QANTAS Premium Economy

[sng1971]

Hi Guys,

I currently have a return ticket SYD-BKK for August 2008 in WhY. I was wondering if it was worth paying the extra (about $1200) to upgrade to Premium economy. I know it's hard to make judgements before seeing the product. Will it be similar to BA WT+ and is that worth the extra cash?

I am PS with QP access already. I could always stay with Why and pray for an upgrade.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Evan]

Although the QF Y+ should be better than BA WT+ with more leg room and better meals etc, JohnK and I share the idea that its overpriced (i hope you don't mind me saying that John).

$1200 is better spent on other things in my opinion.

The BA fares used to be about $600 more for a flight like that from memory. (I used to buy ex SIN so hard to tell exactly what the diff was in AU, i am just going from memory)

E

 

[Alanslegal]

$1200 is better spent on other things in my opinion.
E

I agree, $1200 can take you a very very long way in Thailand

 

[JohnK]

Will it be similar to BA WT+ and is that worth the extra cash?

I cannot imagine that it would be that much better than BA WT+ but I have not seen the new QF product. Either way I do not think that it is worth spending an extra $1200 (normal SYD-BKK return WT+/Y+ fares ~$2582). It is only an 8-9 hour flight and as mentioned by others ssve the money for more useful things.

I am PS with QP access already. I could always stay with Why and pray for an upgrade.

I wouldn't count on QF giving away too many upgrades to Y+ just like their current policy of upgrades to business and first class.

 

[littl_flier]

Will it be similar to BA WT+ and is that worth the extra cash?

I am PS with QP access already. I could always stay with Why and pray for an upgrade.

Hi sng1971.

Personally, I don't think you will get great value by essentially doubling the fare your have already spent. (presuming is ~$2,500 for the Y+ fare) You will get a slightly bigger seat but this is only marginally better than the one on offer in whY. I guess it also depends on whether you value the SC's and points. If the difference between Discount Y and Full Y SC's may put you over the Gold threshold, then it could be worth it depending on your travel patterns. Maybe factor in how well you fly cramped up for long periods of time and assess whether the extra few inches of leg room will be worth it.

At the end of the day it's only a 9 hour flight and $1,200 would get you a very nice suite in Thailand and probably a good massage and coughtails to ease away any aches and pains once you arrive.

Cheers,
littl_flier

 

[Evan]

I cannot imagine that it would be that much better than BA WT+ but I have not seen the new QF product. Either way I do not think that it is worth spending an extra $1200 (normal SYD-BKK return WT+/Y+ fares ~$2582). It is only an 8-9 hour flight and as mentioned by others ssve the money for more useful things.

From what i have read.....

BA WT+
Seat Pitch: 38"
Recline: 7"
Seat Width: 18.5"

QF Prem whY
Seat Pitch: 42"
Recline: 9"
Seat Width: 19.5"

Also QF will have better food.... hmm maybe, not sure about BA.

This is all press release stuff so i have not measured it myself but QF maybe is a little better.... no way its $1200 better imho. I guess we will only find out when we can fly it.

I always tried to get BA WT+ via SYD from Asia or Europe as it was only some hundreds of dollars more and at that price good value. (Not to mention a couple of WT+ to J op-ups)

E

 

[JohnK]

Also QF will have better food.... hmm maybe, not sure about BA.

This is all press release stuff so i have not measured it myself but QF maybe is a little better.... no way its $1200 better imho. I guess we will only find out when we can fly it.

Evan I have not researched the QF product so cannot comment. As I mentioned earlier I have now been on 3 WT+ flights, 2 on the 777 and 1 on the 747, and don't think that it is that special.

On my last flight BKK-SYD the WT+ cabin was totally ignored by the FAs. Maybe this is normal but I am not surprised considering it is wedged between first and business. The food was ordinary and for drinks when I went the galley to ask for a drink I was told to return to my seat and they will bring it over. I did get the drink within a few minutes but the service is not very friendly. I have found it much better when travelling WHY!

I paid $1400 for the return WT+ airfare BKK-SYD-BKK, obviously purchased with BKK as the originating city, and I think this is ~$200-$300 more than the WHY airfare. It is not worth too much more. People can make their own judgements but I was not impressed. I am mainly doing it for SCs and the direct flight.

Doesn't mean I won't use the product again. I am returning to BKK on the 18th March on the same ticket and was thinking of staying 2 weeks. If I return from BKK on the 3th April the return airfare is ~$2700 or if I return on the 31st March the return airfare is $1500. I may even decide to return from SIN where on the 3rd April the return airfare is ~$1700 or on the 31st March the return airfare is ~$1270 and just pick up a cheap business class airfare BKK-SIN on CX or an el cheapo airfare on Tiger or Air Asia.

I know for sure and certain I will not be paying upwards of $2500 for a QF Y+ airfare....

 

[Evan]

I know for sure and certain I will not be paying upwards of $2500 for a QF Y+ airfare....

And me neither. Thats half a J fare circle asia or similar !
Maybe if nobody takes the offers up we will see QF drop the prices... u doubt it !

 

[JohnK]

I doubt QF will drop their published Y+ airfares except for the occassional special 12 months in advance....

 

[sng1971]

Thanks guys.

I do like the idea of a nice hotel room, massage, coughtails ..... makes much more sense.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I managed an exit row Y seat flying BA on my last trip to BKK both ways...with all the leg room I needed this had to be almost as good as a WT+ seat for the bargain price of $900 return (BA had a BKK sale).

As mentioned the FA's seemed to run through WT+ constantly getting from J class down to the galley - if you were in WT+ you needed to throw out a net to catch them!

 

[paxman]

I personally feel the extra space provided is not what it could/should be. the service level, in my experience of BA WT+ is improved, but as always this is crew dependent.

 

[NM]

If paying myself for a leisure trip, I would not consider an extra $1200 for 2 x 8-hour flights to be good value. I would save the money and spend $1200 on other parts of the vacation.

If the extra cost to upgrade to Y+ for a longer trip such as SYD-LAX or SYD-LHR (return) was around $1200, I would justify that for a business trip but would be marginal for a leisure trip, again using the theory that $1200 goes a long way to enjoying other parts of the vacation (nice meals, better accommodation, sightseeing tours and activities etc).

 

[HardieBoys]

I've been weighing up the relative merits of Y+, and think that a flight to BKK is too short to justify the extra cost. As everyone has said, $1200 goes a long way in BKK: you could upgrade to a suite with this money, organise a limousine transfer both ways, and treat yourself to dinner at Celadon.

 

[simongr]

Or you could do all of that as well... I flew BA WT+ and was quite pleased with it, then stayed at a suite at the Hilton and had some great dinners

I guess not travelling that much privately, when I do travel with mrssimongr I want the total experience to be enhanced (we were saving for a house so J was out of the question).

 

[RICHARD PRIDMORE]

I Have Been A Member For Around 8 Years Do I Still Use My Pin Number **** Freqent Flyer Number ******** To Book For Flight
Regards Richard

 

[NM]

I Have Been A Member For Around 8 Years Do I Still Use My Pin Number **** Freqent Flyer Number ******** To Book For Flight
Regards Richard

Hi Richard. I am not sure what you are wanting to know from Australian Frequent Flyer. This is a forum or community of people who share experiences and tips about frequent flyer programs. AFF does not operate any frequent flyer schemes. I epect your query is best addressed to Qantas and not posted on a public forum like AFF.

I have removed your personal information from your post as this is a public forum and not a good place to post personal information such as FF number and PIN.

 

[Alanslegal]

Last time I searched (SIN-SYD 2.01.08) the cost of Y and Y+ on BA were identical....of course i would have gone for Y+ if it hadn't been for QF's SG$688 rtn promotions ex-SIN