JQ "Business" Class vs. QF PE

[Orca]

Hi All,

I've been lurking around AFF for a while and am now hooked on climbing the QFF ladder! (Thanks guys, although my partner wishes I'd shut up about it all ha!) My girlfriend and I don't fly all that frequently but I have a couple of trips coming up in the next few months/year. I am pondering booking a Business Max fare with JQ for a return CNS-NRT trip for about $1500, considering this will earn me 2xSC's that I'd get with QF PE + save about $1000 (based on booking the fares today). This would leave me only a few SC's short of achieving SG for the first time (which I'll gain via a status run). Is this worth it do you think? Is JQ business roughly on par with QF PE?
Our honeymoon will be in Sept next year and we'd like to have the best possible chances of getting an upgrade from J to F so I understand it would be advantageous to try and get as high a status as possible. Can someone please confirm that if if you achieve a higher status (eg. SG) you keep that for the remainder of your current membership year + the next full membership year? Or will I only be SG for 12 months from when I gain that level?
Thanks for any thoughts/responses.

 

[CaviAck]

If the trip to NRT isn't the honeymoon I'd be tempted to just go for the extra SCs and $1500 savings. That being said I can't comment on the service QF PE v JQ J.

As for status, you keep the status for the remainder of your current membership year and for the entire next year.

 

[Orca]

The trip is not the honeymoon, just a solo trip for myself (3 weeks rec leave and nothing to do!), That's what I figured, good money saving and easy way to gain status!

 

[11sjw]

Given my experiences of both product were a year or so apart mine may not be the best guide.

QF PE (April 2011) SYD-LAX: 1. Priority boarding (with F, J and WPs) worked well. 2. Seat similar to domestic J, a few extra pillows/folded up blankets (+ my daypack) helped me convert it to a sloping bed. 3. Food was a definite jump up from Y. 4. Dedicated and attentive FA's. Overall I enjoyed it and would be happy to fly it again, $ permitting.

JQ J (Bus. Max) SYD-HNL-SYD (Jul 12): 1. Priority boarding worked well (as did a few hours in the F Lounge), it was handy as Miss 5yr old needed a bit of sorting out. Early seat selection was stuffed up going over but retained coming back (wasn't happy). 2. Again similar seat to dom J. 3. Food, whilst more than edible wasn't QF PE standard. 4. FA's were barely seen outside of meal services, given a 10 hour flight some refreshment trips would've been well received. Yes I would fly them again, especially for the SC/FFP earn however I would say that the overall experience isn't as good as QF PE. My biggest tip would be to make sure you're carrying a decent sized bottle of H2O with you.

Again, I'm not a regular Intl traveller as many on here are so take it for what it is, two x one off experiences. Hope it helps though.

 

[Kef]

Hi All,

I've been lurking around AFF for a while and am now hooked on climbing the QFF ladder! (Thanks guys, although my partner wishes I'd shut up about it all ha!) My girlfriend and I don't fly all that frequently but I have a couple of trips coming up in the next few months/year. I am pondering booking a Business Max fare with JQ for a return CNS-NRT trip for about $1500, considering this will earn me 2xSC's that I'd get with QF PE + save about $1000 (based on booking the fares today). This would leave me only a few SC's short of achieving SG for the first time (which I'll gain via a status run). Is this worth it do you think? Is JQ business roughly on par with QF PE?
Our honeymoon will be in Sept next year and we'd like to have the best possible chances of getting an upgrade from J to F so I understand it would be advantageous to try and get as high a status as possible. Can someone please confirm that if if you achieve a higher status (eg. SG) you keep that for the remainder of your current membership year + the next full membership year? Or will I only be SG for 12 months from when I gain that level?
Thanks for any thoughts/responses.

Hi
I have done the JQ CNS-NRT twice and also with JQ MEL-SIN. I have also done QF PE but to the US.

JQ they are not on par by any means. JQ you have to remember is a LCC regardless of what they may call their "business class". The seat does not lie flat you get a blanket and thats it and a small vanity with eye shades and lip moisturiser. Thats where any similarities end.

I will never never fly with them again as our last trip back 2010 fromt NRT had the worst CSM you could ever imagine. A 22yr old pimple head with attitude and the whole crew were all stressed cause he was such a creep. Most of the crew were foreign and some even struggled to speak English. When I asked for a baileys with dessert as it wasnt on the trolley he rolled his eyes and said it was upon request.

Qantas is a sleek product developed over many years.

Good luck with your decision.
Totally get the wanting to build your status hence my trips in J on JQ. Never again...
It will come down to your wallet at the end of the day.

 

[MrJetset]

Hi
I have done the JQ CNS-NRT twice and also with JQ MEL-SIN. I have also done QF PE but to the US.

JQ they are not on par by any means. JQ you have to remember is a LCC regardless of what they may call their "business class". The seat does not lie flat you get a blanket and thats it and a small vanity with eye shades and lip moisturiser. Thats where any similarities end.

I will never never fly with them again as our last trip back 2010 fromt NRT had the worst CSM you could ever imagine. A 22yr old pimple head with attitude and the whole crew were all stressed cause he was such a creep. Most of the crew were foreign and some even struggled to speak English. When I asked for a baileys with dessert as it wasnt on the trolley he rolled his eyes and said it was upon request.

Qantas is a sleek product developed over many years.

Good luck with your decision.
Totally get the wanting to build your status hence my trips in J on JQ. Never again...
It will come down to your wallet at the end of the day.

I have done both and have to say, it's much of a muchness. On leisure routes such as JQ to HKT and QF to BKK the pax are very similar.

I am happy with JQ daytime flights, but would never do overnight. Frankly, with the new reduced business service and 'cafe breakfast' I'm inclined to say that the similarities are much more than before. Of course, if you score a Skybed then that's the decision maker on the overnight flight.

 

[maninblack]

JQ is an airline that you only fly on when you have no choice.

 

[BensAdventures]

I've used both over the past 12 months, and in that time I've done MEL-BKK return a couple of times, and I can't really fault it if you're expectations are low. I agree a day flight is great, but even in PE, overnight is nothing like the joys of J!

I'll never fly JQ again domestically, but internationally they have been fine. I love the J SC's too!

 

[QF029]

I've done both and in your situation I'd take JQ every day of the week. The cost savings and extra SC's are worth any flaws on the service. The main positive of QF would be the chance of an Op Up which we know is fairly unusual.

 

[elan]

I have done Mel-Sin a couple times now on JQ Business Max and done some US trips in QF PE. I have found QF to offer better a service, having said that I'm off to BKK on JQ Max next month. As has been mentioned the saving and extra SC would certainly have me in a JQ Seat. FA try on JQ but not as refined as QF.

 

[browski]

The trip is not the honeymoon, just a solo trip for myself (3 weeks rec leave and nothing to do!), That's what I figured, good money saving and easy way to gain status!

Since in NRT you have "nothing to do", then of course you should fly JQ.
The main problem with JQ is not the service, the main problem is their on-time performance. If you have no connecting flight or if you have no pressing engagement upon arrival at your destination then JQ is definitely the value choice.

 

[docjames]

Since in NRT you have "nothing to do", then of course you should fly JQ.
The main problem with JQ is not the service, the main problem is their on-time performance. If you have no connecting flight or if you have no pressing engagement upon arrival at your destination then JQ is definitely the value choice.

This. If a significant delay doesn't matter, then JQ "J".

 

[Nizar]

Since in NRT you have "nothing to do", then of course you should fly JQ.
The main problem with JQ is not the service, the main problem is their on-time performance. If you have no connecting flight or if you have no pressing engagement upon arrival at your destination then JQ is definitely the value choice.

+1.
I agree wholly

 

[Hvr]

I've used both over the past 12 months, and in that time I've done MEL-BKK return a couple of times, and I can't really fault it if you're expectations are low. I agree a day flight is great, but even in PE, overnight is nothing like the joys of J!

I'll never fly JQ again domestically, but internationally they have been fine. I love the J SC's too!

I too have done several MEL-BKK trips in J* "business class" and for what they offer it is ok. I've never actually flown PE so can't comment.

The crews have been ok and on the overnight flight I have been able to sleep reasonably well. As previously noted the SCs and points do assist.