SYD-BKK J vs. F

[Nightwatchman]

I just booked SYD-BKK via QF website, and was offered two choices; J for $6,000 or F for $6,035. Any theories as to why these prices are so similar?

I checked other dates, just in case the price were perculiar to those I had chosen, but they seem fairly standard.

Why would anyone choose J?

 

[meloz]

The answer is a no brainer for $35. I've done this leg in all 3 cabins and whilst I can't justify the additional cost in dollars or points from J to F, for $35 I'm sure I could.

Meloz

 

[Mal]

Not too shabby a deal at all (Not as good as the BA return F to SIN/BKK for ~$3300 promo a few months ago though!)

Unfortunately some people don't have the option whether to choose J or F. Some corporate travel policies are very strict on class of travel. (Also with some corporate discounts available, the difference would be a lot larger).

I think both Qantas and BA are having issues filling the F cabins at the moment SYD-SIN/BKK vv. There seems to be some good deals around.

Also, sites like www.bestflights.com.au often have specials in J and F - For example J to BKK with BA from SYD starts at $3439++ return ( http://www.bestflights.com.au/cgi-bin/209f/flights?maindetails=4025 ), or with QF from about $4500++

 

[Nightwatchman]

Also, sites like www.bestflights.com.au often have specials in J and F - For example J to BKK with BA from SYD starts at $3439++ return ( http://www.bestflights.com.au/cgi-bin/209f/flights?maindetails=4025 ), or with QF from about $4500++

If you happen to be speaking with my boss or client, you know nothing of these fares and $6,035 for F is judicious use of company funds. In fact, I should be congratulated for saving the company money.

 

[Mal]

If you happen to be speaking with my boss or client, you know nothing of these fares and $6,035 for F is judicious use of company funds. In fact, I should be congratulated for saving the company money.

I won't tell them if you won't Are you sure you don't need a "colleague" to assist you on your trip? I'm sure I can get leave from work to assist if required.

Just tell them you've seen a F fare SYD-BKK with Qantas costing $9273 ++ (so probably about $9500) so definately have saved them big $.

Oh, and if you havn't booked yet, BA do have a $4550 ++ F return fare at the moment. (Books in A class, Valid 1APR-30SEP06 and appears to allow flights on Qantas). Shows how quiet the F cabins are !!

 

[Yada Yada]

I just booked SYD-BKK via QF website, and was offered two choices; J for $6,000 or F for $6,035. Any theories as to why these prices are so similar?

I checked other dates, just in case the price were perculiar to those I had chosen, but they seem fairly standard.

Why would anyone choose J?

A similar situation exists with SYD-SIN. Earlier this year it was J=$5,100, F(A)=$5,300. Note however that these are the rack rates. My local TA was able to book me a J(D) class fare for around $4,300 and Zuji also has some good deals so the comparison on the QF website is probably not a good one.

I picked up one of the BA/Mastercard promo F fares (SYD-SIN $3,300) that I will use later this year.

 

[JohnK]

I picked up one of the BA/Mastercard promo F fares (SYD-SIN $3,300) that I will use later this year.

I have some time available, do you need a PA during your trip? I will work for nothing all you have to do is pay for a return F airfare.

 

[Yada Yada]

I have some time available, do you need a PA during your trip? I will work for nothing all you have to do is pay for a return F airfare.

Well, I actually do need a PA but I don't think I can justify a second F airfare to my boss in Singapore.

 

[Nightwatchman]

Okay, I did the right thing, and saved the client $$$ by booking J for $4K.

Its nice of QF though to have equal fares for F and J on their website. This allows me to invoice my client $6K for a return J fare (which is the "Qantas published rate") and fly F.

Shame I have a conscience.

 

[jakeseven7]

If I can get our corporate travel people to book me in J (and they are usually pretty hopeless at getting good prices! - so is probable that they might hit around 5.5K+) how easy is it for me to then pay the $ diff and upgrade to F?

(Just thinking, depending on how much J comes out at it could be a cheap SC bonus...)

 

[NM]

If I can get our corporate travel people to book me in J (and they are usually pretty hopeless at getting good prices! - so is probable that they might hit around 5.5K+) how easy is it for me to then pay the $ diff and upgrade to F?

(Just thinking, depending on how much J comes out at it could be a cheap SC bonus...)

When I have done this in the past - company paid for Y and I paid difference to J, I arranged it through our corp travel centre. They booked me in J and charged the corp card for the J fare. When I submitted the travel expense claim for the trip, I only claimed the quoted and approved Y fare back from the company and then I paid the diff to the corp credit card provider.

But our corp travel policy clearly states that if the traveller wants to travel in a class higher than approved, then they pay the difference. I think I was the first person to actually exercise this and it did take a few phone calls to find the correct procedure for our company.

 

[jakeseven7]

Yep my process will be the same... The viability of it will really come down to what price Travel can get for the J fare and the F fare...

I guess my question then will be, I'm assuming Travel will get a fairly uncompetitive J fare (they just don't seem to care!) but I think this will mean that they may also get an uncompetitive F fare - which means I might not be able to access the cheap F fares we have seen about the place and it won't be worth it...

If Travel book in a J fare, how easy is it to call QF and get it upgraded to the cheaper avail F fare....? Is this even poss...?

 

[Mal]

If Travel book in a J fare, how easy is it to call QF and get it upgraded to the cheaper avail F fare....? Is this even poss...?

Pretty hard. The TA will lock the booking and Qantas will refuse to touch it for those types of changes before your travel starts.

 

[jakeseven7]

Pretty hard. The TA will lock the booking and Qantas will refuse to touch it for those types of changes before your travel starts.

Does pretty hard = impossible?

Anyway, it actually may turn out to be a nice SC earn, for the 60 extra SC (not even getting started on service etc) Id be prepared to pay about another $300 = $5/SC not to shabby.

Being a F virgin - would also be pretty cool. Is QF F seat better than Skybed? Would be good to get a good sleep on the O/N return.

 

[Mal]

Does pretty hard = impossible?

Very little is impossible in life However when you call Qantas they will tell you to talk to your travel arranger. I have had Qantas modify a TA booking before for me, but that was after I missed a flight and my TA was not open.

It is possible that you could upgrade at the airport by doing a co-pay, however I'm not aware that Qantas offer that (unlike some other airlines)

Being a F virgin - would also be pretty cool. Is QF F seat better than Skybed? Would be good to get a good sleep on the O/N return.

The F seat is flatter than the Skybed , and I think you will get better sleep in F. I like the Qantas F cabin, but I think the differences between J and F are minimal since J now includes Skybeds.

 

[NM]

The F seat is flatter than the Skybed , and I think you will get better sleep in F. I like the Qantas F cabin, but I think the differences between J and F are minimal since J now includes Skybeds.

Don't forget the pyjamas .

And the Steak Sandwich on flight from Australia is worth trying. They don't have it on the menu on flight to Australia any more.

And the Morris Muscat and Noble One are both excellent desert wines available in F (no Noble One on my last F flight, but they had both the Morris Muscat and Toquay which made up for it).

And on non-AVOD aircraft, you select a video tape from the library and use the player built into the seat.