QF3/4 worth the upgrade on the old B774?

[chooms]

Hi AFF,

Need some help with this one...

SWMBO decided to surprise me by taking booking a holiday to Hawaii into her own hands.

She managed to score an absolute bargain through the recent QF sale: $1,700 return in Y less a $450 Amex travel voucher (booked through Amex travel) for the two of us. $1,250 return for two people to Hawaii on QF!

Problem is, SWMBO didn't realise the sale fares were not upgradable via classic reward.

Now, SWMBO has grown accustomed to the F/J journeys across the Pacific and was looking forward to another one. Our very first trip to Hawaii was on JQ (never again) in whY.

I figure I could handle the 9hr trip in QF whY, but SWMBO is advocating spending the extra $800 or so more to upgrade the fare to a saver so we can utilise a (not guaranteed) classic upgrade reward.

Given the bird we are flying on is an old B744 with the old J seats, I am inclined to just wear the 9 or so hours in whY.

What to do....

Pros: points aren't an issue, good chance of J upgrade (I am WP and am a few hundred SCs off P1)
Cons: More money spent, no guaranteed an upgrade, not the best J seat, 9 hrs in whY....

What should we do???

 

[Hvr]

Stay in Y and remind her that this is the reason only you should book flights.

 

[moa999]

A lot extra to pay for a chance only.. Spend it on a guaranteed upgrade at the hotel instead

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The other option, if the flight is looking full, might be to purchase an extra comfort seat. This would give a guaranteed empty middle in one of the blocks of three. Might work out cost effective given no taxes and fees on the comfort seat. You would need to arrange this through the call centre, if they can actually add the third seat at this stage.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I'm torn about this due to the possibility to probability of not getting an upgrade even after paying a higher fare. You could get the aircraft with the old F seats (nice bonus) but that's in the hands of the Gods.

If you have to travel Y the return QF4 isn't as bad as it's a day flight, actually about the best timed return flight on the QF network IMO due to flying west over the Date Line.

 

[sudoer]

The other option, if the flight is looking full, might be to purchase an extra comfort seat.

This is the better option IMO. Guaranteed extra space and an extra 90 QF SC (assuming BNE-xSYD-HNL) towards your P1 goal.

 

[kermatu]

I too vote for the comfort seat.

SWMBO will probably never do another surprise like this for you. But that is probably for the best.

 

[mrsterryn]

I just recently did this trip.
On the return leg definitely not worth the upgrade.
I did however buy a comfort seat which made it far more comfortable.

 

[cvmceg]

Agree QF4 is fine in Y. It's the day time so just read and catch some films/tv