Qantas v Etihad: Mel - JFK

[ozrock]

Hi all

Just wanted to get some opinions from seasoned travellers to the US (I haven't been there for 15 years!)
I am travelling Mel-JFK in October for work.
With my wife on maternity leave, and our first child in prep, we thought it might be a good opportunity if we all went along.
So - 2 adults, one child and one infant.
Currently, there is only $2k difference in price travelling business in Etihad (longer trip - approx. 33 hrs) vs PE in Qantas (22 hrs).
Wondering what people think would be a better choice - I am QFF Platinum, so I could apply for an upgrade on points, but obviously that's not guaranteed. (I have no status with Etihad, or Virgin, if that makes a difference)
I understand you can pass US immigration in Abu Dhabi, making for an easier escape from JFK, but not sure whether this is a superior arrangement to travelling via QF.
Any comments appreciated!

 

[TomVexille]

If the J price is acceptable to you, I'd take J over PE any day

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Agree that if you can afford the extra $2K, then J is the way to go.
Provided you can book on an A380 or B787 you will have a mini-suite style business studio on EY with lots of space for storage.
The A380 also has the Lobby area which is basically a bar between business and first class and accessible to passengers in both.
This could be an ideal space in which to take turns to take a break from the kids and relax.
If you can only book on a B777 or A340 you will still have a private lie-flat business seat with some storage spaces.
Whereas in PE on QF on any aircraft you would only have a basic reclining seat which is just a little bit bigger and better than an economy seat.
There is likely to be a big difference in the service as well.
You will also be able to access the EY lounge in Abu Dhabi (although as a Platinum you would have lounge access with QF too).
EY business probably also comes with chauffeur drive at both ends although I am not familiar with the details.
And as you will inevitably spend some time on a layover, why not use that time to do the US immigration rituals?

 

[Daver6]

Is that $2k per pax or all up? If the latter, no brainer. If the former and you can afford it, I'd do it.

 

[alieninperth]

If you take the EY flights, credit to VA and you family pool the points and throw in a few VA flight would be able to get status with them as well (assuming no SC for the infant but 160SC per leg per person will net you 1,920SC with VA. The eight VA flights that you would need to take to get WP would net you a further 80SC and then you could gift WP to your wife.

 

[dajop]

I understand you can pass US immigration in Abu Dhabi, making for an easier escape from JFK, but not sure whether this is a superior arrangement to travelling via QF.

This is not really a factor. As under either scenario you do US immigration during transit. If travelling from MEL-JFK you pass through US immigration in LAX.

 

[Jack_OC]

If you take the EY flights, credit to VA and you family pool the points and throw in a few VA flight would be able to get status with them as well (assuming no SC for the infant but 160SC per leg per person will net you 1,920SC with VA. The eight VA flights that you would need to take to get WP would net you a further 80SC and then you could gift WP to your wife.

I don't think the last part of that is correct. My understanding (based on experience) is that they only count SCs towards gifting status after you have retained Platinum for yourself. If he pooled all of the SCs from this trip to himself, the addiitonal SCs over 1,000 would basically be wasted, as SCs only start counting towards retention after Platinum status is activated. In other words, after getting his 8 VA sectors, he would get Platinum, then he'd need another 800 to retain Platinum for himself, then he'd need another 500 to gift his wife Gold, followed by yet another 500 to gift her Platinum.

However, if the OP splits up the pooling in the first place, he could come out of the trip with both him and his wife on somewhere in the region of 1,000 SCs. This might enable them both to get to Platinum in their own right, depending on likelihood of getting the eligible VA sectors. Of course this may or may not be important to the OP anyway.

This is not really a factor. As under either scenario you do US immigration during transit. If travelling from MEL-JFK you pass through US immigration in LAX.

Having done US preclearance a few times, and clearance at LAX a few times, I would say the former tends to be much easier and quicker. I guess YMMV though.

 

[BAM1748]

Sorry, I know many saying J but I'd go the 22 hour trip over the 33 hour one.

 

[Buzzard]

I quite like flying so the extra time would not be an issue for me.
I'd go with Etihad assuming cost was not an issue.

 

[offshore171]

With 2 small kids in the mix I'd take the QF option. It's 13 hours shorter. That's an absolute no brainer with young kids. Qantas PE is also better than typical PE and it's also easier to "wrangle" the kids than in Business Pods.

Spend the $2K on accomodation upgrades.

 

[Jack_OC]

With 2 small kids in the mix I'd take the QF option. It's 13 hours shorter. That's an absolute no brainer with young kids. Qantas PE is also better than typical PE and it's also easier to "wrangle" the kids than in Business Pods.

Spend the $2K on accomodation upgrades.

I'll add my two cents to the J option, especially as it's with EY. I've travelled with 2 young kids on EY in J several times (including twice when one was baby) and it was great. I think it depends on the individuals (both adults and kids), but I know that no-one in my family would get much sleep in PE, and starting or ending a trip without sleep for 24 hours+ is not my idea of fun. Conversely, The total length of the trip wouldn't bother us very much if it's in comfort and if everyone gets a decent amount of sleep.

 

[funnymummy]

PE seats on The QF flight to BNE LAX that I recently took didn't allow for the arm rests to be raised in the bulk head seats (where the bassinets are also). And I thought I looked around the rest of the rows to see if any of them did. Mainly because there were vacant seats and I thought I could stretch out across. Definitely not possible!