RTW *A in F - Need the advice thoughts of the *A Brains Trust

[Matt_01]

Question for the *A experts, we are currently planning for a F rewards trip next year with the main destinations being UK, NYC and CA. Not fussed if we travel east or west however west is looking like a better option. After stumbling across this thread what do you look forward to more the flight or the destination? and I am in the destination camp this thread got me thinking. I have a substantial balance of SQ miles of which about 300K SQ miles that need to be used by the end of the year.

We have agreed we can travel separately as getting x3 F rewards may prove difficult so “MrsM and MissM” will travel *OW and I will travel *A. A quick look at EF and a couple of my other less less used FF accounts suggests that with a bit of planning a *A/ *OW in F is achievable with departure/ arrival times being in close proximity. Trip may play out like this AU-(xSIN?)-JP-UK, a positioning flight to some EU location then EU-NYC-YYZ-YVR-LAX-AU either direct or via Asia. Within the US and CA It is likely that I will just pay for the girls flights on AC. If it all goes too worms or becomes difficult I will just use SQ and QF.

I am comfortable with the *OW carriers and it is *A I am seeking some advice on. I use SQ but for this trip I am considering travel to use as many different *A F cabins as possible. The *A RWT F redemption looks reasonable at 360 SQ miles, but I am not sure about the taxes. For the AU-UK-US flights most likely a combo of SQ, NH, LX or change to LH closer to the travel date. Once in the US and CA most of the flights will be AC, getting back to AU looking at NH, OZ, CA, or BR. I have flown F and J with NH and BR within the past couple of years and wondering if the product has changed. I believe it has with NH for the a380 but not sure if the NH F product still blocks most of the windows.

For the *A travellers which carriers would you choose if flying F, I am open to all suggestions. Also is there a wiki or good thread on this site that provides the same level of detail for *A as the oneworld award 140k 280k 420k planning the definitive thread.

I am a few months away from booking this but if I do not start looking at it soon I will just forget. Also closer to the required booking time if there is a competent TA that can help me finalise the schedule I am happy to provide some compensation for your efforts.

 

[JessicaTam]

I was fortunate to get a LH booking with Lifemiles a few months out due to a glitch. I don't know how easy they will be to book for three. (Paging @boomy to the yellow courtesy phone.) I found the flight great but SQ wins out for me.

TG is a good but not great F hard product. The soft product is terrific, especially the OTT service at BKK. Book through Lifemiles.

SQ redemptions are pretty strait-forward with KF. Particularly if you have lots of notice. The SQ hard product is terrific, and the soft product whilst excellent can be a little robotic. KF can also be used to book other *A airlines, but I have not done this.

 

[boomy]

If I would plan *A RTW F award my choice of airlines (assuming LH and LX can't be booked) would be SQ and OZ suites because they both have the best overall products, followed by NH (can only book 1 seat) and TG.

Getting from Europe to USA is tricky, there’s only one option I can think of that can be booked ahead (SQ26) and availability on that flight is not good at all.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If I would plan *A RTW F award my choice of airlines (assuming LH and LX can't be booked) would be SQ and OZ suites because they both have the best overall products, followed by NH (can only book 1 seat) and TG.

Getting from Europe to USA is tricky, there’s only one option I can think of that can be booked ahead (SQ26) and availability on that flight is not good at all.

*F is pretty limited for award options these days. I'd actually put TG F about on par with NH F. Both have pros and cons - the seat being a big negative on NH.

 

[Matt_01]

*F is pretty limited for award options these days. I'd actually put TG F about on par with NH F. Both have pros and cons - the seat being a big negative on NH.

What is it you dislike about the NH F seat, is it the fact that most windows are blocked by the cube. I have flown NH F in the past just wondering if it has changed. I have flown TG J but not F.

 

[Matt_01]

If I would plan *A RTW F award my choice of airlines (assuming LH and LX can't be booked) would be SQ and OZ suites because they both have the best overall products, followed by NH (can only book 1 seat) and TG.

Getting from Europe to USA is tricky, there’s only one option I can think of that can be booked ahead (SQ26) and availability on that flight is not good at all.

@boomy as advanced warning I plan on bring this up and picking your brain this week.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What is it you dislike about the NH F seat, is it the fact that most windows are blocked by the cube. I have flown NH F in the past just wondering if it has changed. I have flown TG J but not F.

Blocking the windows is one thing, but the other is the hard plastic moulding at the back of the seat when in bed mode. Instead of being flat across it's circular shaped, severely restricting room to move. And it makes the bed quite short. I'm 6'3 and couldn't fit, which is rare for me.

Save for a couple of minor points, these days the soft product on TG F and J is almost indistinguishable. They've really upped their J product to a high standard, the main differences in F being the caviar and an upgraded choice of beverages. (On the ground the F service is still miles ahead.)

 

[Matt_01]

Blocking the windows is one thing, but the other is the hard plastic moulding at the back of the seat when in bed mode. Instead of being flat across it's circular shaped, severely restricting room to move. And it makes the bed quite short. I'm 6'3 and couldn't fit, which is rare for me.

Save for a couple of minor points, these days the soft product on TG F and J is almost indistinguishable. They've really upped their J product to a high standard, the main differences in F being the caviar and an upgraded choice of beverages. (On the ground the F service is still miles ahead.)

So I am not 6’3, I am 5’10 with shoes on, breathing in and all the other tricks to make myself look a little taller. . I also tend to crawl up when sleeping so have not had issues sleeping on shorter beds e.g. the SQ off set foot space. At 6’3 I understand why you are not a fan of the NH product and thankyou for your insights.

 

[Matt_01]

As an update to this does anyone know if SQ25 qualifies as the Atlantic crossing. I can get from AU-US with SQ and NH and through the US and CA with AC. I have 2 stop overs on in the US and the other in CA and was looking to fly back to AU on SQ25 and if need be would do a stop over in SIN.

When I use the *A flight mapper there is no option NYC to SIN but that flight exists.

 

[trooper]

On NH111 as we speak...and the view from First seats IS very restricted. This aircraft does not have the very newest F.... but from what I can see of the new F advertising it will be the same or even worse. Im only 5' 7" so I didn't even notice that curvature...….

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On NH111 as we speak...and the view from First seats IS very restricted. This aircraft does not have the very newest F.... but from what I can see of the new F advertising it will be the same or even worse. Im only 5' 7" so I didn't even notice that curvature...….

No no! The new F 'cubes' have ditched the window blocking and got rid of the hard plastic curve Dunno if their dire IFE has improved

 

[boomy]

No no! The new F 'cubes' have ditched the window blocking and got rid of the hard plastic curve Dunno if their dire IFE has improved

IFE looks promising on the new F:

The seat will feature an outrageously large 43″ monitor, which is also the world’s first 4K personal monitor on a commercial airliner.

Spectacular: ANA's New 777 First & Business Class

All Nippon Airways is introducing all new cabins on their Boeing 777s, including new first and business class. Here's what you can expect.

onemileatatime.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh, yes. I'm sure the screen is nice. It's the content I'm worried about. They had a selection of individual 'greatest hits' on my last flight. Each selection had just two or three songs on it. Not even complete albums! Worst. IFE. Ever.