Scenarios - SYD <> HKG in May/June

[mting]

Hi all fantastic people!

I am sure some of you would be kind enough to help me with this little dilemma.

I have leave between 23 May - 20 June which I am planning a return trip back to HKG.

I do have quite a bit of QFF points and would love to try out business class..

Should I:

A. Straight out redeem classic reward business class seat, most probably will be Cathay as QF never seems to appear.

B. Purchase the Premium Economy Sale ticket and request an upgrade? I am just a bronze member, so this way the chance is low right? If I end up only in Premium Economy, then I can't visit any lounges lol

C. Any other options

Thanks!

 

[docjames]

If you can find availability for your preferred dates, flat out classic J award is the only way to "guarantee" J seating.

Other options are yes purchase Y+ or Y and upgrade but go in the queue with everyone else.

If you are doing a single return trip, and can on;y find J classic avail in one direction, take the J classic one way and pay Y or Y+ the other, but note the one way Y price (or Y+ or J) will be nearly as much as a return ticket.

Other options if you get one way in J on classic award would be to use the LCCs to return (eg.Air Asia to KUL then AAX to us and use their "premium" product).

Consider other routings with QF/CX such as to SIN or BKK or MNL, then to HKG on CX from those ports (either award J or paid Y) if you are struggling for availability on the direct flight (you may cobble together some J seating that way).

If you are travelling again to HKG in the next 12 months, you could also look at an outbound award seat, then buy a return ticket HKG-SYD-HKG.

 

[dmitri]

Book a J award seat, this is a popular route with many high status passengers and as you are bronze, you will be way down the queue for points upgrades from y/y+.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all fantastic people!

I am sure some of you would be kind enough to help me with this little dilemma.

I have leave between 23 May - 20 June which I am planning a return trip back to HKG.

I do have quite a bit of QFF points and would love to try out business class..

Should I:

A. Straight out redeem classic reward business class seat, most probably will be Cathay as QF never seems to appear.

B. Purchase the Premium Economy Sale ticket and request an upgrade? I am just a bronze member, so this way the chance is low right? If I end up only in Premium Economy, then I can't visit any lounges lol

C. Any other options

Thanks!

Without doubt, secure a business class seat from the outset. You can also look for Cathay Pacific flights, which will be guaranteed to have a full flat bed.

If you apply for an upgrade, every other tier (silver, gold, platinum, platinum 1 and chairman's lounge) will be ahead of you, even if they book just a couple of days before flying and you have requested your upgrade months in advance.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Try this.
SYD - AKL/CHC NZ in J with EK J but a QF flight number, even if you do have to do a P+P, then...
AKL - HKG with CX.
That is what I would do.
Get to try the EK 380 too, if you haven't.

 

[eminere]

Go out of the way to travel +53.5% additional flying distance and add hours in flying and transit time, just to "experience" the EK A380 in J? Sure, that sounds like a completely logical and reasonable suggestion.

 

[kitkatff]

try via Brisbane as well, seems the HKG flights out of/to BNE can be cheaper than SYD or MEL - last I checked for the first Friday in March I could see HKG-BNE-MEL in J around $1,000 cheaper than HKG-MEL, mainly because you can get Business Sale out of/to BNE but not out of/to MEL as it's booked out early, and you get more SC and points ... suggests there may be more scope to get a reward seat or upgrade, though of course not guaranteed.

Also the one time I went BNE-HKG it was the new J seats, but the HKG-MEL flight back was the old configuration ...

 

[Mattg]

If you can get a Business class award, either on CX or QF, then I would definitely do that. But the Premium Economy sale is a pretty good deal too if you can't get a Business class award. And Premium economy is not a bad "backup" should your points upgrade be unsuccessful. You'll also earn points and status credits doing that, if they're of any use to you. If you do try to request a points upgrade, try to travel mid-week and not during school holidays to maximise your chances.

Try this.
SYD - AKL/CHC NZ in J with EK J but a QF flight number, even if you do have to do a P+P, then...
AKL - HKG with CX.
That is what I would do.
Get to try the EK 380 too, if you haven't.

Why would the OP want to fly via AKL or CHC, adding 5+ hours to the travel time and increasing the cost of the trip?

Flying an EK A380 with a QF flight number to New Zealand, using Points Plus Pay, is not the solution to every question on AFF.

 

[BD1959]

Hi all fantastic people!

I am sure some of you would be kind enough to help me with this little dilemma.

I have leave between 23 May - 20 June which I am planning a return trip back to HKG.

I do have quite a bit of QFF points and would love to try out business class..

How many points is "quite a bit"?

149,000 gets you:

26-May: SYD-BNE-HKG QF504/97
18-19 Jun: HKG-ADL-SYD: CX173/QF738

Fuel Fines: $290.94

Regards,

BD

 

[Chrizztofa]

On the off chance you can travel on 21 May there's also SYD-CNS-HKG on QF922/CX146 for 89,000 points (not sure about the fuel surcharge as I don't have enough points at the moment). I'm sure the Lounge at CNS is inferior to SYD/MEL though.

If possible I would try to get a CX A330 (all routes) or QF refurbished A330 (operates QF117/118 (SYD-HKG), QF97/98 (BNE-HKG) and QF29/30 (MEL-HKG 3x weekly); at the current refurbishment rate they'll all be done by May). The product is better than the old Skybed found on the 747s (operating QF127/128 (SYD-HKG) and QF29/30 (MEL-HKG 4x weekly).

However you may have better chances of a points upgrade on a 747 flight - 58 Business seats versus 28 on the A330. A points upgrade is generally considered 'better value' for your points although you'll be out of pocket more upfront since you're paying for a Premium Economy seat (plus no guarantee of an upgrade).

 

[mting]

Thanks everyone!!! What a great response!

I believe I have made up my mind to take J Class on Cathy if possible lol The only way to look for Cathy availability is to search on Qantas Classic Rewards right?

Also, do you guys think what's there now are my only option? As in no point waiting to see if another J Class will pop up on the day that I want?

I found it alright to pay 65K to get Cathy J Class, but dont want to fork out 89K to do so via Cairns....

 

[dmitri]

On the off chance you can travel on 21 May there's also SYD-CNS-HKG on QF922/CX146 for 89,000 points (not sure about the fuel surcharge as I don't have enough points at the moment). I'm sure the Lounge at CNS is inferior to SYD/MEL though.

If possible I would try to get a CX A330 (all routes) or QF refurbished A330 (operates QF117/118 (SYD-HKG), QF97/98 (BNE-HKG) and QF29/30 (MEL-HKG 3x weekly); at the current refurbishment rate they'll all be done by May). The product is better than the old Skybed found on the 747s (operating QF127/128 (SYD-HKG) and QF29/30 (MEL-HKG 4x weekly).

However you may have better chances of a points upgrade on a 747 flight - 58 Business seats versus 28 on the A330. A points upgrade is generally considered 'better value' for your points although you'll be out of pocket more upfront since you're paying for a Premium Economy seat (plus no guarantee of an upgrade).

QF127 SYD-HKG is also serviced by the A380, I flew this last week

 

[Oxy]

Thanks everyone!!! What a great response!

I believe I have made up my mind to take J Class on Cathy if possible lol The only way to look for Cathy availability is to search on Qantas Classic Rewards right?

Also, do you guys think what's there now are my only option? As in no new point waiting to see if another J Class will pop up on the day that I want?

I found it alright to pay 65K to get Cathy J Class, but dont want to fork out 89K to do so via Cairns....

You can also search on ba.com for awards if you have access. I find it friendly for simple routes. Advantage is that it also shows MH flights, if you are that keen on flying J it's one more option (though reportedly not great)

CX often release more J seats around 1-2 weeks out from departure. I would secure an option now, and if a better seat comes along then change.

Yes it get's expensive when you have to connect on QF to a partner award flight. This is just how QF calculates it. eg 65k CNS-HKG + 24k SYD-CNS. If you have to connect keep it a short flight, and using the multi city tool select that leg in economy to halve the points. Or make it worth your while and go through PER on the A330

Don't forget BA to SIN, or even JL.

 

[Limewood]

Couple of points, the CX lounge in CNS is old and tired, the HKG/BNE sector on CX157 is a rare daytime flight that departs 12.50pm arrives about 11.25pm, Im doing this again mid April. The CX lounges in HKG are also excellent, check luggage in at downtown terminal get to airport early on fast train (20mins) and do some lounge hopping

 

[docjames]

Thanks everyone!!! What a great response!

I believe I have made up my mind to take J Class on Cathy if possible lol The only way to look for Cathy availability is to search on Qantas Classic Rewards right?

Also, do you guys think what's there now are my only option? As in no point waiting to see if another J Class will pop up on the day that I want?

I found it alright to pay 65K to get Cathy J Class, but dont want to fork out 89K to do so via Cairns....

Definitely don't wait if you see availability that suits.

It's more likely that options will go, rather than more (better) ones appear.

The suggestion of BD1959 looks a good one.

 

[mting]

The BNE QF Lounge is good to hang around for a couple hours?

 

[docjames]

The BNE QF Lounge is good to hang around for a couple hours?

Domestic or Int?

Domestic OK.

Int is too small for demand depending on time of day and is nothing special.

I'd class it as adequate (just).

I wouldnt let that be the defining choice on itinerary.

 

[Limewood]

mting add your location in your LHS profile makes it easier to respond when we know what city your flying out of..

 

[docjames]

mting add your location in your LHS profile makes it easier to respond when we know what city your flying out of..

Thread title is SYD-HKG so I assumed SYD......???

 

[mting]

Thanks Guys!!

I have now booked the flight.

Out from SYD to BNE . BNE to HKG . Both Qantas and J.
Back on QF 128 J as well, not the date I want but will keep looking to see if better one pops.