QF F or BA F

[PineappleSkip]

Still looking at options for POM-LHR. The one we kind of fancy involves Mrs Pineapple and myself flying:

• POM-SIN in Y PX, the only option (but cheap),
• SIN-LHR in W with QF (got a reasonable price in the sale that just finished),
• LHR-HKG in F (using points, just because we can!!) and,
• HKG-POM in J (really cheap seats. Again PX the only option)

I kinda like the idea of 4 sectors in 4 different classes, has a wierd symmetry about it!!

And IMHO points are there for the trashing, and F looks like the best way to trash them to me. My use 'em or lose 'em mentality arose after I carefully saved all my AF points for a rainy day many years ago, and sad events rained big time on my mega savings. Then I saved lots of QF points, but luckily got the chance to trash them just before the big devaluation a few years back.

Anyway heres the question. Will probably fly BA F, but QF F is available. Will probably travel the former because connections are better, but just wondering if you will persuade me that QF F is worth hanging around HKG all day before an 11 pm flight out. What do you reckon?

Cheers skip

 

[Mal]

Anyway heres the question. Will probably fly BA F, but QF F is available. Will probably travel the former because connections are better, but just wondering if you will persuade me that QF F is worth hanging around HKG all day before an 11 pm flight out. What do you reckon?

I'd take QF F over BA F any day of the week - unless the $$$$ cost was significantly different.

BA's F cabin is falling apart. It's due for a refresh, but that keeps getting put back. No idea when it will occur. When it does, then it will improve. The Qantas cabin also could do with a refresh, but it is aging a lot better.

Cabin Service between LHR and HKG will be interesting. On one hand you have the UK base Qantas staff, vs BA's staff. Many people comment that ex-LHR QF staff are younger, less experienced and not as polished as ex-AU Qantas longhaul staff. BA's staff are senior and know their stuff. Very professional.

Probably food+drinks wise, QF will be better on this sector, although I have not flown either in F on this sector.

 

[aus_flyer]

I'd take QF F over BA F any day of the week

+1
I'll second that.

Flown BA F many times. Hate BA with a passion. I'll avoid at all costs.

 

[Dave Noble]

BA F vs QF F

They both have the same seating and I would take whichever had the better connection time with a v small preference towards BA since it has 5 window seats each side ; if just booking flights, neither BA nor QF F would be in my 1st choices though

Using points LHR-HKG v/v I would be phoning QF and seeing if there is availability on CX

Dave

 

[KrugBoi]

I agree with Dave. I would choose to fly Cathay Pacific first - the service is consistently top notch and professional and you're made to feel very special. They also should have their new first seats on the flight which are supposed to be amazing.

And if you love your food, they serve caviar and they can cook eggs fresh for breakfast any way you want onboard. The lounge in HK is fantastic too. If Cathay wasn't available, then I would probably prefer Qantas. The food and service is much better. I had a horrible flight in BA First a few years ago and haven't been back since - the service was awful.

 

[jamesatfish]

Assuming both F options are on the 744, I've found BA and QF to have very similar offerings. Personally I prefer the sparkles on QF to BA (usually Dom versus Bolly) but the food and service on that sector seems to be very similar between the two carriers.

I'd suggest you're just as likely to have a bad flight (as a result of cabin crew not on their best game the day you fly) on either carrier.

Of course if you can get onto the 380 then QF will be a no-brainer.

Haven't flown Cathay to compare.

 

[aus_flyer]

Of course if you can get onto the 380 then QF will be a no-brainer.

PineappleSkip, unless you are WP, then unfortunately you don't have a hope in hell of getting two F seats SIN-LHR on the A380... and QF don't operate an A380 LHR-HKG.

One other point to note is that if you book F on LHR-HKG, you run the risk of being downgraded if QF discontinue F on that route (again) for a period.

 

[Sprucegoose]

BA F vs QF F

They both have the same seating and I would take whichever had the better connection time with a v small preference towards BA since it has 5 window seats each side ; if just booking flights, neither BA nor QF F would be in my 1st choices though

Using points LHR-HKG v/v I would be phoning QF and seeing if there is availability on CX

Dave

Agree with Dave, CX or SQ, but certainly CX have the less intrusive asian 'service' SQ bit more of a dictatorship, and amenity packs are a joke, regardless of class. (ex PPS for a few years). food great on both, but food out of sydney ig good on most airlines.

Best food Ansett Int IMHO.

Cheers

SPRUCE

 

[Sprucegoose]

+1
I'll second that.

Flown BA F many times. Hate BA with a passion. I'll avoid at all costs.

could we talk about this passionate hatred at some stage odoherty?

Dr SPRUCE

 

[Sprucegoose]

... Will probably fly BA F, but QF F is available. Will probably travel the former because connections are better, but just wondering if you will persuade me that QF F is worth hanging around HKG all day before an 11 pm flight out. What do you reckon?
Cheers skip

If you cant find HKG 'worth hanging around' with all day to spare my dear man, Port Moresby has left you in shappy shape.....

SPRUCe

 

[NYCguy]

If you cant find HKG 'worth hanging around' with all day to spare my dear man, Port Moresby has left you in shappy shape.....

Some might argue that they have spent so much time hanging around airports (including HKG, SIN and similar) that no combination or lounges, shopping, indoor rainforests, observation decks, etc is alluring anymore. How many dim sum can one consume before getting on the plane and eating a 6-course lunch? How many duty-free outlets is too many? Why bother having a facial and a massage in a lounge when you have one every week anyway?

Best, methinks, to keep the connection times to the bare-coughd minimum for the airport in question, and to arrive at your departure point just prior to the check-in deadline for your class of service.

 

[aus_flyer]

Will probably fly BA F, but QF F is available. Will probably travel the former because connections are better, but just wondering if you will persuade me that QF F is worth hanging around HKG all day before an 11 pm flight out. What do you reckon?

Hong Kong is a great place to "go and have a look at" if you have a long connection.

The airport express (train) will take you into the heart of Kowloon or Central in around 22 minutes. Roundtrip on the same day is 100 HKD.

I'd suggest catching the train to Central, then catch the star ferry across to Kowloon and enjoy the views of the harbour. Once on the other side, have a wander around the shopping streets (such as Nathan Road). In the afternoon/evening maybe grab a drink at Aqua bar (1 Peking Road). Enjoy the view of the night lights show across the harbour at 8pm, before catching a taxi to the Kowloon airport express and back to the airport.

could we talk about this passionate hatred at some stage odoherty?

I'll start typing now. Check back in a week. I should be done by then.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Sprucegoose, would love to visit HKG again. However can only get seats in on the same day I fly out, and remember my last such stopover.

Late 1987, Mrs Pineapple and I flew out of FRA at lunch time flying whY on a CX 744 with ancient wafer thin seats. After lunch the FAs trotted out the Cognac and most of the PAX passed out after one dose. They tried more doses on us but it still didn't work. We arrived 6 am hung over and ready for sleep. Pounded the pavements for about 12 hours then back to Kai Tak and the world's most crowded lounge (or so it seemed). Clung grimly to our club chairs for the next 4 hours while would-be sitters hovered (and sat on our arm rests). Then A330 to BNE. At least the seats were new. Tried the alcohol again but still didn't sleep, just became delirious.

We determined never to do an 18 hour stopover between overnight flights and moderate our inflight alcohol consumption no matter how much they offered. Been better at keeping the first resolution than the second.

 

[mannej]

Sprucegoose, would love to visit HKG again. However can only get seats in on the same day I fly out, and remember my last such stopover.

Late 1987, Mrs Pineapple and I flew out of FRA at lunch time flying whY on a CX 744 with ancient wafer thin seats. After lunch the FAs trotted out the Cognac and most of the PAX passed out after one dose. They tried more doses on us but it still didn't work. We arrived 6 am hung over and ready for sleep. Pounded the pavements for about 12 hours then back to Kai Tak and the world's most crowded lounge (or so it seemed). Clung grimly to our club chairs for the next 4 hours while would-be sitters hovered (and sat on our arm rests). Then A330 to BNE. At least the seats were new. Tried the alcohol again but still didn't sleep, just became delirious.

87 or 97?

 

[2muchplastic]

87 or 97?

If it wasn't 1997, then it was 7 years before the A330 flew commercially!

Or perhaps the alcohol binge started in 1987, but they drank so much they woke up in time for the first A330 being delivered to Cathay in the mid 90's?

 

[PineappleSkip]

sorry, yes, 97. I think 744s were very new, if they existed, in late 87!!

See what CX cognac does to you...

 

[PineappleSkip]

Just for the record, we went with BA27. Mrs Pineapple a bit disappointed that you didn't get your own bathroom and had to share. Mrs Pineapple has imaginative ideas about what you can fit in aircraft.

We rather sympathise with the philosophy of NYCGuy in relation to airports. Seven hours is heaps. If all runs to time we may get the train to Kowloon or Central or something and have a cuppa.

Incidentally PX occasionally offer amazing value in J. For the HKG-POM sector, QF quoted a fare in J of $2900 ea, whereas PX offered me the same for PGK2947, which is about $1200. Wondering whether the QF op understood the difference between PGK and AUD!! QF also weren't able to ticket the booking unless I showed up at the QF office with my credit card. I took a wander up to the PX office and they ran the booking off on the spot, issued me my fully flexible ticket, and allocated me 1A and 1C to boot.


Cheers skip

 

[Keith009]

Some might argue that they have spent so much time hanging around airports (including HKG, SIN and similar) that no combination or lounges, shopping, indoor rainforests, observation decks, etc is alluring anymore. How many dim sum can one consume before getting on the plane and eating a 6-course lunch? How many duty-free outlets is too many? Why bother having a facial and a massage in a lounge when you have one every week anyway?

Best, methinks, to keep the connection times to the bare-coughd minimum for the airport in question, and to arrive at your departure point just prior to the check-in deadline for your class of service.

Totally agree. Unless one has never been to Honkers, there's no point in unnecessarily dragging out transit times unless one has a specific desire to throw in a day trip downtown. No airport experience has been so captivating as to make me want to spend a whole day in any airport terminal.

In terms of the actual F experience, QF F would be my first choice ordinarily. But I wouldn't mind flying BA F if it's a far more convenient option, as no difference in product is great enough to justify spending an entire day in transit if one has no desire to otherwise. Or heck, I'll even be tempted to fly Cathay as a last resort to avoid lengthy, unwanted transits.

(Disclaimer: then again I do like Hong Kong - as in the city, so staying at the W HK overnight as a side trip in order to fly QF F back to MEL the next morning is more of a desirable side trip to me than an unnecessary overnight ).

 

[Keith009]

Oops, looks like I'm a bit late to the party.

Enjoy your trip!!

Just for the record, we went with BA27. Mrs Pineapple a bit disappointed that you didn't get your own bathroom and had to share. Mrs Pineapple has imaginative ideas about what you can fit in aircraft.

We rather sympathise with the philosophy of NYCGuy in relation to airports. Seven hours is heaps. If all runs to time we may get the train to Kowloon or Central or something and have a cuppa.

Incidentally PX occasionally offer amazing value in J. For the HKG-POM sector, QF quoted a fare in J of $2900 ea, whereas PX offered me the same for PGK2947, which is about $1200. Wondering whether the QF op understood the difference between PGK and AUD!! QF also weren't able to ticket the booking unless I showed up at the QF office with my credit card. I took a wander up to the PX office and they ran the booking off on the spot, issued me my fully flexible ticket, and allocated me 1A and 1C to boot.


Cheers skip