Upcoming MEL -> JFK trip........QF or UA

[neil_gardner]

In July I have to travel to New York with work - I am travelling in Business Class. I live in Melbourne. The two options presented are QF or UA, both via LAX.

My questions are

1) Does UA have flat beds and how does it compare to QF for the Cross Pacific leg?
2) How does UA First Class domestically compare to AA First Class?
3) I am Gold level for both *A and OW. I am 325 SC's short of retaining gold, 1125 from Platinum. 24000 miles short of ratining Gold in *A. I am planning another Business Class flight later in the year to NYC. I am leaning towards Qantas as I can't get any higher in *A program and feel that Platinum is where the real benefits kick in and you get truly recognised. Is this true?

Thanks in advance.

Neil

 

[dajop]

In July I have to travel to New York with work - I am travelling in Business Class. I live in Melbourne. The two options presented are QF or UA, both via LAX.

My questions are

1) Does UA have flat beds and how does it compare to QF for the Cross Pacific leg?
2) How does UA First Class domestically compare to AA First Class?
3) I am Gold level for both *A and OW. I am 325 SC's short of retaining gold, 1125 from Platinum. 24000 miles short of ratining Gold in *A. I am planning another Business Class flight later in the year to NYC. I am leaning towards Qantas as I can't get any higher in *A program and feel that Platinum is where the real benefits kick in and you get truly recognised. Is this true?

Thanks in advance.

Neil

1) I've never flown UA, but they don't have flat beds in J.
2) Can you arrange your schedule to fly on Qantas (QF 107/108) between LAX and New York and vv? (departs from both ends on Wed, Fri & Sun). Far superior to either UA or AA first class domestically, I'd guess.
3) Go for Platinum! Double points and access to Qantas Club even when not flying, + more!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I would go for both. It comes in handy having status in 2 alliances.

Do the first trip on QF, assuming that's early enough to requalify (certainly earn enough SCs) and the second on UA (as only needs to be before the end of the year) to requalify there.

Earning rate as QF WP on QF is similar to earning rate as UA 1K on UA, and UA miles go a lot further than QF miles.

 

[QF WP]

neil_gardner, I agree with Kiwi Flyer - it depends on when your QF membership year finishes - it is likely to be before the UA year end (31/12/05) from the SC's you have already earned. Having status on both for next year means that you can then pick and choose next year for the better benefits - whether they be in the air (seating, schedules, connection times) or on the ground (points, status). Status has it's benefits but know that in all FF programs, they are reducing.

Also, dajop has mentioned a valid point - QF107 & 108 are excellent flights (I've taken QF107 LAX/JFK) and this will help maximise your SC's toward Platinum. Considering it's relative distance of BNE/PER but as domestic route, getting Skybeds and International J service is brilliant. For those reasons, it's popular and rarely empty!!

Kiwi Flyer is top tier in both QF and *A - so he'd know.

 

[neil_gardner]

Have managed to secure bookings on QF93/107 out and QF 108/94 back. Thanks for the advice. Here's to a platinum future :wink: