Booking First class Award flights with QF

[knasty]

Good option for SIN and beyond. Photos here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....view-from-my-office-63414-12.html#post1150747

Amaroo is that genuinely good as in better than competitors J, or good as in you were glad to get >1 seat in F and that was the only way to do it? It doesn't seem desperately appealing for the single traveller but happy to hear otherwise.

 

[knasty]

I have although 2 years ago when the F seats were quite new. I found them pretty good (same as CX J seats I understand but seemed more comfortable). Quirky double false window was interesting. Service certainly wasn't overly attentive but still pretty good. For my points if faced with choice between CX J or BA F award seats other than pyjamas being offered and the Concorde room ex LHR for BA the difference is marginal and I would save the points and go with CX.

Thanks. My main concern is booking CX J with anything other than Asiamiles is getting very difficult.

 

[pjm99au]

Thanks. My main concern is booking CX J with anything other than Asiamiles is getting very difficult.

I've actually found them pretty good from an availability point of view certainly between HKG and Europe. Just booked 2xJ CDG - HKG - MEL for feb 16 as part of a 280k award so my view is tempered by that

 

[boomy]

Re: First class Award with QF

Amaroo and boomy, do you book your CX J&F via QFF or via Asia Miles.
I've had success booking via QFF, but am building up points in Westpac and Citi that can be transferred direct to Cathay Asia Miles. I'm wondering if there is a difference in terms of availability and taxes. I plan to look into that on the weekend for the return flights for our Europe trip in 2016. Cheers, mark

I used AS miles: 140K + $US264 for two pax.

 

[amaroo]

Amaroo is that genuinely good as in better than competitors J, or good as in you were glad to get >1 seat in F and that was the only way to do it? It doesn't seem desperately appealing for the single traveller but happy to hear otherwise.

Good as in the best way to travel to SIN. I like the BA onboard service/crew ... I like those BA bacon rolls with brown sauce

Not the top of the list..middle of the pack.

 

[knasty]

Has anyone been able to book Qf1 F a year in advance recently? Seems to be reasonable availability on Qf9 but the 1 seems particularly difficult for the dates I want mid next year.

 

[deka2]

I gave up on QF1 for the trip we are currently on. Ended up on QF9 and diary from the MEL F lounge not as good as SYD, the rest was great.
Coming back to OZ on SIN Suites from ZRH with a night in SIN.

 

[AL10]

Has anyone been able to book Qf1 F a year in advance recently? Seems to be reasonable availability on Qf9 but the 1 seems particularly difficult for the dates I want mid next year.

1 seat on QF1 was available yesterday for approx the 20th -25th May. Sorry I can't remember what date exactly, but those were the dates I was searching.

 

[vantage03]

Has anyone done F on BA 15/16 77W? Mediocre hard product and high Yq have put me off in the past but as you say Boomy availability seems better than most competitors (probably for those reasons).

I did it a couple of months ago. To be honest it's glorified J with better wines and service a bit better than your average J flight.

Bathrooms are comically tiny, seats newish but very tight for an F product (as others have said, its very close to the CX, QR, AA and new VA etc) J seat.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't a terrible way to fly, but it can't compare to other F options on major carriers out of Australia.

On the QF side of things, the real sweet spot of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is being Platinum or above and being able to request that they release points seats. I've had 100% success rate releasing 2x F SYD-DFW over the past couple of weeks, one trip return Dec 15 and one trip return Jan 16. Both during school holidays.

SYD-LAX harder but you'd be hard pressed not to get +/- 1 day for 1 seat from your preferable flying day. MEL-LAX you can get almost any day.

SYD-LHR similar to LAX, but MEL-LHR is much more likely. I appreciate platinum certainly isn't attainable to everyone, but if you can get there then this is the real benefit.

 

[RichardMEL]

Has anyone been able to book Qf1 F a year in advance recently? Seems to be reasonable availability on Qf9 but the 1 seems particularly difficult for the dates I want mid next year.

Given it is high summer there and peak I am not surprised there is little if any availability....

 

[blackcat20]

Seems much better availability from London, rather than to London, mid next year.

 

[boomy]

Has anyone been able to book Qf1 F a year in advance recently? Seems to be reasonable availability on Qf9 but the 1 seems particularly difficult for the dates I want mid next year.

Booked QF1 F for two pax as part of multi-city BNE-SYD-LHR (stop) - BCN for March 2016.

I did notice this flight is more popular then QF9 and also prefer it myself for the earlier departure time and earlier arrival to LHR.

 

[mark4217]

Re: First class Award with QF

JAL are part oneworld, like Qantas.
QFF members can use their QFF points to book award flights on all oneworld partners, which include not only JAL, but also AA, CX, QR, MH, BA, UL, FJ and others.
QFF members can also use their QFF points to book award flights on qantas partner airlines like EK and JQ.

Not being a QF FF, and maybe a silly question Nizar, but is it as simple as checking the availability on JAL, then calling QA and ask them to use you QFF points and book the Flight you see on JAL rewards as a OW booking. They do their part and presto, your tickets arrive?. Cheers

 

[snabbu]

Re: First class Award with QF

Not being a QF FF, and maybe a silly question Nizar, but is it as simple as checking the availability on JAL, then calling QA and ask them to use you QFF points and book the Flight you see on JAL rewards as a OW booking. They do their part and presto, your tickets arrive?. Cheers

Correct. You can also cross check the availability on the BA website.

 

[mark4217]

Arrrrrr, now I know why all the fuss about OW. Well my war chest of points is with VA but I will start collecting QF points from here on as a second backup. I have always thought that what you see of QA site is it, end of story. Cheers and thanks

 

[snabbu]

If you are collecting them via CC then yep go for it.

If you are collecting them from flying on QF metal (and you travel in the right fare class) you get a much better burn rate if you credit to AA.

 

[mark4217]

CC's only. I have plenty enough VFF points to last me and family for years. (8 CC's circulating) so no one bank see's any trend. Q, availability on Airberlin, is there rewards availability for OW bookings?. Have you or any other AFF's used them. Cheers

 

[Duffa]

Have just booked two F redemptions on A380 to London. Cost a lot of points - almost cleaned me out. Thinking of cancelling and going for two J redemptions instead, which will leave me enough for another J redemption to LHR or JFK one way.
Have been on Skybed II on 747 to JFK and F on old 747 to LHR, a few years back. Never been in J or F in QF A380.
Asking for advice based on your experiences please. J or F?
Thanks, D

 

[blackcat20]

Have just booked two F redemptions on A380 to London. Cost a lot of points - almost cleaned me out. Thinking of cancelling and going for two J redemptions instead, which will leave me enough for another J redemption to LHR or JFK one way.
Have been on Skybed II on 747 to JFK and F on old 747 to LHR, a few years back. Never been in J or F in QF A380.
Asking for advice based on your experiences please. J or F?
Thanks, D

I'd say stick with F. It's one of those things you need to do at least once.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Have just booked two F redemptions on A380 to London. Cost a lot of points - almost cleaned me out. Thinking of cancelling and going for two J redemptions instead, which will leave me enough for another J redemption to LHR or JFK one way.
Have been on Skybed II on 747 to JFK and F on old 747 to LHR, a few years back. Never been in J or F in QF A380.
Asking for advice based on your experiences please. J or F?
Thanks, D

beds on the A380 in F much more comfortable than either the 747 F or the Mrk 2 in J. Each to their own of course and you couldn't say J was uncomfortable, but F is way better IMHO.