Business class options

[kangagirl]

I am a regular Australia-USA flyer and my company covers full economy airfares. However, If I can find a business class fare around the same full economy price I can go business. Can anyone give me some suggestions on this one? Also currently I am gold QF but am weighing up whether to look at going AA scheme even though they are shocking service. Is this worth it?

 

[Evan]

That business vs economy question only your company can answer, but you can ask if it was my company, they have a policy and thats it, no chance they would let me, on the other hand if it was cheaper since our policy is BFOD (best fare on day) then i would be allowed, provided its on one of our approved 1st world airlines.

Just because you use AA frequest flyer does not mean you need to fly with them very much !

E

 

[kangagirl]

thanks, I suppose I did not explain clearly, basically if I can get a close business class option to the listed full economy fare (regular published) this it is ok to use. Does anyone know if it is easier to AA as a viable upgrade option? I have tried using my 800,000 QFff points and never yet been successful on getting upgraded so I am loosing heart in that option!

 

[kangagirl]

I should add I am flying this route every 12 weeks now!

 

[Mal]

Welcome to AFF kangagirl.

Depending on where you need to go in the U.S, and what time you have to get there, you could look at what is known as a Circle Pacific Fare.

oneworld - Circle Pacific

Basically instead of going to the U.S directly, you route one way via Asia (eg instead of SYD-LAX-SYD, you could go SYD-HKG-LAX-SYD).

The cheapest version of the Business class one is called a DCIR22 (Allows 22,000 miles). The price should be around $7000 +taxes, and fuel fines etc.

The DCIR26 allowing more stopovers (if required) and 26000 miles should be around $8500 +taxes etc.

Sydney-Hong Kong-Los Angeles-Sydney is ~19300miles. Sydney-Hong Kong-New York-Los Angeles-Sydney is ~22500 miles.

 

[superchris]

thanks, I suppose I did not explain clearly, basically if I can get a close business class option to the listed full economy fare (regular published) this it is ok to use. Does anyone know if it is easier to AA as a viable upgrade option? I have tried using my 800,000 QFff points and never yet been successful on getting upgraded so I am loosing heart in that option!

I think I have found my long lost sister

 

[kangagirl]

thanks Mal and Superchris - I love this site - I have found my long lost friends! ROFL

 

[d15.in.oz]

...basically if I can get a close business class option to the listed full economy fare (regular published) this it is ok to use...

http://www.china-airlines.com/en/index.htm - there are plenty of other alternates, one thinks Qantas' Air Pacific may become aggressive soon too! Look for the fares through the web, not directly via the China Airlines website!

If your employer is truly after best fare on the day business class, then frequent flyer points and allegiance won’t enter into the equation will they?

 

[Dave42]

I have tried using my 800,000 QFff points and never yet been successful on getting upgraded so I am loosing heart in that option!

Maybe I am lucky, but I am 3 from 3 for points upgrade requests for 3 US trips this year. If you can travel via SFO instead of LAX my experience is that J class is at best 75% full, so the upgrade is a given

 

[kangagirl]

thanks will look at the san francisco option instead of LAX. Is San Fran better for customs clearance, LAX is a nightmare and sometimes standing up to 90 minutes in the 'alien' line.

 

[Dave Noble]

thanks will look at the san francisco option instead of LAX. Is San Fran better for customs clearance, LAX is a nightmare and sometimes standing up to 90 minutes in the 'alien' line.

You can improve the queueing by getting an APEC card and being able to use the Crew Lane

Dave

 

[Mal]

thanks will look at the san francisco option instead of LAX. Is San Fran better for customs clearance,

San Fran is apparently better. One thing to note about San Fran is that it is set to be part of the U.S Govt's new trial of 10 fingerprint scanning on arrival. Not sure exactly when that's due to start (was supposed to be Summer I think), but when it starts it could slow down entry there. (Miami, JFK and lots of other airports are trialling it as well ... but not LAX)

 

[kangagirl]

APEC card? Ok fill me in on that please!

 

[Mal]

APEC card? Ok fill me in on that please!

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...s/apec-business-travel-card-express-5653.html

 

[Maca44]

thanks will look at the san francisco option instead of LAX. Is San Fran better for customs clearance, LAX is a nightmare and sometimes standing up to 90 minutes in the 'alien' line.

SFO, in my opinion, is nicer for customs with what appears to be pleasant officers, nicer airport, and better transport between terminals using the BART.

 

[kangagirl]

ok went on the dfat site but could not see USA in the countries covered by APEC card is that correct.

 

[Mal]

ok went on the dfat site but could not see USA in the countries covered by APEC card is that correct.

Yep, you can use it:

As of 19th November, 2006, ABTC holders are also able to use the card to access fast-track air-crew lanes throughout international airports in the United States.

 

[moa999]

US is somewhat of an unpublished benefit...
(you don't get cleared/ approved for the USA) you can just use it.

Suggest you apply for the APEC card immediately, then as soon as Australia clears request an Interim card. Then you can start using it for the US (and Aus exit and entry immediately)...

Had a great usage in Melbourne the other day. Massive queue, I went to the crew line behind 10 Thai Airline crew, got asked APEC? Said Yes and had a new line opened up just for me !!

 

[Dave42]

SFO is absolutely better for customs clearance, and if you are transferring for a domestic flight it is much simpler than LAX. Generally it is a more modern and travel friendly airport.

There are a couple of downsides to going through SFO - it is quite prone to fog so delayed flights are a real possibility, and as it isn't an AA hub you may need to use a non OW partner for connections. Also, QF uses the JAL lounge, which is quite small and doesn't have a relaxing feel to it.

 

[NM]

QF business class is never going to price close to an economy fare. And even though you mention "full economy fare", I would very much doubt your employer will be paying $7000 for an economy seat unless all cheaper fare buckets are sld. So you are probably flying on a fare something like $3000-$3500 return depending on where in the USA you are going (such as B or H fare basis). Any QF business class option is going to cost at least double that ticket price.

So yo could try some of these options to improve your probability for getting out of econpmy and into something a little more comfortable:

• Switch to flying with UA. Once you get some status with them you qualify for seating in their Economy Plus seating, and mileage upgrades on UA are generally earier to get, confirmable at the time of booking, and cost less miles than QF upgrades. OK, so UA seats and IFE is not as good, but you will be more comfortable in UA Y+ or J than in QF Y.
  
• Fly QF as far as HNL and then purchase AA YUP type fares from there to your USA destination. the YUP fare uts you into AA domestic First Class if available at the time of booking.
  
• Look to pay the difference yourself between QF Econpmy and something like a Circle Pacific fare. As its a business trip, the extra you pay should be tax deductible, and if you include the tax deductions that may be due to you under Taxation Determination TD2007/43 then you may be able to cover most of the cost difference in tax refunds.
  
• Try using NZ's Premium Economy class for more space and comfort and status earning on Star Alliance.