F lounge or PE seat?

[Madam Mina]

I was booked on QF 5 in PE in December and have just been notified that as QF 5 has now been subbed to a A330 which has no PE that I have been changed to QF508 and QF51 as apparently the Brisbane flight is still a 747. I am tossing up between accepting this change or ringing and asking to be put back on QF 5 in Y. I know this might sound silly initially but this is the first leg of a trip to Europe (I am stopping in SIN for 24hrs and then BA to CPH) so I would still get most of my trip in PE and there really wasn't that much difference in the Y vs PE price that is why I booked PE plus the idea of missing the F lounge at SYD and having to get up so much earlier (8am flight vs 2:30pm) on the first day of my holiday hurts. So what would you choose if there wasn't much of a financial penalty and it doesn't really add to the total journey time (20mins extra) would you go with PE from BNE or Y from SYD and get to use the F Lounge? Also what do people think is the chances that QF51 might also move to an A330 putting me in Y that way too? Changing to a different day doesn't seem to be an option as QF 5 seems to be a A330 for all of December.

 

[markis10]

I would take QF51, the A330 Y product is not a patch on a refurb 744 with PE.

 

[boomy]

I think there is a big difference between Y & PE on QF and its a perfect choice for a day flight. Also, It's much better then BA's PE IMO so I would recommend you to take QF51.

 

[Madam Mina]

Thanks for the replies I have flown QF PE before so am well aware of the difference in seat quality I am just starting to get worried that QF51 will also end up as a A330 and I will still end up with a Y seat and no F lounge do you think that's likely? On the way home I am going through Hong Kong so should get QF PE on the A380 so its not a problem in that direction.

 

[markis10]

Thanks for the replies I have flown QF PE before so am well aware of the difference in seat quality I am just starting to get worried that QF51 will also end up as a A330 and I will still end up with a Y seat and no F lounge do you think that's likely? On the way home I am going through Hong Kong so should get QF PE on the A380 so its not a problem in that direction.

QF51 will remain a B744 as it gives QF flexibility and redundancy in BNE, they cycle the fleet through to SIN to adjust service requirements and it also offers good competition on the route to SQ and EY equipment.

 

[serfty]

I would take QF51, the A330 Y product is not a patch on a refurb 744 with PE.

Are you sure it's a refurb?

 

[markis10]

Are you sure it's a refurb?

More than likely, by December I think there will only be 2 non refurb in the fleet and Qantas are trying to stop using them to LOTFAP.

 

[serfty]

... 2 non refurb in the fleet and Qantas are trying to stop using them to LOTFAP.

... so they use them to SIN?

Mona - on what date or from what row does the PE seat map for QF52 start?

 

[markis10]

... so they use them to SIN?

OP, what date, from what row does the PE seat map for QF52 start?

Yes, this month has seen only two days where there was not a refurb, one was a F bird.

 

[harvyk]

I would guess that the 2 non refurbs will be soon dedicated to the SYD-HKG route, as that is the only one which still offers a true F service on a B747.

QF52 was certainly a refurb the other night.

 

[dk4]

...or ringing and asking to be put ...

...in Business Class on QF5.

 

[Madam Mina]

Serfty my date is the 18th December I can't see the actual seat map as it just says there has been a change contact your travel agent (I booked it through Expedia as that seems to be the only way to get PE to Europe via Asia now and I needed stops in SIN and HKG)

...in Business Class on QF5.

Is this likely to be possible? QF 51 does seem to be looking quite full that day as you can't book it PE from SYD at all the QF booking page just says sorry no seats when it does offer 508/51 on other days, you can book QF51 PE from BNE though

 

[markis10]

Is this likely to be possible? QF 51 does seem to be looking quite full that day as you can't book it PE from SYD at all the QF booking page just says sorry no seats when it does offer 508/51 on other days, you can book QF51 PE from BNE though

Its a refurb !

 

[serfty]

If you have your Qantas booking reference (PNR), you should be able to use that to look up your booking on Qantas.com.

 

[Madam Mina]

Hi Serfty I can see it in my "your bookings" section when I log into my QF account its just none of the modify or select seat buttons are there like normal just a big yellow warning notice at the top saying your flights have changed contact your travel agent which is why I couldn't see the exact seat map as when you click on the flight number it gives you the choice of all of the 747 types. I haven't had that happen before but usually I book direct with QF but I used Expedia this time to get the routing I wanted I think it is normal to have to go back through the original booking travel agent for changes though isn't it?

 

[serfty]

The "your flights have changed" always send a chill up my spine.

Yes, you will need to get your TA to confirm your flights. Of course, until then you can't see the layout on Qantas.com.

Anyhoo, your date of travel enabled it to be looked up.

 

[madrooster]

... so they use them to SIN?

Inbound QF16 becomes outbound QF51, inbound QF52 becomes outbound QF15. QF15/QF16 are nearly always a refurb, more so than QF107/QF108.