday QF580 flight (which is now showing a 'Request Upgrade' button next to it on my online booking thingy) but I will hold off on the upgrade as I may catch the midnight (direct) flight to Canberra on Thursday night...:confused: It's a bugger of a flight, but it would save me most of a day's travelling (and drinking) on the Friday, and my g'friend would be very happy on both those accounts!
 
That flight is not showing any upgrade availability at the moment:

J9 D9 I0 U0 Y9 B9 H9 W9 K9 M9 R9 L9 V9 S9 N0 Q9 O0 G0 T9 X0 E0

This may change as it is showing D9 so theres a reasonable chance inventory may become available; I would recheck each day (6am and again at 9am).
 
serfty said:
That flight is not showing any upgrade availability at the moment:

J9 D9 I0 U0 Y9 B9 H9 W9 K9 M9 R9 L9 V9 S9 N0 Q9 O0 G0 T9 X0 E0

This may change as it is showing D9 so theres a reasonable chance inventory may become available; I would recheck each day (6am and again at 9am).

Even if you strike out here, my experience is that there is a good chance of OD upgrades on these flights.
 
Can someone check the avail on QF583 syd pth 19th Jan i tried to upgrade no luck>
 
SF& said:
Can someone check the avail on QF583 syd pth 19th Jan i tried to upgrade no luck>
J9 D6 I0 U0 Y9 B9 H9 W9 K9 M9 R9 L9 V9 S9 N7 Q8 O0 G0 T8 X0 E0
 
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