Cost vs comfort question

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mhen

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Hi everone

1st time I have ever posted to any board. However have enjoyed reading the collective wisdom and humour on this board over the past few years. Thanks.

Now here is my problem.

Want to fly Sydney to Chicago on 14 May and return 18 May (late as possible out of Chicago) Self-funded attendance at conference so need to keep costs down but hopefully with some level of comfort, I don't fold so well these days and beauty sleep is definitely needed!

I am silver QFF with 155K points and QC membership. I also have 27K miles with United. Also some credit card miles that could be transferred to QF.

Seems choices are as follows:

1. Discount economy fares UA is cheapest
2. Next is discount economy QF but with no option of upgrades.
3. Higher priced discount economy QF will allow option of upgrades but would hate to pay extra for the same flights and then not score upgrades. What do think is likelihood of upgrades?

Also thinking longer term I usually have trouble making QF silver each year but this year am half way to gold, so should I stay with QF?

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
If you can get into UA's Economy Plus section, then that is going to be more comfort than QF economy. Also consider Air NZ, who have about 2-3 inches more space between economy seats.

Next option is to look for the joint BA/QF deals where you get BA WT+ from SYD-LHR-ORD. Then you may need to purchase a separate ORD-LAX/SFO and pick up QF back trans-Pacific. If taking that fare option, I would recommend going west-bound and looking for as many day-time flights as posisble. And then take QF8 daytime flight trans-Pacific.
 
NM said:
If you can get into UA's Economy Plus section, then that is going to be more comfort than QF economy.
Definitely (though E+ is a meagre difference on the 747). BUT if you want to be entertained well, the UA 747 is not the way to go in Y -- no PTVs.
 
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Thanks, I'll look at those options.
If I end up transpacific with QF and hope/pray for an points upgrade what are the chances? Any tips? Should I try to book on the flight with the greatest number of business seats still available or is it so unlikely that I shouldn't even bother trying?
 
mhen said:
If I end up transpacific with QF and hope/pray for an points upgrade what are the chances? Any tips? Should I try to book on the flight with the greatest number of business seats still available or is it so unlikely that I shouldn't even bother trying?

Welcome to AFF mhen.

As a Silver level, you do have a chance of getting an upgrade, but it does depend how many people with higher status are also trying for one. The best tip I can give you is to request it as early as possible - they are awarded in status order, followed by request order.
 
mhen said:
Thanks, I'll look at those options.
If I end up transpacific with QF and hope/pray for an points upgrade what are the chances? Any tips? Should I try to book on the flight with the greatest number of business seats still available or is it so unlikely that I shouldn't even bother trying?
Avoid departing LOTFAP on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Mondays - those are the busiest days for business traveller, who are more likely to be paying for J seats or have high status on the upgrade waitlists.

QF8 is a good flight to look for since it is a day-time flight to more bearable if you are stuck in economy, and its early afternoon LAX departure is less business-friendly than the plethora of evening departure options. As a result, the business cabin is often lightly booked and less high-status business travellers to guzump you on the waitlist.

And get onto the waitlist as soon as you can.

Another option is to take the AA Plat Challenge on the outbound journey. And then use the AA miles and status earned to upgrade an AA flight back to HNL and then take the QF4 daytime flight to SYD.
 
Hi

Following on from mhen's question with regards to upgrades, given that I am a Silver level member who also has QC membership, would this place me above a Silver member without membership of QC, or are they considered to be the same level, and first come first serve priciple applies?
 
On QF QC silver ranks ahead of QF silver. On other OW it probably ranks alongside. On other airlines it ranks as nothing.
 
I think your chances of an upgrade on QF will be very slim. You have enough points to purchase a business class return award seat. Availability will probably be limited at short notice but maybe worth a try?
 
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