FIRST CLASS on the new QF A380! - using Classic Award pts???

[timmy-t]

:?: Hey guys,
I don't ask many questions, but here is one that is bugging me... I've got some points to burn (~250k) and am pretty keen to treat the wife (and me) to a trip in First on the new A380 for our anniversary.

On searching for seats on QF webiste trying: MEL-SIN, SYD-SIN for example 2 things started to emerge....

1. out of SYD, First award seats (classic awards) are only ever available on BA, & out of MEL, First award seats are only ever available of the days that MEL-SIN is serviced with the 744.

2. First award seats, as described above, appear when I search for 1 adult. As soon as I search for 2, there are none.

QUESTION: Is it possible for my wife and I to travel together on a First Class Award ticket (and preferrably on the A380)??

Thanks for your insights....

 

[samh004]

Often you'll have to book an F award really far ahead. I think they release seats 330 days ahead, and I don't think they release many.

 

[ejb_nz]

...
QUESTION: Is it possible for my wife and I to travel together on a First Class Award ticket (and preferrably on the A380)??

Thanks for your insights....

As a SG I would say your chances are slim for two seats in F.

Using Anyseat Awards would get you the seats but will cost more in points.

Perhaps buy 1 and redeem 1 to ensure you both fly in F. However J on the A388 is still a great way to fly and 2 seats in J would be easier to come buy.

Good luck in the hunt.

ejb

 

[v8Statesman]

As a SG I would say your chances are slim for two seats in F.

As a WP, I've never managed to find a F seat on a 388, even 330 days out.

 

[cove]

I have been getting them SYD-LAX,MELB-LAX or return on classic but usually one seat at 144,000 points.I really dont care whether it is A380 or 747 even though A380 is more luxurious.So far the A380 is less reliable with on time departures.
You may need to go 355 days ahead.

 

[ejb_nz]

As a WP, I've never managed to find a F seat on a 388, even 330 days out.

I have never tried.

Using Anyseat Awards however will cost approx 1.7 million points return for the two of you and that will get you on the A388.:shock:

ejb

 

[timmy-t]

Using Anyseat Awards however will cost approx 1.7 million points return

FTFAJ!

also - how do you go 350 days ahead...?

 

[Dave Noble]

FTFAJ!

also - how do you go 350 days ahead...?

The Qantas website will allow bookings up to 355 days in advance.

 

[Maca44]

I managed to book a classic F class award SYD-LAX-ORD for August 2010 for 168K points, but did it at midnight 355 days out. I think if you don't do that, and you want F, you will miss out. This is an A380 which I am looking for to, but having flown F on the 747 I won't complain if they have an aircraft change. There is no bad F seat.

 

[cove]

Going 355 days ahead means you book outwards journey first.You then wait for the date for your return to get to 355 days for the second click of your mouse.
QF is very competitive for First!Remember there are multiple flights per day per location.
Then massage,meal,bubbly,video of the take off,movies,sleep.....Are we there yet?

 

[Alanslegal]

And just to scare you a little more .... you book the 388 and then there is an aircraft swap :shock:

 

[anat0l]

As the A380 gets pushed onto more routes, it will become "easier" to get an A380 F award. Trans-Pacific is a good example.

I say "easier" because unless you are a WP it is going to be very difficult. WPs can also use Platinum request as a last resort; SGs have little chance.

As a SG, your best bet is to try and search as soon as the seats are made available (355 days out). You can try calling QF and see if they can do something for you (note that you will pay assistance fees if you go this way, but might be worth it if QF can actually do something).

Where are you going (or planning on going) for your anniversary? Just to SIN? (pardon the pun)

 

[cove]

You actually dont need status credits nor special grade of flyer to get First.I have been going every year in First and I am back to Silver because I have not been paying other than classic points and the fuel surcharge.
My wife did 3 I class discount J fares and used points to get into First each way because she was booking both ways only 3 weeks ahead.
Book way ahead (355 days) and have a Plan B if your plans change.
My plan B was Singapore Kris to get home and that worked a treat for a short time to travel redemption.

 

[timmy-t]

Where are you going (or planning on going) for your anniversary? Just to SIN? (pardon the pun)

Phunny! SIN because I only have enought points at the moment to get both of us there in F. Once there we might pik up a LCC to a beach (Penang maybe?), then home via HKG. (will nearly have enough to come home in J... which is a lot easier to get 2 seats....)

No chance of me getting WP. Only domestic Y travel and usually end up with 600-800 SC p.a.

 

[AdrianBennett]

Yes you can! I just booked F on the A380 and there's _plenty_ of availability? How? Qantas is receiving their 8th and 9th A380 in January, and their 10th before March next year, enabling A380's on the MEL-SIN-LHR service 5x 6x then 7x weekly respectively.

About Qantas - Newsroom

So if you book an award anytime after March next year QF9/10; even though it says 747, the aircraft will have almost certainly swapped to an A380 in time (still a 4/5 chance even if the tenth A380 is late).

 

[cove]

Adrian you may wish to read "Earn points and sc's on any seat....... " as the number of points can now be a winner since March this year.I had ignored it after looking a few times at ridiculous numbers but it is now possible. That thread is active today.
Congrats on getting F.

 

[simongr]

I just checked for June next year (as a WP) and could find no F availability on QF on a Wednesday but plenty on BA.