Qantas - Premium Economy - SYD-HKG

[Keelan]

Hi all,

Am very close to booking a syd-hkg premium economy return flight for travel in July.

I have a question regarding aircraft - it seems the syd-hkg leg is in a 747 and the hkg-syd leg is in an A380. I am very keen to have my first A380 flight, and am wondering if the experience on the 747 will be similar? (i.e, same premium economy seats/space/food etc) or would I be better off just booking economy on the 747 and premium economy on the A380?

Also, it seems pricing on this route is always around the same, minus $100 or so each way on sale - does anyone have any ideas about when sales are likely to be on for this route? there is sale fares now, just wondering if it is likely there may be further discounts on these seats between now and July.

Thanks in advance!

 

[defurax]

1- The new refurbished 747 have the same PE seats as the A380, but you need access to EF to see the AC configuration in advance without booking the flight
2- If you are a bit flexible with your dates of travel just pick days on which both QF127/128 are operated by A380
3- The best price for PE SYD-HKG return with QF will usually be 2000$, which is a really good deal

 

[Keelan]

1- The new refurbished 747 have the same PE seats as the A380, but you need access to EF to see the AC configuration in advance without booking the flight
2- If you are a bit flexible with your dates of travel just pick days on which both QF127/128 are operated by A380
3- The best price for PE SYD-HKG return with QF will usually be 2000$, which is a really good deal

Thanks defurax - will have a look re: days and aircraft - am flexible within a time period so if there is a chance for a380 each way I would take it! Yes, regarding price, cheapest I have seen was 1988 return or thereabouts, whenever I have looked it was doable return for under 2100 - which I think is great value.

Cheers!

 

[PrincessK]

From memory the A380 days SYD to HKG are Sundays (and maybe Fri??). I recently returned from a trip planned around the A380 flying days. Qantas recently had PE fares advertised in their Year of the Snake sale for $1799 - best I've ever seen. Anything sub $2k is a good price IMHO.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From memory the A380 days SYD to HKG are Sundays (and maybe Fri??). I recently returned from a trip planned around the A380 flying days. Qantas recently had PE fares advertised in their Year of the Snake sale for $1799 - best I've ever seen. Anything sub $2k is a good price IMHO.

A380 services to HKG are 4x weekly Thu-Sun. 747 operates M/T/W

 

[Gold Member]

Shame you can't go late June...

Flights to Hong Kong from only A$1,703 | Premium Economy SuperSale!

Neat price for CX PE. Out of interest, how much is QF gouging you?

 

[markis10]

Shame you can't go late June...

Flights to Hong Kong from only A$1,703 | Premium Economy SuperSale!

Neat price for CX PE. Out of interest, how much is QF gouging you?

I would probably pay the $300 premium to fly QF from what I have heard.

 

[Keelan]

The dates I am currently toying with, early to mid July, are 2045 or thereabouts return. Thanks for the tip on Cathay will check it out, am keen to try qantas y+ as have only heard good things, also, I know Cathay are a partner, but not sure of would earn same points and status credits with Cathay premium economy compared to qf?

 

[defurax]

The dates I am currently toying with, early to mid July, are 2045 or thereabouts return. Thanks for the tip on Cathay will check it out, am keen to try qantas y+ as have only heard good things, also, I know Cathay are a partner, but not sure of would earn same points and status credits with Cathay premium economy compared to qf?

I think the consensus is that QF PE product is superior to CX PE product mostly in regard to food.
If you have no status with QF, the only difference in points and SCs earning will be that the cabin bonus is 25% for QF vs 10% for CX:
Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Fly - Airline Partners

 

[Keelan]

Thanks for that. Not overly worried about points more so status. Have also come across a mh j class return for about 1k more - which on my understanding would reap a heap more sc, so that's worth a ponder too - and thoughts on mh j vs qf y+?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for that. Not overly worried about points more so status. Have also come across a mh j class return for about 1k more - which on my understanding would reap a heap more sc, so that's worth a ponder too - and thoughts on mh j vs qf y+?

mh j for sure. no question.

 

[Timtammi]

Having flown both QF and CX Y+ my opinion is that CX Y+ is nowhere near the product that QF Y+ is. CX Y+ is not really "premium" at all and all you get is a bit more leg room really. Unless the price was VERY good on CX Y+ I would not bother again.

 

[eastwest101]

Thanks for that. Not overly worried about points more so status. Have also come across a mh j class return for about 1k more - which on my understanding would reap a heap more sc, so that's worth a ponder too - and thoughts on mh j vs qf y+?

J on MH is a "no brainer" if you can afford the price difference, don't mind the transit and SC are more important to you. Worthwhile checking that you actually do earn the SC when flying MH though.

If you are still debating QF PE vs CX PE then you will need to work out exactly what aircraft type you will be on for QF and for CX. An idea of what you get in CX PE is here:

Review: Cathay Pacific


And the nearest (apples with apples comparison, assuming you get a QF 747 is that PE will look something like this.)

Airline Review: Sydney to New York in Qantas Premium Economy - Airlines | flights | hotels | travel tech | style | apps - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Keelan]

Thanks all. I am now considering the MH J...the $1k difference is fine, and my read of the status credits on MH is that they are earned like for like and that is is only the points earn that differs from QF flights? Am happy (well, not "happy"), but appreciative of being proved wrong on this however.

 

[markis10]

1- The new refurbished 747 have the same PE seats as the A380, but you need access to EF to see the AC configuration in advance without booking the flight
2- If you are a bit flexible with your dates of travel just pick days on which both QF127/128 are operated by A380
3- The best price for PE SYD-HKG return with QF will usually be 2000$, which is a really good deal

Refurbished 744s don't operate on the HKG route as F is sold, OJD even got a go:

02/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQA A380-800 14F/72J/32W/332Y
03/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQH A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
04/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
05/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
06/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
07/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQG A380-800 14F/72J/32W/332Y
08/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQA A380-800 14F/72J/32W/332Y
09/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQH A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
10/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQH A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
11/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
12/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
13/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
14/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQD A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
15/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQL A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
16/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJD B747-400 56J/356Y
17/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQD A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y

 

[eastwest101]

Refurbished 744s don't operate on the HKG route as F is sold, OJD even got a go:

02/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQA A380-800 14F/72J/32W/332Y
03/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQH A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
04/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
05/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
06/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
07/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQG A380-800 14F/72J/32W/332Y
08/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQA A380-800 14F/72J/32W/332Y
09/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQH A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
10/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQH A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
11/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
12/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
13/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJL B747-400 14F/52J/32W/255Y
14/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQD A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
15/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQL A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y
16/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OJD B747-400 56J/356Y
17/02/2013 QF127 Sydney Hong Kong VH-OQD A380-800 14F/64J/35W/371Y

That sort of matches what I saw in the QF booking engine looking for PE seats on QF127 - as far as I can tell QF127 is always appearing as a B747 with PE, according to the QF booking web site.

 

[under the radar]

as the OP is really only concerned about P/E, the ACTUAL Q/F seats will be 'true' P/E seats OR on the ODD BONUS occassion you may score a J/C skybed1 on a 744...BUT the LOCATION in the various cabin configs will differ..also i'm sure i've read/heard media/company reports that the CX P/E product/service is promoted as more ECONOMY PLUS (ie more Y/C service aspects)..and QF P/E product/service is promoted as more BUSINESS MINUS (ie more J/C service aspects)....best to check each airlines websites for an idea of what 'type' of P/E service/product each airline provides and do your own cost/benefit analysis ( I prefer ANY QF 744 P/E cabin more than the 'new' QF 380 P/E cabin..that's just my preference)

 

[JohnK]

I have now flown Qantas premium economy, VS premium economy and CX regional premium economy.

Qantas is probably the best of the 3 but note if you cannot get bulkhead/exit row the flight can be uncomfortable as the recline on the seats is too much. I had trouble getting in and out of seat.

I was in VS premium economy SYD-HKG last night using Flying club miles/Amex MR points. Seat is OK, food is OK and interruption from recline from seat in front is minimal. The cabin feels cramped as the curtains are closed for galley in front and economy is directly behind with the galley right down the back. The redemption was 30,000 VS miles and for an extra 10,000 VS miles I would choose upper class next time.

 

[eastwest101]

as the OP is really only concerned about P/E, the ACTUAL Q/F seats will be 'true' P/E seats OR on the ODD BONUS occassion you may score a J/C skybed1 on a 744...BUT the LOCATION in the various cabin configs will differ..also i'm sure i've read/heard media/company reports that the CX P/E product/service is promoted as more ECONOMY PLUS (ie more Y/C service aspects)..and QF P/E product/service is promoted as more BUSINESS MINUS (ie more J/C service aspects)....best to check each airlines websites for an idea of what 'type' of P/E service/product each airline provides and do your own cost/benefit analysis ( I prefer ANY QF 744 P/E cabin more than the 'new' QF 380 P/E cabin..that's just my preference)

I agree with most of those comments but would also emphasise that the difference between CX and QF PE , just like the CX 'Regional J' vs CX 'International J' can vary quite a lot depending on which aircraft you actually get.