NYC to Perth on QF

[xt_20]

Hi all,

Flying from New York to Perth using QF, and was given several options. Which is best?

1) JFK - LAX - SYD on QF108 (747) and then SYD - PER (333)
2) JFK - LAX on UA (738/752), then LAX - SYD on QF12 (380) then SYD - PER (747)
3) JFK - DFW on AA (MD83), DFW - BNE - SYD (747) then SYD - PER (333)

I had in mind JFK - LAX on the QF 747, then LAX - SYD/MEL on the 380 then SYD/MEL - PER on the 332/333/744, but that doesn't work as the JFK flight only connects to QF108.
I understand american airlines in general are much worse than QF, so Option 1 wins - but is the QF 747 product just as good as the 380 on the 17 hour flight across the pacific?

 

[cove]

We have done the run from LAX to SYD quite regularly.
Coming from NYC I would tend to do a Priceline/ Expedia room in Los Angeles to split the journey as you should get that for about $100.
That cuts a bit off the flying time as you are coming half way around the world.
QF108 choice one is considered by some to be superior than using AA or United in America but I haven't noticed that much difference.
Don't worry too much about your connection to Perth as Qantas will put you on next available if you take off late from America.
Some travellers have reported that they have enjoyed coming straight into Australia from Dallas but that flying time on a 747 is very long.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Cove from Perth also consider SQ direct to Newark from SIN.......

Agree the QF product is superior to AA, however that depends on class. AA F trumps QF Y for example.

The flying time is all long, if Dallas gives better connections take Dallas. Take your time off when you get here as you travel across the states during day evening. The trip home is long, overnight and adds a day to your life!?

 

[Sprucegoose]

Sorry, more.....380 is quieter however I reckon there woud be little difference in comfort if in J, on 380 you want specific seats like 80A or 71D there are a few threads here on that subject.

 

[Blackbird]

Hi all,

Flying from New York to Perth using QF, and was given several options.
....
..
I had in mind JFK - LAX on the QF 747, then LAX - SYD/MEL on the 380 then SYD/MEL - PER on the 332/333/744, but that doesn't work as the JFK flight only connects to QF108.

QF108 connects to QF94 A380 LAX-MEL.
QF108 arrives LAX before 22-00 and QF94 departs at 23-30.
Also connects with QF16 via BNE.
Some of the 744s working QF108/QF16 have been reconfigured with the MkII skybed.
All QF8 flights would be refurbed 747.

 

[cove]

What class of travel are you considering xt_20?
The A380 is quieter plane but there are more folks on board so some of them can be noisy.
In recent times we have been using the SQ A340-500 100 seater all business class to Singapore as Sprucegoose says and that one works out the best for Perth people. It is better than their A380 as that stops in Narita in the middle of the night.
The 747 with Qantas groans a bit on take off and really roars getting off the ground compared with the A380 that lifts off smoothly. I still like the 747 reliability.

 

[xt_20]

Sorry, I should have added: Flying Y self-funded.
Happy to consider other options if more comfortable but doesn't add too much time. Checked out the Middle Eastern airlines the other way round the world but seems more expensive and longer journey. Don't want United Y.

Has the IFE on the 747 been upgraded to the Panasonics like the 380 or are they the same ones as the Rockwell Collins QFi 333?

 

[cove]

The 747-400ERs are having a makeover so the IFE should be more reliable if you score a re-worked plane.

 

[mannej]

The 747-400ERs are having a makeover so the IFE should be more reliable if you score a re-worked plane.

They all have had the makeover.

 

[xt_20]

From what I read, all the 744ERs had the makeover, but only a few 744s (1 at the moment?)
So the 744s have the same Panasonic IFE and seat as the 380 now?
Thanks for your replies so far !

 

[drewbles]

Why not one stop?
JFK-HKG-PER on CX/QF? The JFK-HKG is a marathon (but then again, DFW-BNE is no picnic either). Having recently done JFK-HKG-MEL, i'd gladly do that again.

 

[docjames]

Why not one stop?
JFK-HKG-PER on CX/QF? The JFK-HKG is a marathon (but then again, DFW-BNE is no picnic either). Having recently done JFK-HKG-MEL, i'd gladly do that again.

Either this CX option, or i'd give the extra BNE-SYD sector on QF8 a miss and route

JFK-DFW-BNE-PER.

 

[Katie]

3) JFK - DFW on AA (MD83), DFW - BNE - SYD (747) then SYD - PER (333)

If you were to contemplate this route, I'd consider doing what a WA-based friend did, and do NYC-DFW-BNE-PER, rather than BNE-SYD-PER. Up to you, of course, but something to consider.

 

[xt_20]

Problem is that BNE - PER is all 767 except for 1x332.
The direct CX flight doesn't connect well (on a Sunday), and the indirect one (via Canada) is 2 stops as well.

 

[drewbles]

Problem is that BNE - PER is all 767 except for 1x332.
The direct CX flight doesn't connect well (on a Sunday), and the indirect one (via Canada) is 2 stops as well.

If you have 5+ hours in HKG, what better reason than to jump on the train, and head downtown for a bit, do some shopping, then head back to the airport.

I reckon that would be a great way to break up the trip, and with HKG being the same time zone as PER, a good way to start to get over the dreaded jet lag!

 

[cove]

What price and date range are you looking at for your flights and have you booked the outwards journey?
The 767 is quick and reliable when heading into the headwind.
The A330 is a newer plane.

 

[xt_20]

Good point about HKG.

Sunday 4th Nov. QF sale at the moment: Flying MEL - NYC on Oct 29 and NYC - PER on Nov 4 $1751 per person.

 

[cove]

That is a great sale price. It seems a shame that you are doing such a short trip to LOTFAP but ticketing on QF will earn you SCs and give you greater reliability of flights. I would go with the A380 and the 333 seeing they have IFE that should work the best and you will be using almost 3 days to get there and back to Perth including layover time.

 

[mannej]

Cove, isn't the IFE on the domestic 332's based on the same type that is on the 380, where as the 333 based on the older 747 IFE?

 

[cove]

Mannej I think it is the same but it is a newer plane so it should work.
Months ago I had an extra 7 hours of movies due to an electrical storm and the plane IFE was pretty good even without popcorn.