HELP choosing LAN or QF in J to Santiago?

[stomplad]

Having difficulty deciding between LAN or QF to Santiago. Have to fly in 3 weeks. Have never flown in any other J class but QF, pretty much on all international configurations MK1, MK2 on A380 and 747.

Options are:
QF- MEL-SYD-SCL. (747 New Config) Dept 730 am Arr 9:50am
EK MEL-AKL (A380) & LA AKL-SCL (A340) Dep 7:10am Arrive 11:30 am

I have a connecting flight at 1:30pm to LSC. I wouldn't want to miss this as next flight is at 7PM.
Have experienced QF first lounges and with early start not an important factor for me.
I figured waiting out 3 hours in AKL lounge not so bad. But having a short domestic and continuous Intflight is appealing too.
Im 6'4 and comfort is my most important issue. Both products look good but LA apparently has a 73" pitch to QF 80" pitch? (BTW Weird thing is QF dont do turndown service to SCL and I do find the QF seats a bit uncomfortable)
Other consideration is my Airline geek side would love to try and report on different J products and I REALLY want to try EK J.
Status/point accrual not relavant to this post or important to my decision. (Thats a quandary requiring a whole other post)

Has anyone flown both LA J and QF J that can give me a comparison? Any feedback appreciated.

 

[samh004]

Status/point accrual not relavant to this post or important to my decision. (Thats a quandary requiring a whole other post).

The only thing I would have said would be you'd earn nearly twice as much from QF as you would on the EK/LA combo, in terms of points.

Edit: Not that I'd let one bad article skew a view either, but just saw this Runway lights wrecked - National - NZ Herald News

 

[stomplad]

LOL yes well they all have little mishaps including QF. Yes more points I didnt consider, thx but them QF flight is $800 more.
So mostly down to is the LAN J product as good I suppose?

 

[Mwenenzi]

The LAN SCL-AKL-SYD does at times have a poor on time performance. If they are very late they cancel the AKL-SYD-AKL sectors. They move people to other carriers, often Air NZ. Looking at the Auckland airport web site arrives give you a guide on it time performance

 

[Joshua]

LA J product is solid IMO, I thought the seating was fine, comparing to quite a few other carriers with various J seating. I find the cabin feels roomier than QF but the new retrofitted 744 changes things slightly. If you care little about points, then I'd book LA for the experience. Hell, I'd probably do it anyway. Not a bad idea flying EK, but why not fly F TT?

 

[AussieTim]

LOL yes well they all have little mishaps including QF. Yes more points I didnt consider, thx but them QF flight is $800 more.
So mostly down to is the LAN J product as good I suppose?

For our last flights we chose LAN J over QF due to the timing of the SCL-SYD flight. I find the LAN service is better timed for sleeping - the QF service means trying to stay awake the whole flight to sleep on landing. LAN however don't provide PJs, so bring some with you.

I've had a few delays with LAN (including having SYD-AKL rebooked onto Emirates on the A380 - the breakfast service was amazing compared to LAN/QF), but the vast majority were on-time.

The inflight service on LAN between SYD-SCL flights can seem a little distant compared to other flights (SCL- North America for example), and you will find QF more proactive with drinks service. The quality of the food on LAN is good, but rarely do they have anything interesting or different.

 

[Alanslegal]

If one is travelling alone, those single seats of 5B or 5J on the QF7 retrofitted 744 birds would be as comfortable as you would get in any J flight.

 

[stomplad]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Can anybody confirm if they do the new sleep turndown service to SCL?

Moving to Chile/USA next 2+ years so looking to see if I need to change FF program. Just got my head round QF FF and all its quirks and perks. Posted it here:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rogram-aa-lanpass-qf-ff-50731.html#post829799

 

[eric2011]

(BTW Weird thing is QF dont do turndown service to SCL and I do find the QF seats a bit uncomfortable)
.

I am booked via LAN Airlines but traveling J on QF metal ( QF27 ) at the start of September.
Could you explain what you mean by "turndown service", and how does it differ from being handed a pillow and blanket and some PJ's which is what I was expecting.
Thanks

 

[stomplad]

I am booked via LAN Airlines but traveling J on QF metal ( QF27 ) at the start of September.
Could you explain what you mean by "turndown service", and how does it differ from being handed a pillow and blanket and some PJ's which is what I was expecting.
Thanks

Eric you will get your pillow and blanket. The full turndown isnt offered currently to Santiago, but I think I read somewhere it will be after July. Check it out here International Business Class | Qantas

You get a mattress to go over the seat, I find the bumps n gaps in the seat a bit uncomfortable

 

[eric2011]

Eric you will get your pillow and blanket. The full turndown isnt offered currently to Santiago, but I think I read somewhere it will be after July. Check it out here International Business Class | Qantas

You get a mattress to go over the seat, I find the bumps n gaps in the seat a bit uncomfortable

Ok thanks for that. I have gone through the QF site and can't see any mention of the SYD-SCL route being a turndown service or that it will after July, so will wait and see what happens.

 

[stomplad]

Ok thanks for that. I have gone through the QF site and can't see any mention of the SYD-SCL route being a turndown service or that it will after July, so will wait and see what happens.

Might of mixed it up with Chauffeur Drive fr July. Thats a good enhancement at least

Qantas prepares for Emirates partnership - Business Traveller
The service then be extended to Qantas flights over 12 hours in length (ie: from Australia to Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Santiago and Johannesburg) from July.

 

[eric2011]

Might of mixed it up with Chauffeur Drive fr July. Thats a good enhancement at least

Qantas prepares for Emirates partnership - Business Traveller
The service then be extended to Qantas flights over 12 hours in length (ie: from Australia to Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Santiago and Johannesburg) from July.

Thats good but I will still miss out. Even though I am on QF metal (QF27) to SCL I was booked through LAN and on a LAN flight number (LA806). So dont get my mattress and dont get a free trip to the airport.......Doesnt worry me cause the night before I am staying at the Rydges Hotel at Sydney International airport and arrival in Santiago I am staying the night at the Holiday Inn at Santiago International airport.