A380 first class Syd to LHR

[Michael Smith]

Good luck and maybe you will get both
You can also ask closer to the day of the likelihood of your chances

Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

PLEASE INCLUDE DATE, FLIGHT NUMBER, ORIGIN & DESTINATION IN ALL REQUESTS >>>> ADDED BY ADMIN (6 Sept 2010)

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Thanks, if I get 1st to LHR, then will skip the way back in case I get lucky again, to save the points. J is of course not terrible.
Yes, I've checked loading before when I flew to Dallas, and J was full, at check-in they said it was full, and when I scanned to board I got a new boarding pass to J.....and 6 months later, points have yet to be deducted.... :0

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Unless you have hundreds of thousands of points to burn, 80k points for an upgrade from Business to First is a bit steep IMO.

For 30-40k points I'd consider it but for 80k, that's another one way business class flight from Australia to Asia easily.

I agree it's a bit on the steep side, considering the cabins involved. However, as a counter point I'd argue that you are still getting pretty good value considering what F sells for, especially if OP managed to secure the J seats at a decent price. At the same time, I see OP is QF Gold, which means that they have no sense about what being a OneWorld Emerald (Qantas World Platinum) is like in terms of things like First class check in and lounge access. Flying in QF F is one way for them to really sample these offerings to determine whether it makes sense to chase the elusive World Platinum status or simply stick with humble Gold.

-RooFlyer88

 

[mrsterryn]

Talking about the points expense....isn't that why we accumulate points? To spend on upgrades and treats etc.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Talking about the points expense....isn't that why we accumulate points? To spend on upgrades and treats etc.

That is EXACTLY the point! Where people get confused is the difference between good and excellent redemptions versus poor and good redemptions. I would categorize an upgrade from J to F on a long haul route like LHR to be good given the points involved. Consider the fact that the OP could have spent more points on a set of OXO kitchen organizers:

Now you're telling me with a straight face that a 20 piece set of plastic kitchen organizers is better value than a first class seat on a 20+ hour flight? You gotta be kidding me!

Indeed when AFF crunched the numbers on the value of a Qantas point when redeemed for various items, it was precisely the upgrade from business to first that provided the most value in terms of a cent per point valuation:

-RooFlyer88

 

[Michael Smith]

I agree it's a bit on the steep side, considering the cabins involved. However, as a counter point I'd argue that you are still getting pretty good value considering what F sells for, especially if OP managed to secure the J seats at a decent price. At the same time, I see OP is QF Gold, which means that they have no sense about what being a OneWorld Emerald (Qantas World Platinum) is like in terms of things like First class check in and lounge access. Flying in QF F is one way for them to really sample these offerings to determine whether it makes sense to chase the elusive World Platinum status or simply stick with humble Gold.

-RooFlyer88

I’ve been really fortunate that most of my business travel with is with WP’s that also have APEC cards, so great to tag along,….but in this case agreed, I’ll be going by myself and won’t be getting any WP treatment

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2023

That is EXACTLY the point! Where people get confused is the difference between good and excellent redemptions versus poor and good redemptions. I would categorize an upgrade from J to F on a long haul route like LHR to be good given the points involved. Consider the fact that the OP could have spent more points on a set of OXO kitchen organizers:
View attachment 317770
Now you're telling me with a straight face that a 20 piece set of plastic kitchen organizers is better value than a first class seat on a 20+ hour flight? You gotta be kidding me!

Indeed when AFF crunched the numbers on the value of a Qantas point when redeemed for various items, it was precisely the upgrade from business to first that provided the most value in terms of a cent per point valuation:

-RooFlyer88

Great post

 

[AIRwin]

Yes, I've checked loading before when I flew to Dallas, and J was full, at check-in they said it was full, and when I scanned to board I got a new boarding pass to J.....and 6 months later, points have yet to be deducted.... :0

Op up?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Op up?

To clarify for those who are unaware. An Op-Up (more formally known as an operational upgrade) is when an airline has oversold a cabin (i.e. economy) and has to "inconvenience" some passengers by upgrading them into business (or a higher) class of travel just so that everyone gets accommodated. Airlines generally prioritize who gets the OpUp based on things such as frequent flyer status and the type of fare they are travelling on. For instance, a Qantas Platinum One travelling on a full-price Y fare is much more likely to get an OpUp to business than a Gold travelling on a red e-deal which is much more likely to get an OpUp than someone with no status travelling on a red e-deal.

 

[Michael Smith]

Op up?

Possibly. I was

Op up?

Possibly. I was only a PS on fully paid premium ticket

 

[Michael Smith]

To clarify for those who are unaware. An Op-Up (more formally known as an operational upgrade) is when an airline has oversold a cabin (i.e. economy) and has to "inconvenience" some passengers by upgrading them into business (or a higher) class of travel just so that everyone gets accommodated. Airlines generally prioritize who gets the OpUp based on things such as frequent flyer status and the type of fare they are travelling on. For instance, a Qantas Platinum One travelling on a full-price Y fare is much more likely to get an OpUp to business than a Gold travelling on a red e-deal which is much more likely to get an OpUp than someone with no status travelling on a red e-deal.

My wife just got an Op-Up on her QF63 flight today. Premium Economy Saver ticket, and she's a NB. Yesterday afternoon there were "4" J seats available on the loadings.

 

[Michael Smith]

Update: I got upgraded to First for both legs. Most likely remove upgrade request on return flight to save points. Ticking the first class box done.

 

[TomYagher]

Slightly related question. What would the best seats be in the first cabin for a couple travelling on this route with a baby. I was thinking 1k and 2f so we’re kind of next to each other rather than behind each other? Will they force us to use the bassinet seat in the last row?

 

[cjd600]

Slightly related question. What would the best seats be in the first cabin for a couple travelling on this route with a baby. I was thinking 1k and 2f so we’re kind of next to each other rather than behind each other? Will they force us to use the bassinet seat in the last row?

self in 1A and partner and kid in 5K (or further back!) i'd suggest

 

[TomYagher]

self in 1A and partner and kid in 5K (or further back!) i'd suggest

Manage my booking has been updated

 

[Warragul]

I'll be flying J class on QF2 SIN-SYD early next year and am wondering about bidding for an upgarde to first (never experienced international first class). Given its a redeye and being 7+ hours, Is first class that much better than Business for a 7 hour redeye? At the moment I tend to lean towards no it isn't. Interested in opinions on this.

Lucking out and get a 2-2-2 config A380 doesn't particularly bother me - current seat plan shows 1-2-1.

 

[yachty]

I'll be flying J class on QF2 SIN-SYD early next year and am wondering about bidding for an upgarde to first (never experienced international first class). Given its a redeye and being 7+ hours, Is first class that much better than Business for a 7 hour redeye? At the moment I tend to lean towards no it isn't. Interested in opinions on this.

Lucking out and get a 2-2-2 config A380 doesn't particularly bother me - current seat plan shows 1-2-1.

I'd say no, probably not worth it. Especially if it's your first time, choose a day flight when you can notice and enjoy the differences. The only real stand out is the space afforded by the seat, and I much prefer the bedding in F. The food and service isn't notable.

 

[sudoer]

Is first class that much better than Business for a 7 hour redeye? At the moment I tend to lean towards no it isn't. Interested in opinions on this.

Lucking out and get a 2-2-2 config A380 doesn't particularly bother me - current seat plan shows 1-2-1.

I think this depends a lot on your QFF balance. Depending on which revenue fare bucket you're upgrading from, it will cost between 27k and 34k points. That's quite reasonable and I would say it's probably worthwhile if you've never experienced QF F before.

Yes, it's nowhere near the likes of SQ and EK, but the bedding is significantly nicer than J, which will make a difference on the redeye. Depending on your status, upgrading may also open the door to the F lounge which is a nice place to spend an hour or two (although it's worth noting you'd also have access to the QR J lounge on the revenue J ticket, and it's certainly debatable which is the better of the two)

Having not experienced international F on another airline is also a plus here - this would likely be the nicest cabin you've ever flown.

The in-flight F menu can be very similar to the J menu with multiple dishes usually appearing on both menus. Frustratingly, I also find there's rarely any urgency from the cabin crew to keep a good pace on the supper service on the red eyes, and the full meal service will likely go for 2-3 hours after takeoff. I usually prefer to fill up at the lounge(s) and skip the onboard meal service in favour of sleep, but if you have no plans on the day of arrival in Sydney, you could definitely make the most of your first First experience.

 

[flyingfan]

I’d do it, especially as you haven’t experienced F before. Then you can decide whether it’s worth it from personal experience. You can always earn more points!

 

[jamesatfish]

Slightly related question. What would the best seats be in the first cabin for a couple travelling on this route with a baby. I was thinking 1k and 2f so we’re kind of next to each other rather than behind each other? Will they force us to use the bassinet seat in the last row?

It’s been a while since we did this trip (our youngest is 9) but we found the bassinet at 5A to be fairly useless. Our daughter was 6 months old at the time, it was just too deep and scary for her to actually settle, and when the seatbelt sign was turned on we were supposed to put a giant webbing net over the top which made it even worse.

Unless that aspect has been significantly improved with the A380 refreshes I wouldn’t bother with the bassinet seat. We had 4A and 5A and just sat together as a family for the parts of the flight where we weren’t sleeping. We pretty much accepted that with a 6 month old we weren’t going to be kicking back in our seats and sipping on champagne so sharing the jump seat wasn’t a big issue.

In short - I’d select your normal preferred seats in the F cabin and not worry about working around the 5A bassinet position.

 

[Quickstatus]

when the seatbelt sign was turned on we were supposed to put a giant webbing net over the top which made it even worse.

Or when in the back with the hoi polloi, the passenger is required to take baby out of the bassinet when the seat belt sign comes on. Even when baby just stopped yelling moments earlier.....

Bassinets in any cabin are of very little utility.

 

[jamesatfish]

Only found one blurry photo from that trip - this is the "Babyskåp - baby cupboard with storage net".